Nottingham Forest suffered yet more disappointment with defeat in Europe and their fans made themselves heard with a chant West Ham will absolutely love.
The Hammers can only look on in envy at the likes of Nottingham Forest competing in Europe this season.
West Ham fans lived, breathed and loved every minute of their three consecutive seasons of European adventures.
Runs to the Europa League semi and quarter-finals sandwiched that unforgettable Europa Conference League triumph in 2023.
Now it’s Nottingham Forest’s turn for a return to continental football, although their Europa League campaign has not got off to the best of starts with a 2-2 draw against Real Betis being followed by a 3-2 home defeat to FC Midtjylland overnight.
Nuno ushers in new era at West Ham as Forest struggles continue
It has not been lost on fans, pundits and journalists that West Ham appointed the manager of the only team they’ve beaten this season when they hired sacked Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo last weekend.
There is a parallel universe where Nuno’s replacement at the City Ground – Ange Postecoglou – is managing West Ham.
Unpopular Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady once made it clear she wanted Postecoglou to replace David Moyes.
Brady wrote a column predicting Postecoglou would take the Premier League by storm but he ended up going to Spurs before ending up at Forest.
After being laid off by Tottenham, there were claims from journalists over the summer that Postecoglou could be considered by West Ham if Potter did not start the season well.
In an almost perverse twist of fate, the one game Potter did well in was against Nottingham Forest which gave owner Evangelos Marinakis the excuse he needed to fire Nuno after their very public falling out.
Less than three weeks later, Nuno would be unveiled as West Ham manager.
It is safe to say Hammers supporters are instantly enamoured with the Portuguese after nearly two calendar years of dull, insipid rhetoric and football from Moyes, Julen Lopetegui and Potter.
Nuno has really caught the imagination of West Ham fans with his attitude and passion which has come across loud and clear in interviews, press conferences and on the touchline.
West Ham will love what Forest fans chanted during defeat
Not to mention in West Ham’s much-improved performance in the 1-1 draw at Everton.
It may have been more luck than judgement, but under-fire Hammers owner David Sullivan looks to have landed a winner in Nuno.
Now West Ham will absolutely love what Nottingham Forest fans chanted during their Europa League defeat.
While the Hammers ended up with Nuno, Forest were the ones to take a gamble on the outlandish style of play unapologetically deployed by Postecoglou.
Forest are yet to win any of their six games since sacking Nuno.
Postecoglou has already found himself under pressure given the magnificent job done by his predecessor Nuno.
West Ham fans already appreciate what a top manager they have got their hands on.
But now they – and the club’s owners – will realise just how lucky they are.
Because Forest fans belted out two chants that highlight the fact West Ham have – for once – ended up on the right side of a real sliding doors moment.
First Forest fans chanted ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’ at Postecoglou.
That suggests West Ham dodged a bullet if they really were going to consider the Australian were he on the market when they pulled the trigger on Potter.
Then came the chant that will have Hammers waking up with big smiles on their faces today.
Forest fans know their football, they’ve been back-to-back European champions in their history.
Forest demise as West Ham metrics rise
And as Forest slipped to another defeat, chants of ‘Nuno, Nuno, Nuno’ rang out on repeat, directed at Postecoglou and Marinakis.
Journalist Daniel Storey said the decision to hire Edu, which sparked the fall-out with Nuno and Marinakis and ultimately led to the ex Wolves manager’s exit, now looks disastrous.
“Chants of Nuno, telling Ange he’s being sacked in the morning and supporters in front of Evangelos Marinakis asking him angrily what is going on,” Storey said.
“Appointing and backing Edu a decision that looks dismal right now.”
West Ham can count their lucky stars timing conspired to give them a free run at Nuno.
The game between the Hammers and Forest in January promises to be an interesting one.
Nuno will definitely be in charge of the Irons for that game, but it seems highly unlikely Postecoglou will still be at Forest.
