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On Saturday lunchtime, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta had a big decision to make. Play Martin Odegaard or Eberechi Eze in the number 10 position?

Well, the Spaniard chose his club captain Odegaard. It was a successive start for the Norwegian who is now back from injury and ready to make an impact.

What that meant was that the Gunners’ November Player of the Month was selected on the left flank.

It wasn’t a decision that went well for Eze. The scorer of that famous hat-trick in the north London derby just a few weeks ago, his influence from the left, rather than in a central area, was severely lacking.

It was Eze who switched off at the back post for Matty Cash’s opener and despite having a goal ruled out for offside, he was anonymous in the final third.

The summer signing was subsequently withdrawn at the half time interval having registered just 13 touches of the ball and amassed just seven passes.

Why Arsenal must pick Eze over Odegaard in the number 10 role

Before Emiliano Buendia’s late winner at Villa Park on Saturday, TNT Sports’ Martin Keown had named Martin Odegaard as the player of the match.

The club captain drifted in and out of the game, but left the field with three key passes and three shots to his name. He also ensured Bukayo Saka looked like a constant threat in the game. Indeed, in the words of the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, he noted that “it can’t be a coincidence that Saka has been so dangerous today, on the day he is reunited with Odegaard,” suggesting that as a pairing, they remain one of Arsenal’s “great weapons.”

That they may well be, but the skipper arguably held Arteta’s team back. While Eze has looked like such a big goal threat over the last few weeks, a dynamic and silky player who can produce a moment of magic out of nowhere, Odegaard was sluggish and timid in possession.

His biggest problem is that unlike Eze, he takes too many touches and he’s slow in possession. The 26-year-old is one of the best midfielders in the world on his day. He’s supremely creative but Arsenal’s summer recruit from Crystal Palace has taken them to the next level in recent weeks.

Mins played

90

45

Touches

80

13

Key passes

3

0

Shots

3

0

Successful dribbles

1/4

1/1

Duels won

3/10

2/5

Possession lost

15x

3x

It was surely no coincidence that two of their finest wins of 2025, the victories against Spurs and Bayern, came with Eze in the team over Odegaard.

It feels incredibly unlikely that Arteta will drop the latter but he must explore what this team could be like without their captain.

That said, Eze isn’t the only threat to Odegaard’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's next Odegaard and Eze

Eze’s arrival has coincided with a lack of game time for Ethan Nwaneri. Last season he was compared to Lionel Messi by Joe Cole and described as “the most exciting footballer in England.” How times change.

While the 18-year-old is still up there as one of the finest young talents in the country, scoring nine goals last term, regular senior football has eluded him in 2025/26. He has played just 165 minutes of Premier League football this term and only 20 minutes since the start of November.

Nwaneri will no doubt come good but he will also have to rival the great Max Dowman for a place in the team over the forthcoming years. Odegaard, beware.

The two exciting teenagers are not the only threats to Odegaard’s long-term future, however. Enter Holger Quintero.

At the end of last week, Arsenal announced the signings of a set of twins, Holger and Edwin Quintero from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle.

They have become one of the finest exponents of young talent in world football in recent years. Part of their alumni include Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie and PSG’s brute of a central defender William Pacho.

Well, the Quintero twins look like the next cabs of the rank and while they will not be seen in Arsenal colours until they turn 18, the 16-year-old’s have signed an agreement to join the club, something that was announced last Thursday.

Edwin is a left-footed right winger and, alongside Dowman, has been labelled as a “10/10 talent” by scout Jacek Kulig. As for his brother, Holger, he is an attacking midfielder by trade and an exciting one at that.

Described as a “top talent” by Como scout Felix Johnston, he possesses a glittering array of skills, outlined by Kulig.

The scout notes that he has “superb close control, flair and creativity” while hailing the youngster’s “low centre of gravity and excellent agility, acceleration and coordination.”

Close control and creativity are two areas in which Odegaard also thrives in but it’s arguably that lack of acceleration and ability to carry the ball forward with pace that holds him back. That’s where Quintero could trump him in the years to come.

Further described as a young kid with “elite dribbling skills with futsal-like ball control”, there is a reason Arsenal have decided to invest in these two young attacking sensations.

To predict they could become world beaters might be a stretch at this stage, but there is huge excitement about them both. As Kulig put it, Holger is “one of the most exciting U17s in South America.”

Watch out, Odegaard, it might not only be Dowman coming for your place.

4/10 star had his worst game in an Arsenal shirt vs Aston Villa

Arsenal suffered their second defeat of the season against Aston Villa at Villa Park.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 6, 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff has been marred by injury this season, and things could be in line to get even worse following the latest update from manager Dave Roberts.

23-year-old starting pitcher Roki Sasaki has been on the injured list since May 13, and it doesn't seem as if he will be returning to the mound anytime soon. On Sunday, Roberts told reporters that Sasaki has stopped throwing over the last few days after feeling discomfort in his shoulder when throwing with intensity, via 's Fabian Ardaya.

There's no timeline for Sasaki's return, and whether or not the rookie is able to pitch again in 2025 still remains to be seen.

"We have to plan on life without him at least this year, that's fair to say," Roberts told reporters when discussing Sasaki's setback.

Prior to hitting the IL, Sasaki had made eight starts in his first season in MLB. He owns a 4.72 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 22 walks in 34 2/3 innings. He's among a handful of Dodgers starters currently sidelined with an injury, and with his return later this season now uncertain, things have gone from bad to worse in L.A.

In addition to Sasaki, Dodgers starters currently on the IL include Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone and Tony Gonsolin.

Celtic are in the process of finding their long-term successor to former head coach Brendan Rodgers, who resigned from the role last month after a 3-1 loss to Hearts.

The Northern Irish manager returned to Parkhead in the summer of 2023, replacing Ange Postecoglou in the dugout, and won the Scottish Premiership title in both of his full seasons in charge.

Celtic are now looking for a manager to come in and build on that success in the months and seasons to come, and Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy appears to be closing in on the job.

The latest on Wilfried Nancy to Celtic

According to Sky Sports, the Premiership champions have been granted permission by Columbus Crew to hold discussions with the French tactician this weekend.

The report claims that Nancy is open to making the move from the MLS to Scotland to replace Rodgers in the dugout, after the 2025 MLS came to an end for his side this month.

It adds that the Hoops want to have a new manager in place for their league clash with St Mirren next weekend, and that they will need to discuss compensation with Columbus Crew if they agree terms with Nancy.

If the French boss does take over the job in the coming days, one player who could benefit from his arrival at Parkhead is central midfielder Arne Engels.

Why Arne Engels could explode under Wilfried Nancy

Just as Matt O’Riley did when Rodgers took over from Postecoglou, Engels could explode with the change in manager from Rodgers to Nancy this season.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Belgian star could be O’Riley 2.0 with the potential that he has to be an exciting attacking force as one of the two number 10s behind the striker in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Appearances

38

37

Goals

3

18

Minutes per goal

843

181

Big chances created

16

14

Key passes per game

2.2

2.5

Assists

12

13

As you can see in the table above, the Denmark international, who now plays for Marseille, scored 15 more goals and provided one more assist in the league under Rodgers than he did under Postecoglou.

Engels could benefit in a similar way with this change in manager, as he has mainly played as a central midfielder in a 4-3-3 system for Rodgers, but he could play further forward under Nancy.

The Belgium international, whose set-piece delivery was hailed as “world-class” by Rodgers, produced nine goals and six assists in the Scottish Premiership last season, but has only managed one goal and one assist in ten games this term, with both of those goal contributions coming against Kilmarnock for Martin O’Neill.

Engels has created four ‘big chances’ in four appearances in the Europa League this season, being rewarded with one assist, per Sofascore, which is a testament to his technical and creative quality.

The midfield star is valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, over a year on from his £11m move from Augsburg, which suggests that the Hoops need to find a way to get more out of him, to ensure that their £11m investment does not turn out to be a poor one.

Playing further up the pitch, as a number ten, as part of Nancy’s preferred tactical set-up would put him in more positions to show off his brilliant technical ability, rather than often being too far from goal as a central midfielder or as a number six under Rodgers.

Celtic now "granted permission" to take biggest step yet in push to hire Wilfried Nancy

The Bhoys are set to make their move…

ByTom Cunningham Nov 15, 2025

Therefore, the Columbus Crew tactician could help Engels to explode and follow in O’Riley’s footsteps if Celtic hire him and he goes through with the 3-4-2-1 system used in the MLS.

There’s a lot to like about Manchester United at the moment. Of course, many more improvements are needed before Ruben Amorim’s project hits the desired level, but recent results and, perhaps more importantly, performances, suggest a page may have been turned.

Amorim has stuck to his guns in the Old Trafford hot seat and received more than a measure of criticism and question marks in return. But are the signs of vindication just about appearing for the thought-filled tactician?

A summer well spent has seen first-team outliers cast away and upgrades in the form of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha arrive and work their stuff under the Theatre’s lights.

Benjamin Sesko is a talented striker, but the jury remains out in regard to his potential as the leading man for many years to come.

What Sesko has to prove at Man Utd

Sesko joined Man United from RB Leipzig for a £74m fee this summer, ending a protracted search for a new striker.

So far, the 23-year-old has only scored two goals and provided one assist across 11 matches, but his link-up play and presence in the area offer much promise.

Podcast host Adam Joseph noted that the Slovenian “needed a better touch” during Saturday’s hair-raising draw to Forest, unable to capitalise on the wizardry of Mbeumo. But this will come.

Mbeumo and Cunha, after all, are seasoned Premier League stars, whereas Sesko is only a few months into his career in English football and younger besides.

Bryan Mbeumo

11

5

Casemiro

9

3

Bruno Fernandes

11

2

Benjamin Sesko

11

2

Harry Maguire

8

2

We know he can score goals. But Man United’s finest strikers in modern times have proved they have many more strings to their bow.

Take Robin Van Persie. The iconic centre-forward was hailed by Sir Alex Ferguson for his “sensational” shooting and for having “an impact as big as anyone” at Old Trafford after joining from Arsenal for £24m in 2012.

His movement and intelligence in the final third set him apart from the masses, and Sesko, tall and well-built, could emulate the Dutchman in that regard.

But there might actually be an up-and-coming Carrington talent with more potential than the summer recruit.

Man Utd's biggest striker talent since RVP

Last week, Amorim acknowledged JJ Gabriel publicly and confirmed he has been paying attention to the 15-year-old forward’s progress, even handing him an opportunity to train with the first team.

Hailed for his “exceptional skillset” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, “combining flair and confidence on the ball”, Gabriel hasn’t yet developed positionally, capable both on the left and in a central striking berth, but there’s so much to like and he could even make his debut in the not-too-distant future.

Already a regular for the U18s, Gabriel has shattered expectations with his prodigious technical ability and fleet-footed work on the ball. He’s too good for the youngsters around him, and journalist Nathan Salt confirmed that “one insider thinks ‘he’s already better than Premier League players'”.

Correspondent Steven Railston has even suggested that Gabriel “the best talent United’s academy has ever seen”.

Sometimes, you can just tell. Gabriel is a one-of-a-kind dribbler and is the top goalscorer in the U18 Premier League this season, with seven goals (and one assist) from just eight matches. Darren Fletcher has predominantly used him centrally, despite being schooled out wide, but the prolific potential of this young star suggests this might be a wise call.

Though he’s not physically developed, nor has he tried his hand on the senior stage, Gabriel has so much potential, and there’s no question that his ceiling reaches higher than Sesko’s.

Could the teenager turn out to be United’s best since Van Persie? It is far too early to tell, but the signs so far are more than promising, to be sure.

Man Utd's "anonymous" flop is rapidly becoming a bigger problem than Dalot

Ruben Amorim has a job on his hands to put one Manchester United player on the right track.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 3, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Airton vem sendo um dos jogadores do Atlético-GO mais utilizados nesta temporada. Até o momento, o atacante participou de 40 partidas, sendo o sexto atleta do atual elenco que mais entrou em campo pelo Dragão em 2023. O jogador destacou o foco da equipe em busca do acesso para a elite do futebol nacional, demonstrando cautela e pés no chão, mas reafirmou que o foco do grupo é a vaga no G-4.

RelacionadasOnde AssistirLondrina x Avaí: onde assistir ao vivo e horário do jogo pela Série BOnde Assistir14/10/2023Onde AssistirVitória x Guarani: onde assistir ao vivo e horário do jogo pela Série BOnde Assistir14/10/2023Onde AssistirPonte Preta x Atlético-GO: onde assistir ao vivo e horário do jogo pela Série BOnde Assistir14/10/2023

+ Ponte Preta x Atlético-GO: onde assistir ao vivo e horário do jogo pela Série B

– Estamos chegando na reta final da competição e agora os erros devem ser minimizados ao extremo. Nosso grupo está muito focado e comprometido em busca do nosso principal objetivo, que é o acesso. Nós sabemos que não será fácil, existem grandes adversários que estão buscando o mesmo objetivo. Por isso, temos que manter os pés no chão e seguir trabalhando firme e pensando jogo a jogo em busca do G-4 – disse Airton.

+ A sua carreira no futebol pode começar hoje. Garanta a sua vaga no curso Gestor de Futebol e capacite-se!

Nas últimas dez rodadas da Série B, o Atlético-GO somou oito vitórias, um empate e apenas uma derrota. Durante o período, o Dragão acumula duas sequências de três triunfos consecutivos.

Caso vença a Ponte Preta neste domingo (15), a equipe alcançará, pela primeira vez, uma sequência de quatro vitórias. Com um possível triunfo, o Atlético-MG ainda entrará no G-4, passo importante na busca pelo acesso à elite do futebol brasileiro. Airton falou sobre a importância de vencer a Macaca, destacando a confiança do Dragão neste momento decisivo da temporada.

– Estamos crescendo no momento chave da temporada, na hora da decisão. Nós precisamos manter esse mesmo nível até o final da competição para podermos alcançar o nosso objetivo. Sabemos das dificuldades que enfrentaremos, a Ponte Preta é muito forte e jogando em casa vai ser um duelo muito difícil, mas nós sabemos da nossa força. Em caso de vitória, nós vamos alcançar a nossa maior sequência de vitórias na competição e, de quebra, entraremos no G-4, então não tem outro pensamento que não seja ir em busca dos três pontos – concluiu.

+ Emerson Royal se junta à Seleção Brasileira e inicia disputa na lateral para o jogo contra o Uruguai

Ponte Preta e Atlético-GO se enfrentam neste domingo (15), às 15h45, no Estádio Moisés Lucarelli, em Campinas (SP). A Macaca ocupa o 16º lugar na tabela da Série B, com 34 pontos, uma posição acima do Z-4. Já o Dragão está na 5ª colocação, com 53 pontos, e buscará a vitória para entrar de vez no G-4. 

Former Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has picked his favourite manager out of Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, having achieved great success playing under both.

A glittering career for Gundogan under great managers

The German is now very much in the autumn of his career, but he has arguably been one of the most successful and influential midfielders of his generation.

Gundogan won five Premier League titles and one Champions League crown with City under Guardiola, during the peak of his powers, but he also tasted Bundesliga title glory alongside Klopp in his younger days at Borussia Dortmund.

Guardiola and Klopp are right up with the best managers of the past 20 years, and among the longest-serving coaches in Premier League history, with the pair huge characters who enjoyed a great rivalry during their respective spells in charge of City and Liverpool.

Everyone will have their favourite out of the two, with some preferring the Spaniard’s tactical genius and others liking Klopp’s more free-flowing style, but what about Gundogan?

Gundogan picks between Guardiola and Klopp

Speaking to The Athletic, Gundogan gave Guardiola the edge over Klopp, due to achieving so much trophy-winning success with him in a City shirt.

This is clearly a tough choice for Gundogan, with the 34-year-old an enormous admirer of two people who have had an incredible impact on him as a player, but it does feel right to go with Guardiola, given their dominance of English football together with City.

As mentioned, Gundogan was a younger player with Klopp at Dortmund, scoring a penalty in the 2013 Champions League final defeat to Bayern Munich, but he truly came into own as a player at the Etihad, becoming one of the first names on the team sheet in a squad littered with world-class footballers.

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ByBen Browning Nov 21, 2024

His title-winning goal at home to Aston Villa on the final day of the 2021/22 season will never be forgotten by City fans, and Liverpool supporters for that matter, and his talent has been worthy of playing under two managerial greats of the game.

Gloucestershire had their opponents 57 for 4 before left-hander countered with a special 141*

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-May-2025Northamptonshire 327 for 6 (Zaib 141*, Sales 81, Charlesworth 2 for 41) vs GloucestershireSaif Zaib hit a superbly paced unbeaten 141, his highest first-class score and third century of the season, as Northamptonshire staged a sterling fightback on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Wantage Road.Zaib combined with James Sales who made 81 in a fifth-wicket stand worth 148 in 44.2 overs after Northamptonshire’s top order slumped to 57 for four before lunch.Gloucestershire’s teenage quick Archie Bailey, 19, bowled with express pace and accounted for two of the first four wickets to fall on his return to the town of his birth.But with little pace or bounce in the wicket to assist a thoroughly disciplined Gloucestershire bowling attack, Sales and Zaib were content to absorb the pressure before pressing the accelerator. Sales played the dominant partner at first before Zaib took over, marching to his ton from 147 balls and going past his previous best of 135 against Sussex in 2021.Amidst an admirably persistent Gloucestershire bowling performance, both Bailey, playing only his third first-class game, and Ben Charlesworth picked up two wickets apiece with Northamptonshire finishing the day handily placed on 327 for 6.Northamptonshire refreshed their batting line-up after last week’s heavy defeat to Glamorgan, bringing in Gus Miller for his first game this season and rewarding promising teenager Aadi Sharma with his senior debut.It was a familiar start though when Tom Price struck in the fifth over, trapping Ricardo Vasconelos lbw. Miller and Luke Procter looked to build a partnership amidst a miserly opening bowling partnership between Price and Matt Taylor before both fell within 10 balls.First Miller chased a wide one from Bailey and edged to second slip. The in-form Procter (20) looked in good touch again, but when Bailey came round the wicket and swung one back in, the Northamptonshire captain was trapped lbw as he moved across his stumps.Sales started to steady the ship, steering one down to third to bring up Northamptonshire’s 50 in the 23rd over, while Sharma, who looked unfazed by the occasion, cut Charlesworth firmly for four. The debutant failed to capitalise on the bowler’s next delivery, a loose short ball, and pulled it straight to square leg.Zaib was fortunate to survive a run out appeal early in his innings on 19. Graeme van Buuren threw down the stumps at the non-strikers’ end with a direct hit, but Zaib was adjudged not out, although his bat appeared short of his crease.Sales and Zaib duly brought up their 50 partnership off 122 balls before Sales went on the offensive. By contrast the next 50 runs came in quick time off just 62 deliveries in the afternoon sunshine.Sales punched Zaman Akhter off the backfoot square for four and reached 50 when he glided Ollie Price down to third. He tucked into the off-spinner’s next over too, helping himself to three further boundaries, smashing Price over mid-on and forcing him out of the attack.Zaib upped the tempo before tea too, hitting Bailey straight down the ground and sweeping van Buuren to the ropes to bring up his half-century off 101 balls, Northamptonshire going into the tea break on 184 for 4.It was van Buuren who finally broke the partnership soon after the resumption when Ollie Price took a sharp tumbling catch at short midwicket as Sales played an attempted pull.But Zaib carried on unabated, taking three boundaries off Bailey, driving and pulling to good effect, although he rode his luck against van Buuren when an edge flew just wide of slip.George Bartlett, moved down the order for this game, fell cheaply when he edged behind to a Charlesworth delivery which was too close to cut.Zaib though continued at pace to bring up his century. By comparison, his first 50 had come off 101 balls, his second off just 46. He treated the crowd to an array of shots all around the ground throughout the evening session.Lewis McManus (33 not out) provided excellent support, driving Taylor for four to take Northamptonshire past 300 and a second batting bonus point.

Lewis Hamilton has now decided between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with the Formula 1 legend insisting he is a “big” fan of one of the players in the ‘GOAT’ debate.

Hamilton chooses between Ronaldo and Messi

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is now on the horizon, with the eighth edition set to take place in Baku from September 19th to 21st, in what is round 17 of the Formula 1 season, and McLaren head into the race in a strong position to win back-to-back constructors’ championships.

McLaren are currently 337 points clear of second-placed Ferrari, courtesy of finishing second and third at Monza, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris collecting 617 points between them up to this stage.

Hamilton, on the other hand, hasn’t won in Azerbaijan since 2018, and Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur has admitted the 40-year-old has struggled after making his big move to the Scuderia.

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Vasseur said: “I don’t know if we underestimated the importance of the change. Probably, because he spent 10 years at McLaren, then 12 with Mercedes, but it was a kind of continuity – two teams based in the UK with the same engine, same environment.

“[Joining Ferrari] is a complete change for him, in his life, the culture of the team and everything. To do it in three test days in the winter period is quite difficult – and I think also the expectation was huge.”

The Briton will be looking to get back on track in Baku, after a mixed year so far, but there are no doubts over the fact he is one of the best F1 drivers of all time, having won a joint-record seven World Drivers’ Championships.

Alongside his clear love of F1, the Ferrari driver is also-well known to be a big football fan, having been a supporter of Arsenal growing up.

Hamilton has also decided between Ronaldo and Messi, claiming he is a fan of both players, saying:

Messi signs off in emphatic fashion in Argentina

The 38-year-old may no longer be playing in Europe, but he is still performing at the top-level, scoring a brace against Venezuela in his final home game for Argentina in the most recent international break.

Having racked up a remarkable 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances during his time with Barcelona, while also winning eight Ballon d’Ors and the 2022 World Cup, it is difficult to argue with Hamilton’s assessment of the Rosario-born star being the greatest of all time.

Winning a second World Cup in 2026 could arguably end the debate, and Argentina have now sealed their place at the competition, which is due to take place across North America from next June until July.

Ange Postecoglou has made history at Nottingham Forest, but not the kind that the Australian coach was hoping for. The former Tottenham manager has failed to win any of his opening six games as Reds boss, since being appointed as successor to Nuno Espirito Santo. His latest setback came in a Europa League clash with Midtjylland, with fans at the City Ground airing their anger before the final whistle blew on Trentside.

• Getty
  

  Forest fans turning on Postecoglou already

  Forest headed into their first European fixture on home soil in 29 years hoping to savour an occasion to remember. It quickly became one to forget as the issues which have plagued Postecoglou’s short spell in the dugout came back to haunt Forest once more. The opening goal of the game arrived in the 18th minute as Midtjylland bundled home from a free-kick.

  Dan Ndoye briefly restored parity for the hosts, but they fell behind again less than two minutes after equalising – with another set-piece proving to be their undoing. Midtjylland grabbed a third late on, ensuring that a stoppage-time penalty from Chris Wood was little more than a consolation strike.

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• Postecoglou's record at Forest makes for uncomfortable reading

  A 3-2 defeat against Danish opposition means that Postecoglou, who took the Forest reins on September 9, is still waiting on his first win in a demanding role. He opened with a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal in the Premier League. His side then threw away a two-goal lead to exit the Carabao Cup in dramatic fashion at Swansea. A point was picked up in a 1-1 draw at Burnley, with another secured in Forest’s opening Europa League game against Real Betis.

  Failure to defend set-pieces contributed to a 1-0 loss being suffered against Sunderland, in Postecoglou’s first game at the City Ground, before Midtjylland rubbed further salt into the wounds as the mood in the red half of Nottingham turned sour.

• History made by Postecoglou after winless start at Forest

  Postecoglou’s disastrous start to his tenure has seen him become the first permanent Forest manager for 100 years to fail to win any of his first six games in charge of the club. The last man to endure such a woeful opening was John Baynes, who went winless through seven games between August and September 1925.

  Postecoglou was subjected to chants of "You’re getting sacked in the morning" from his own fans as the City Ground made its feelings clear against Midtjylland. Home supporters also sang about former boss Nuno, who is now back in Premier League management with West Ham.

  Responding to taunts from those that are supposed to be on his side, Postecoglou told reporters afterwards: "The fans are disappointed, they're entitled to have an opinion on it and I heard their opinion. Nothing surprises me anymore in football. I guess it's just the climate we're in and it seems that's the way we're going. But look, that's something I can control. My responsibility lies to make sure that we try and get some wins for this football club and progress it.

  "I get the mood around the place isn't going to be great, I understand people's kind of attitude at the moment, particularly towards me, but I never worry about that. It's not unfamiliar territory for me. I really believe that we're on the right track and when we get through this period of uncertainty we'll be on a good path. I still think apart from their attitude towards me that they were behind the team and I think that's the important thing. Of course, I would prefer people are optimistic. If we start winning games of football, the atmosphere will change."

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• Failure to keep clean sheets is hurting Forest

  Postecoglou added on familiar failings contributing to Forest finding positive results hard to come by, with defensive mistakes doing the collective cause few favours: "It was a pretty similar target to be honest, it was just us letting ourselves down in the key moments and then having a mountain to climb. I guess it's the accumulation of things, just the manner. It's not like the goalkeeper is having to make multiple saves. It's something we need to try to unlock in terms of just appreciating the key moments in a game and making sure that we're fully focused on those. If you allow the opposition to score, just a matter of time they get the goal, it's going to be very hard to win games of football."

  Forest have conceded 13 goals through their six games under Postecoglou. They have failed to keep a clean sheet since beating Manchester United 1-0 in April – despite Matz Sels claiming a share of the Premier League Golden Glove last season – and will head into the next international break on the back of a trip to Newcastle on Sunday.

Ruben Amorim has once again dismissed suggestions that he is facing the sack at Old Trafford after Manchester United fell to yet another defeat in a woeful performance away at Brentford. The Portuguese coach has picked up this season where he left last campaign as the Red Devils continue to look bereft of ideas. With the club still yet to reach ten league wins under Amorim, time is running out.

• Feeble United remain unable to string wins together

  Not only have United won just nine of Amorim's 33 Premier League games in charge, the Red Devils have yet to win more than one game on the bounce. It has become commonplace in Amorim's tenure to follow up an impressive victory, like last week's against Chelsea, with an equally spectacular defeat, akin to Saturday's 3-1 loss to Brentford. The United fans and board could be forgiven for beginning to feel frustration at their side's inconsistency and may be growing tired of seeing the Portuguese coach's insistence at playing his 3-4-3 system – a formation that has produced little success at Old Trafford.

  Brentford raced into an early 2-0 lead, Igor Thiago scoring a brace within the opening 20 minutes, before United attempted to mount a comeback. Amorim will be pleased that Benjamin Sesko, his big summer signing, finally got off the mark after finishing a chaotic move with an emphatic finish from close range. When Bryan Mbeumo was hauled down in the box by Nathan Collins, the Red Devils looked set to tie up the game, but Bruno Fernandes has his effort saved by Caoimhin Kelleher in the Bees goal. Mathias Jensen then scored a third and put the game, and any hope of salvaging a point, beyond the hopes of United and the under-fire Amorim, who remains defiant.

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  Amorim backs himself to turn United around

  Speaking after the game, via the , Amorim said: "I am always comfortable with the job. I am not concerned, it is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here. I am never concerned about my job, I am not that kind of guy.

  "I'm always doing my job. If I win, I'm in a different state of mind. That is normal, but I'm always confident because I know what to do. I've always taken a lot of responsibility on your own shoulders. We can play better and we need to play better. It's like ups and downs. When you win, you feel that everything, the momentum is here. When you lose, you go back to the same place and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum.

  "I cannot tell you more than I say every time I lose the game. Sometimes you see one team that performs really well and you see improvements. And then sometimes you have some games that you don't see that improvement. That gives you the confidence to say that Manchester United is going to get back. So it's always the same conversation. It depends on the next game. So let's try to win the next game and to improve certain things."

• Disappointment shrouds United

  Following another defeat, the United players are also beginning to feel the pressure of their poor performances. New signing Matheus Cunha is yet to find the back of the net in a Manchester United shirt and admitted that the atmosphere in the dressing room is not in a good place. "[The mood] is horrible. Honestly, horrible. I always say the same, we know how important it is to play for a club like this one and we go for every game to win," he said. "For it not to end like that, it is a horrible feeling. Everyone wanted to do more, everyone needs to do more. Of course, we need to go again, that's only the way."

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  More difficulty lies on the horizon at Old Trafford

  United’s next challenge comes in the form of Sunderland, who travel to Old Trafford with confidence after their strong start to life back in the Premier League. Amorim goes into the game knowing that anything other than victory could prove catastrophic. The international break follows next week’s fixture and may prove a good opportunity for the United board to consider alternative options for their dugout. Should Amorim remain in charge over the break, he will have to face a trip to Anfield to take on league leaders Liverpool – a fixture United have a poor recent record in.