The first thing Ange Postecoglou would have done this week is allow his new Nottingham Forest players to grieve.
The majority of the squad was very close to Nuno Espirito Santo, an excellent manager who lost his job because of personality clashes, not a lack of performance.
I’ve been in this situation before at Aston Villa when Ron Atkinson was sacked and Brian Little took over.
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Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson and coach Andy Gray in 1991. Getty
I was very close to Ron and it does take you a while to get over the fact that he’s no longer there and it’s a new era.
You want to do the best you possibly can for the new guy – there’s no issues there – but there will be people in that dressing room struggling with the change.
It took a bit of time and we flirted with relegation at Villa this season before finishing fourth the next season and winning the League Cup.
So this period is a very dangerous period but I rate Ange’s man management skills very highly.
You must get the trust of the players.
If you don’t have that, you’re toast.
Ange Postecoglou poses for a photo in the stands at City Ground. Getty
HOW TO INTRODUCE ANGE-BALL?
The tactical side of Ange’s new job will be fascinating.
His possession-based, high pressing style of football is the complete opposite to Nuno’s successful counter-attacking approach.
That will worry some players who know they aren’t suited to Ange’s system.
Have we got a future here? He needs to be honest and fair with the players that he doesn’t want to be there, because all you need is one or two players – especially powerful ones and big players in the team – to not be happy and that can spread like wildfire.
Ange Postecoglou at The Nigel Doughty Academy. Getty
He’ll pay tribute to the previous manager to say what a great job he did but I’m hoping that I can take you guys that little bit further.
I don’t think he will make major changes immediately. A few little tweaks, but he needs time to take a good look at things.
The club owner is very successful man and very ambitious and he’s going to want results sooner rather than later.
That will determine a lot of what Ange does.
Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou speaks to media personality Mark Bosnich. Getty
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANGE
I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Ange working in TV and when I’d drive him back to his hotel we were still talking about football.
I always thought he’d coach in the Premier League or Europe one day and he’s always been so bloody minded.
He was very adamant back then that his Plan B was to do Plan A better.
I’d tell him, from my experience, that there comes a time where you have to change the way you play, whether it be through suspensions, form or injuries.
And so I was proud and impressed by the way he adapted in the Europa League last season – especially in the final against Manchester United.
A DAUNTING FIRST ASSIGNMENT
Arsenal away at the best of times, is a very, very difficult game – let alone when you change manager a few days out.
But normally there’s a reaction when you change a manager, one way or the other. And so it wouldn’t surprise me if Forest went to the Emirates and won.
Ange would have known about the potential of landing this job for some time and he would have done exhaustive research on all of the players.
He would know exactly in his mind what he wants to do.
But of course he won’t be judged on his first game and the five that follow are all very winnable.
Alexander Isak signs for Liverpool FC at AXA Training Centre. Getty
THE MUST WATCH GAMES OF THE ROUND
Ange’s debut will be box office but I’ve also got my eye on the last two games of the round.
Burnley against Liverpool on Sunday night our time will be the first opportunity to see Alexander Isak in red after his record signing from Newcastle.
Liverpool are absolutely flying despite not even playing at their very best.
Isak is a gun but Burnley are a tough club at home.
And on Monday morning we get the first Manchester derby of the season – always an electric occasion.
Both clubs have big issues. City made a brilliant start and have now lost two on the trot which was a massive surprise to me.
My old club United haven’t been convincing either but I still have some faith that Ruben Amorim can turn things around.
It’s a privilege to be bringing it to you on Stan Sport and I can’t wait to see you all there.
– Former Premier League star Mark Bosnich will be writing a regular column for Wide World of Sports