Steve Cooper will always be the MAN!

[Gyros Peter]

First off I'm pleased at this point Coops seems to still have a job with us. I did wonder if he would get a stay of execution due to playing on a Monday, since there's less time to prepare. Hopefully though it's more us showing commitment to allowing him the (precious commodity of) time to turn things round, based in his previous with us.

I've read lots about the things that are holding us back at the minute - obviously we've bought players in and they need time to gel, but for me much of it is tactical. If I can see the midfield isn't working why can't Coops?

And honestly, the lineup yesterday was a set up to fail moment for me - Cook and McKenna in a 4 man? Lingard, BJ and MGW is at least one too many luxuries. I love Cooper, but he has to adapt and learn fast, since at this point in time the way we are set up is playing into our opponents hands...

I'm not sure I can even see what we are trying to achieve tactically - I assumed we were going to set up to hit sides quickly on the break, especially away from home, but that's built in solid foundations, which we currently don't have. And the whole shit yourself when a goal goes in doesn't help.

Back to basics for me I'm afraid - at some point we have to start setting up with less up top and more behind. A midfield would be nice. I just hope Mangala coming back and to a lesser extent Frueler adapting helps us out, because make no mistake, I want Cooper in this post and want him to succeed.

If he doesn't I fear it will be due to whatever has gone off with the contract and a naive tactical approach to life in the PL so far... he's a smart man, so I hope he can adapt, and that he gets the chance to do so.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

First off I'm pleased at this point Coops seems to still have a job with us. I did wonder if he would get a stay of execution due to playing on a Monday, since there's less time to prepare. Hopefully though it's more us showing commitment to allowing him the (precious commodity of) time to turn things round, based in his previous with us.

I've read lots about the things that are holding us back at the minute - obviously we've bought players in and they need time to gel, but for me much of it is tactical. If I can see the midfield isn't working why can't Coops?

And honestly, the lineup yesterday was a set up to fail moment for me - Cook and McKenna in a 4 man? Lingard, BJ and MGW is at least one too many luxuries. I love Cooper, but he has to adapt and learn fast, since at this point in time the way we are set up is playing into our opponents hands...

I'm not sure I can even see what we are trying to achieve tactically - I assumed we were going to set up to hit sides quickly on the break, especially away from home, but that's built in solid foundations, which we currently don't have. And the whole shit yourself when a goal goes in doesn't help.

Back to basics for me I'm afraid - at some point we have to start setting up with less up top and more behind. A midfield would be nice. I just hope Mangala coming back and to a lesser extent Frueler adapting helps us out, because make no mistake, I want Cooper in this post and want him to succeed.

If he doesn't I fear it will be due to whatever has gone off with the contract and a naive tactical approach to life in the PL so far... he's a smart man, so I hope he can adapt, and that he gets the chance to do so.

With all due respect mate, you come across as a skysports zombie.

Therz fukin millyuns onnum !

 

[Gyros Peter]

With all due respect mate, you come across as a skysports zombie.

Therz fukin millyuns onnum !

As if you read it that quick.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

As if you read it that quick.

Am on the ball same as Yates !

 

[Redemption]

I do not know how characteristic of the entire Forest fanbase this forum is, but I get the impression that the problem with EM's ownership of Forest is not his decisions, or his intentions, or his level of support but the fact that he is, at least most of the times, out of sync with the mentality of the majority of the fanbase.

This us a cheap shot, but it's not his club.

It's ours.

Some of us were supporting Forest when it was a members club.

We've outlived endless owners. Some better than others.

I'm sure this is true in Greece as it here; every football has its own culture because its history is different.

We want the same things as then owner, but our journeys are different.

I think the biggest thing is manager - we want a leader with longevity. If the trend is for short-lived we want to buck the trend. We've done the fly-by-night management process for 30 years.

Cooper is the first manager that gets us; he gets our club. It's not just about winning - we had managers who could win, but they were never close like Cooper is.

Marinakis runs a big risk getting rid of a manager with big support.

He should look what happened to the iconic McLeish. He came, stayed for a few weeks and left. He could have won every game while he was in charge, he'd have still gone.

We're great at supporting the club (see below). We're better at bringing it to its knees.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1577032693774065665

 

[SouthManchesterTree]

1st post guys, so go easy on me!
I feel very strongly that Steve Cooper has been absolutely hung out to dry here. He’s the best manager we’ve had for a generation and deserves some loyalty from those running the place. I can’t believe he asked for all of those signings, particularly when so few (none) were the critical loanees from last season. What the hell we were doing signing Lingard, Kouyate (both now PL overpaid hasbeens) and Awoniyi (who’s touch and hold up play is utterly terrible) in particularly I don’t know.
Add that to the incredible money we threw at Wolves for MGW, who is actually very promising IMO, but still way short of the finished article.
On the flip side I do believe there are some very good players amongst the newbies - Mangala and Niakhate are class, Freuler has to be given time to get up to PL speed as he’s quality too (I watched him play for Switzerland on the box last week and he is good), O’Brien will be a PL player for years - he struggled last night cos he was totally overrun/ outnumbered…. I also believe Richards will be excellent and don’t think we’d have bothered with Lodi if he hadn’t been injured. Jury is out on Dennis for me - he seems to be grossly shy of confidence at the moment. The big misses for me we’re not signing Garner and Davis… I particularly think Davis as he’s so strong and holds the ball up brilliantly and guess what we’re not getting much of the ball in the PL, so your striker holding it up is critical …… hence why I’m so disappointed in Awoniyi.
It should also be pretty clear to everyone now that our local heroes (Worrall and Yates) are sadly out of their depth - real shame because I love what they bring to the club.
All that said, we are where we are and it’s time for some bravery from Coops …. next team for me;
Henderson
Aurier Boly Niakhate Lodi
Mangala Freuler O’Brien
MGW Dennis Johnson

Tin hat on for the replies!

Great line-up

 

[Project Zeus]

Marinakis runs a big risk getting rid of a manager with big support.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1577032693774065665

I was thinking this earlier. Marinakis could lose a significant portion of the fanbase by sacking Cooper prematurely.

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

 

[football post]

It's not the gaps between the set up.

Its the personnel between the gaps.

 

[glosterred]

I was thinking this earlier. Marinakis could lose a significant portion of the fanbase by sacking Cooper prematurely.

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

This has to be a factor for him doesn't it? As long as the fans are on side (and long may that continue) does he really want to bring the attention to himself?

 

[BryanRoy22]

I think the biggest thing is manager - we want a leader with longevity. If the trend is for short-lived we want to buck the trend. We've done the fly-by-night management process for 30 years.

We've also done the multiple signing routine under Fawaz.

Let's bring in a big name like Bendtner, which reminds me of the Lingard signing.

We don't want that. We want stability and consistency. Grafters who want to play for the shirt.

 

[siforest65]

My view for what it’s worth. Since that day at Wembley, Forest have made some huge cock ups. The lack of shirt sponsor (which tbh I think will now last until the end of this season) and way certain fans have been excluded from having a chance to see them play live amongst them. Hopefully getting rid of Cooper isn’t added to that list.

I’m glad that Cooper is retaining support with fans at the matches, he’s earned that leeway and I will never forget the memories he’s given me and hopefully continues to do so.

 

[Otis Redding]

To his credit, Henry Winter has frequently made a point of praising the Forest support and highlighting how he enjoys the CG atmosphere in comparison to many in the PL.

 

[andover red]

First off I'm pleased at this point Coops seems to still have a job with us. I did wonder if he would get a stay of execution due to playing on a Monday, since there's less time to prepare. Hopefully though it's more us showing commitment to allowing him the (precious commodity of) time to turn things round, based in his previous with us.

I've read lots about the things that are holding us back at the minute - obviously we've bought players in and they need time to gel, but for me much of it is tactical. If I can see the midfield isn't working why can't Coops?

And honestly, the lineup yesterday was a set up to fail moment for me - Cook and McKenna in a 4 man? Lingard, BJ and MGW is at least one too many luxuries. I love Cooper, but he has to adapt and learn fast, since at this point in time the way we are set up is playing into our opponents hands...

I'm not sure I can even see what we are trying to achieve tactically - I assumed we were going to set up to hit sides quickly on the break, especially away from home, but that's built in solid foundations, which we currently don't have. And the whole shit yourself when a goal goes in doesn't help.

Back to basics for me I'm afraid - at some point we have to start setting up with less up top and more behind. A midfield would be nice. I just hope Mangala coming back and to a lesser extent Frueler adapting helps us out, because make no mistake, I want Cooper in this post and want him to succeed.

If he doesn't I fear it will be due to whatever has gone off with the contract and a naive tactical approach to life in the PL so far... he's a smart man, so I hope he can adapt, and that he gets the chance to do so.

Couldn't agree more with this.

I get the feeling that most forest fans want SC to succeed. In fact it seems they want it so badly it hurts. There is such good will for him that he needs to do only the minimum to keep fans on his side.

The problem is he's not achieving even the minimum. Nobody thought it would be easy and most expected a struggle. Being bottom is not the end of the world. But firstly we need to see improvement. Slow and steady would be fine, but things are getting worse in a hurry and that can't continue.

Secondly he needs to learn lessons. Making the same tactical mistakes over and over is worrying and surprising. Slow and immobile pairings at the back are being punished. The luxury attacking trio of BJ, MGW and JL can't be afforded - even worse when there is no striker to play off. And it's been obvious for weeks that 2 in the middle leads to us being dominated.

Back to basics Steve. Make us hard to beat. Compete. And then we'll back you to the end.

 

[Coop’s learning curve.]

But… that is exactly what Awoniyi did for - then lower-mid table - 1. FC Union Berlin.

Their Swiss Coach, Urs Fischer, who has led them from the 2. Bundesliga into the top flight, knew that man-for-man, they were not match for some of the supposed „top“ sides, so he developing a high-energy pressing game, with an aggressive defence, and mobile midfielders, and Awoniyi roaming around up top as a mobile target, waiting for explosive counter-attacks to develop.

Act as the focal point of the attack, make runs, drag defenders out of position, and bully them when through-balls were played in to him. He scored 15 goals last season, doing that.

'waiting for explosive counter-attacks to develop'... aren't we all.

 

[HBB]

'waiting for explosive counter-attacks to develop'... aren't we all.

Well my home made vindaloo puts me well ahead of the crowd on this one ....

 

[BryanRoy22]

Well my home made vindaloo puts me well ahead of the crowd on this one ....

As it is National curry week, we all need to get it down us and out of us.

Having a good clear out couldn't be more appropriate right now. Starting with Lingard. Flush the chain. Hard.

 

[NFFCMagz]

Well my home made vindaloo puts me well ahead of the crowd on this one ....

Ah shat mi'sen many a time on the night bus 'om after a vindaloo at City Spice on Thurland Street at 3am in the morning, usually having failed to woo some big lass in the Palais.

They used to get their grandad up - in his wee willy winkie nightgown and babouche shoes - to help bring us our grub and booze, bless him.

Thum woh the dayz.

 

[BryanRoy22]

I fancy a takeaway. Chicken jalfrezi is the one. When the driver arrives I will tell him all about Stevie Cooper.

 

[GreeksBearingGifts]

This us a cheap shot, but it's not his club.

It's ours.

Some of us were supporting Forest when it was a members club.

We've outlived endless owners. Some better than others.

I'm sure this is true in Greece as it here; every football has its own culture because its history is different.

We want the same things as then owner, but our journeys are different.

I think the biggest thing is manager - we want a leader with longevity. If the trend is for short-lived we want to buck the trend. We've done the fly-by-night management process for 30 years.

Cooper is the first manager that gets us; he gets our club. It's not just about winning - we had managers who could win, but they were never close like Cooper is.

Marinakis runs a big risk getting rid of a manager with big support.

He should look what happened to the iconic McLeish. He came, stayed for a few weeks and left. He could have won every game while he was in charge, he'd have still gone.

We're great at supporting the club (see below). We're better at bringing it to its knees.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1577032693774065665

I have a feeling that you think I disagree with that. I most certainly don't. It's precisely the point I've been trying to make.

To add to what you're saying, he should be paying more attention to fan culture and mentality over there than over here. Here, he is a fan as well as an owner. He grew up in the dressing room. And like all fans without professional football knowledge, he thinks he knows better than anyone else. Over there, he is mostly the owner of a business; he should, accordingly, be paying more attention to the customers' wishes.

 

[JohhnyM]

The vast majority on here seem to think SC should stay, come what may, because of what he did last season. Most posters then go on to say how they wish he’d play a different team, formation and / or tactics.

Can someone please articulate what he’s actually done THIS season to demonstrate he’s the right man at this level?

Not looking for a fight, just some inspiration, because I love him too.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

View attachment 16651

 

[RussC]

I think changing the manager could do that yes.

Zero chance Rafa would remain here in the championship, I won’t comment on him again as I’ve made it very clear I don’t like him.

You can say x manager 100% will relegate us but I think Cooper will do the same, id much rather the club make a change in the dugout if it’s becoming clear there’s not going to be a change on the pitch.

We’ve lost to multiple teams who are going to be in the bottom 6/7 with us, if we’d played 8 and lost to Arsenal, United, Liverpool and Chelsea as well as the City and Spurs games I doubt he would be under pressure but we’ve lost to Bournemouth, Everton, Fulham and then bottom off the league Leicester.

It is possible for someone to think extremely highly of Cooper and still believe he’s cocking it up.

It’s not personal it’s an opinion on his ability as a premier league football manager not an opinion on if he’s a good bloke.

If our plan was to maybe stay up but build again in the championship we shouldn’t of bothered spending 100 odd million.

100% agree with this.

 

[Cortez the Killer]

I think this thread needs the word STILL inserting between the 'is' and 'the'.

Sent from my SM-G780G using Tapatalk

 

[Malwood]

The vast majority on here seem to think SC should stay, come what may, because of what he did last season. Most posters then go on to say how they wish he’d play a different team, formation and / or tactics.

This is exactly what I think. The winter break means it's really two separate seasons. I really hope the board give Steve the chance to to start again in January.

 

[Redemption]

The vast majority on here seem to think SC should stay, come what may, because of what he did last season. Most posters then go on to say how they wish he’d play a different team, formation and / or tactics.

Can someone please articulate what he’s actually done THIS season to demonstrate he’s the right man at this level?

Not looking for a fight, just some inspiration, because I love him too.

I'm not one of the fans that offers constant advice and criticism of manager. I might review the game and pass comment, but formation, tactics and personnel- well, I leave it to the gaffer.

And I've watched the last games same as everyone and the performance trend had worsened.

So why would anyone back then manager?

His track record speaks for itself. It comes down to whether you believe he has enough in his locker to overcome this current malaise?

I believe he does. But I cant be certain. So I accept there are risks in persisting with him and backing him to get it right.

There are two risks. First, he gets it right but its too late for survival? Well, I'd back him to make a good fist of another promotion race, wouldn't you?

Second, what if he never gets it right? Then there'll come a time for all if us where you just accept that its time. Is that after 8 games? For me, a good model would be Calderwood after his promotion campaign. Half a season was a fair test.

Its not about what I've seen. It's about what I belive for the future, even if it might be powered by sentimentality.

There's no shame in being sentimental about a manager who broke us free from the 23 year cycle of incompetence. At least for a while longer.