Thoughts On The Next Nottingham Forest Manager

[Strawberry Avenger]

If he coaches the players and we actually look like we do training I'll take it.

Hope springs eternal.  :P

SA.

[zicorice]

Cooper would be another step back... I'm all for giving a new guy a chance but ffs we may as well accept relegation if we appoint cooper.

This appointment has to be right cooper is not the right one.

Wilder would be a good fit. Hell I'd take a foreign unknown over cooper.

If this is a Murphy appointment then we are in trouble.

In all honesty I can't claim I felt excited by the appointment  of the Taff but like you, I'm all for giving the new guy a chance. 

In my case this means 100% vocal support at games and giving him time before making tw@tty assumptions.

In your case it appears to be accepting relegation and announcing to us all that this is not the right appointment etc.. as its not the one you personally wanted.

Why not sign up to something new lad: Instead of constantly bleating about things, saying I told you so (by inference) and coming across as more negative than Hughtons tactics ever did, try focusing on some positive aspects hard as they have been to find.

Think about this: of the 20 odd managers who have tried and failed to get us up, they couldn't all be bad when you look at their track records. I suspect if we had given one or two more support and time we may have been better off. In particular Mark Warburton has come out the other side of a tough time and built a really dynamic looking QPR team. The game the other night vs Bournemouth was fantastic and despite QPR losing 2-1, it was obvious they have improved alot.

I read an article the other day that said the atmosphere at WFCG has become toxic and is similar to that of Sunderland and Ipswich in recent years-how are they doing?

Whilst I'm not suggesting happy clappers is the way forward, constructive criticism and debate are to be encouraged especially on here, but your post is neither.

I think the aim this season has to be to stay up, give the new guys a couple more transfer windows and see where we are. Unless results are disastrous then I am 100% behind Cooper (he looks better from behind anyway..). I hope as much of our fan base as possible do the same as it can help turn the tide.

How about you give him 10 games and see where we are at least? No? What about 5 then?

I will be vocal and I will support once the appointment is made. Now is the time though to be asking the questions.

You say give him 10 games. If/when he gets the job 10 games will not be enough he will just be getting to know the squad. He will need the season. The wrong appointment now will mean relegation. My opinion is that Cooper would be the wrong appointment that’s all. Very happy to be proven wrong...in fact I would like nothing more.

The only aim this season is staying up. Playing defence first football hasn’t worked so far this season and Cooper, traditionally, plays a defence first brand. Let’s hope we get the new manager bounce and it lasts 6 months

I’ll reiterate though... once he is in the hot seat he will have my full support

Kin ell, I'd hate to hear what you'd have had to say if the manager didn't have your full support...

It's clear he will be in the hot seat from 5pm tonight. Is that when you stop being negative?

[Strawberry Avenger]

Cooper would be another step back... I'm all for giving a new guy a chance but ffs we may as well accept relegation if we appoint cooper.

This appointment has to be right cooper is not the right one.

Wilder would be a good fit. Hell I'd take a foreign unknown over cooper.

If this is a Murphy appointment then we are in trouble.

In all honesty I can't claim I felt excited by the appointment  of the Taff but like you, I'm all for giving the new guy a chance. 

In my case this means 100% vocal support at games and giving him time before making tw@tty assumptions.

In your case it appears to be accepting relegation and announcing to us all that this is not the right appointment etc.. as its not the one you personally wanted.

Why not sign up to something new lad: Instead of constantly bleating about things, saying I told you so (by inference) and coming across as more negative than Hughtons tactics ever did, try focusing on some positive aspects hard as they have been to find.

Think about this: of the 20 odd managers who have tried and failed to get us up, they couldn't all be bad when you look at their track records. I suspect if we had given one or two more support and time we may have been better off. In particular Mark Warburton has come out the other side of a tough time and built a really dynamic looking QPR team. The game the other night vs Bournemouth was fantastic and despite QPR losing 2-1, it was obvious they have improved alot.

I read an article the other day that said the atmosphere at WFCG has become toxic and is similar to that of Sunderland and Ipswich in recent years-how are they doing?

Whilst I'm not suggesting happy clappers is the way forward, constructive criticism and debate are to be encouraged especially on here, but your post is neither.

I think the aim this season has to be to stay up, give the new guys a couple more transfer windows and see where we are. Unless results are disastrous then I am 100% behind Cooper (he looks better from behind anyway..). I hope as much of our fan base as possible do the same as it can help turn the tide.

How about you give him 10 games and see where we are at least? No? What about 5 then?

I will be vocal and I will support once the appointment is made. Now is the time though to be asking the questions.

You say give him 10 games. If/when he gets the job 10 games will not be enough he will just be getting to know the squad. He will need the season. The wrong appointment now will mean relegation. My opinion is that Cooper would be the wrong appointment that’s all. Very happy to be proven wrong...in fact I would like nothing more.

The only aim this season is staying up. Playing defence first football hasn’t worked so far this season and Cooper, traditionally, plays a defence first brand. Let’s hope we get the new manager bounce and it lasts 6 months

I’ll reiterate though... once he is in the hot seat he will have my full support

Most managers get 10 games on average to see if things are working.  If it isn't, he'll meet the same fate as all the other 'potentials.'

This appointment has to be the right one or Forest are going down.

I suspect many see what Wilder has done with a robust brand of football and some innovation in style of play on the front foot, and having had a traditional 'strong character' in Clough probably see that 'old school' charm and innovation.  But I don't see the current hierarchy copying with a 'strong character.'  Aitor.  O'Neil.  Keane.  All gone.  Pity.  I think he's closer to the 'Forest Way' than Cooper. A manager who has done it in most of the divisions. He's got promotions. He's clearly a player's manager.

Cooper will have at leat my 'tacit' support.  (In that, all Forest fans have their 'fantasy' of the ideal manager to be appointed.). Nobody wants to see any managers fail (well, I don't...especially before they've kicked a ball in anger...). I never wanted any of the managers sacked (particularly Davies or O'Neil.).  Some may argue, I'll play devil's advocate, that he builds from the back with a counter attacking style of football.  Isn't that what Brian Clough did?  (He'll still need to find someone to score the goals.  And the lightweights up front can't hold the ball up...so Forest perhaps need to be disapproptionaley defensive as Hughton found out.  The recruitment didn't support what Hughton wanted to do.  In that regard, Hughton was shafted.  He got 2 games with 'his' own squad after waiting (almost) a year for his 'own' players.  But he's gone.). He's had two good seasons with Swansea (but they've been a progressive club, been in the Premier...and in terms of a club, he had that advantage. A club that knew what they wanted and had succession planning. For a some while. We'll see how that works at 'just got a new plan' and 'can we stick with it' Forest.

Regardless.  The immediate concern is safety from the drop zone.  It's possible.  Sheff U have started to pull away.  (But they have a stronger base of playing staff than Forest have.)

Whether you have defensive, counter attacking or high press / high octane attack or possession based football.  It boils down to this.  Have you got good enough players for the style of football being played.  The evidence so far suggests we haven't got the players for a defensive brand of football or the robust attack to sustain an attacking brand of football.  We can shoot the messenger (manager) but if you don't buy a quality striker, you either coach one (can you?) or bring one in.

It boils down to exceptional recruitment.  (This forum voted '6.5' that's above average.  Not good.  Certainly not excellent with the glaring omission of a striker.). That doesn't necessarily mean spending £13 million on an unproven player.  That would be crazy.

I'm just curious what the 'new guy' does. (I'm thinking magic wand, a ritual in the centre circle with a priest and holy water or getting A Block to do a Ministry of Funny Walks on the Pitch before kick off.)

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Cooper would be another step back... I'm all for giving a new guy a chance but ffs we may as well accept relegation if we appoint cooper.

This appointment has to be right cooper is not the right one.

Wilder would be a good fit. Hell I'd take a foreign unknown over cooper.

If this is a Murphy appointment then we are in trouble.

In all honesty I can't claim I felt excited by the appointment  of the Taff but like you, I'm all for giving the new guy a chance. 

In my case this means 100% vocal support at games and giving him time before making tw@tty assumptions.

In your case it appears to be accepting relegation and announcing to us all that this is not the right appointment etc.. as its not the one you personally wanted.

Why not sign up to something new lad: Instead of constantly bleating about things, saying I told you so (by inference) and coming across as more negative than Hughtons tactics ever did, try focusing on some positive aspects hard as they have been to find.

Think about this: of the 20 odd managers who have tried and failed to get us up, they couldn't all be bad when you look at their track records. I suspect if we had given one or two more support and time we may have been better off. In particular Mark Warburton has come out the other side of a tough time and built a really dynamic looking QPR team. The game the other night vs Bournemouth was fantastic and despite QPR losing 2-1, it was obvious they have improved alot.

I read an article the other day that said the atmosphere at WFCG has become toxic and is similar to that of Sunderland and Ipswich in recent years-how are they doing?

Whilst I'm not suggesting happy clappers is the way forward, constructive criticism and debate are to be encouraged especially on here, but your post is neither.

I think the aim this season has to be to stay up, give the new guys a couple more transfer windows and see where we are. Unless results are disastrous then I am 100% behind Cooper (he looks better from behind anyway..). I hope as much of our fan base as possible do the same as it can help turn the tide.

How about you give him 10 games and see where we are at least? No? What about 5 then?

I will be vocal and I will support once the appointment is made. Now is the time though to be asking the questions.

You say give him 10 games. If/when he gets the job 10 games will not be enough he will just be getting to know the squad. He will need the season. The wrong appointment now will mean relegation. My opinion is that Cooper would be the wrong appointment that’s all. Very happy to be proven wrong...in fact I would like nothing more.

The only aim this season is staying up. Playing defence first football hasn’t worked so far this season and Cooper, traditionally, plays a defence first brand. Let’s hope we get the new manager bounce and it lasts 6 months

I’ll reiterate though... once he is in the hot seat he will have my full support

Kin ell, I'd hate to hear what you'd have had to say if the manager didn't have your full support...

It's clear he will be in the hot seat from 5pm tonight. Is that when you stop being negative?

When Sky start reporting the compensation fee is settled, we can probably guess it's a 'done deal.'

SA.

[Paplane]

My view is that I'm not totally enamoured by Cooper but if he's Murphy's pick then I'm happy to back both guys and see how they get on. I'm not totally convinced by this new stats approach but I'm always glass half full so prepared to reserve my judgement for now.

What I would say is that if Cooper's formation is so similar to Hughton's then it might be a fairly seamless transition for the players. But we might not get a new manager bounce (as the opposition know what how to set up against us if not much changes).

Will hopefully see some improvement in players as they benefit from an improved level of coaching, which in my opinion has been the thing that has been really lacking in the last year.

[wassy04]

My view is that I'm not totally enamoured by Cooper but if he's Murphy's pick then I'm happy to back both guys and see how they get on. I'm not totally convinced by this new stats approach but I'm always glass half full so prepared to reserve my judgement for now.

What I would say is that if Cooper's formation is so similar to Hughton's then it might be a fairly seamless transition for the players. But we might not get a new manager bounce (as the opposition know what how to set up against us if not much changes).

Will hopefully see some improvement in players as they benefit from an improved level of coaching, which in my opinion has been the thing that has been really lacking in the last year.

In that article about Cooper I liked the bit about him being obsessed with tactics and detail. You definitely couldn't say the same about CH.

He's highly rated and been considered for higher posts. Tbh I'm surprised he wants the Forest job I think he could do better with his CV. 

That said the football will likely be similarly dull to under CH meaning he's relying on winning games to won the fans over like Sabri did.

[JWJW]

What does Cooper do ?

BASICS.

Under Hughton 90% of the time we had a throw in we gave the ball away.

Under Hughton 90% of the time the opposition had a throw in they kept possession.

Under Hughton most of the time its passed around the back then hoofed up front and possession lost.


Cooper all about being smart, keeping possession and if you lose possession you aggressively get the ball back.


That is going to be a massive change in the way this team plays - simple - get the ball and keep the ball.

[Strawberry Avenger]

What does Cooper do ?

BASICS.

Under Hughton 90% of the time we had a throw in we gave the ball away.

Under Hughton 90% of the time the opposition had a throw in they kept possession.

Under Hughton most of the time its passed around the back then hoofed up front and possession lost.


Cooper all about being smart, keeping possession and if you lose possession you aggressively get the ball back.


That is going to be a massive change in the way this team plays - simple - get the ball and keep the ball.

We'll see. :)

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

My view is that I'm not totally enamoured by Cooper but if he's Murphy's pick then I'm happy to back both guys and see how they get on. I'm not totally convinced by this new stats approach but I'm always glass half full so prepared to reserve my judgement for now.

What I would say is that if Cooper's formation is so similar to Hughton's then it might be a fairly seamless transition for the players. But we might not get a new manager bounce (as the opposition know what how to set up against us if not much changes).

Will hopefully see some improvement in players as they benefit from an improved level of coaching, which in my opinion has been the thing that has been really lacking in the last year.

In that article about Cooper I liked the bit about him being obsessed with tactics and detail. You definitely couldn't say the same about CH.

He's highly rated and been considered for higher posts. Tbh I'm surprised he wants the Forest job I think he could do better with his CV. 

That said the football will likely be similarly dull to under CH meaning he's relying on winning games to won the fans over like Sabri did.

He'll need to be.

I think Forest is still an attractive job.  (Though the pile of dead bodies of former managers may put off those of a more timid disposition.)

Swansea seemed to play some 'good' stuff under Cooper, to be fair.  But he did have a striker?  That always helps.  Watching them on Quest (I watched quite a bit of their highlights) they seemed solid, could break at pace and hurt you with some good goals from their front men.  Seemed to have possession.  Tenacious at getting the ball back.  

It was only 'latterly' that I've heard talk about him being Hughton 2.0.  Or 'boring.'  (To be fair, how many managers now have been pedestrian, agricultural, tepid or 'boring.'  They all played this 4-2-3-1.).  

To be honest, much of their approach I could see 'old Forest' at work. A tenacious tightness not to concede and be solid at the back, break at pace and 'bang' yer 'dead' style counter attacks. I didn't find it unpalatable to look at. It seemed very clinical. But for a 'bad run' (every team has them) they'd be in the Premier.

Though he was thoroughly undone by an out and out footballing side in Brentford who deserved their promotion.  (Any team that sticks at it for ten years...)

Both Wilder's Sheff U and Brentford (both teams, I thought were far more adventurous) got promoted and Cooper didn't.  Though he got 'close.'

We wanted the Coach model with Sabri.  Have we changed with plan B?  Or the illusion of change?  Will Cooper be manager or 'head coach (dreadful term...). It will be interesting to see.  I'm quizzical.  But during a period of change, any fan is entitled to ask questions. Who? What? How? (In Forest's case...). When?

Soon, it seems.

SA.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Anyone else think we should stick with Reid for now and wait for Sean Dyche’s inevitable sacking? I win in 13 now for Burnley, lack of investment is the problem but the manager always takes the blame in the end.
Former academy player, brings Woany and Stevie Stone with him, whats not to like.

[Plymouth red]

Anyone else think we should stick with Reid for now and wait for Sean Dyche’s inevitable sacking? I win in 13 now for Burnley, lack of investment is the problem but the manager always takes the blame in the end.
Former academy player, brings Woany and Stevie Stone with him, whats not to like.

Not sure - i would have thought it would have been dyche quitting rather than getting the sacked - but with a four year deal just signed, that ship has sailed. I think burnley will stick with him, even if relegated.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Yeah, after I wrote that I have just seen that he has signed a new contract, he probably isnt going anywhere is he. Wishful thinking.