Stevie Cooper

[BomberBowyer]

I feel for Steve. I know I have been slightly critical of him and I was probably leaning towards him being replaced but the way he has been hung out to dry by the players is disgusting. He doesn't deserve that and part of me now wants him to stay.

I knew you’d come round. 

Better the devil you know. You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Etc etc 

Players have shown themselves up as spoil kids 

Suspect Aurier is central to it

Thoight they have a decent relationship to be fair - more looking at the difference between last year when everyone on board to this year - it'd be the new breed i'd be looking at

I think it’s probably new players not liking his style/low block etc but also few existing players not getting a look in. Not saying it is any of these but what baffles me in a way is go back to Chelsea. Worrall, McKenna and Yates putting bodies on the line to get a great win and then next game dropped to the bench or out of the squad and hardly a look in since. I know they may not be the best players we have but they always tried and what message does it send.

I would rather see players committing 100% to the cause than the supposedly better players performing with a superiority complex. We got promotion because of togetherness and we stayed up because of that same spirit. I don't get that that spirit still exists. Certainly not based on last night.

Yep I’m the same. Worrall and McKenna may not be the best but they always gave 100% and rather have them in the trenches with us than not. Which is what baffles me. Completely changed the defence for the game after that without them and they hardly had a look in since, in fact don’t think McKenna been seen since.

[Reds73]

According to reports, Worrall and McKenna banished from 1st team training.
Told not to turn up when senior players are present and both will leave in Jan.

Wonder if that is Coops decision ?
McKenna reportedly had a contractual issue with the club, but something clearly happened with Joe post the Luton debacle.

Sounds like a proper falling out that is irreparable.

Real shame it ended like this potentially for Coops and Joe.

A clear lack of leadership in the squad

[RyanR]

Worrall has reportedly been training alone for 3 weeks. Interesting timing for this to come out now… We’ve also had 5 different captains in the first 15 league games this season. I think that says all you need to know about leadership in the squad.

[ForestJono]

Telegraph article from this afternoon:


Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper is under increasing scrutiny after freezing out captain Joe Worrall but is expected to take the game at Wolves this weekend.

Cooper’s position as head coach is hanging in the balance as the club weigh up potential successors, with former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui among a number of candidates to be sounded out.

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is growing increasingly frustrated after an alarming run of one win in 11 matches and the club is actively seeking a replacement.

It has also emerged that Worrall, the defender, has been instructed to train with Scotland international Scott McKenna in a separate group away from the first-team.

Worrall and McKenna were two of Forest’s promotion heroes in the 2021/22 season and are now training together, seemingly out of Cooper’s plans.
McKenna’s situation is understood to be linked to a contract dispute which occurred before the 2-0 defeat at Manchester City on September 23. Marinakis has a fractious relationship with McKenna’s agent, who also looks after discarded Forest midfielder Harry Arter.

Marinakis stormed out of Craven Cottage on Wednesday night after the fourth goal in the 5-0 defeat by Fulham, hurling his match accreditation lanyard into a bush outside the stadium.



He is targeting a top-ten finish this season after spending another £100 million on new players over the summer.

Cooper is safe, for now, but only due to the lack of quality replacements and the fact that Forest are in a three-game week.

Saturday’s game at Molineux could be his final match, after just over two years in charge, if Forest can find an available alternative.

Cooper insists he cannot head into the Midlands derby fearing for his own future.

“When I walk out of here the only thing I’ll be focused on is the game against Wolves,” he said after the Fulham defeat. “I won’t walk out of here thinking about fearing for my job, that’s a terrible thing to think. All I will think about is changing last night into something more positive.

“It was a difficult night but we have got to do whatever it takes to make Saturday a much more positive day.

“It’s about standing right at the front and accepting responsibility for last night and doing everything we can to put it right.”

[nffc93]

Worrall has reportedly been training alone for 3 weeks. Interesting timing for this to come out now… We’ve also had 5 different captains in the first 15 league games this season. I think that says all you need to know about leadership in the squad.

Apparently Worrall's dad has leaked stuff out in the public domain.

I couldn't give a monkeys if he's sold on a perm in Jan. Fan or no fan. I don't like it. I didn't like his public interview about a move to the prem when we was in the Championship and I don't like this.

Get him gone.

[BomberBowyer]

According to reports, Worrall and McKenna banished from 1st team training.
Told not to turn up when senior players are present and both will leave in Jan.

Wonder if that is Coops decision ?
McKenna reportedly had a contractual issue with the club, but something clearly happened with Joe post the Luton debacle.

Sounds like a proper falling out that is irreparable.

Real shame it ended like this potentially for Coops and Joe.

A clear lack of leadership in the squad

Rumours are something to so with being dropped for Villa then a change of decision and being told to report for duty (as a sub) but refusing and going to play golf instead

[JoeWorrallsBrain]

Cooper might as well be strapped to a rocket on the sidelines against Wolves, because right after that game he's going to be fired right into the heart of the sun!

In all seriousness, it's overdue. The fans need hope, especially since Forest seem intent to sell off any young rising stars it might develop, and with Cooper there is no hope.

Only the extreme dreadfulness of the bottom 3 will keep Forest up this year, barring a DRASTIC turnaround.

[Red Dog]

Tend to agree. IF SC is to go and IF Lopetegi were to be his replacement, it would hardly be a good thing for him to be in charge at the dingledome...maybe even toxic

[ozzyten10]

Debated putting this on here.
“Cooper has all but gone. Lopetegui has been lined up for a while but he wants to start v Bournemouth at the earliest. He also has been to some home matches incognito. Glasner is also a contender but has reservations as his own stock is relatively high on the continent. Marinakis wants a big name and winning mentality. His dream is Jose mourinho - who has been approached (apparently in the Summer) and would be interested next summer if we were in a ‘stable’ position.
All is not well. Cooper is lauded as a great man manager but there have been some doubts to this. The turnover of players is actually something Cooper has been an advocate of as he likes 12 to 18 month windows to shape and develop players - some arguing that it is all he knows. Once players hit ceilings he likes to start again often dumping players who had total belief in him feeling a bit used. This is currently the issue with Worrall and to a certain extent Yates. Williams also has had a big run in with Steve.
Also some new players are really unhappy with the level of training and Steves insistence of not refreshing his back room staff is annoying those above him - his loyalty to the two Reid’s and Tate being a real bone of contention amongst players and those above.”

I was sent this after Everton and before the shit show last night.

[ozzyten10]

Without going too much into it - someone is briefing the press…

[The reds]

Without going too much into it - someone is briefing the press…

Sounds about right but I think Glasner is favourite for job now.

[Paplane]

Debated putting this on here.
“Cooper has all but gone. Lopetegui has been lined up for a while but he wants to start v Bournemouth at the earliest. He also has been to some home matches incognito. Glasner is also a contender but has reservations as his own stock is relatively high on the continent. Marinakis wants a big name and winning mentality. His dream is Jose mourinho - who has been approached (apparently in the Summer) and would be interested next summer if we were in a ‘stable’ position.
All is not well. Cooper is lauded as a great man manager but there have been some doubts to this. The turnover of players is actually something Cooper has been an advocate of as he likes 12 to 18 month windows to shape and develop players - some arguing that it is all he knows. Once players hit ceilings he likes to start again often dumping players who had total belief in him feeling a bit used. This is currently the issue with Worrall and to a certain extent Yates. Williams also has had a big run in with Steve.
Also some new players are really unhappy with the level of training and Steves insistence of not refreshing his back room staff is annoying those above him - his loyalty to the two Reid’s and Tate being a real bone of contention amongst players and those above.”

I was sent this after Everton and before the S**t show last night.

I was thinking about Jose mourinho today. Hes always had a really healthy respect for us as a club due to Cloughies exploits. I even googled who his agent is. Its no other than Mendes. Hes at Roma, a club recently linked to Marinakis.  Stop it Paps, its not happening.