One of the biggest reasons why we love Steve Cooper? Is that he understands people… He understands ‘us’ as Nottingham Forest fans, and he understands ‘our’ needs and demands (even when sometimes unrealistic). Now, we don’t expect Harlem Globetrotters all of the time, we certainly want to play the right way, but first and foremost be competitive, as the Welshman often echoes, ‘be the best version of ourselves’.
It’s no secret, since the 4-0 demolition by Leicester, that Forest have been better organised defensively in the Premier League, they had to be, from a team conceding 16 goals in their previous four games, to one that has conceded two in their last three, stripped back, yes, we may now be suffering in the final third, lacking in the net bulging department somewhat, but a goals for and against column in those last three games of minus two, rather than the previous four matches efforts of minus twelve, well I would certainly say myself, that’s progress.
Post Spurs, where I think Forest played really well against ‘Champions League’ opponents… We got it wrong against Manchester City, in the wake that they can smash anyone out of sight, my concern at the time was the infliction of a big beating, would knock confidence as much to say our players would be thinking, we’re not as good as we thought, and the aftereffects certainly suffered within, our captain and talisman, leader of last season, Joe Worrall, has since found himself a bit part player.
Against Bournemouth, he was at fault for their leveller when his man, Dominic Solanke scored from a set play, Jesse Lingard, perhaps even Dean Henderson, at fault for the first, when Philip Billing shot from long range, Scott McKenna, most certainly at fault for the last, but Forest themselves, in all departments, were far from good that day, stumbling somehow, into a 2-0 first half lead, they were naïve and never shown up in an even worse second half of agonising football, that 45 minutes probably the difference between Forest being mid-table now, and full of confidence, or bottom of the pile, and zapped of everything they’ve got.
I remember standing on the steps at the back of the Main Stand talking to a friend before that very game against the Cherries, saying “City wasn’t important, but the next six games were, Forest get eight points and it’s a good return, giving us a chance to stay up this season”… Those six games have all now been played, Forest returning just two back in total.
Had the Reds managed my feasible target, of eight, not just my target, but many fans’ predicted targets against opponents, in and around the Reds own league position, the sort of sides we should be taking points off, to have a chance of survival, then with those six extra points, Steve Cooper’s side would be sitting twelfth in the division right now… Currently occupied by Fulham.
The Cottagers themselves came to the City Ground on a Friday night and in fairness to Forest, despite defeat that night, they were unlucky to lose, both sides gave it a go and played some cracking football, but the result, a 3-2 defeat, hurt, and the 4-0 thumping by Leicester 16 days later, was the final straw.
Whilst many in the media pushed the Cooper out inevitabilities, people in these parts, knew better, we knew the Reds Head Coach was not the man to be blamed, we knew he deserved time, having seen 23 players come through the door over recent weeks, it was always going to be a slow process to forge a new team with new identity under his stewardship, and the club put their faith behind their man, who has since proved an adaptable coach, and one who the players are certainly still playing for.
Granted, Villa wasn’t great, but we didn’t lose, and fair that Wolves was even worse, but we should have drawn that game, and against Brighton, well a first clean sheet on the road this season, a nil-nil at a side we would probably have taken a draw against before the season had even started, it’s not a bad result at all…
I believe in stripping the Reds back to basics, Forest now have better foundations to build on to a more prosperous season ahead. Liverpool on Saturday is a monumental task yes, one which everyone in football will say we’ll probably fail in, but one which our players, like they didn’t do against Manchester City, can prove within themselves, that they can still compete against the elite.
Win or lose on Saturday, our season won’t be defined by how we do against those at the top of the division, but come Christmas once the World Cup has been and gone, fresh from our break, if we still have a fighting chance, and still have Cooper in charge, I’ll certainly back our boys for an improved 2023. You only have to look at the efforts of Newcastle United last season to see that relegation, is never decided in October.
*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).
*Main image @NFFC Forest drew at Brighton & Hove Albion last night.
