It is not just matters on the pitch which have been in the spotlight at Nottingham Forest this week.
A run of five straight defeats has left the Reds propping up the Premier League table, and has also led to owner Evangelos Marinakis considering making a number of changes. Head coach Steve Cooper has been under intense pressure, while chief executive Dane Murphy and two of the recruitment team are at risk of losing their jobs.
There was a lot to discuss when Forest reporter Sarah Clapson held a live webchat. Here’s how the Q&A panned out.
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Q: What's the truth about the feeling in the club? Of course there's speculation in a bid to get clicks or sell papers but what is the feeling in the club? My perspective is that 12 months ago we were bottom of the Championship with one point and a squad that wasn't good enough. Enter Cooper and we win promotion. This season with so many new faces and people saying the squad isn't good enough, I think Cooper is the man to do the job. I've seen enough of most players (and you see what they do on International duty) to see that the talent is there but it's the cohesion and trust between them that's missing. The international break far from giving Cooper time with the squad actually worked against us as 13 went away on international duty. Give them time!! If we get relegated, stick with them. One or two will leave but the majority are young enough and good enough to stay and win promotion again. Change manager and all we'll see is more spending and more players (more expensive ones who want a big pay day and won't play in the Championship). In Cooper we trust!
A: Fully agree with you, I'd stick with Cooper come what may this season. And he certainly deserves time and patience. Would be an impossible job for almost any manager, trying to get so many new players to gel and find your best team, let alone for one who is new to the Premier League himself.
Cooper is a terrific man-manager. You'd back him to get the best out of the squad eventually - because, you're right, there is quality there - but that was never going to happen immediately. Players are only human; takes time to develop relationships and connections on the pitch. Good point also about the international break, Cooper only had a couple of days to work with the entire squad as a lot had gone away with their countries.
Think it's fair to question some of Cooper's tactics and team selections so far this season. But he is still a very good coach. If/when he does leave, have no doubt he'll be a success elsewhere. Plenty of other clubs would love to have him, which should say a lot.
Ultimately, though, it will be the owner who makes the decision. He's an ambitious man who has invested a lot of money into the club, including over the summer. Sitting bottom of the table is not where he will want to be after spending upwards of £140m in the transfer window.
Personally, think there should be some degree of realism and perspective about this season. As you mentioned, important to remember where Forest were this time 12 months ago. Cooper said himself in his press conference ahead of Leicester, if you'd have offered him being in this position then (i.e. competing in the PL), he'd have snapped your hand off - everyone would have. This season was always going to be tough; spending lots of money and making statement signings wasn't going to change that.
Q: Why three at the back and not four?
A: In fairness, it was a four at the back on Monday night and that didn't exactly go to plan, either. Whether it's a back three or four, for me, getting midfield right is key. Defence needs more protection - and not just from the midfield, everyone has a part to play. Lack of pressing and fighting to win the ball was a concern against Leicester.
One way or another, need to get a settled side in place, have some consistency week to week. But as already mentioned, that comes with time and isn't helped by the summer overhaul. It is essentially having to go through the process you would usually go through in pre-season (manager getting to know players, players getting to know each other, finding out what works) during the season. Cooper isn't one to make excuses, but he has been very candid in acknowledging those challenges.
Q: Cooper has not covered himself in glory but let's not forget how he got us playing. To change now would be stupid. I would consider the scouts though.. if these are their signings. Williams can't defend, most can't get fit, keeper is sketchy and Lingard has been beyond poor.
A: Would say 'not covered himself in glory' is a little harsh. Can certainly question some of his decisions, and he'd be the first to admit he's not always got it right (benefit of hindsight is wonderful). But there have been some glimmers of hope - admittedly not so much in recent games. Up until the second half against Bournemouth, though, I'd have said it was a decent start to the season.
After the defeat to Spurs, I genuinely thought if the team played like that most weeks, they'd be okay. Just not got back to that kind of level, though, unfortunately. And a big thing has been lack of game management - something Cooper has spoken about. Once Forest concede one goal, they then look vulnerable to conceding another soon after. Desperately need to change that and avoid it becoming a mental stumbling block.
On the summer signings, it has certainly been a mixed bag. In reality, though, that was probably likely to be the case when 22 new arrivals come in. Almost every signing at any club is something of a gamble - nobody can ever say for certain how it is going to pan out. Perhaps a player like Haaland aside.
Out of 22 new signings, there was always a chance that not all of them would work out. Some have done okay, others have not made anywhere near the impact it was hoped they would - although neither have Forest as a collective.
Q: There are reports that not only Cooper, but also Dane and the recruitment team will be replaced. If we are to change manager, surely we need the CEO to be making this decision to ensure the manager fits in with the philosophy we want as a club? As such would the club pick a new CEO first before a new manager? Furthermore wouldn’t the manager then pick the recruitment team otherwise it smacks as others selecting.
A: Would like to think there would be some joined-up thinking when it comes to making big calls like that. But there's a fair bit of uncertainty around, which definitely doesn't help matters.
The suggestion was the CEO and recruitment staff could be in danger of being let go first, before any kind of call is made over the manager. On Murphy, Syrianos and Scott, was told that there was a chance they could go within a matter of days.
Lee Charnley, who is already at the club in an advisory role, could take up the chief exec job. If that is the case, seems likely that would happen fairly quickly.
For me, a big reason for sticking with Cooper would be because of the philosophy at the club which you mentioned. In danger of ripping up some good work and starting a dangerous cycle again. Because that's what has happened before, isn't it - manager comes in, wants his own staff and players, has his own ideas, that doesn't work and then you have to start all over again when he's replaced. That instability and constant change has been damaging before.
Cooper has laid some foundations. There's an ideology which extends beyond the first-team and through the age groups - and would add to that, a different manager might not 'get' the academy in the same way he does. All of that **should** count in his favour. Likewise for when it comes to considering changing other key figures, we've seen how beneficial cohesion through the different layers of a club can be.
For something to work, you need people to be on the same page. Sincerely hope all of that comes into play. But we all know, there can be a big difference between an ideal world and the reality of football.
Q: Do you think we would have been better signing our loans from last season instead of 24 new players? Would you prefer Keinan Davis ahead of Awoniyi? I would. Would you prefer Samba ahead of Henderson? I would. Would you prefer Djed Spence ahead of Neco Williams? I would. I knew this was going to be a bumpy ride but this is getting ridiculous already.
A: Would have been great to have seen at least some of the loan players back. Just unfortunate really that circumstances didn't work out.
Manchester United didn't make a decision on Garner's future until very late in the window, and by then Forest had already strengthened in midfield. Likewise, they didn't want to miss out on signing Williams while waiting to see what happened with Spence. Villa put too high a price tag on Davis. Meanwhile, Zinc had been inconsistent last season.
Agree, it would have helped with retaining that team spirit which was so key last season to have kept more of the players who were integral to promotion. But in a fair few cases, the club had little choice but to consider other options. Same with Samba and also Grabban - Samba made it clear he wanted to leave, Cooper was really keen for Grabban to stay but he turned down a new contract.
What do you think about the latest goings-on at the City Ground? Have your say in the comments below
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