Nottingham Forest fans must retain a sense of perspective after Saturday's Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.
That is the verdict of Forest fan and broadcaster Darren Fletcher, who was reflecting on the team blowing a two goal half-time lead to lose 3-2 at the City Ground on Saturday.
Speaking on the latest Garibaldi Red Podcast, Fletcher responded to criticism of head coach Steve Cooper's team selection, tactics and substitutions against the Cherries. You can listen to the full episode here.
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"The selection might be wrong, the subs might be wrong. How would anyone at the minute know what the best XI is, when you've got 21 new players, got to work out the best formation to play and the best way to adapt to in-game situations," he said.
"Someone said to me that he worked it out quickly in the Championship. Yes, but the rise in standard and trying to work it out on the fly in the Premier League is like going from climbing a small hill to a mountain. It's completely different.
"All that has to be taken into account. When you say the manager should be doing this and that, supporters get to see the team for 90 minutes a week. If the guy who picks the team is competent - and we all agree Steve Cooper is way more than competent - he sees those people five, six, seven days a week.
"We base our judgement on half an hour, 45 minutes or 90 minutes. I would expect in his mind, he's still working out which players can play in the Premier League and which can't. He's got to work out which players can perform consistently in the Premier League and at the moment the sample size is so small. There's got to be patience.
"Forest are hoping they have quality when the team settles down. Don't automatically think that by spending £150m on players you're a mid-table team because you aren't. If you're five percent off in a game you won't win.
"Everyone thought Manchester City would beat Aston Villa. Liverpool are slightly off and not winning games. If you're five percent off in this league it will find you out. It will chew you up and spit you out."
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