Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis McGugan asks if fans would view a different manager to Steve Cooper in a less favourable way based on this season’s home form
Lewis McGugan, a former midfield player for Nottingham Forest, has questioned how the public would view Steve Cooper if this were his first season in the position.
Cooper is revered by the supporters for leading Forest back to the Premier League and maintaining them there through the course of a season marred by injuries during which 30 new players were brought in.
Strong away performances have been balanced by uneven results at home this season, as demonstrated on Saturday when the Reds were pushed back by two goals in the final moments from Luton Town.
This season, Forest is winless at home, having drawn with Brentford and Burnley and triumphing only against lowly Sheffield United.
Wins, according to McGugan, must come against opponents that Forest is now predicted to defeat at home—teams that will be content to sit back and defend.
“If you get an unexpected victory, such as one over Chelsea, the momentum shifts.
The main thing was that, given the opponents we’ve faced, you also needed to focus on the home games. For me, that’s the more concerning aspect,” he said in the most recent Garibaldi Red podcast.
“We were a counterattacking team that capitalises on errors the previous season.
We have therefore performed well against large teams. Blocks are simpler to sit in, and our midfield is now very strong.
With Taiwo (Awoniyi), Elanga, and Hudson-Odoi up front, there’s pace.
Playing at home, where you have to put yourself up against teams that sit in against you, is the transition. The challenge has been knowing when to flip the switch and become the team in control.
We’re still in the middle ground at home, where nothing has happened. When we’re not at home waiting for errors, we appear much better.
The feelgood factor surrounding Forest nationally is a pleasure to witness, and it’s all down to the manager.
“He’ll know it’s a results business though. For what he’s done, he’s got stock and gets more chances than anyone else.
” “If Steve Cooper had left in the summer and a new manager had come in with the same results, what would the opinion of fans be? I think a lot of the fans would be unsure about the new manager.
” “To turn it around, no one deserves more of an opportunity than Steve Cooper.
If you strip it back and everything a new manager, what would fans say?”
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