Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has been encouraged by positive signs from his players in recent weeks as they start to gel as a group.
The Reds go into Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace propping up the Premier League table, but knowing they are only five points adrift of Aston Villa, in 13th. They are eager to finish on a high, going into the World Cup break, with the possibility a positive result could lift them off the foot of the division.
And after a summer of change which saw 22 signings brought in as the club prepared for life in the top-flight, Cooper believes there is reason to be hopeful. He also has some tough decisions to make for the weekend’s clash, after a number of players came into the side and impressed in Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.
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Cooper's challenge
Head coach Steve Cooper says the challenges which came with Nottingham Forest’s busy transfer window have been the toughest of his career.
The Reds brought in 22 players during the summer as they prepared for life in the Premier League. It has taken time for some to adapt, as well as for the group to gel.
However, as they prepare for their final game before the World Cup break, against Crystal Palace, Forest have been showing positive signs of progress - including in Wednesday night’s impressive Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur. And although they remain bottom of the table, Cooper believes there is reason to be hopeful that they can improve their situation.
“We know a lot has been said about the squad and the amount of players who have come in. It’s a completely unique situation that’s never been done before - with us being the last team to get promoted and trying to prepare as best we could for it, with all the changes we made,” the Welshman said.
Lingard's pledge
Jesse Lingard believes Nottingham Forest will now start to see the best of him, after the confidence-booster of bagging his first goal in the Garibaldi.
The former Manchester United man arrived with plenty of expectation on his shoulders when he made the move to the City Ground as a free agent in the summer. He has had something of a slow start to life for the Reds however, finding himself in and out of the team as he struggled to make the kind of impact he would have hoped for.
Lingard admits it has been tough. He is far from the only one among the Forest squad who has been striving to find top form. Progress has been steady, for individuals and as a collective, amid the challenges which came with 22 signings coming in during the transfer window and the club adapting to life in the top-flight after a 23-year absence.
But the 29-year-old put in his best performance so far as Steve Cooper ’s side dumped Tottenham Hotspur out of the Carabao Cup with an impressive 2-0 victory. Back in the starting XI after being on the bench at the weekend, Lingard headed past Fraser Forster in the second half to cap an all-round excellent contribution.
Scarpa verdict
South American football expert Tim Vickery has given his verdict on incoming Nottingham Forest attacking midfielder Gustavo Scarpa.
The 28-year-old signed a pre-agreement with Forest in the summer, and is set to arrive at the City Ground in the New Year when his contract with Palmeiras expires. He will make the switch to the Premier League following a four-year stint with the Sao Paulo-based side.
While he may come as an unknown quantity to English football, he is highly regarded in Brazil. In 209 appearances for Abel Ferreira's side, Scarpa claimed 32 goals and 60 assists for the Verdao.
Scarpa is a former Fluminense team-mate of Tottenham forward Richarlison, and Vickery told talkSPORT: "I remember, a few years back, he was playing in the same Fluminense side as Richarlison.
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