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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Matt Davies

'No surprise' Dane Murphy in the Nottingham Forest firing line as signings strategy questioned

Steve Cooper will remain as Nottingham Forest manager for at least the time being and will be in the dugout against Aston Villa on Monday night.

Cooper remains under intense pressure after a miserable run of results in the Premier League. However, the promotion winning boss retains his status for now.

Meanwhile, chief executive Dane Murphy looks set to leave with the recruitment team of George Syrianos and Andy Scott also under scrutiny. Forest have already taken action and appointed Filippo Giraldi to the role of sporting director.

We discussed the situations of all those men bar Giraldi with broadcaster and Forest fan Darren Fletcher on today's Garibaldi Red podcast. Here is part of the conversation with host Matt Davies. You can watch the full episode here, or watch it here.

READ MORE: Forest keeping track of highly-rated gem as transfer admission made

READ MORE: Cooper contract update emerges amid Forest uncertainty

What should happen with Steve Cooper?

"Anybody who watches football knows that if you lose five games in a row you're under pressure. Normally it's four and Steve has lost five, so when that happens talks will take place and you're under pressure.

"We've got unique circumstances here as Steve has an expiring contract. He doesn't have long-term security. I also said very early in the season that 17th place would be enough this season.

"That's still something they can aim for. My opinion is Forest need stability. I don't think you can get to this stage of a season and change manager. My challenge would be A) what are the alternatives? The list of names I've seen is relatively uninspiring.

"Secondly, has the manager lost the dressing room? He's only just had the dressing room so we don't know. Also, has he become a worse manager since last season and does he not have the skill set Forest need? My understanding of Steve is that he's a very good people person, he's very good at getting a dressing room together and he's also regarded as a very good coach.

"The unfortunate aspect it all takes time to get things together. They signed eight of the 22 players after the season started. Eight new players is an entire summer for most clubs. This happened to Forest since they played Newcastle.

"You need to give it time to develop. You see Rafa Benitez being linked. He's an organiser. He's won the Champions League and La Liga. He kept Newcastle in the Premier League but he was also run out of Everton.

"When you look at what they need at the minute, I don't think a managerial change is the right option."

What do you make of the spotlight on Dane Murphy and the recruitment team?

"Of course they're under scrutiny. If you sign 22 players for £150m and you're trying to get 11 players together there will be scrutiny. I don't know if they should lose their jobs and I don't know them as individuals.

"What I would say is that Forest can't stop goals going in. I'm not a tactician but I do know they signed nine defenders during the summer.

"They've let 10 goals in in three games and it could have been more. Last season's defenders are probably ones you can still rely on. Niakhate has looked good but take him out and there's still eight more signings. Does anyone know if they're the answer?"

Is the question now one of stability and a clear structure? Is that what the club needs most if you're backing Cooper? You have Dane Murphy as chief executive, a team around him, Evangelos Marinakis is the owner and his son Miltiadis has taken on a much bigger role in the last year. That's a lot of moving parts.

"We only get to see a window into a club, not the Monday to Friday. Only those there know if the processes are being carried out properly. We only see the product on the pitch for 90 minutes.

"We don't know the process behind the scenes. I don't know if it's working right. I do think it's refreshing that the owner is looking globally at the problem and not the manager.

"He's asking if they could have spent the money better. They're looking at it all. The timing of it is terrible, but eight of the players came in after Newcastle. The timing has been generated by how the club how done their business.

"If Forest had 10 points no one on the outside would be questioning the processes. The owner might be but we only see a 90 minute window."

How is Cooper meant to get this team winning again with little or no leeway?

"You can set it all up in training all week but you have to know players. He knew them last season and would know what each player would give him.

"He wouldn't ask them to do something they can't do. He can't replicate Premier League pressure in training so you have to lose a few games while you work it all out unless you get lucky on land on it right on day one.

"Look at the recruitment. In midfield, each player is different to the other in what they can do. Orel Mangala is different to Cheikou Kouyate is different to Remo Freuler. Freuler plays a certain way so the team has to play his way or he adapts.

"If you play Kouyate you need to play a different way. The same with O'Brien. When you look at recruitment policies, teams will identify a type of player. If you're recruiting for Conte at Spurs they'll recruit someone to fit the mould.

"If Hojbjerg comes out, Bissouma comes in. Do you have that at Forest now?"

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