Steve Cooper has already pulled off some tactical masterstrokes in his short time as Nottingham Forest manager.
The Welshman says he enjoys delving into the strategies of the game and working out ways to hurt the opposition. But he also wants “to stand up and be counted for a certain methodology” as he looks to stamp his style of play on the Reds.
Seven points from nine has been a good return so far, with the international break offering a chance to spend time with his squad on the training ground.
Getting the best out of his players is the aim, while also being true to his own philosophy.
“The tactical side has changed a lot - not just in my time as a manager. I’ve been coaching for 20-odd years now full-time and you always get different phases of things, topical things that become fashionable from time to time,” said Cooper.
“We’ve gone from the keeping possession phase, when Barcelona were doing their thing 10 years ago, counting passes and possessions.
“Things evolve into an athletic game now, at times.
“You’re always trying to be aware of what’s modern and what’s right.
“The most important thing is knowing what players you have, and what you think is the best way of playing while, as a coach, doing it in the way you think is right as well. In the end, that’s what you want to do - you want to stand up and be counted for a certain methodology as a coach.
“There are a lot of good coaches in this league who are very committed to their styles and ways of doing things. We want to be one of them as well.
“I enjoy it. I love football. That’s all I do really, watch football.
“Tactics, strategies, methodologies, profiles of players… they are things which genuinely interest me.”
Forest have gone from previous boss Chris Hughton’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation to starting with a three-man defence in their last few games, bolstered by wing-backs who help out at both ends of the pitch.
It was a change first made by coach Steven Reid for his match in caretaker charge, at Huddersfield Town, and has been built on by Cooper.
When the Reds were trying to come from behind at Barnsley, the manager tweaked the system in the second half to go from three to four at the back, bringing on Lewis Grabban for Tobias Figueiredo.
It was a substitution which worked wonders and showed the flexibility the team have at their disposal.
“I just think this league demands everything of a team - not just us, but of every team. That’s why it is so exciting,” said Cooper.
“To win a football match and to go on a good run, you have to be able to do everything.
“You have to be able to deal with all sorts of attacks from opposition, whether it’s direct play, whether it’s creative play, or whether it’s both in one game.
“And you have to be able to attack in different ways as well.
“That’s just what we are doing.
“While all of that is going on, it’s important that we have a set of principles which we try to do every single game. If you get it right, that becomes your way of playing.
“That’s where we’re at, at the moment.”
Against the Tykes, Cooper also showed he was prepared to try something slightly different.
With Grabban struggling with injury, rather than start Lyle Taylor as a like for like replacement, there was no out-and-out striker in the starting line-up. Instead, he named a front three of Brennan Johnson, Joe Lolley and Philip Zinckernagel, with the latter in the central role.
Having players who can adapt to different positions helps, while the head coach is determined to ensure they always take to the pitch with a clear plan.
“You have to analyse yourself and the opposition, and try to come up with a plan that you think can win the game,” he said.
“Sometimes we’ll get it right and sometimes we’ll get it wrong.
“Even if it’s a good plan, sometimes it might not work or you might have a bit of bad luck on the day.
“Against Barnsley, we thought there were obvious areas to attack and we tried to put the right players in the right place to exploit that. We had some good returns from it, there’s no doubt about that.
“But that doesn’t mean every plan is going to go as swimmingly as that one did. We’ve all seen ups and downs before.”
