As a Forest fan, I'm somewhat bemused by the reactions to Cooper on here at this stage of the season.
Obviously for quite a lot of you lot, Steve was up against it from being appointed, given where his last appointment was. It's not really unlike when Billy Davies came to us after leaving Derby.
We're five games into the season, you're the best performing promoted side of the three and there are five other teams right now that are as bad, if not worse. You've not been embarrassed in any of the games you've played so far either, despite not really being able to meaningfully reinforce in the summer.
That said, a lot of the complaints you have about Steve began to seep in towards the end of his time with us, so it might actually be that he's just not cut out to be a Premierleague manager. He had a hell of a lot of credit in the bank with us as fans and there was a real togetherness for us but he was also backed to the hilt by the owner too. I think he must have dodged the sack, like four times. When you battered us 4-0, Villa away, Leeds away and then last season, Fulham away.
Southampton are hopeless and I don't think Ipswich have enough quality to stay up. It's quite possibly we'll be involved in the relegation conversation come May when our current bubble bursts but you are down there battling with Wolves and Everton who are bleeding goals, Palace can't find a win, two promoted teams that you won't finish under either.
Friday 25th of October will be interesting between our two clubs. I think Steve makes it that long no matter what, because sacking a manager after 5-7 games just reflects badly on the ownership's decisions. That said, you could get something from Bournemouth, Southampton and us, but if you're still struggling and we beat you away then you'd imagine that would be a bridge too far.
