In one of English football’s greatest miracles, Nottingham Forest got promoted to the Premier League last season with breadcrumbs but a dinner with the elites hasn’t particularly gone well yet – but the cook gets another chance
It’s a potpourri there at the City Ground as players of varying football cultures, styles and nationalities moved to Nottingham to achieve their Premier League dreams.
Club owner, Evangelos Marinakis had a splurge during the summer, leading the club to sign players that will complete two teams. Two of the players were Nigerian internationals – Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis.
Both players’ time at the club isn’t the worst – but they’ve seen better days in their careers.
Steven Cooper, Nottingham Forest coach was the brain behind their ascent just less than a year ago. His miraculous promotion leans on the immaculate as they became sensational arrivals.
If there were clear signals of their intent to rock some boats in the Premier League with their quantitative determination, early days in the league must have served some cold returns. Life is hard in the Premier League.
Regardless of dwindling results, Marinakis, who also own Olympiacos has given Cooper another deal to stay with the club until 2025 and many won’t see that as a coup yet.
Perhaps a deal to ensure the club rewards Cooper for his amazing achievement earlier in the year as he will get to be given bonuses if severed now.
The Englishman has an instant job on his hands – to lift the Reds from the red zone and take them beyond the Premier League tapered ends. It’s not easy in the roots, but Marinakis doesn’t see the coach as the root cause of their wobbly season.
Reports have linked perpetual coaching vulture, Rafael Benitez to Cooper’s job but it’s not certain many a The Reds faithful want a former Red hero in the dugout.