Nottingham Forest are going well under Nuno Espirito Santo even if some of the recent results have been a little bit abject.
The Reds suffered a third defeat in four games in the Premier League against Newcastle with three successive away defeats leaving the gap to fifth at three points.
Still, there has been a lot to like about Forest this season. The Reds have gone from struggling to stay in the Premier League to competing for Europe and that represents a sizeable degree of progress.
Jamie Redknapp has praised Espirito Santo this season. He’s moved the club on a great deal since replacing Steve Cooper and he must be praised for doing things his own way.
Cooper departed in December 2023 and prior to the 2024/25 campaign, he returned to football as the new Leicester City manager – a move that looked doomed to fail from the off.
He bit the bullet after a poor run of form that featured a 3-1 home defeat to Forest and ultimately it was the wrong job for the man who led the Reds to promotion.
Steve Cooper lieutenant sacked by Leicester City
Leicester are in diabolical form. They’re edging closer to a return to the EFL with each passing game and they were battered 4-0 by Brentford in their latest Premier League outing.
The Foxes have won just four games all season – with two of those coming under Cooper – and have lost 10 of their last 11 fixtures in the top flight with a win over Tottenham the only respite.
Now, a decision has been made to sack goalkeeper coach Danny Alcock who had initially remained at the King Power Stadium dispute the decision to part with Cooper.
It sees his time at the club come to an end after just eight months and Ruud van Nistelrooy will now look to work with a different goalkeeping coach for the remaining 12 matches.
Cooper might need to drop into the EFL for next role
Despite the brilliant work he did at Forest to get the club back to the Premier League, it’s hard to imagine many clubs giving him a job based on what he’s achieved in the top flight.
As a result, Cooper might have to go back to basics and drop into the EFL and if a club with an exciting project can give him a chance, he can prove himself to the masses and enhance his reputation once again.
From the outside looking in, Leicester feel like a basketcase of a club at the moment. Supporters vented frustrations at John Rudkin again at the weekend and relegation feels like a foregone conclusion now.
Alcock might be pleased he’s out of the King Power Stadium on reflection and now he will be hoping Cooper is given another chance at a club soon so that he can get back to work.
Receive a digest of our best Nottingham Forest content each week direct to your mailbox
