Stuart Pearce, a former defender known as ‘Psycho’ for his aggressive style of play, has defended Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and dismissed reports that he is under pressure as ‘outlandish’. Pearce managed the team between 2014 and 2015 and has since worked as an assistant manager at West Ham under David Moyes before departing in 2022.
Furthermore, the present manager of the team enjoys the complete support of the Forest legend. In an exclusive interview with NottinghamshireLive, Pearce was asked if prior allegations in the national media that Cooper’s career might be in jeopardy were accurate. He was clear in his response.
“In my opinion, no,” he replied. I’ve observed how he brought the football team together. Regarding the supporters, I believe they have his support, which is wonderful to see. To be fair, I believe the difficulty of the away games has also contributed to how the away games have gone.
“I believe that given their current position in the division, they are likely three points shy of either a respectable start to the season or the perception of one. They are far away from the drop zone. Since the season began in the summer, I don’t think Forest has been anywhere close to that, so I believe Steve Cooper and the team are still improving.
“He continues to work on integrating new players. Given the number of players who have joined over the past few seasons, his handling of some of them has been nothing short of remarkable. Thus, I continue to believe that he is coping with that. Remember Brennan. [Johnson]
Pearce further emphasised that any alleged pressure on Cooper should be discounted by citing the Reds’ counterattacking danger this season and the team’s most recent triumph over high-flying Aston Villa.
“I watched them at United and Arsenal early in the season, and their counter-attack threat was incredible,” he remarked. All it does is keep the games tight. Steve must have been happy to maintain a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace a few weeks back. He will probably be observing and thinking, “We really ought to keep a couple more sheets clean. Villa’s triumph was astounding. At the moment, nobody is able to defeat Villa. Given how impressive that was, it is absurd to even imply that Steve Cooper is under any kind of duress.
Before travelling to Fulham and Wolves the following week, Forest takes on Everton on Saturday. Pearce also questions the significance of the Reds’ next three games and suggests that Cooper’s club might have been “caught between” distinct playing philosophies this season.
“I think maybe they might be getting caught between being more expansive and being a little bit more cautious and defensive away and they’re paying the penalty at home because I don’t think their away form has been too bad and their points tally on the road is not too bad,” he stated.
They’re about to embark on a crucial run of games, which includes this one at Fulham the next week. Steve will undoubtedly say, “We can’t afford to lose this game because we’ll give the opposition points.”
When asked if he would ever think about working for the team again, Pearce acknowledges that they are doing well in the Premier League under Cooper and owner Evangelos Marinakis, but he does not completely rule out any involvement in the future.
He went on, “I’m busy with what I’m doing right now, so it’s probably not something I’ve ever really thought of. To put it simply, I’ve always been willing to assist the football team. This football team meant a lot to me, and it still does.
“I am aware of the football team’s and the supporters’ unwavering support, which extends beyond my time as a player and continues to this day. In response to your inquiry, I believe they are doing well for themselves, but who can predict the future?
