‘Freedom’ and new formation show Forest have options in the team, with Cooper confirmation expected soon – The Athletic

In the final weeks of an 11-month Nottingham Forest tenure that ended last week, Chris Hughton would frequently talk about his desire to change formation; to try something different.

It was not just something discussed in the media Hughton had the same conversations with his coaching staff as they searched for a way to break their malaise.

But, to the end, he remained convinced he did not have the personnel to switch from his preferred 4-2-3-1. He never did. If he was monitoring events at Huddersfield Town on Saturday in Forests first game without him, Hughton might have felt a pang of regret.

In contrast, if Steve Cooper the man who is set to replace him in the dugout, with confirmation of the former Swansea City managers appointment expected imminently was doing the same, he will surely have been given some positive food for thought.

Because there was a new formation, a new approach and a new outcome as interim manager Steven Reid changed to a 3-4-3 system and immediately breathed fresh life into the team. It inspired a performance that secured a deserved first Championship win of the season at the eighth attempt and, more than that, suggested Cooper will be armed with the flexibility to play more than one way when he begins work.

Cooper also often favoured the 4-2-3-1 formation for much of the past two seasons at Swansea, but did also have lengthy spells when he switched to a 3-4-1-2 set-up. Tactically, the Welshman is somebody who is happy to mix things up.

He was not understood to have been among the crowd at the John Smiths Stadium as the final negotiations were completed over his appointment.

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'Freedom' and new formation show Forest have options in the team, with Cooper confirmation expected soon - The Athletic