Pat Riddell, The Famous Club, external
Having named their 25-man squad last week after a busy transfer window, Nottingham Forest now have the strength and depth to cover injuries and tactical shifts, as well as dips in form.
And with that flexibility, Steve Cooper has the ability to switch from the 3-4-2-1 formation that has brought six points so far this season, to the 4-2-3-1 we saw in Monday’s 1-1 draw against Burnley. But it’s obvious that adapting to the demands of the Premier League presents its own problems.
Forest’s dilemmas last season came from finding a balance between defensive solidity and a more expansive style.
Cooper’s obvious challenge now is to find the blend that works best with this squad of talented players. Does the width come from wingers or wing-backs? Exciting as it is to have a front four of Awoniyi, Gibbs-White, Elanga and Hudson-Odoi, there needs to be a solid base behind them.