Dean Henderson responds to criticism aimed at Nottingham Forest over their transfers

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson responds to criticism aimed at Nottingham Forest over their transfers during the summer window.

A lot has been made of the 22 new arrivals coming in at the City Ground, with Hendo one of them on a season-long loan from Manchester United, replacing the outgoing Brice Samba between the sticks.

He has said that every one of the new arrivals at the club has fit into the squad, maintaining the togetherness of the promotion season.

The Reds currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, four points from 7 games played. But time is needed for the squad to gel.

But, if the shot-stopper’s comments on Sky Sports are anything to go by, we might just being seeing a change it form quicker than expected.

“I think the club and the gaffer have done unbelievable, not only getting top players in, but getting top personalities in,” he said. “I think everyone has fitted in like a glove.

“Coming up from the Championship, they obviously had a close group and we’ve got to keep that. The togetherness is good in the group and the players that have come in have just fitted in straight away, that’s something that the manager has got bang on.”

Forest are back in league action after the international break with a short trip to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City on Monday the 3rd of October. Their next game at the City Ground comes a week later for another Midlands derby against Aston Villa and the atmosphere at the stadium is something that Henderson highlights the importance of.

“It’s something we speak about, it’s got to be a key fortress for us, we’ve got to make it so hard for teams to come and play there,” he added. “The fans are obviously going to be the 12th man, I don’t think they realise how important they are for us.

“That opening day, the first home game against West Ham – Unbelievable.”

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was criticised for the lateness of the club’s transfer business this summer that has left head coach Steve Cooper trying to build a team with the season already underway.

Ten of their signings arrived since the Premier League kicked off in early August, though two of them – Hwang Ui-jo and Josh Bowler – was straight away sent out on season-long loans at Olympiacos. The eight still a part of the first team for the campaign are Emmanuel Dennis, Cheikhou Kouyaté, Remo Freuler, Morgan Gibbs-White, Renan Lodi, Willy Boly, Loïc Badé and Serge Aurier.

13 of the players were signed across June and July.

Garth Crooks believes that more of their business should’ve been done before August.

“I sense a touch of fatalism with each post-match interview given by Steve Cooper and that the task ahead might be too big,” BBC pundit Crooks said. “The owner has not helped by bringing players to the club in August when they should have been there in July.

“Cooper has now got to build a team in September and October which, after the World Cup in November, Forest might just be ready to compete in the Premier League in January or February – by which time they could be too far behind to avoid going down.”

talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan backed Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper to remain manager of the club through the season and even if they are relegated.

Jordan told TalkSport: “Steve Cooper should not be under any real threat because you have to be realistic about what you may want and what you get, maybe two different things.

“The challenge for me is the rationale, the logic, the emotivity of spending £150 million or take away the gratitude you might have for the guy who took you out of this 23-year dip of being outside of the Premier League.”

“Now Steve Cooper doesn’t deserve currency forever but certainly deserves a certain amount of time and that means a significant amount of time and I would suggest it means unless there’s an absolute wheels coming off, the preparedness to accept relegation to come back up again with this manager because I don’t think Steve Cooper is doing too much wrong.”

🙏 “Steve Cooper shouldn’t be under any real threat at Forest.”

⬆️ “Cooper did what others could not do for 23 years and got you up.”

👀 “There should be a preparedness to accept relegation [with Cooper].”

Simon Jordan says #NFFC should stick with Cooper, even if they go down. pic.twitter.com/YUUNDbrcTG

— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) September 20, 2022

NOTTINGHAM FOREST’S 22/23 PL STATS SO FAR

Matches played – 7
Wins – 1
Losses – 5
Goals – 6
Goals Conceded – 17
Clean sheets – 1

Attack
Goals – 6
Goals per match – 0.86
Shots – 79
Shots on target – 19
Shooting accuracy % – 24%
Penalties scored – 1
Big Chances Created – 6
Hit woodwork – 2

Team Play
Passes – 2,716
Passes per match – 388.00
Pass accuracy % – 76%
Crosses – 116
Cross accuracy % – 22%

Defence
Clean sheets – 1
Goals Conceded – 17
Goals conceded per match – 2.43
Saves – 29
Tackles – 111
Tackle success % – 59%
Blocked shots – 26
Interceptions – 61
Clearances – 155
Headed Clearance – 63
Aerial Battles/Duels Won – 413
Errors leading to goal – 2
Own goals – 0

Discipline
Yellow cards – 20
Red cards – 0
Fouls – 33
Offsides – 10