What kind of reaction will Steve Cooper receive?

Steve Cooper will return with Nottingham Forest this weekend for his first visit back here since leaving back in July after two successive play off campaigns with the Swans but what kind of reaction will he get when he returns to South Wales

It is fair to say that Cooper was one of those managers that consistently divided the fan opinion.   There were two reasonably distinct camps in those that will say his two play off campaigns made him a clear success but there is the other camp who will point to the entertainment factor and not be sorry that he has gone.

Cooper will be back at the Swansea.com stadium this weekend with Nottingham Forest and it will be interesting to see what kind of reception gets.  Of course, you would assume anyway, that no Swansea fan will hope he leaves South Wales with three points in his pocket (or even one for that matter) but it is the reaction before the game that will be interesting.

Cooper was Swansea City manager for two seasons and in both those seasons we achieved a play off position – falling at the first stage first time and the final stage back in May.   On the face of it that is a good return for any manager.   Two seasons, two very near promotion misses which by default is two top 6 finishes.  He attracted some top young talent to the club and we were probably fortunate to be able to see the likes of Brewster, Guehi and Gallacher at the club.    On the pitch when you are looking at results it is difficult to pick too many holes into the achievements of Cooper.

However when you look on the pitch you have to recognise that we could be more than a little boring to watch.  Maybe it was the fact that we were watching games on a television screen with no crowds to add to the atmosphere but I know I nodded off in more than one game last season.   Maybe it would have been different had their been crowds in the stadium to lift the team or maybe it would have created a different atmosphere to which Cooper would not have seen his team grind out the results that he did.

When you look back at the two play off campaigns I always believed we would lose at Wembley.  Brentford were better than us and I believe that most of us knew that in the lead up to the game.  First time around I thought we could have got the better of them but again Fulham would have been better than us in the final.   They were top 6 finishes but we always looked a side that would never get through the play offs.

Four months after his departure Cooper continues to divide opinions. You only have to read the forum to know that is true.  Maybe Russell Martin will head that way again but I genuinely cannot remember too many Swansea managers who divided opinion in the way of Cooper.

So what of that reaction?  For me it won’t be a welcome and it won’t be the opposite reaction either.   I am indifferent as I am to pretty much most opposition players and managers.  Steve Cooper is the opposition manager and I wish his team nothing but defeat on Saturday but that is not against him its because we need – and I want us – to win.

That said I cannot lose sight of the fact that Cooper also returns with a real Swansea legend and we should welcome Alan Tate back as you would any legend.  He did more for this club than so many over the years and that should never be forgotten.  But, of course, I hope he tastes defeat as well.

Where do I stand on Cooper in the end?  Its a simple thank you for two play off appearances and for the two years you put in but you chose to move on and therefore you are just another ex-Swansea City manager now.