Nottingham Forest have lost four straight Premier League games including consecutive home defeats to Fulham and Bournemouth, the teams they were promoted with.
As they head into the international break, we asked whether Steve Cooper needs to change formation in a bid to boost results on the latest Garibaldi Red podcast.
Cooper has favoured a 3-4-3 formation all season and though there have been good signs, Forest have also been found wanting at times. Host Matt Davies, Reds legend Garry Birtles and regular guest Michael Temple all had their say. You can listen to the full podcast here or watch it here.
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Garry Birtles
"In the Premier League midfield is vital. There are gifted individuals creation wise. If you don't cut that avenue off then teams will cause problems.
"Sometimes you have to stifle opponents. Strikers rely on service from midfield. If you can stop midfield against teams below the level of Man City then it can work.
"We have pace on the counter still. It might be something to look at and see how it works but only Steve will know that. To stop teams playing you have to pack the midfield sometimes and put teams under pressure on the break. It will be an interesting couple of weeks with him working with the players to look at that."
Michael Temple
"He's in a difficult spot because Plan A hasn't quite worked out but the margins are paper thin between where we are now and being on more points.
"You could make a case for the team being on anything from on one point to 10. I don't think he'll change the system. He's recruited players and managed the whole year with three at the back.
"You can condense it in centre mid by going to a back four but I don't think he will. I don't think he'll listen to external voices. If the coaches or analytics team suggest changes he'll listen. He won't listen to fan pressure.
"He'll get himself out of this through selection rather than changing the system. We haven't had the right combinations yet. To me, we should remove a luxury player up front and add an extra work horse and rounded midfield player.
"I think the O'Brien/Mangala combination can be a lynchpin. I think we've been overrun at times by teams that play a midfield three. I just wonder if having Gibbs-White off Awoniyi with Freuler in a three man midfield is the way to go."
Matt Davies
"I hope he doesn't listen to people on podcasts but I think he should change formation. There's been so many gaping holes in midfield.
"Maybe and O'Brien fix that as a pair, but against Fulham there were holes in midfield. For me you either fix that by playing a back four and sacrificing the threat of Williams and Lodi, not entirely though. Alexander-Arnold and Robertson still get up and down the pitch as full-backs, without making comparisons.
"Or you take out one of the front three and put an extra body in midfield, or you have Gibbs-White play deeper. With results as they have been, having an extra body in midfield would be sensible. It doesn't mean you can't ever go 3-4-3 again, you can go back it, especially at home.
"I watched (upcoming opponents) Leicester at Spurs and although it was 6-2, going forwards Leicester looked really good. If Forest give Maddison and Tielemans time and space on the ball they can hurt them."
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