Tom Walters: Derby day defeat leaves Cooper with new questions and answers

Unsurprisingly, following Notts County’s 5-0 drubbing by Mansfield Town at Field Mill, Mark Cooper’s post match interviews displayed a man who was perplexed by what he had just seen. He wasn’t the only one. The only consolation for Notts at this moment in time is that results are not crucial, with league safety assured.

But, as any die-hard football fan will tell you, a local derby is a different beast entirely, whether you have something to play for or like Notts, you’re simply filling your games quota. Passion, commitment and determination are essential ingredients for any team. And pride – a word that seemed to escape Notts for 90 minutes at Field Mill, is the CRUCIAL thing you simply have to play for. Fans expect it and needless to say, the manager expects it.

We saw nothing in the way of playing for pride out there on Saturday. It was an abject performance, which left me itching to put on my boots and get out there myself. I’m not claiming to be better than a pro footballer, but what I lack in quality I would make up for in passion and that’s all the fans ask for when players cross the white line come 3pm (or 1pm in this case). I genuinely felt sorry for the fans that made the journey on Saturday and paid good money to watch it. I tuned in on the radio, and that was bad enough.

On my twitter feed on Saturday I quoted Mark Cooper several times following his post-match interview, a couple of which spoke volumes to me. The first was “some questions were answered to me today” – clearly gathering a sense of the fighters in his squad and a list of players he wants to keep for next season. The second quote I loved was “do you want me to sugar coat the fact we just got beat 5-0 in a local derby? I’m not going to do it”. That’s a man who clearly won’t make excuses for poor performances, and it’s refreshing to see in the Notts dugout.

Cooper has some serious evaluating to do ahead of next season should he keep the job permanently. In my opinion, he should stay. Moniz and Fullarton have already had the sack this season – granted they split opinion in a lot of ways, but the players must take some responsibility for their departures. If they were to cost Mark Cooper his job then I’ll be gutted. Cooper needs the chance to build his own squad over the summer and start a-fresh. He has huge potential as well as a hunger and desire that would make him a success story at Notts with the right budget behind him - we’re not even talking millions either.

The fans have been asking for a manager who’s honest, passionate and doesn’t pull punches for some time, and now they have it. Now it’s time to let him build a squad that does the same on the pitch. I hope the potential new owners are taking note.

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