From someone who is constantly having his ear bent, all day long, about all things 'Forest', I think there is quite a bit of a misconception out there, about how good Steve Cooper actually is.
His 'style of play' of choice is actually quite progressive, and possession based. Forest went up with a shite load of loan players, and players which had contracts expiring. They had to have a massive turn around. They then went and bought a good number of players, which Cooper apparently had little say on. Cooper had to adapt his style to suit the players he then had been lumbered with, and he became a 'counter attacking' manager, for that season which he guided them to safety. Basically he adapted to the situation he found him self in, with the tools he had.
I'm indifferent to Cooper TBH. If he does come, we as fans really need to get behind him. He had a great thing going with the Forest fans, and they really built up a 'siege mentality'. It hurts me to say, but I was quite jealous of the atmosphere they used to build up, especially at their home games, which we are desperately going to need next season. I'm not sure we have the type of fan base to get this going unfortunately.
I think this 'backs to the wall mentality' which is inevitably required, is at the forefront of Rudkin's mind, which might point to the decision processes he's gong through. Interesting times indeed.