09-04-2021, 12:01 PM
(This post was last modified: 09-04-2021, 12:36 PM by Strawberry Avenger.)
Yates. An ever-present through the bad times and the recent good. (Bar the recent calf injury.)
'Will to win' Yates is still a developing Academy product. Guts. Physicality. Has a 'Get in there' goal in him (scoring a thunderous beauty which shut up some of his critics, for a little while, as they chowed down on some huge crow pie) and often comes up with a header on goal. (The next stage is to start putting them in. It will come along, I'm sure.). Muck and nettles Championship football? No problem for Yates. Heading? Np. Attitude? 100%. Listening? Learning. He's on it. Play with a smile? Yup. Can he wind up opposition players? Like no other. (Something we have lacked in.). Is he Captain material? Deffo'. In that Chris Cohen mould of perennial professional, his honour for the badge is next level. He's proud to play for Forest despite his critics, he's ploughing that field (it is the Championship...) and I admire that about him. People piled on Worrall before his move to Rangers. Worrall was developing and hit and miss and had that 'mistake' in him. He came back after the cauldron of old firm football reforged. And I think this season, with a relegation threatened Forest, we saw the true colours of many pretenders. Not Yates, though. He never hid. Bottle? 100%. The comparison to Worrall isn't accidental. Worrall's job is to head it and kick it and boss the defence. And that's the way I see Yates. An old school muck and nettles CM. Get the ball and give it to someone more talented than you. His passing will get better. And we must not forget his growing 'box to box' qualities whilst showering Garner with the rightful plaudits. (Those comparing Garner and Yates are off the mark, for me. For all the reasons mentioned. Different players. Yates knows he's got to improve his passing and was graceful in his praising of Garner.)
Preferred to Cafu vs QPR. One defensive header (on the club website, 'Vs QPR in Photos' in was quite terrific) and he had an attempt on goal which epitomises the work he does back and front. Unsung because he doesn't have the more experienced continental passing of Cafu or the outright power of Sow, he has seen off the likes of Colback, Sow, Arter and now Cafu (for now...) in that position. Quite an achievement for a young player.
So why not Worrall? Worrall came back from a lengthy injury. AND he's had that recent rib injury too, which kept him out and which allowed our other CH, the 'very impressive' McKenna a chance to shine. And, as I've been told on this site for wanting Sow as my player of the season (last season), 'You can't give a player of the season to someone who has played half a season.' :). What? Not even if both times he was in the side Forest entered the top 6, clearly benefitting from his power in CM. No. He's only played half a season. So?
So Worrall is out. I'd have him and Sow (who'd played about the same amount of games earlier this season) as honourable mentions. Why both? The often overlooked Sow's reintroduction to the side began Forest's uptick in form. And yes. Along with Worrall too. Clearly, this 'powerful' spine to the side had been missed in Defence and DCM. Sow went on to form a powerful partnership with Yates until injuries and the January transfer window disrupted that. (For the better. As no one can argue against the compelling Garner's form. And the progressive play he's brought to our CM.)
Honourable mentions should go Garner and Krov' who came in and transformed our approach to linking midfield to attack, both becoming part of that Garner/Cafu/Krov' triangle. Or the now 'Garner/Yates/Krov' triangle. Garner is an outstanding prospect. And is the poster child for the type of player who should be playing alongside Yates or Cafu. Deep play maker and disrupter or simply getting the ball and switching the ball forwards. FAST! He won't be our player for long. Enjoy whilst you can. Whilst the progressive Krov' is one we'd do well to hang onto this Summer as Garner is probably beyond our reach now due, ironically, to his impressive form.
Runner up. Cafu. Been here ALL season long. Very durable. Decent passer in close situations. Recently stopped falling over and Hughton has clearly coached him in the dark arts of Championship football. (See 'Flick on Nose' gate. Spot on.). A player who doesn't take any crap. He's tough but can play a bit. Ideal for the Champo'. Playing out of position in the dreaded 'we haven't got a no.10' position, many were bemused as to his qualities. A player I'd been intrigued about since his move from Oly', Cafu really switched gears when we signed him as a perm' and 'that' game against Swansea. Outstanding, he was. Installed in his natural position alongside Garner, we've begun to see a player who can be part of the Hughton' revolution this and next season. And a cultured combination in CM that reminded Forest fans what they'd been missing. With the progressive link man of Krov' in front of them. (Note!)
SA.
'Will to win' Yates is still a developing Academy product. Guts. Physicality. Has a 'Get in there' goal in him (scoring a thunderous beauty which shut up some of his critics, for a little while, as they chowed down on some huge crow pie) and often comes up with a header on goal. (The next stage is to start putting them in. It will come along, I'm sure.). Muck and nettles Championship football? No problem for Yates. Heading? Np. Attitude? 100%. Listening? Learning. He's on it. Play with a smile? Yup. Can he wind up opposition players? Like no other. (Something we have lacked in.). Is he Captain material? Deffo'. In that Chris Cohen mould of perennial professional, his honour for the badge is next level. He's proud to play for Forest despite his critics, he's ploughing that field (it is the Championship...) and I admire that about him. People piled on Worrall before his move to Rangers. Worrall was developing and hit and miss and had that 'mistake' in him. He came back after the cauldron of old firm football reforged. And I think this season, with a relegation threatened Forest, we saw the true colours of many pretenders. Not Yates, though. He never hid. Bottle? 100%. The comparison to Worrall isn't accidental. Worrall's job is to head it and kick it and boss the defence. And that's the way I see Yates. An old school muck and nettles CM. Get the ball and give it to someone more talented than you. His passing will get better. And we must not forget his growing 'box to box' qualities whilst showering Garner with the rightful plaudits. (Those comparing Garner and Yates are off the mark, for me. For all the reasons mentioned. Different players. Yates knows he's got to improve his passing and was graceful in his praising of Garner.)
Preferred to Cafu vs QPR. One defensive header (on the club website, 'Vs QPR in Photos' in was quite terrific) and he had an attempt on goal which epitomises the work he does back and front. Unsung because he doesn't have the more experienced continental passing of Cafu or the outright power of Sow, he has seen off the likes of Colback, Sow, Arter and now Cafu (for now...) in that position. Quite an achievement for a young player.
So why not Worrall? Worrall came back from a lengthy injury. AND he's had that recent rib injury too, which kept him out and which allowed our other CH, the 'very impressive' McKenna a chance to shine. And, as I've been told on this site for wanting Sow as my player of the season (last season), 'You can't give a player of the season to someone who has played half a season.' :). What? Not even if both times he was in the side Forest entered the top 6, clearly benefitting from his power in CM. No. He's only played half a season. So?
So Worrall is out. I'd have him and Sow (who'd played about the same amount of games earlier this season) as honourable mentions. Why both? The often overlooked Sow's reintroduction to the side began Forest's uptick in form. And yes. Along with Worrall too. Clearly, this 'powerful' spine to the side had been missed in Defence and DCM. Sow went on to form a powerful partnership with Yates until injuries and the January transfer window disrupted that. (For the better. As no one can argue against the compelling Garner's form. And the progressive play he's brought to our CM.)
Honourable mentions should go Garner and Krov' who came in and transformed our approach to linking midfield to attack, both becoming part of that Garner/Cafu/Krov' triangle. Or the now 'Garner/Yates/Krov' triangle. Garner is an outstanding prospect. And is the poster child for the type of player who should be playing alongside Yates or Cafu. Deep play maker and disrupter or simply getting the ball and switching the ball forwards. FAST! He won't be our player for long. Enjoy whilst you can. Whilst the progressive Krov' is one we'd do well to hang onto this Summer as Garner is probably beyond our reach now due, ironically, to his impressive form.
Runner up. Cafu. Been here ALL season long. Very durable. Decent passer in close situations. Recently stopped falling over and Hughton has clearly coached him in the dark arts of Championship football. (See 'Flick on Nose' gate. Spot on.). A player who doesn't take any crap. He's tough but can play a bit. Ideal for the Champo'. Playing out of position in the dreaded 'we haven't got a no.10' position, many were bemused as to his qualities. A player I'd been intrigued about since his move from Oly', Cafu really switched gears when we signed him as a perm' and 'that' game against Swansea. Outstanding, he was. Installed in his natural position alongside Garner, we've begun to see a player who can be part of the Hughton' revolution this and next season. And a cultured combination in CM that reminded Forest fans what they'd been missing. With the progressive link man of Krov' in front of them. (Note!)
SA.