Morgan Gibbs-White

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Was excellent today in a deeper role played more as an 8. The future?

[wassy04]

Was excellent today in a deeper role played more as an 8. The future?

Did we not play 4231 then in the end? Or did the red card change it?

[ozzyten10]

I’ve thought for a while he is an 8 - today proved it. An excellent performance today.

[Username]

Was excellent today in a deeper role played more as an 8. The future?

Did absolutely nothing until we scored from the corner then seemed to be a different, and very good, player.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

MGW got his mojo back now.

[Marinakis Red]

Play him centrally and he is class. Steve should of played him more in that position and he might still be in a job.

[Username]

Play him centrally and he is class. Steve should have played him more in that position and he might still be in a job.

He often did. 

Whilst there are a few things that can be laid at Steve’s feet, the performances of MGW are not one, the lad has enough talent to influence games regardless of his position.

[Reds73]

Play him centrally and he is class. Steve should have played him more in that position and he might still be in a job.

He often did. 

Whilst there are a few things that can be laid at Steve’s feet, the performances of MGW are not one, the lad has enough talent to influence games regardless of his position.

Coops strategy was enough to drain the life out of any flair player.
Playing low block, defend for your life football, game in, game out, is not an enjoyable system to have to play in.

Indirectly it’s also the coach telling the players you’re not good enough.

There had been a number of disagreements between the leadership group at Coaching staff over the style of play and training.

[Marinakis Red]

Play him centrally and he is class. Steve should have played him more in that position and he might still be in a job.

He often did. 

Whilst there are a few things that can be laid at Steve’s feet, the performances of MGW are not one, the lad has enough talent to influence games regardless of his position.

He's pretty much been deployed on the right hand side for the whole season. Build your team around him and let him influence games. His best 2 games have coincided with him being deployed in the centre of the pitch.

[Paplane]

Play him centrally and he is class. Steve should have played him more in that position and he might still be in a job.

He often did. 

Whilst there are a few things that can be laid at Steve’s feet, the performances of MGW are not one, the lad has enough talent to influence games regardless of his position.

Coops strategy was enough to drain the life out of any flair player.
Playing low block, defend for your life football, game in, game out, is not an enjoyable system to have to play in.

Indirectly it’s also the coach telling the players you’re not good enough.

There had been a number of disagreements between the leadership group at Coaching staff over the style of play and training.

Been saying for a while now that Cooper's low block game was unsustainable over the long term. Fans and players will go with it if its producing results but when it doesnt, it looks like hopeless loser football. I've watched other lower prem teams go to the top clubs and be more open than us. Yes, they undoubtedly get beaten but at least they give themsleves a chamce to get a result. We couldn't/wouldn't do that and yet our away form was absolutely dire. Compare that football with yesterdays. We had players getting forward and Wood playing facing the goal and having options. It was everything we should have been under Cooper.

[zicorice]

I was tempted to reply to a few comments when entering this debate, but resisted as there are a few variables we cannot control or don't know enough about.

My take is that MGW has been working his nuts off trying to find his best form, regardless of his starting position. Maybe trying a bit too hard psychology has lead to him making a few poor decisions, giving the ball away cheaply, overthinking things etc.. Maybe he felt unhappy being deployed out wide? Again this in no way excuses giving ball away or crap decisions, but all the little things contribute whether we like it or not.

He is way too talented and hard working for that form to have continued indefinitely and I hope that the rest of the season sees this return to form continue. Yesterday he made space for himself and more often than not played the simple pass and his all round link up play was excellent.

I love (though not at the time) that Newcastle players were holding his shirt blocking him and fouling him 20 or 30 yards away from the ball by the end as they knew they couldn't live with him 2nd half.

The key now is backing it up on Saturday and then the next game and the next game. I do feel that one goal for him will lead to a steady flow, which is the next area of his game to improve.

Ultimately when MGW plays well Forest play well (going forwards at least). It's up to him now how far he goes, adding consistency (3 out of last 4 he's been very good) and a few goals is the next step.

[JWJW]

I agree that Cooper and his coaching staff were holding a lot of players back, including MGW.

They are now unleashed.......and we will see how things progress. I am hopefully we can do Manure on Saturday and get another 3 points.