Forest's band of brothers
Talking to a Nottingham Forest season ticket holder before their game with Manchester United, I asked his player of the year. Chris Wood, surely? All those goals, 18 in 29 in the Premier League. Big goals against Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth. The fan’s main man must be the target man? No!
OK, if not the goalscorer how about the in-form goalkeeper Matz Sels? All those saves! Remember that double save to defy Chelsea’s Cole Palmer? Sels made eight saves that afternoon at the Bridge. The Belgian’s stopped four penalties in shootouts in the fourth round, fifth round and quarter-finals of the FA Cup. No.
Of course, it has to be the skipper, Ryan Yates, then. The embodiment of the spirit of Nuno’s side. Surely him? The leader, the tone-setter, tackling, fighting, building, encouraging all around him. No! Then it must be Morgan Gibbs-White? The No 10’s initial exclusion from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad caused apoplexy amongst Forest fans and confusion elsewhere. There was relief and an element of “I told you so” when Tuchel subsequently called up Gibbs-White following Palmer’s injury. He’s been outstanding all season, creative and selfless. His intelligent movement opened space for two of Anthony Elanga’s runs against United, including for the goal. Surely Gibbs-White? No.
It has to be Elanga then? Scorer of that magnificent goal against United, and nominated for Premier League Player of the Month for March following some vibrant displays, including two goals at Portman Road. Surely Elanga? No. Well, it must be another Forest star in the running for Premier League Player of the Month. Nikola Milenkovic, the great wall of a defender, imperious against Manchester City, dominant aerially and rarely beaten on the ground. Surely, Forest’s Player of the Year is the Serbinator? Nope. Who then?