Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with Everton at the City Ground yesterday and Brian Laws delivered a verdict on the performance of Remo Freuler. The former defender was on punditry duties for BBC Radio Nottingham during the Premier League clash.
The Reds fought tooth and nail in the contest. Demarai Gray scored from the penalty spot after 10 minutes but Brennan Johnson equalised in the 19th minute on Trentside.
Everton still held a lead at half time though. Shortly before the half-hour mark Abdoulaye Doucoure pounced on some shoddy defending by the Reds to head the Toffees back in front.
Freuler found himself in the firing line for his efforts for Everton’s second goal. He allowed Doucoure to run past him and it’s fair to say that he could have been stronger.
Laws told BBC Radio Nottingham: Freuler just got caught ball-watching. That’s just not good enough from a Forest point of view.”
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The Reds did manage to claw themselves back into the game but they had to wait until the 76th minute. Then, a stunning Brennan Johnson goal left Jordan Pickford with no chance as the Reds restored parity.
Laws delivered verdict on Freuler and he had a point
Quite why the Switzerland star was marking a player as uncompromising as Doucoure in the first place remains to be seen. However, it’s fair to say that the 30-year-old simply has to do much more to stop the Everton midfielder.
Freuler has proved a pretty decent signing for the Reds. He’s been used often by Steve Cooper and he clearly rates him as being able to bring something to his midfield.
Yesterday, however, he looked leggy. It was a performance from Freuler that perhaps suggested that he could do with a rest as Forest prepare to face Tottenham next weekend.
There isn’t really any need for a massive overreaction. Freuler’s form has largely been steady and the career he’s had doesn’t suggest that he’s become a bad player overnight.