Lewis McGugan has delivered a verdict on Nottingham Forest duo Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo. The Brazilian pair were both dropped from the squad as the Reds face Everton on Sunday.
It’s been a period of adaptation for the two players. Both checked into the City Ground during the January transfer window and were thrown straight into Steve Cooper’s squad.
But, the pair have perhaps struggled to really adapt to life in the Premier League. As a result, Cooper decided to take them both out of the spotlight when Everton visited Nottingham on Sunday.
Scarpa being taken out of the squad is perhaps the most surprising decision. He has looked okay when called upon and he’s versatile to the point where he can play in a couple of positions.
McGugan spent several years at the City Ground. In his prime, he was unplayable in the Championship and he thinks Cooper has made the correct call regarding the duo.
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He told the Garibaldi Red Podcast: “I don’t think right now is the right time in my honest opinion. Next season, if we stay up hopefully then you have another six months with them and a full pre-season.
“You have to look at the bigger picture with them. Maybe with Scarpa, he’s a bit more experienced, but you have to look at what they’re coming into. It’s a relegation fight.
“I watched Danilo in the first half against Leeds and thought he really struggled with the pace of the game. That can happen and Steve Cooper has pulled him out to look from the side.”
Verdict delivered on Scarpa and Danilo by McGugan
McGugan does make a great point. Particularly with Danilo, he had looked a little erratic and wasteful during his last performance and perhaps Cooper has made a smart decision.
As a young player, he has bags of time on his side. The Reds signed him from Palmeiras as one for the future and it was only injury problems that forced Cooper to throw him in.
Scarpa is a different situation. He should really be in his prime and perhaps it won’t be long before he does get himself back on the bench at the very least.
At 29-years-old the player should be in his prime. As a result, he won’t want to be sat on the sidelines for too long and he should still have a part to play this season.