Garry Birtles has suggested that he’s been disappointed with Nottingham Forest attacker Morgan Gibbs-White this season. He was particularly unimpressed with one aspect of his performance against West Ham last weekend.
The Reds lost 3-2 at The London Stadium. After the game, Gibbs-White came under scrutiny for his set-piece deliveries, with David Prutton suggesting that Harry Toffolo should start taking them.
Gibbs-White has captained Forest during the last two games he’s played for the club. He’s not wracked up in excess of 50 appearances for the club and he remains important to Steve Cooper’s team.
Birtles unhappy with Gibbs-White but backs him
Speaking on Notts TV last week, Birtles was asked to discuss Forest star Gibbs-White and his recent form. He was also asked to dissect some of the set pieces that he took last weekend.
He said on Notts TV show Team Talk: “Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to be our playmaker. His delivery is supposed to be…you know, he takes every free kick every corner and on Sunday it just wasn’t good enough. Two went to the goalkeeper who came out and collected them. One at the end where he got fouled, it went beyond everybody and he’s got to improve in that respect.
“He can do we know that and we’ve seen him do it before. When you’re up against someone like Ward-Prowse, you’re going to get that comparison and he’s one of the best in the business. He can come again.
“He’s maybe being played out of position a little bit and he’s missing Brennan Johnson a little bit because the two of them did combine particularly well at times. He’s got one assist so far this season and no goals and that’s what people will look at.
Gibbs-White still massive for Forest despite criticism
Ultimately, the Forest man does need to get his goals and assists numbers up. That is what will define him as a player but he’s only 23 and those things will come at some point.
This season his numbers haven’t been low due to a lack of desire. A graphic was flashed up by Sky Sports last weekend and prompted Don Goodman to praise Gibbs-White, with the player the best-performing Forest player in a number of areas.
The challenge for Gibbs-White is to keep trying hard and keep trying to get Forest moving in the right direction. Of late, he’s been out of position and it’s perhaps a conundrum for Cooper to get him back in his natural position.
Birtles does make some good points. Last week, the set pieces taken by Gibbs-White were probably intensified given that James Ward-Prowse was so lethal for the Hammers.
However, that’s not really a fair comparison. As Birtles says, Ward-Prowse is one of the best in the business and ultimately Forest star Gibbs-White is never going to be quite so competent in that regard.
Gibbs-White can help Forest in other regards on the pitch. He probably does need to up his game for a bit but as a young player, the playmaker should be backed by his manager and the club’s supporters.
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