[ad_pod ]
Nottingham Forest manager Martin O’Neill has suggested that Joe Lolley being a marked man should open up space for the attacker’s teammates to exploit, and midfielder Ryan Yates, who previously would have been used to checking the national league north table, may well be one of the players that needs to do exactly that.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the former Republic of Ireland boss has been speaking about the winger who has enjoyed an impressive 2018/19 campaign to date, scoring seven goals and providing a further eight assists in 34 Championship appearances.
However, he has only netted once and failed to pick up an assist since O’Neill replaced Aitor Karanka at The City Ground, even though he has played the full 90 minutes in every game and been given a bit more of a free role in behind the striker that also allows him to drift out wide.
The 66-year-old told The Nottingham Post: “He is intelligent enough to know that, if there is an extra man coming out to mark him, there must be a little bit of space somewhere else.
“I think it is a compliment to him and it is something that Joe, because of his talent, has obviously alerted other teams to his threat and potential.”
Nottingham Forest emerged victorious in the East Midlands derby on Monday. Checkout Matchday with Max’s verdict in the video below…
O’Neill looking for someone else to step up?
He certainly is.
As he mentions, if the wide man is being marked by two players on occasions then there should be more space either on the flank or through the middle of the park, and Yates is one of the individuals who can take advantage from the latter in particular.
The 21-year-old has already netted his first Forest goal having come into the fold under the former Sunderland and Aston Villa manager, but with Ben Watson and Jack Colback more defensively-minded he can still step up even further in the final third – especially when Lolley is struggling for form.
