Morgan Gibbs-White has cemented himself in Nottingham Forest history with his fearless and ferocious attitude alongside his unique, skilful playing style, having celebrated his 100th club appearance last weekend. George Edwards hails the Reds’ number 10
The number 10 jersey is one that comes with immense weighting at any football club. The spearhead, the creator, the dominator. Someone with the sublime ability to change a game in an instant and produce results when it matters most.
At Nottingham Forest, legends have borne this responsibility with conviction and grace. Ian Storey-Moore, Tony Woodcock, Stan Collymore, Robert Earnshaw: true cult heroes representing the club with conviction and class.
They have been hard acts to follow. The weight of being the main man weighed heavily on then-record signing Joao Carvalho, and while Henri Lansbury dished up some special moments, his career-ruining desire to leave the club left a rather bitter taste.
However, the current wearer of the shirt is one that perfectly displays the attributes and personality needed to fulfil both the role and the responsibility of being number 10 at a club like Nottingham Forest.
Morgan Gibbs-White was seen as the marquee signing following Forest’s promotion in 2022. A bright Championship prospect who had never quite broken through in the Premier League, with the pressure of leading a survival charge a potential burden for someone of his age and inexperience.
But not him. Gibbs-White took the 10 shirt with no hesitation, with his attitude of graft and determination evident from day one.
He very quickly became the heartbeat of his side, appearing in every league game following his signing and, along with Brennan Johnson, being one of the few consistents in the side that season. Undisputedly, Gibbs-White was hailed player of the season by the supporters, and remains a firm fan favourite.
That’s a feat many have found hard to achieve over the years.
Often, fan favourites haven’t necessarily been the most technically gifted players, but the ones who would die for the shirt and bought into the club and the city, making it their home. Gibbs-White undoubtedly possesses the X-Factor, but it’s his lion-hearted desire and affection that make him stand out, that make him a captain.
Ryan Yates is undoubtedly the club captain; Nottingham Forest bleeds out of him. However, there is little doubt who is the vice, setting the best example to his teammates and onlookers about how to approach a game.
Think back to last season and the demise of Steve Cooper. One of his major downfalls was trying to deploy Gibbs-White in a 4-3-3 formation; Nuno reverted to a 4-2-3-1 the second he came in. But Gibbs-White did not grumble at being deployed out of position, impacting as best he could in a side shot of confidence.
His emotion is paramount.
He’s a man who won’t allow himself or his team injustice. His reaction and subsequent red card at Brighton only endeared him more. It’s crystal clear that his ambitions align with those of the clubs and supporters and that he aims to reach those heights in the Garibaldi red.
A unique attacking midfielder, Gibbs-White’s playing style is one that complements Forest perfectly, perhaps more than it would any side in the league.
He is constantly taking risks, looking to be aggressive, aiming to attack, never shy of making a wrong choice and using mistakes as fuel for improvement. Very few teams in and around Forest’s league position relinquish that freedom, with precise passing, movement and intricacies the bedrock of philosophy.
The freedom to create, roam and play brings the very best out of Gibbs-White, whose desire to be at the heart of every attacking movement, coupled with his unpredictability, makes him one of the most refreshingly unique players in the Premier League. There are no limitations to his play, emphasised by the freedom given to him by his manager.
One hundred appearances in two-and-a-half years is a quite remarkable achievement.
Forest have played 114 games since his arrival, meaning suspension, injury and selection have kept him out of just 14 games, with 96 of his 100 appearances being starts.
It’s no surprise, mind. Very rarely will a game pass without him putting his stamp on it.
Think back to that first-half display against Fulham under the City Ground lights last season. Buoyed on by a banner bearing his name, Gibbs-White was truly unplayable, every touch, every pass, every intention being to perfection.
At his best, he is unplayable, with incredible pace, a wicked passing range, strength and composure in the final third. His control is such an asset, and his ability to stick the ball to his feet and produce magic with chops, tricks and turns makes him truly one of a kind.
These attributes of mental toughness and undoubted quality make him absolutely cut out for a place in the England squad, particularly with a manager whose laurels don’t necessarily align with the school of Pep Guardiola.
England or not, Morgan Gibbs-White will now forever be part of the Nottingham Forest family. He isn’t using the club as a stepping stone or for a pay cheque. He is here because he wants to play football and intends to elevate the club back to its historical heights. A true credit to himself and the football club, there is no better representation of exactly what Nottingham Forest is about than Morgan Gibbs-White.
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