The real reason why Steve Cooper keeps playing 25 old year key man in advanced role for Nottingham Forest

The real reason why Steve Cooper keeps playing 25 old year key man in advanced role for Nottingham Forest

A report has now explained why Steve Cooper has chosen to play Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare slightly out of position this season.

The Reds fought off hefty competition during the summer to sign the Ivory Coast international. At one point, PSG and Bayern Munich both wanted Sangare.

Forest parted with £30 million to sign Sangare from PSV. He was the club’s priority signing and he was added with just minutes of the transfer window remaining.

Sangare has been playing out of position at Forest

The 26-year-old has made a positive impression at Forest. However, he’s not been playing in the position that served him best with PSV.

 

Cooper has deployed him in a more advanced central midfield role more often than not. Now, The Athletic has been explaining why that has been the case.

 

Paul Taylor explains in his latest article: ” It is why, rather than playing the deeper-lying role in which he stood out in Holland, Sangare has largely been used in a more advanced position. His manager was wary of exposing him to an area of the pitch where a mistake could be severely punished.”

Sangare has been in fine form since he signed for Forest. He tops the charts for tackles made and blocks completed by Forest players, despite missing the first month of the season.

Sangare will be huge City Ground star
It’s been an indifferent start to life at Forest in some senses. Although Sangare has been useful, the team has only won once when he’s played.

 

Still, that’s not really a true reflection on Sangare and largely he’s been impressive. The Ivorian is still adapting to life in England and he will only get better.

 

There has to come a point when Cooper deploys him in his natural position. It’s where he became sought-after at PSV and clearly, it’s where he’s most effective.

 

It perhaps speaks volumes of Cooper’s man-management skills that he’s tried to protect Sangare. However, as a Premier League club, the best players have to be used in their best positions and the 31-cap star is no exception.