Garry Birtles, a Nottingham Forest great, has praised Felipe following the Reds’ victory over West Ham at the weekend.
The commentator was speaking on the Forest Focus podcast. So, what has Birtles said about Forest defender Felipe? Let’s look more closely.
What Garry Birtles said about Forest center-back Felipe.
Birtles appears to be a huge supporter of Felipe, and his return to the Forest team certainly helped over the weekend.
Felipe made his Reds debut after appearing for 12 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Wolves in December. He had been on the bench for the last three games, but he had not appeared in any of them.
Felipe has struggled with injuries this season, and as a result, he has only made five appearances for the Reds in 2023/24.
Birtles was asked by broadcaster Matt Davies about who he believed was the Man of the Match over the weekend, and the former striker had no doubts.
He said on the Forest Focus podcast, “I think Felipe is for me. He came in, did nothing wrong, and did everything you’d expect from a centre-back: he didn’t try to be clever, he played to his strengths, and he kept everyone in check.
“When you look at a guy like that, he didn’t accomplish anything amazing, but the way he makes everything appear so simple is spectacular. He’s good in the air, understands the game well, and makes everything appear so easy.”
The Reds can really kick on if Felipe stays fit.
On Saturday, it appeared to be much less chaotic defensively for Forest, thanks in large part to Felipe’s presence.
Birtles’ selection of Felipe is correct in our opinion, and he has demonstrated how much of a loss he has been to Forest this season.
Forest will not be able to rely on Felipe indefinitely, as his contract will expire in the summer at the age of 34.
In the meantime, however, he can really help Forest, and if he keeps fit, staying in the Premier League shouldn’t be too difficult.
