Ibrahim Sangaré

Sangaré built his reputation in Dutch football as a midfielder few opponents wanted to run at directly. He used his size and long stride to close distance and win the ball without needing to lunge into a tackle. That physical profile is unusual for a Premier League holding midfielder, most of whom rely on quick feet rather than sheer strength.

The trade off is mobility across the full width of the pitch, because a midfielder built to dominate the centre is not always suited to sprinting out wide. He is not the man asked to cover a full back caught upfield. Forest have generally accepted that trade, pairing him with a partner willing to do the running he leaves behind. Forest fans mostly judge him kindly for that trade, because the alternative would be losing the physical control he brings to matches.