Matz Sels

Sels has built his Forest career on reflex saves rather than commanding presence alone, throwing a hand to a shot that already looked in before most goalkeepers would have finished their initial movement. He has been recognised with one of the division's individual goalkeeping honours. That kind of credit usually reflects a defence performing brilliantly in front of him, except in his case the saves themselves did plenty of that work.

That reputation now carries an expectation with it, because supporters have started treating a spectacular stop as routine rather than exceptional. The pressure that creates is subtle but real. A goalkeeper judged against his own highlight reel has far less room for an ordinary mistake than one who arrived at the club with no reputation to defend. Consistency across many matches, rather than isolated moments of brilliance, is what will define his legacy at the club.