Why is it so important for Nottingham Forest to keep this star man?

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Nottingham Forest have struggled through recent seasons, and problems off the pitch have plagued a talented squad now well accustomed to mediocrity. Injuries to Andy Reid and Chris Cohen left a gulf in midfield, a lack of creativity, a lack of inspiration, a lack of leadership.

Henri Lansbury has grown into the role spectacularly, providing the spark often absent in the centre of the park for the Reds. His influence was recognised by Dougie Freedman’s during doomed tenure, and the Scotsman named Lansbury as captain in Chris Cohen’s long period on the sidelines.

The 25-year-old arrived at the City Ground in 2012 after failing to break into Arsenal’s first team line-up, despite a sequence of successful loans in which he helped both Norwich and West Ham earn promotion in successive years. A £1million price tag seems a bargain in current times, and the Londoner has proved just that.

Netting 26 times in 128 appearances from midfield, Lansbury has proved to be a fierce attacking influence in the championship. Forest have struggled to find a prolific centre-forward in recent years, with the exception of lethal hit man Britt Assombalonga, but the striker’s injury left the Midlands club desperate for goals. Lansbury’s contributions from midfield proved vital to keep the club afloat in the league last season, as they netted the least amount of goals out of teams that avoided relegation.

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Perhaps more vital than goals are attack-minded midfielders creative contributions to the team, and Lansbury has definitely been on a different level to the other midfielders at the club’s disposal. Lansbury created 59 chances in the league last season, averaging more than two per game. Ben Osborn was the only Forest man to come close, creating 54 in 7 more appearances.

Lansbury’s creativity was one of the sole reasons Forest managed to avoid a relegation battle. Players around him weren’t finishing the plethora of chances he created, but thankfully his passing and deceptive movement made enough space and created enough opportunity for the occasional goal.

One of the main reasons Forest survived the drop was a fairly solid defence, which, despite a poor disciplinary record, Lansbury also assisted with. Forest had the highest average successful tackles per game in the league last season, and while this is indicative of poor possession, they were certainly able to win the ball back.

Lansbury averaged 2.1 tackles per game. That kind of contribution from a player who is predominantly a number 10 is considerable. In comparison, Hull’s attacking midfielder Sam Clucas made just 1.2 tackles per game. Lansbury also made 1.4 interceptions per game, a further indicator of his defensive prowess.

His defensive contributions, while admirable, have occasionally lacked discipline. In the league, Lansbury averaged 1.2 fouls per game, while amassing six yellow cards and one red. An aggressive character in the middle of the park has long been successful, but seeing your captain lose his head and get sent off can be dangerous for squad morale.

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While that passion is vital, the reckless challenges are something Lansbury needs to force out of his game. Forest’s current reliance on him to run the game cannot be overstated, so a period of absence through bans could be detrimental.

Fresh links to Burnley have emerged this summer, as they have done persistently throughout the last couple of seasons. Lansbury emphasised his desire to stay at the club last season, but Burnley’s push for promotion could be a tempting prospect.

That being said, the Championship is like no other league. It’s the epitome of unpredictable, and there’s no guarantee that Burnley would be a step forward in Lansbury’s career. Despite the fact a hefty profit would be made if Forest decided to sell, they should do all they can to hold onto the talented central midfielder.

Phillippe Montanier could pave the way for a resurgence for Nottingham Forest, and he will, without a doubt, look to Henri Lansbury to be a key part of that.

Featured Image – All Rights Reserved by Paul Carroll.