Birtles says Gaetan must stay focused
NOTTINGHAM Forest legend Garry Birtles says Gaetan Bong must maintain his concentration for 90 minutes each match to win over sceptics.
Forest fans were far from convinced when Bong was named in the team to face Reading on Saturday after he struggled against Watford, amid an up and down season.
Birtles says Bong’s familiarity with manager Chris Hughton from their Brighton & Hove Albion days helps him but he believes Bong is prone to being caught out by opponents.
“I think he switches off a bit. His concentration lapses,” Birtles said on this week’s Garibaldi Red podcast.
“No matter what level you play at, if that happens, you get punished. As a defender you can’t afford to do that.
“Chris knows him. That’s why he plays him. You can’t blame him for that.
“You trust people you’ve managed before. It’s understandable that he does that. The one thing you want more than anything at the end of the season when you’re still in a bit of trouble is a settled team.
“I think that’s what Chris is trying to do. It’s a conundrum for him he has to work out.
“People think full-back is an easy position. I’ve said before, I finished my career as a central defender.
“I played left-back once when Pearcey (Stuart Pearce) was injured against Southampton. Danny Wallace was a flying machine.
“He turned me inside out. In the end my number came up. It was a windy night and I lost a high ball.
“It came down, bounced up and hit me full in the face. The gaffer had seen enough.
“It’s not an easy position, especially if you have someone up against you who will take you on, that puts you under constant pressure. You’ll get found out.”
Bong has played 11 times this season and started the last two games as he battles Yuri Ribeiro for the left-back spot.
The Cameroon international is under contract until the end of next season.