JOE LOLLEY
AGE: 26 CLUB: NOTTINGHAM FOREST POSITION: WINGER VALUE: £4m 2018-19 APPS: 49 GOALS: 11
WHAT HAS HE GOT?
JOE LOLLEY has been arguably the most productive wide player in the Championship this season. Attacking full backs with his loping stride, he has scored 11 goals. He is very single-minded. When he starts his run at defenders he sees only the goal. He has a powerful shot with his left foot and most of his goals are of the spectacular variety, driving from outside the penalty area. Recently, maintaining his balance on the run, he tested the goalkeeper after drifting past two half-hearted challenges. He took the ball up to the full back sideways on and glided past him on the inside. Although forced into a congested area he was strong enough to continue his run past a second defender before losing his balance. Occasionally he will use his right foot but the accuracy and power comes mainly from his left. Martin O’Neill, having had time to assess his capabilities, recently switched him to the right, where he can manoeuvre inside the full back and get his shot away. Lolley is a useful outlet on either side, able to turn defence into attack after Forest had been forced to defend. Full backs do not enjoy his movement and control and unless they get close enough to intercept he will immediately put them on the back foot with a drop of the shoulder and a sprint. He is a strong runner rather than electric but it is his determination and drive that catch the eye. His workrate is adequate and he manages to take heavy knocks in his stride.
WHAT DOES HE NEED?
I WOULD like to see him get his head up more. Twice in the opening minutes of a game I saw him ignore a team-mate who was better positioned and continue threading his way through before being dispossessed. However, I cannot deny his single-mindedness and desire to force his way into a scoring position. He has been a valuable member of an under-performing Forest side and probably one of the few that O’Neill will have pencilled in as a certainty for his City Ground rebuild next season. He is 26 but could be an asset in the transfer market too.