Former Nottingham Forest favorite James Perch has delivered a passionate verdict following the Reds’ stunning 3-1 victory over Manchester City, claiming head coach Oliver Glasner now realizes that club captain Ryan Yates is his single most effective central midfielder.
The City Ground erupted on Saturday as Forest dismantled Pep Guardiola’s side, with £45 million striker Liam Delap earning rave reviews from Troy Deeney for his two-goal masterclass.
The monumental victory—which saw owner Evangelos Marinakis personally congratulate Glasner in the tunnel post-match—lifted Forest out of the relegation zone and brought an end to weeks of unnecessary pressure on the Austrian manager.
However, according to Perch, the true story of the night was the dramatic return of Yates, who was handed his very first Premier League start of the season and delivered a monumental, game-changing performance.
”Better Than Schlager”: Perch Slams Glasner’s Midfield Exile of Ryan Yates
Yates had spent the opening three months of the 2026-27 campaign “sat in the cold,” watching from the bench while summer signing Xaver Schlager and Ibrahim Sangaré struggled to provide physical protection during Forest’s five-game winless slump.
Speaking on the Forest Focus podcast, Perch—who made over 70 appearances for Forest—insisted that Yates’ selfless, defensive discipline provides something no other midfielder in Glasner’s squad can replicate:
“When you get someone who genuinely cares, we know what he’s like, he’s Forest through and through.
“I think he deserved to play, I think we should have seen him a lot more this season, especially with the two that are in there in midfield, could Yates do more than Xaver Schlager?
“I don’t think there is any midfielder at Forest better at just getting the ball and giving to someone who can play, and he always delivers when Forest have their backs against the wall, so massive credit to Yates… it’s not easy to just come back in and play against a team like Manchester City.”
Back-to-the-Wall Masterclass: How Yates Muzzled City
Tasked with breaking up Manchester City’s high-powered attack, Yates delivered a masterclass in dirty work—winning aerial duels, breaking up counter-attacks, and quickly feeding the ball to Forest’s dynamic transition players:
- Captain’s Impact: Yates anchored the midfield during a match where Forest held just 21 per cent possession, providing the defensive foundation that allowed Jair Cunha to pocket Erling Haaland.
- Clinical Transition: By keeping his passing simple and effective, Yates allowed Morgan Gibbs-White and Liam Delap to punish City on explosive counter-attacks.
- Immediate Reputation Boost: His return instantly resolved Forest’s soft central underbelly, proving to Glasner that technical pedigree means nothing without work rate and leadership.
The Bournemouth Acid Test Awaits
As Forest head into the international break, the big question facing Glasner is whether he will keep Yates in the starting XI for the terrifying trip to face Bournemouth on Saturday, November 21st.
The Cherries enter the fixture riding an incredible eight-game winning streak across all competitions, presenting Forest with one of their most difficult away trips of the season given their historically poor record against Bournemouth.
However, with Ryan Yates back in the heart of midfield and a rejuvenated squad operating with newfound aggression, Forest have the perfect engine room to go into Dorset and prove that their City Ground miracle was no fluke.
