Joao Carvalho was lauded by some supporters after Nottingham Forest beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 on Saturday. The playmaker was given a rare start by Martin O’Neill and set up the winning goal for Karim Ansarifard following a free-flowing move. Carvalho has endured a debut season of inconsistency since joining for a club-record £13.5m from Benfica last summer, but his talent is undeniable.
The performance of Carvalho yesterday summed up him to a tee – a game changer. He didn’t have the best of games but one moment of magic got the three points. He will drift from games, he will be inconsistent but he provides that quality many don’t possess #priceless #nffc
— Terry Norman (@tjnnorman) April 28, 2019
I'd be absolutely fuming if we lost Carvalho. It will be the biggest mistake in recent times, he's a HUGE talent… And for whatever reason, we've wasted him being sat on the bench. Would be a huge own goal if he went. Fingers crossed he stays! ???????????????????? #Nffc
— Olly Bausor (@OllyBausor) April 27, 2019
João Carvalho bagged himself a very tidy assist today for Nottingham Forest. By all accounts, he's been great since he's returned to the first team. It's great to see. #NFFC https://t.co/kXls5z0qGN
— Alex Goncalves (@Aljeeves10) April 27, 2019
Carvalho plays and Forest win away. Imagine my shock..#NFFC
— Lee Clarke (@Clarkey_No1) April 27, 2019
João Carvalho wins you games of football.
The fact he was dropped for 15 games, at the key point of the season, is THE reason we're not in the playoffs. #nffc
— frigginell (@NewRadicools) April 27, 2019
Carvalho. A player who can find the pass to win you a tight game. That is why he should have played more games before our play off hopes died. #nffc
— Thomas Payne (@trickytrees12) April 27, 2019
Another game carvalho starts another game we win, coincide? #nffc
— Fletch ???? (@nffcfletcher_) April 27, 2019
Carvalho assist ????I prefer not to speak. If I speak I am in big trouble #NFFC
— Tom Jenkinson (@tjenko777) April 27, 2019
It doesn’t matter if Carvalho does nothing in the rest of the game. That bit of quality that created the goal makes him worth his weight in gold #NFFC
— Aaron Whiley (@AaronWhiley) April 27, 2019
Against QPR, Carvalho played for 81 minutes, made 49 touches, 35 passes with 80% accuracy, created one chance, whipped in one cross, made one successful dribble, had one shot, made one tackle and one interception. O’Neill hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with the midfielder, but he’s included him in the starting lineup recently and Forest have enjoyed consecutive wins.
The 22-year-old has made 39 appearances in all competitions for Forest, scoring and creating 12 goals this season. in the Championship, he’s made 43 chances and 49 successful dribbles and could be an important player for the Reds in 2019/20. Carvalho’s form fell off a cliff in 2019 but he’s expected to be retained over the summer and should improve after a year in England under his belt.
The fans will certainly back him.
Crippy Cooke’s previous article
‘Dynamic’, ‘Looking sharp’ – some fans praise Nottingham Forest forward after QPR win