Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage has heaped praise on Laurent Mendy, embracing the dressing room jokes that dub him his ‘third son’ and tipping the 28-year-old as a future club captain.”
Signed in the summer from Macclesfield, the 28-year-old former Manchester pot washer turned professional footballer has become Rovers’ standout player and seems destined to follow in the footsteps of former Forest Green defender Ethan Pinnock who made it from the National League all the way to the Premier League.
On the “third son” banter, Savage said: “The lads hammer him saying that, you know, he’s my third son. I’ve got two boys, Charlie, Freddie. They say Mendy’s my third. But I just want him to do well and he’s never let me down. He’s never let Macclesfield or Forest Green down. Even against Carlisle, when it gets sent off, he was trying to do the right thing because he was that brave on the ball. I’m not going to have a go at him from that. He knew he made an error, but he has been absolutely magnificent.”
Despite not being nominated for the National League Player of the month for August, September or October, Savage insists he should be considered in the team of the season: “For me, if there’s a National League team of the season right now, he would be in it. He’s a future captain of this football club.”
Savage also praised Mendy’s humility and natural ability, suggesting he’s yet to grasp the full extent of his own potential.
“Mendy doesn’t realise how good he is and it just comes so easy for him and it’s a disbelief really how this kid has never played league football,” Savage said. “Hopefully he can do that with us. But again, I’m proud of him. I’m proud of all my players who’ve come from lower and given that opportunity. They’re embracing it, they want to get better. But Mendy is an unbelievable talent.”
Savage revealed his star man came to his attention following a trial at his former club Macclesfield: “Mendy’s a natural defender. When he came to Macclesfield on trial from London, playing on the park pitches, he was a right-back. We moved him into midfield because of how comfortable he is on the ball. At Forest Green, because we keep possession so much, I wanted a centre-half who could drive forward with the ball. Our system allows one of the sixes to stay back when we rotate, so Mendy becomes a midfield player when we have the ball.
“Some people ask why he doesn’t just play in midfield, but the thing is—if he makes a mistake in midfield, the back four can cover him. If he makes a mistake as a centre-half, there’s no security behind him except the goalkeeper, and he gets punished. His mistakes in midfield are protected because he has that security. He’s brave on the ball and willing to take risks, and that’s what makes him so special. I honestly don’t have enough words to speak about Mendy.”
Listen to Forest Green Rovers boss Robbie Savage’s full pre-match press conference, where he discusses: How proud he is of the table-toppers ahead of Rovers’ trip to Wealdstone. Why naming an unchanged team is a thing of the past. The burgeoning partnership of Jili Buyabu and Jayden Clarke. Positive news from the treatment room and why he plans to make changes in the FA Trophy tie against Weston-super-Mare and Notts Forest in the National League Cup.
Don’t miss Savage’s insights ahead of the big games with Stroud Times
