"Causes havoc" - Bristol Rovers: Doubtless claim made about Shaq Forde | OneFootball

FLW's Gas fan pundit has picked out Shaq Forde as the club's current best player

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW fan pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Bristol Rovers forward Shaq Forde has been picked out as the best player at the Gas right now by our FLW fan pundit, following his impressive recent form after he joined the club from Watford in the summer.

Forde joined the Hornets' academy as an eight-year-old in 2012, and rose through the youth ranks at Vicarage Road before he was handed his professional debut for the club in the FA Cup in January 2022.

Loan spells in non-league followed, before he joined Leyton Orient last summer for the season, and his impressive form in the third-tier with the O's under Richie Wellens prompted Rovers to sign him on a three-year deal on deadline day in a surprise move so late on in the summer window.

Forde has had to wait for his opportunities so far at the Memorial Stadium, but his recent form has earned him plaudits, and he looks set to be a key man for Matt Taylor's side as they aim to challenge for the League One play-off spots this term.

Shaq Forde named as Bristol Rovers' best player right now

The 20-year-old joined Rovers when the season was already underway, and so was limited to substitute appearances in the very early stages of his time at the club, but did score his first goal for the club in a 3-1 away win at Burton Albion on October 5 as he kick-started the Gas' comeback at the Pirelli Stadium.

He came into the starting eleven for the first time last month on the right-wing against Shrewsbury Town, and provided an assist for Jamie Lindsay to score the winner in the second-half in a fine showing, so has continued in the starting eleven for the last four games, with another goal against Lincoln City and a key performance last time out in a crucial win against Mansfield Town.

Forde has certainly impressed in his short time in BS7, and our Rovers fan pundit, Joshua Hemmings, named the attacker after we asked him who he thinks is the club's best player right now.

“Our best player currently, without a shadow of a doubt, is Shaq Forde,” Josh told FLW.

“What a player. It is so refreshing to see a winger run at players still, that old-fashioned way.

“(He can) beat a man, has a quality left foot and a great right foot too.

“He absolutely causes havoc. You can’t get near him, and on his day he is unplayable.

“(He has got) great finishing ability. He’s got three goal contributions this season in about 450 minutes.

“He is miles above the rest of our forward options.”

Forde has impressed boss Matt Taylor so far this season

It was clear how effective Forde can be in the third-tier during his time at Leyton Orient last season, after he registered nine goals and an assist in 40 League One games with the O's as they stayed in the play-off hunt up until the last month of the campaign.

His move to the Gas came as a surprise so late in the window, as boss Matt Taylor thought his transfer window was done prior to the deal coming about on deadline day, but he called the 21-year-old an "exciting talent" upon his arrival, and has been proven correct so far this term, especially after his recent performances.

It has not been plain-sailing for Forde at Rovers as yet though, and he suffered horrific racist abuse on social media following his red card against Reading last month, but was offered huge praise by his manager for the way he bounced back after his goal against Lincoln in the next league game.

"He’s had a tough couple of weeks, we can’t lie. He showed inexperience at Reading and a bit of naivety, but he’s got moments of brilliance," Taylor told Bristol Rovers' official media.

"He’s our best one-versus-one attacking player.

"People have to know that he made the tackle for the goal, won the ball back himself, then drove forward and put it in the bottom corner. It was a really classy moment from Shaq.

"I’m delighted for him because the stress of the last couple of weeks would have taken its toll.

"He’s only going to get better and better for us. He’s certainly something we’ve not got. So, I’m looking forward to seeing how he progresses in terms of his career with ourselves.

"He’s a goal threat and has scored two in limited game time thus far."

Forde clearly has lots of admirers at his new club, and has taken to life as a Bristol Rovers player brilliantly in the last few weeks, after an initial slow start.

He looks set to play a huge part in any success that the Pirates may have this season, and has certainly nailed down his starting spot in Taylor's side for the foreseeable future ahead of a busy winter schedule in the third-tier.