Tranmere today strengthened their defensive options with the signing of former QPR youth team player Manny Monthe on loan from Forest Green Rovers, but what do we know about the defender?
Here are some interesting, and some not-so interesting, bits of information about the newest face at Prenton Park, Cameroon-born Manny Monthe.
‘Manny’ is short for Emmanuel
The imposing 23-year-old defender is widely known as Manny Monthe, but as you may have guessed, ‘Manny’ is actually a shortened version of Emmanuel. Monthe’s full name is actually Emmanuel Gaetan Nguemkam Monthe.
His professional debut came AGAINST Forest Green and James Norwood
Monthe came through the youth ranks at Queens Park Rangers before being loaned out for first team experience in March 2014. His destination was Southport, managed by now-Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman. Monthe played seven games for the Sandgrounders, making his debut as a substitute against his future employers, Forest Green.
James Norwood was on the Forest Green team that night, but the pair were only on the pitch together for six minutes before Nors was subbed. Southport won the game 2-0 (Norwood hitting the crossbar in the first half).
He is one of few players outside of Europe’s top divisions that features accurately on FIFA 18
For gamers among you, you could add Monthe to your FIFA 18 Ultimate Team should you wish. Being a League Two player, he obviously features on the game, however, it’s possibly in more detail than you may initially imagine.
Forest Green became the first club outside of one of Europe’s top divisions to have players’ faces captured by EA Sports to feature in the game as celebration of them reaching the Football League last season.
So, while the rest of the Football League players on FIFA 18 have a vague, passing and pixelated resemblance to their real life counter-parts, Monthe and his Forest Green team mates feature in full facial detail.
He’s quick, and loves a run forward…and a nutmeg
Monthe has now become recognised as a centre back, however, it wasn’t always that way. Monthe played much of his youth career at QPR as a left-back, a position he impressed in with some great attacking play. His pace and physical stature was a problem for opposing full-backs, and he got a few assists along the way.
While playing in QPR youth teams, he became known to love a nutmeg on opposing full-backs.
He’s nearly 6ft 5in!
Monthe is certainly going to add some height to the Rovers backline. The defender stands at an imposing 6ft 4.5inches.
