Leon Osman

[bicycleheader]

Osman is finished as a starter but I'd be happy to have him as a sub, he's a useful but limited player that must be played in the right way to be anything other than a passenger at best. When he starts he's knackered by the half hour and it isn't fair on him really, the manager should recognise he's not cut out for that and play him accordingly even if it means playing a less technically adept player from the start. Last night we'd have done better playing Naismith from the start then bringing Osman on to get his foot on the ball and either kill off the game or push for more points, after all he won us the game against Villa and earned us a point at Stoke

I'd take that point. Maybe Naismith battling and winning those long balls at first, and then Osman on later would've worked.

However I get the feeling Bobby is close to done with Naismith. He will be gone in the summer.

 

[Smodger]

Osman is finished as a starter but I'd be happy to have him as a sub, he's a useful but limited player that must be played in the right way to be anything other than a passenger at best. When he starts he's knackered by the half hour and it isn't fair on him really, the manager should recognise he's not cut out for that and play him accordingly even if it means playing a less technically adept player from the start. Last night we'd have done better playing Naismith from the start then bringing Osman on to get his foot on the ball and either kill off the game or push for more points, after all he won us the game against Villa and earned us a point at Stoke

Yes I agree I like Osman don't get me wrong he has been good fo us over the years and he did get us a point at stoke and the win at villa and didn't start both those games but I don't want bobby m being another moyes not being able to spot a player when he's not got it anymore I had to watch Neville do the same had to listen to people at the game week in week out saying get Neville of hes useless but moyes still played him

 

[bicycleheader]

Yes I agree I like Osman don't get me wrong he has been good fo us over the years and he did get us a point at stoke and the win at villa and didn't start both those games but I don't want bobby m being another moyes not being able to spot a player when he's not got it anymore I had to watch Neville do the same had to listen to people at the game week in week out saying get Neville of hes useless but moyes still played him

The favouritism of Moyes is something I'd rather forget. Let's just give Bobby a chance to build his own squad before we worry about that. I doubt very much he will be like that, as he is very forward thinking.

 

[pfim]

I think if there was a better option to play last night, Osman starts on the bench. There wasn't.

 

[Walken]

The favouritism of Moyes is something I'd rather forget. Let's just give Bobby a chance to build his own squad before we worry about that. I doubt very much he will be like that, as he is very forward thinking.

Berto has definately been more forward thinking with selection, the amount of games Osman has started does baffle me, but given a couple more transfer windows, I trust him to get it right

 

[banno]

There is huge outrage when he plays poorly, with very little balance to what is said, but funnily enough there is not a peep from people when he comes in and does okay.

He is an ageing squad player and cover for Barkley until such point as we upgrade this area of the park. Martinez would not have picked him last night if Ross was fit. Mirallas in the centre wouldn't work I think. I was suggesting this at the start of the season, but really he is another who needs upgrading, he is pretty damn poor with his back to the play, his touch and his passing. Ossie playing okay links better than Mirallas.

I think everyone is more or less in agreement that throughout his career his problem has been consistency. Yes when he plays well he is a very good player but the main problem is when he plays bad he is bad. We know players suffer with consistency but not all consistency levels are the same. Some players are really good then just average then good whereas (IMO) osman is really good then really bad and that is not beneficial to any football club. So to answer your statement people do notice when he plays good and I have seen plenty of positive comments when this is true but truth be known he is awful a lot of the times and this is why he has become a target for the boo boys and rightly so in my opinion. He is just not good enough on a regular basis to be classed as a top player.

 

[deipnosophist]

I think that for 20 minutes at the end of a game he is better than that (eg vs Villa and Sunderland). But whilst I concur with general consensus that Leon should not start, that view is completely irrelevant. Roberto rates him and in the absence of so many of our injured players, Leon will start...end of.

...oops...I mean Stoke...he was shocking against Sunderland

 

[Seamus Colemole]

I think if there was a better option to play last night, Osman starts on the bench. There wasn't.

Naismith on the right, Oviedo on the left.

Naimsith behind Lukau, Oviedo on the left and Mirallas on the right.

Both as good as or better than a left back at right mid and a player who has proven time and time again he struggles when starting games(especially at left mid) and is only of use when coming on as sub late in games.

 

[pfim]

Naismith on the right, Oviedo on the left.

Naimsith behind Lukau, Oviedo on the left and Mirallas on the right.

Both as good as or better than a left back at right mid and a player who has proven time and time again he struggles when starting games(especially at left mid) and is only of use when coming on as sub late in games.

I think it's highly questionable that those two changes are better than what was submitted yesterday.

First, Oviedo on the left in front of Baines already hasn't worked this season, they occupied the same spaces when it was tried. Oviedo on the right keeps him towards the middle of the pitch and opens up the space for the fullback on the wing. I thought that worked, at least in the first half when he saw the ball.

And you wouldn't place Naismith as a second striker when you have Mirallas.

 

[bicycleheader]

Naismith on the right, Oviedo on the left.

Naimsith behind Lukau, Oviedo on the left and Mirallas on the right.

Both as good as or better than a left back at right mid and a player who has proven time and time again he struggles when starting games(especially at left mid) and is only of use when coming on as sub late in games.

The ball didnt stick in the final third in general last night and the whole team played badly. I am certainly glad you are not the manager if you would select the player with close to the worst control in the squad to play in the hole behind the striker. Ossie didnt show it last night but he would always be a better option than our soon to be ex-player Naismith.

 

[Divver]

Naismith on the right, Oviedo on the left.

Naimsith behind Lukau, Oviedo on the left and Mirallas on the right.

Both as good as or better than a left back at right mid and a player who has proven time and time again he struggles when starting games(especially at left mid) and is only of use when coming on as sub late in games.

Good post. Don't like players on the wrong side so they can come onto their stronger foot. For me it just allows the defence to face up and is easy to combat

 

[Chang Elephant]

...I think there's lots of nonsense being talked about the little fella. He actually started well last night, but I accept he had a poor overall game. He's still got a lot to offer.

He started appallingly and somehow got worse. Offers nothing to a premiership side. Has to be replaced quickly.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

The ball didnt stick in the final third in general last night and the whole team played badly. I am certainly glad you are not the manager if you would select the player with close to the worst control in the squad to play in the hole behind the striker. Ossie didnt show it last night but he would always be a better option than our soon to be ex-player Naismith.

Could have played Mirallas on the left, Osman behind the striker and Naismith on the right.

Didn't say they were great options or any of them should definately have been done but they were options, none of which involved a player who has proven time and time again he is no longer good enough to start games (espeically on the wings) and should be used as a sub only.


He's a good player who just doesn't have the legs these days, if he has to be played it should be in a position he's actually played well in : behind the striker. Not on the left. Even simply swapping him with Naismith may have been better but certainly couldn't have been worse.

 

[Walken]

He started appallingly and somehow got worse. Offers nothing to a premiership side. Has to be replaced quickly.

this all day long, he is diabolical, and has been for a while

 

[quasi modo]

When everyone is fit he will not be in the starting 11 and rightly so. Can see this being his last season at Everton.