Leon Osman

[Goat]

I do agree with you, i mean i say he could adapt, but its very unlikely, hes a luxury player, maybe not in the Deco/Kaka mould, but your right, he does need a free role, I suppose in our old formation thats what Cahill used to be. People say Moyes isnt tactically aware, i think maybe he hasnt been, but hes learning, yes hes been in the job for 6-7 years now, at Premiership level, but hes still young in managers terms and hes still learning.

Yes the current formation was to some degree forced upon him, but its no doubt that Arteta MUST stay centrally and we must play with a striker and we must use Cahill and Fellaini and we must play with wingers. The back 4 picks itself, i know some have wondered about 3 CBs and 2 Wingbacks, which would in thoery allow us to play without wingers, but where does that leave Pienaar, he cant play wingback. I dont reckon Hibbert/Neville/Jacobsen could either, maybe Seamus could, but thats another topic im sure.

 

[C0yle]

The problem were going to have in the near future is Cahill v Fellaini for that position just behind the striker.

there's only 1 winner there, for the next 3 years at least anyway

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Ossie is a great squad player as he can play anywhere across midfield, he's a good pro and puts in a great shift whenever he plays. But he should really just be a squad player now I think.

 

[Cal]

Ossie is a great squad player as he can play anywhere across midfield, he's a good pro and puts in a great shift whenever he plays. But he should really just be a squad player now I think.

Correct.

 

[Goat]

I concur, hes not what we need to get to the next level, but i would never want to see him leave, EVER.

 

[kenada_blue]

My view - Ossie is a central midfielder, comparable to someone like Modric for eg IMO. He's more accomplished at that than Fellaini is but doesnt have the target man size or presence. Fellaini has more in common with Cahill than any of our midfielders.

I dont think Ossie is just a squad player. He's a player that is great when the team changes tact and he plays in his preffered position just off the support striker in CM.

Cahill and Fellaini cant play central midfield as well as Ossie. Arteta will always be 1st choice but if he's injured or put out wide again (which is always good to have and Moyes shouldnt be scared to do that again if needs to) Ossie should slot into his role.

Valued member of the squad IMO.

 

[Seamus Colemole]

Ossie is a great squad player as he can play anywhere across midfield, he's a good pro and puts in a great shift whenever he plays. But he should really just be a squad player now I think.

If all players were Ossies size and stature he would be awesome.

He has the skills and the commitment but he loses the ball too often too easily and that really doesn't help us unfortunatly.

 

[Robert Jarvis]

I agree looses the ball too often and is not much good at tackling and getting possession. If he was not playing would we miss him, I think not.

 

[Dutch Toffee]

I like Osman and hope he'll be around for a few years more. However, his place in midfield will most probably be the first to go, if we'll be able to strenghten in the summer. Also Dan Gosling will provide some stern competition for Osman in the near future, I believe. Football is a teamsport however and I don't mind having the option of a player like Leon Osman.

 

[Philw]

Ossie is a great squad player as he can play anywhere across midfield, he's a good pro and puts in a great shift whenever he plays. But he should really just be a squad player now I think.

He has the skills and the commitment but he loses the ball too often too easily and that really doesn't help us unfortunatly.

I like Osman and hope he'll be around for a few years more. However, his place in midfield will most probably be the first to go, if we'll be able to strenghten in the summer. Also Dan Gosling will provide some stern competition for Osman in the near future, I believe. Football is a teamsport however and I don't mind having the option of a player like Leon Osman.

I agree with these points. Also regards his losing of the ball. People have long said he is not strong enough/knocked off the ball too easily, and the thing i noticed against liverpool was that he got knocked off so easily in challenges where if he was a bit stronger he'd at least get a freekick, but it seems to take so little force to do it that he never gets them

 

[ToxtethBlue]

He loses the ball alot outwide, in the middle he doesn't. He's got more space in the middle and can go right, left or centrally.

He's playing out of postion, good central midfielder but an average wide player.

Or according to HB, he's lost it.

 

[Neiler]

Squad utility man for me, but am fond of Ossie!

 

[little curly alan ball]

I agree with Bruce , though Leon , on top form is worth his shirt , starting . I must however , disagree that he doesnt play vs the top 4 . I can think of loads of times esp Anfield though he did disappoint recently , Chelsea away , and Utd , last year particularly where he was marvellous .Its because he gets space , can " drop into the hole " and turn and knock balls into feet . Its when hes at his best . Plus hes raw-arse Evertonian . Like ourselves, my mate .
L.C.A.B.

 

[Number_25]

I agree with Bruce , though Leon , on top form is worth his shirt , starting . I must however , disagree that he doesnt play vs the top 4 . I can think of loads of times esp Anfield though he did disappoint recently , Chelsea away , and Utd , last year particularly where he was marvellous .Its because he gets space , can " drop into the hole " and turn and knock balls into feet . Its when hes at his best . Plus hes raw-arse Evertonian . Like ourselves, my mate .
L.C.A.B.

Agreed.

 

[bluesb1970]

For years we have given our forwards scraps to feed off. Is this down to personnel or tactics? I feel it is a bit of both. Moyes isn't known for his attacking nouse, we just don't attack very well. We don't seem to have any purpose or plan when going forward, It is all about effort. MOFro is an excellent player in my opinion and one that in the future we could build a team around. He has come on leaps and bounds since he signed an won us a few games with his efforts. Let's judge him after his first full season. Blend is everything in a succesful midfield and this is something DM has to look at. We need a midfield destroyer to get round the pitch and get the ball for the others. If we can replace Osman with this type of player then maybe we can be more incisive in midfield. Let's not forget what we were watching a few years ago and how hard we have worked to get to this level. We are building slowly, properly. The Everton way as DM would say.