Leon Osman

kithnou · March 6, 2015

The sad reality is he looked more dangerous than any others against Stoke...what is wrong with the players??

MACCA75 · March 6, 2015

With Ossie and Gibson back we might actually be able to thread a through ball to Lukaku. Two wingers either side and we'll be in business.

Saint Domingo · March 6, 2015

MACCA75 said:
With Ossie and Gibson back we might actually be able to thread a through ball to Lukaku. Two wingers either side and we'll be in business.

If Pienaar returned as well as those two we could just turn this around. Looks like Moyes' old guard will be relied on to save Martinez's job. When these three players retire/are injured/are sold, we will be in massive trouble as we have been this season. Replacing that creativity will cost a lot of money or will require some gems in the transfr market.

bol-uk · March 6, 2015

MACCA75 said:
With Ossie and Gibson back we might actually be able to thread a through ball to Lukaku. Two wingers either side and we'll be in business.

Unfortunately, we won't pay those 4 players withLukaku

MACCA75 · March 6, 2015

bol-uk said:
Unfortunately, we won't pay those 4 players withLukaku

That's what worries me..

StatesideBlue3 · March 6, 2015

Saint Domingo said:
If Pienaar returned as well as those two we could just turn this around. Looks like Moyes' old guard will be relied on to save Martinez's job. When these three players retire/are injured/are sold, we will be in massive trouble as we have been this season. Replacing that creativity will cost a lot of money or will require some gems in the transfr market.

I really hope Pienaar gets back to where he was, but I don't see it happening. He and Baines were a lethal duo for unlocking defenses. We need someone to replace him in that role, desperately.

Number_25 · March 6, 2015

I have been saying for years that Osman is one of our better midfielders in terms of actually trying to get forward and make something work.

I felt for him against Stoke as it seemed to me that Martinez was wanting him to support the wingbacks, pretty much an impossible job to on the wide playing surface of the Britannia.

In an ideal world, Martinez would go for something like...

---------------- Lukaku ------------
-- Mirallas ------------------- Lennon --
--------------- Osman -----------------
---------- Besic ---- McCarthy ---------
-- Baines -- Jags -- Stones -- Coleman --
--------------- Howard -----------------

Saint Domingo · March 6, 2015

Number_25 said:
I have been saying for years that Osman is one of our better midfielders in terms of actually trying to get forward and make something work.

I felt for him against Stoke as it seemed to me that Martinez was wanting him to support the wingbacks, pretty much an impossible job to on the wide playing surface of the Britannia.

In an ideal world, Martinez would go for something like...

---------------- Lukaku ------------
-- Mirallas ------------------- Lennon --
--------------- Osman -----------------
---------- Besic ---- McCarthy ---------
-- Baines -- Jags -- Stones -- Coleman --
--------------- Howard -----------------

My problem with Martinez's tactics at themoment is he seems to play the wrong players for what he is doing. So last season it was simple, full backs bomb on, defensive mids tuck in, wide forwards were players like Mirallas and Pienaar who would drift centrally leavung space for the full backs no problem.

This season the full backs haven't gone forward so the inside forwards (Barkley and Naismith get stuck out wide). When we do put a natural wideman on like Lennon you see him and Coleman running into each other. Ridiculous.

For me Martinez should pick s tactic and decide. Last seasons variant, or play two proper wide men, keep the full backs back and put ball players in yhe middle to release them. Currently we either have ball players congested with insideforwards and no rampaging full backs, or we have full backs and wingers getting in the way of each other and regardless no one in mifgield to pick them out!

Azzurri · March 6, 2015

The saviour has returned.

Carlito · March 6, 2015

Newcastle at home is the sort of game he usually shines in.

daz4matty · March 6, 2015

Carlito said:
Newcastle at home is the sort of game he usually shines in.

Yeah he could be a bonus especially from the bench.
Barry is suspended just hope howard and naismith are not in the team

Toffeelover · March 6, 2015

Not so long ago Osman and Pienaar were two players on DaveK's deadwood list to be shown the exit door and folk are clamouring for their return. Ridiculous, Dave was right they are too old and should be moved on, cannot have these hanging around on new contracts for another couple of years.

bitter-no-better · March 6, 2015

Saint Domingo said:
If Pienaar returned as well as those two we could just turn this around. Looks like Moyes' old guard will be relied on to save Martinez's job. When these three players retire/are injured/are sold, we will be in massive trouble as we have been this season. Replacing that creativity will cost a lot of money or will require some gems in the transfr market.

Mirallas barkley naismith and mcgeady have played 58 league games between them with just 4 assists. Osman and piennar have played in just 8 games and have 3 assists. Baines has 8 assists in 23. Sort of sums up our lack of cutting edge with barkley/naismith trying to fill in osman/piennar.

Steve Wigan · March 6, 2015

Chang Elephant said:
Good for the last twenty minutes of a game, but Biffo Martinez needs to be playing Barkley and Mirrallas (shielded by McCarthy and Besic behind) if we are going to salvage a season out of this utter heap of dung.

You really want more of Barkley passing the ball 4 yards back to the player who gave it to him, avoiding tackles and any kind of confrontation with the opposition, and basically hiding ....are you sure thats the right way to earn the few points we need for safety?

The Equaliser · March 6, 2015

Steve Wigan said:
You really want more of Barkley passing the ball 4 yards back to the player who gave it to him, avoiding tackles and any kind of confrontation with the opposition, and basically hiding ....are you sure thats the right way to earn the few points we need for safety?

Good points. I am absolutely convinced that he is not being coached properly.

Yes he is still a young player but he has gone backwards this season.

He has all the talent in the world, but the defensive side of being a top class midfielder has not been coached to him IMO and that seems obvious.