Out with the old, in with the new

[Furey1878]

Osman is much better as an attacking mid, or a right sided CM if we play 3 centre mids.

But against Juve we we're playing with 2 holding midfielders, with wingbacks and outside left and right players. So we essentially had a 2 man midfield, for which you need a big presence. Not suited to Osman. That said I don't feel he did much wrong other than his sh*te touch which lead to Juve's goal. And missing his pen probably just sealed it as a bad day for him.

Ahhh well, still won.

 

[Mogwai]

Average distance covered in a five set tennis match = 3 miles
Average distance covered in a 90 minute football match = 7 miles

Yeah, covering more than twice the distance in a third of the time with no breaks hardly compares....

Maybe hardly comparable was the wrong choice of words. But I still believe they go through more physical and mental stress on average and seem to complain less about it. But my main point is that I believe a modern footballers workout is well with in the physical limits of human ability and should not be used as a get out clause for bad performances over a season. Obviously it will effect performances to some degree, but never as much as people make out. It is there job to be fine physical specimens. Difference of opinion.

(Btw still play football competively and played tennis competively till I was 17.)

 

[evilwebby]

Amazing that Ossie still has to prove himself after all these years.
There is definitely still a place for him in our squad. Same for Pienaar.

They are NOT the players who we should be relying on to give 30+ performances over the season, but they always give a number of very good performances over the season.

If there is anyone surplus to requirements who has stuck around for far too long it is Hibbert.

 

[peteblue]

Amazing that Ossie still has to prove himself after all these years.
There is definitely still a place for him in our squad. Same for Pienaar.

They are NOT the players who we should be relying on to give 30+ performances over the season, but they always give a number of very good performances over the season.

If there is anyone surplus to requirements who has stuck around for far too long it is Hibbert.

Two matches before Ossie retires, everyone will be going on about how great he was.......

 

[Greek Fisherman]

Problem with Pienaar is, that a player playing in his position needs to do what Mirallas does. He lacks genuine pace and therefore slows the play up too much, especially on the counter attack. You could argue he also doesn't score enough goals for the way a wide attacking mid is deployed in the modern game. His age also means he is only going to get slower.

Having said that, I acknowledge I don't give him anywhere near enough credit for what he does do, and as for his performance today I thought he was very, very good. He scores that opportunity in the 2nd half and he's all the talk.

We need to replace Gueye.

 

[Chang Elephant]

Amazing that Ossie still has to prove himself after all these years.

Just wish he'd ****ing hurry up and do it

 

[bflefc]

They are NOT the players who we should be relying on to give 30+ performances over the season, but they always give a number of very good performances over the season.

Which kind of sums up what I was trying to say myself - we shouldn't be repeatedly giving starts to them, instead we should be looking to use younger blood, ones who might win the game for us (Barkley) perhaps. Sure, they're worthy of a squad place and starting when the need - or their form - arises, but not to be too over-reliant on them.

Time to look to the future.

 

[deipnosophist]

Top Two Inches

All things being equal (or almost), players/competitors/athletes at the elite level are all of supreme physical form (aerobically, speed wise, skill wise)...sure there are the super elite (eg Messi's etc) buy generally speaking there is an equivalence. At this very top level, it is the top two inches that is the difference in outcome. This is especially so for an arduous football season (EPL, FA Cup , CL etc). Keeping mental freshness is as (if not more), important than 'running' fitness. Thus, I see Osman and Pienaar, with better rest and rotation than last season, remaining strong and valuable contributors to EFC.

 

[Petit]

Amazing that Ossie still has to prove himself after all these years.
There is definitely still a place for him in our squad. Same for Pienaar.

They are NOT the players who we should be relying on to give 30+ performances over the season, but they always give a number of very good performances over the season.

If there is anyone surplus to requirements who has stuck around for far too long it is Hibbert.

And what happens if Coleman becomes injured?

 

[evilwebby]

And what happens if Coleman becomes injured?

Neville! Oh hang on...

 

[evilwebby]

Which kind of sums up what I was trying to say myself - we shouldn't be repeatedly giving starts to them, instead we should be looking to use younger blood, ones who might win the game for us (Barkley) perhaps. Sure, they're worthy of a squad place and starting when the need - or their form - arises, but not to be too over-reliant on them.

Time to look to the future.

True.
Osman's record is 38 goals from 284 league games, 51 from 345 overall - that's 1 in 7, for a player that's been deployed out of position for a least half of his career. He's often been the difference between in close games and has won us a decent number of matches down the years.

He's always been a touch/technique player rather than a pace/power player, and we know that such players tend to have better longevity.

but I guess because we didn't pay £10m for him he will never be a star in the eyes of many fans.