Ben Osborn [BUPA]

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

Sheff United were abysmal last season and all their players were abysmal or am I missing something?

The fact that they were in the Prem?

And that Covid decimated their social setup, which in turn lead to a whole host of top Champ players who were punching above their weight (Sharp, McGoldrick etc) reverting back to a more natural level.

Seems pretty daft to discount the fact that Osborn's one of their better players this year for what happened in the Prem. Most their fans are wanting him to sign a new contract.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Mitrovic was poor in the PL too. But we are not in the PL, we're at a lower level.

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I have said he wouldnt be bad as long as hes a bench squad player that fills in from time to time like a championship Milner. However as a starter it would be a piss poor signing.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

The fact that they were in the Prem?

And that Covid decimated their social setup, which in turn lead to a whole host of top Champ players who were punching above their weight (Sharp, McGoldrick etc) reverting back to a more natural level.

Seems pretty daft to discount the fact that Osborn's one of their better players this year for what happened in the Prem. Most their fans are wanting him to sign a new contract.

However most Sheff United fans dont think hes a starter either so we are both correct. I havent argued against signing him especially if hes cheap. However he shouldnt be anywhere near the first team.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

However most Sheff United fans dont think hes a starter either so we are both correct. I havent argued against signing him especially if hes cheap. However he shouldnt be anywhere near the first team.

After a year in the Prem playing relatively well at LWB, I think he'd be more than good enough for us in that position as a starter now. But fair play.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

After a year in the Prem playing relatively well at LWB, I think he'd be more than good enough for us in that position as a starter now. But fair play.

Not a chance just look at how much we loose as a side when we dont have pace at LWB. We need pace there not stodginess. When Colback plays there we loose so much as a team.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Mitrovic was poor in the PL too. But we are not in the PL, we're at a lower level.

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No I agree with that point but I just thought it was laughable to say Osborn played well last season. The whole Sheff U side were a disgrace really even bloomin Ramsdale.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

We don't need Osborn to be PL standard. We would need him to be mostly able to cover whatever gaps we have at any given time, whether it's AM, CM or LWB.

Having him, or someone like him, in the squad, means that we need to do less transfer business. Less transfer business means more time available to negotiate with players we do want, or find alternatives, and also means more in the kitty to afford them.

It could also reduce the squad size and make it more tight knit.

GK: Samba, Hovarth, Smith
RB: Spence, Richardson
RCB: Worrall, Mbe Soh
LCB: McKenna, <Gap>
LB: Lowe, <Gap>
DM: Yates, Ojeda
DM, Fornah, <Gap>
RW: Johnson, Lolley
AM: <Gap>, <Gap>
LW: Mighten, <Gap>
ST: <Gap>, Grabban

Sign Osborn and you fill 4 of 7 gaps in bold.

 

[Trents]

I think he's a better player than when he left and still only 27. A managers dream to have on the bench as he covers so many eventualities.

I wouldn't expect us to pay the £3 mil back we got for him, but for a mil or less I'd say go for it.

 

[cheapseats]

I always thought he was very good player and was sad to see him leave. I'd have him back in a heartbeat.

So would I, although it all depends on wages....need to be reasonable demands, hes no world beater and just because hes been at a shite club in the prem doesn't mean we should be held to ransom

 

[Any Time Now]

Solid utility player who can provide cover across multiple positions, plenty of experience at this level, barely gets injured, good attitude, familiar with the club.. can think of much worse options

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Normally I'm not one for bringing ex players back but I'd make an exception for Osborn, if only for the sheer versatility he brings.

Benny can play in so many roles he can move in to cover for injuries etc, a bit like the small platoon Chard asks Bromhead to form in Zulu, he's there to plug the gaps.

If we could bring him back for a couple of mil then it's a no-brainer for me.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

We don't need Osborn to be PL standard. We would need him to be mostly able to cover whatever gaps we have at any given time, whether it's AM, CM or LWB.

Having him, or someone like him, in the squad, means that we need to do less transfer business. Less transfer business means more time available to negotiate with players we do want, or find alternatives, and also means more in the kitty to afford them.

It could also reduce the squad size and make it more tight knit.

GK: Samba, Hovarth, Smith
RB: Spence, Richardson
RCB: Worrall, Mbe Soh
LCB: McKenna, <Gap>
LB: Lowe, <Gap>
DM: Yates, Ojeda
DM, Fornah, <Gap>
RW: Johnson, Lolley
AM: <Gap>, <Gap>
LW: Mighten, <Gap>
ST: <Gap>, Grabban

Sign Osborn and you fill 4 of 7 gaps in bold.

You cant rely on one player to be the main backup for 4 positions. You have a squad of 25 you need 2 players for each position that have the same attributes not quality for each position. So we are effective when we have pace on the side so our 4 full backs simply have to have pace.

I am not saying Osborn wont be a decent backup though as 23 players are the starters the backups and the 3 keepers. He could easily be a primary centre mid backup or one of the 2 extra spaces left in the squad that "do a job" when the starters and backups arent there.

No way would I have Osboen as a backup wing back or winger with how we play. He is so unsuited to it, its like when we play Colback or Bong LWB it kills it.

 

[Shearstone]

He would be a cracking signing. We need two LWB's as shown by Lowe's injury and how it's harmed our shape. If we get Lowe on a perm and Osborne too that's one position completely sorted with the added benefit of cover in other areas if we get into injury trouble on the wing or in midfield.

Also as he is one of our own it would numb the sting a bit of losing potentially two academy players in Worrall and Johnson.

 

[marshal99]

do we need an additional ball boy at the club. Jack of all trades but master of none. He is only effective in a left midfield role and that's currently zinc/mighten's job , benny is way too expensive to be kept around on the bench as a backup, his wages would have doubled or tripled when he moved to the premierhip.

 

[Bonalair]

If we could get him he’d be great. The fact Abdoonk, Marshall and Emmerson think the opposite proves the point

 

[Timothy Pope]

Having watched Forest for 50 years it's nice to be called "youth". I am very appreciative of what I'm seeing now which is why I don't hark back to those glorious Osborn days.

Because we were poor back then doesn’t mean Osborn is a backwards step.
I haven’t checked this, but I’m guessing Benny has more Premier League appearances than any of our squad apart from Colback.
He certainly would give us options on the left side- Cooper likes to have flexibility in the team


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[cheapseats]

I always thought he was very good player and was sad to see him leave. I'd have him back in a heartbeat.

We’ve spent alot of time on here recently discussing “squad players” and the fact you can’t expect or afford perfect fits outside of the starting lads. At first I wasn’t convinced but I think for once people on here might be right!
()

On that basis benny would be an excellent signing. Not sure he what we need as a first choice FB or CM but he’d do a job

 

[adam09]

I’d have him as back up for CM or left side forward or full back. He wouldn’t be ahead of anybody currently starting though. But we do some need solid squad players when loans/old players have moved on.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

How can anyone watch how we play and see what the loss of pace at full back does to us possibly want Osborn as the primary backup LWB or Winger?

I think there is a deffo a space for Osborn as a Milner type utility and maybe even a primary CM backup, but just think its madness considering how we play to want him to be the main backup for winger and full back.

If Lowe gets a long term injury like has done this season than its not very good to have Osborn as the LWB outlet for 3 or 4 months.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

How can anyone watch how we play and see what the loss of pace at full back does to us possibly want Osborn as the primary backup LWB or Winger?

I think there is a deffo a space for Osborn as a Milner type utility and maybe even a primary CM backup, but just think its madness considering how we play to want him to be the main backup for winger and full back.

If Lowe gets a long term injury like has done this season than its not very good to have Osborn as the LWB outlet for 3 or 4 months.

Lowe isn't pacey.

Having a utility player that can cover multiple positions reasonably well can be a godsend for clubs. It's not just about covering injuries but it's about in-game tactical shifts as well, without needing to make substitutions (especially if you can't as you've used all three).

I understand Osborn isn't a particularly exciting name, but there has to be some realism in our situation Emmo. We are a middling Championship club, consistently making losses, who've had to use player sales to avoid FFP for a number of years. You keep saying we need 2 players for each position all good enough to challenge for the first team but it's not going to happen as we can't afford it. If we want a really competitive first eleven then much of the squad is going to need to be cheap loans, young players and utility players, in order to allow us to allow us to allocate the majority of money to the starting eleven to get that quality needed to challenge.

The whole reason we've been garbage for a number of years now is because we've compiled squads of >25 all on £10k+ wages.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

And as much as you malign him as unable to play at left wing back, he'd still be a significan-yet-cheaper upgrade on f***ing Gaeten Bong, who's apparently on £20k a week here.

So his signature would be an improvement to the current squad and an improvement on the financial picture, and that's only considering him for a LWB position.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Lowe isn't pacey.

Having a utility player that can cover multiple positions reasonably well can be a godsend for clubs. It's not just about covering injuries but it's about in-game tactical shifts as well, without needing to make substitutions (especially if you can't as you've used all three).

I understand Osborn isn't a particularly exciting name, but there has to be some realism in our situation Emmo. We are a middling Championship club, consistently making losses, who've had to use player sales to avoid FFP for a number of years. You keep saying we need 2 players for each position all good enough to challenge for the first team but it's not going to happen as we can't afford it. If we want a really competitive first eleven then much of the squad is going to need to be cheap loans, young players and utility players, in order to allow us to allow us to allocate the majority of money to the starting eleven to get that quality needed to challenge.

Lowe is most definitely pacey we will just have to disagree on that. I am not saying the second 11 has to match the quality of the first 11 but they have to be in the same mould as who they are replacing.

Thats why we miss Grabban when he dosent start because Taylor cant hold the ball up even slightly well. I actually think he is not a bad striker just not suited to us and thats the same when Bong or Colback play LWB. Our attacking play is next to null and Osborn's lack of pace creativity would not suit being a backup LWB.

I would much rather player younger prospect that has more of those attributes. Osborn for me is a good CM backup and his versatility is a massive help. I would also say Osborn wont be that cheap as well.

Please dont get me wrong I am not saying there is no place for him just worried he comes than ends up being our primary winger or wing back and kills all our counter attacks. I cant be arsed seeing the turn back and pass all over again.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

And as much as you malign him as unable to play at left wing back, he'd still be a significan-yet-cheaper upgrade on f***ing Gaeten Bong, who's apparently on £20k a week here.

So his signature would be an improvement to the current squad and an improvement on the financial picture, and that's only considering him for a LWB position.

I totally agree but I would rather have none but a younger pacier wing back either from lower leagues or abroad. Or even better the academy.

 

[Statto]

Not a chance just look at how much we loose as a side when we dont have pace at LWB. We need pace there not stodginess. When Colback plays there we loose so much as a team.

Ben isn't slow. He's not sprinter quick like Johnson is, but not many people are. He is tactically intelligent enough to not need to run around like a tool and works hard, covers a lot of ground.

 

[Project Zeus]

Useful player, but I wouldn't have him back, to be honest.

He wanted to leave, and an ex is an ex for a reason. It's always best to move on.

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