What is Ben Osborn's best position/role?

[Fawazzock]

There is already debate about how good he is or not. Second most assists in the league last season, I'll say no more.

The question: what is his best position?

 

[Barry]

Up at Newcastle and us with 4 million in the bank.

 

[Ricochet]

Not fast enough wide not strong enough defensively so his best position is central attacking midfield which I think Clough would be number one at,scores more goals.

 

[Otis Redding]

In my opinion, on the left of a middle three alongside Zach Clough, ahead of a new defensive midfielder.

 

[MASE]

Another reason to thank God we got Warburton is he'll likely bring out the best in Benny Osborn, given he's the best give & go player at the club.

Castigated for being versatile, sacrificing his best position to fill holes in the team. We're lucky he puts up with the shit he gets & keeps putting it in selflessly.

Ultimately he's got quick feet, can play with his head in the air, can see a different pass & can score if he's played in the right area consistently.

No.10 all day.

 

[Ashley]

Ultimately depends on what formation Warburton intends to play. On the bench if we are playing 442 (assuming we bring in two new midfielders), but definitely could be useful on the left side of a three man midfield. Doesn't score enough goals to be a number 10 (and you could argue that Clough is a better fit for that role).

Don't understand why some are so keen to get rid of him, he's easily the best midfielder at the club at this moment in time (granted, everyone else is shit, inexperienced or injury prone, but still). We need to bring in two midfielders as it is, getting rid of Osborn would mean that we'd need to bring in a 3rd midfielder to replace him too.

 

[MASE]

Doesn't score enough goals to be a number 10 (and you could argue that Clough is a better fit for that role).

Hasn't played any where near enough games there consistently to be able to draw that conclusion.

 

[Ashley]

Hasn't played any where near enough games there consistently to be able to draw that conclusion.

I just don't see it personally, a decent industrious player that makes things happen sure, but I don't ever see him scoring as many goals as the likes of Lansbury did or as Clough is capable of getting.

 

[Wes' Organ]

I just don't see it personally, a decent industrious player that makes things happen sure, but I don't ever see him scoring as many goals as the likes of Lansbury did or as Clough is capable of getting.

Give him penalties and free kicks and he'll be about 3 per season behind Lansbury from a standing start.

 

[congo_red_49]

I don't think he has a best position - I don't mean that as a slight at all, because he will (and has) done a very good job (with limitations) when we've employed him on the left of a front-three, as a second striker, central-midfielder and even left wing-back.

His versatility and durability will be a key part in helping us keep squad numbers down.

 

[Heffing Psycho!]

He got 4 goals last season and 7 assists if he doubled those playing consistently in the 10 role this season that wouldn't be a bad return. I do think Clough is the better goal scorer, it'll be an interesting battle between them. I also wouldn't mind seeing what Benny has got in the deeper 'Vaughan role', I seem to remember him playing there a couple of times last season and doing well. Some of the pictures I've seen from preseason he looks to have bulked up a bit (not sure if he actually has considering he's had his shoulder injury but it does look that way) so hopefully the physical side to his game will have improved a bit as well.

 

[BryanRoy22]

Just behind the main striker. Free role. Number 10. Whatever you want to call it.

That's where he's in his element.

 

[congo_red_49]

I do think Clough is the better goal scorer, it'll be an interesting battle between them.

I think the key is, Clough is the type who will create something out of nothing - Whereas Benny will work hard to get something. Pick your poison.

 

[marshal99]

defensively , benny is garbage. Gives the impression of doing a lot of running without doing much of anything at least defensively , doesn't tackle , defend or block enough. Has specialised in using the tactic of eye power to defend.

using squakwa stats from last season and using the 2 players linked to us (luong and macdonald plus irvine)
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...uels_won_%/interceptions/blocks/clearances#90

 

[DapperDan]

No.10 all day.

This, just not sure he is as good as Clough there.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I wonder if we'll see Osborn be played in a deeper role this year, slowly taking over from Vaughan and the responsibily he had at the back end of last season of just picking up the ball in the middle of the park and moving it on.

There's little doubt that he can operate in the #10 role but I think MW will see Osborn as a key player due to his industry and vision, and there's no guarantee who will take the #10 spot, if there's a #10 spot at all. It could be Osborn in a 4-2-3-1 or it could quite easily be Clough. It might not be a 4-2-3-1 at all - if we operate with two strikers in a 3-5-2 type formation then there won't be that #10 in behind the striker role. Deploying him in central midfield alongside a stronger, more combative defensive midfielder would work.

What I would suggest is that Osborn will not be deployed wide left this year. Trying to get Mahoney and then bringing in McKay suggests MW is keen for a different option out wide left this year.

So, it's going to be #10 or a deeper lying metronome type role for Osborn this season and I think he'll do well in either position under MW's management.

 

[congo_red_49]

defensively , benny is garbage. Gives the impression of doing a lot of running without doing much of anything at least defensively , doesn't tackle , defend or block enough. Has specialised in using the tactic of eye power to defend.

using squakwa stats from last season and using the 2 players linked to us (luong and macdonald plus irvine)
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...uels_won_%/interceptions/blocks/clearances#90

I think this is a bit of an unfair criticism, but only because he players the majority of his games on the left-side of a three-pronged attack - it's only because he has played deeper at time that this is even mentioned - but I'd wager his stats are comparable with the other players who playerd the wide-attacking roles for us...Carayol, Burke, Lica, Dumitriu etc...in fact most of those didn't even try to defend...

 

[Ashley]

I think the key is, Clough is the type who will create something out of nothing - Whereas Benny will work hard to get something. Pick your poison.

If he isn't playing upfront then Clough should be playing in that number 10 role. Most talented player at the club besides Britt and Brereton in my opinion, not finding a place for him in the starting XI would be a waste of a great talent.

 

[congo_red_49]

If he isn't playing upfront then Clough should be playing in that number 10 role. Most talented player at the club besides Britt and Brereton in my opinion, not finding a place for him in the starting XI would be a waste of a great talent.

Not always effective though and can be anonymous when it's not his day - also doesn't look interested when asked to play even slightly out of position. Just to balance the argument.

 

[Ashley]

Not always effective though and can be anonymous when it's not his day - also doesn't look interested when asked to play even slightly out of position. Just to balance the argument.

He's still a young player, new to the club and came into a really poor team last season. Think he'll be far better this season after more time to settle in and (hopefully) playing alongside better players. Really looking forward to seeing what he can do after a full pre-season under Warburton.

 

[forest_forever_99]

Does a lot of things, but in the end average at most of them.
Runs all day, ok
Pace, average,
Creativity, average
Close passing, average
Tackling, average (really got exposed when he played Left Wing back)
Scoring threat, average
Which is why he doesn't have a best position. Cant play winger, Cant be the Defensive Midfielder, He is not a number 10.
Box to box midfielder, maybe...

 

[marshal99]

I think this is a bit of an unfair criticism, but only because he players the majority of his games on the left-side of a three-pronged attack - it's only because he has played deeper at time that this is even mentioned - but I'd wager his stats are comparable with the other players who playerd the wide-attacking roles for us...Carayol, Burke, Lica, Dumitriu etc...in fact most of those didn't even try to defend...

it's fine if he's a winger but he's not. no pace , no trickery or skill. he's playing the same way cohen used to play as a right sided midfielder, would cohen not tackle or defend when he's playing there ? people always say he's so industries and has so much energy, the stats will tell u it does not go towards defensive duties.

 

[congo_red_49]

it's fine if he's a winger but he's not. no pace , no trickery or skill. he's playing the same way cohen used to play as a right sided midfielder, would cohen not tackle or defend when he's playing there ? people always say he's so industries and has so much energy, the stats will tell u it does not go towards defensive duties.

Again, not a fair comparison - when Osborn is playing the wide-role it's been in a formation where the wide-players are expected to be positioned much further forward, due to the extra man in midfield than the right-sided role Cohen had, which was usually in a flat 4 midfield. A fairer comparison would be Antonio, who got a hell of a lot of slack for doing nothing defensively. Osborn does show industry, stats don't tell the tale of him getting back and preventing opposition players being open for passes, or forcing the man on the ball into a tackle from another player that he could have got away from.

 

[BryanRoy22]

I think there's some harsh comments about Osborn.

He's only 22 and in the past 3 seasons has been a regular under 5 managers in that time, if we include Gary Brazil and Paul Williams.

If Stuart Pearce, a great judge of a player's ability, said he has the potential to become a key player for the club then I'm inclined to believe him.

 

[Ravi]

I think the times I've seen him at his best is when he's played as a second 'defensive striker' where he's asked to close down the opposition back line. . His work rate and tenacity are his key attributes.