Will Osula

[232 Bramall Lane]

Did I really see Osula score a header from a corner at the weekend?
One of the reasons I wasn't sorry to see him go was his lack of aerial ability for such a tall striker.
Thought. Cannon would be a better bet but I'm beginning to have doubts.

 

[Badger Blade]

I understand why we let him go, it was decent money that we desperately needed for a still unproven player at the top level. Didn't do a lot at Derby, looked good against Gillingham for us in the cup but that's not a true test of where he was at.

A full season at a top half Championship club would set a benchmark of what he can do. If we could have got him back on loan for this season, I reckon it might have been a pretty good move on all parts and we could have spent the Cannon money a bit more wisely.

 

[Gimli]

I understand why we let him go, it was decent money that we desperately needed for a still unproven player at the top level. Didn't do a lot at Derby, looked good against Gillingham for us in the cup but that's not a true test of where he was at.

A full season at a top half Championship club would set a benchmark of what he can do. If we could have got him back on loan for this season, I reckon it might have been a pretty good move on all parts and we could have spent the Cannon money a bit more wisely.

Feel like a loan back could have suited everyone too, we definitely would have given him game time, Newcastle haven’t really played him much this season, and Osula has a year developing playing regular championship games.

Also means we don’t spend a lot of money on Cannon

 

[Revolution]

Pope dies, no electicity on the Iberian peninsula, Osula scores a league goal...is the apocalypse on the way or something?

 

[Revolution]

On a more serious note, I would not have started Osula in front of Campbell, Moore or BBD.

There is as yet no evidence he will be a regular scorer, and he wasn't going to develop into one during the time he was on our books.

I think that remains a good deal for us, even if he goes on and does well. I do not see a loan would have helped us, or him, much.

 

[Grappler]

It was a good header, to be fair. Always liked Osula, seemed like a nice lad with a good attitude.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Pope dies, no electicity on the Iberian peninsula, Osula scores a league goal...is the apocalypse on the way or something?

Aye
You may be onto something:-
Jebbison & Cannon & both netted recently n’all
Just awaiting the arrival of the 4th horse(man):-

 

[Nick Jansky]

Great move for him, training with those players and coaches every day will be catapulting him forward.

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

I think he'd have scored a few for us this season but the fee was pretty unturndownable

But please let's keep Ryan Oné until at least the end of next season. No premature sale there please

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Controversial, but I think we finish top two if he's here this season....

 

[Jimmy Fleck]

The thing is the money from selling him funded a few of our key signings this season and allowed us to keep hamer and Souza.

 

[Wards]

He looked electric playing from the left in pre-season.

I rated him, looked a complete class above at times for the 21s. Has all the raw abilities, just needs experience now.

 

[espoo blade]

Aye
You may be onto something:-
Jebbison & Cannon & both netted recently n’all
Just awaiting the arrival of the 4th horse(man):-

Even Oli Burke has smashed in 5 for Werder Bremen this season!

 

[SwissBlade]

Controversial, but I think we finish top two if he's here this season....

He was a decent player and certainly would've had more game time, but in the end the defence was the issue which cost us.

I think Osula was still season or two away from starting regularly for us.

He'll get more game time next season.

The money we got for his was probably a little excessive for where he was at, but we got a good deal and i don't think Newcastle will lose out with him.
The money we got for Jebbison was outrageous for us. I don't know what Bournemouth were thinking other than its pocket change to them

 

[Snowflake]

It was a good header, to be fair. Always liked Osula, seemed like a nice lad with a good attitude.

Wasn’t his first goal for us a header ?

 

[Revolution]

Even Oli Burke has smashed in 5 for Werder Bremen this season!

I actually had to check this. It’s 6 if you include his cup goal.

More evidence of the coming apocalypse I suppose!

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

Good deal for him, good deal for us, not so sure about the purchasers.

Could be said about Osula or Cannon.

 

[BangorBlade]

Pope dies, no electicity on the Iberian peninsula, Osula scores a league goal...is the apocalypse on the way or something?

AND The Blades win at Wembley!!!

 

[alcoblade]

Wasn’t his first goal for us a header ?

I didn't think he scored a goal for us? Perhaps that's league goals in thinking of?

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

He was a decent player and certainly would've had more game time, but in the end the defence was the issue which cost us.

I think Osula was still season or two away from starting regularly for us.

He'll get more game time next season.

The money we got for his was probably a little excessive for where he was at, but we got a good deal and i don't think Newcastle will lose out with him.
The money we got for Jebbison was outrageous for us. I don't know what Bournemouth were thinking other than its pocket change to them

I'd disagree mate. Scoring goals, or not, is what has ultimately hurt us. Going behind is to be expected over a 46 game season, but every time we concede first the game is as good as over.

I think this whole Souttar/JLT thing is a myth. Even if Souttar stays injury free, I still don't think we score enough goals to finish top 2....

 

[Snowflake]

I didn't think he scored a goal for us? Perhaps that's league goals in thinking of?

Confused with One’

 

[SwissBlade]

I'd disagree mate. Scoring goals, or not, is what has ultimately hurt us. Going behind is to be expected over a 46 game season, but every time we concede first the game is as good as over.

I think this whole Souttar/JLT thing is a myth. Even if Souttar stays injury free, I still don't think we score enough goals to finish top 2....

Ok, so three points for me:
1) The loss and failure to replace Souttar with a defensive leader impacted us more than anything else, in my view. Its not a criticism of Robinson or Anel so much as Souttar gave us a lot of leadership in the defence. I don't actually think he was that good as a player, i thought he got turned too easily, at times, especially on the break, but he provided a lot of leadership.
2) I don't disagree that we lacked goals, but i don't think the players up top are the issue, but rather the balls into the strikers. The answer has often been to throw more strikers on, rather than address the creativity issue. I think that has cost us.
3) Osula was not the player for this season. He may have weighed in with some goals, but i don't think he'd have made enough of a difference this season in those games where we needed goals - QPR (H), Hull (H), Oxford (A), Millwall (H) and Plymouth (A) have been the games where i think we've lost it. In each of those games we've ended up offering nothing in the final third when it mattered. I don't think we've had clear cut chances where you'd say a more prolific striker would make the difference, its been behind the strikers

 

[Balham]

I didn't think he scored a goal for us? Perhaps that's league goals in thinking of?

Osula scored 3 goals for us, all in the FA Cup. Two at Gillingham in the third round and one (a header) against Brighton in the fourth round.

Ok, so three points for me:
1) The loss and failure to replace Souttar with a defensive leader impacted us more than anything else, in my view. Its not a criticism of Robinson or Anel so much as Souttar gave us a lot of leadership in the defence. I don't actually think he was that good as a player, i thought he got turned too easily, at times, especially on the break, but he provided a lot of leadership.
2) I don't disagree that we lacked goals, but i don't think the players up top are the issue, but rather the balls into the strikers. The answer has often been to throw more strikers on, rather than address the creativity issue. I think that has cost us.
3) Osula was not the player for this season. He may have weighed in with some goals, but i don't think he'd have made enough of a difference this season in those games where we needed goals - QPR (H), Hull (H), Oxford (A), Millwall (H) and Plymouth (A) have been the games where i think we've lost it. In each of those games we've ended up offering nothing in the final third when it mattered. I don't think we've had clear cut chances where you'd say a more prolific striker would make the difference, its been behind the strikers

Completely agree on point 1. That ship has sailed anyway as (this is me repeating myself) Souttar probably won't play competitively again until 2026.

Point 2 has long been a weakness of Wilder's. He's never really been able to change a midfield to turn a game which is being lost in that area. For a long time in the old Wilderball the default change was to move to a 4-1-2-1-2 by putting Bash at the base of a narrow midfield diamond but I can't recall any time that made a difference. Perhaps more importantly, however, it was the failure to react to the nullifying of the midfield (and wingbacks) towards the end of 2019/20 which manifested in that awful 2020/21 season.

Point 3: if we'd not sold Osula we'd not have been able to sign Burrows or Cooper and we'd not have had the season we've had. The only differences having Osula on loan would have made would have been to reduce Oné's minutes (on balance, bad) and probably to have prevented us from signing Cannon (jury's out).

 

[wak1889]

Ok, so three points for me:
1) The loss and failure to replace Souttar with a defensive leader impacted us more than anything else, in my view. Its not a criticism of Robinson or Anel so much as Souttar gave us a lot of leadership in the defence. I don't actually think he was that good as a player, i thought he got turned too easily, at times, especially on the break, but he provided a lot of leadership.
2) I don't disagree that we lacked goals, but i don't think the players up top are the issue, but rather the balls into the strikers. The answer has often been to throw more strikers on, rather than address the creativity issue. I think that has cost us.
3) Osula was not the player for this season. He may have weighed in with some goals, but i don't think he'd have made enough of a difference this season in those games where we needed goals - QPR (H), Hull (H), Oxford (A), Millwall (H) and Plymouth (A) have been the games where i think we've lost it. In each of those games we've ended up offering nothing in the final third when it mattered. I don't think we've had clear cut chances where you'd say a more prolific striker would make the difference, its been behind the strikers

I agree with you except for Plymouth away JRS was put clean through and should have made it 2-0, it's irrelevant now but was one of the best chances we have created all season

 

[VictoryBlade]

Pope dies, no electicity on the Iberian peninsula, Osula scores a league goal...is the apocalypse on the way or something?

Yes