Will Osula: I'm Sticking To My Guns

I remember Adam sticking to his guns about Tonali when he didn't hit the ground running after returning from his ban - and Adam was proved right when he was outstanding that season.

Well, I am sticking to my guns on Osula.

Eddie took his time to start him not because of a lack of raw football ability but because he didn't trust his ability to be disciplined and play within the system.

In that sense Osula's situation was similar - although not the same type of player - to David Fairclough the famous Liverpool 'supersub' of way back.

"We don't know what he is going to do... so the other team have no chance" was how Shankly put it and he'd throw him onto the pitch when all else was failing and just let him gallop away and do his own thing - but he was rarely trusted as a starter.

Eddie did exactly the same with Osula bringing him on, often late in a game, and just letting him rampage away on the pitch like a bull in a china shop... we all saw him charging about and many called him a headless chicken but guess what... he kept scoring.

Eventually his goals as a sub meant Eddie had no option but to start him as Gordon got injured and in any event was mostly scoring from the spot and in the CL but wasn't finding the net in the PL.

And guess what...

Osula scored five in seven games including that wonder goal against Man U.

First game back this season he gets an assist and harried the hell out of Liverpool's CB's until he got injured c30 minutes in.

There is a reason why not only Frankfurt but also Unai Emery wanted to sign Osula, because they saw the potential to harness his talents - the only reason why we were prepared to sell was because of PSR and needing to rake in money. When Frankfurt wanted a loan deal, he stayed.

So, I don't see 11 goals in 17 appearances as a sub and starter in the PL as a flash in the pan.

He is 23 some say?

That's still young, and many forward players especially of his size, don't reach their best form until they are well into their mid 20's and have properly developed and muscled out.So I don't go along with the notion that because he hasn't played 100 PL games or whatever by now that he has somehow already missed the boat.

Schar, Burn, Miggy and Murphy are just four players off the bat who didn't hit their best form until their late 20's so it is far too early to write Osula off in anyway at 23.

That's why I am going against the grain of those fans who believe he won't be the ST that can lead the line and get 15+ goals a season - and 15+ isn't achieved by many players in the PL each season.

Of course...

I might be wrong.

I remember I was once about 17 years ago :) :) :).

The great thing about football, and on the blog, is that we all have opinions and as Toon fans I know that we all hope that Osula will turn out to be the real deal.

If not, then we move on and either Pardo or Wissa step up or we sign another ST.

On moving on...

My guess is that if Osula doesn't get his ST place back soon he won't tread water and could push for a move as early as January.

There will plenty of takers, of that I am 100% certain.

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