Bye bye Ben

comment by (U12851)
posted 2 days, 22 hours ago
No one seems to be too disappointed with him leaving. I for one wasn't sure what he offered other than his 'hard work'. He didn't score many (apart from that one which will live long in the memory) and he didn't assist many either. He's a bit of a James Perch. Not bad in many positions, but not outstanding in any.

Great business I think.
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Teams have players that make things tick. They don’t necessarily score the winner or make an outstanding table, they just knit things together allowing others, Joe Lolley for example, to showcase their talents. Osborn was such a player. I agree with the comment above that when it comes to the crunch, he is Mr Reliable. Lamouchi might be wanting exactly that type of player come Feb/March time...🤔

If it releases funds to sign a proven striker, it might be a sacrifice worth making though.

Osborn’s sale means is an opening for one of the current up and coming academy players to step up and become the boo boy’s target. My money is on Tyler Walker or Brennan Johnson. I expect plenty of “Not as good as his Dad”, etc.

Did his Dad ever score a goal? I know that he was 'credited' with an own goal in the FA Cup Final against Spurs, I think.

Bagged an OG in the playoff semifinal v Sheff Utd as well!

Never say Des didn’t save it for the special occasion

Here is his one legitimate goal

https://youtu.be/1_vov5VXKmw

Pretty sure Des did score, against Luton Town in a 1-1 draw at the CG I seem to remember.

Pretty sure Des did score, against Luton Town in a 1-1 draw at the CG I seem to remember
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You’re bang on dave, it was an injury time equaliser against Luton - the only one he scored for Forest

I always say 'Don't offload someone (player or manager) unless you have someone better to take his place'. There are times of course when you are forced to sell for various reasons, for example Antonio, Wes.

With Ben, I don't think we have to sell, this is purely a football/financial decision. The question is what is Ben's position and who will replace him. He can play full back, but in my opinion only as cover; he can play centre midfield but we have plenty of those and he rarely got in ahead of the likes of Colback, Watson, Carvalho, Yates and others. That leaves wide left which is his best position. there are two obvious candidates to fill that role: Lolley and Ameobi. Neither of them have Ben's engine or work rate but they are both more threatening when going forward.

All things considered I don't think Ben will be missed too much. I don't think there will be many occassions when we will be thinking 'that wouldn't have happened if it had been Osborn' or 'if Osborn had been playing we would have got something out of that game'

Only time will tell. Many of the players who have come in are unknown qualtities with regard to Championship football with Ben we knew what to expect which was always reassuring. Some of the newcomers will not work out. Hopefully one or two could turn out to be master strokes.

Fingers crossed

comment by ThE ReVoLuTiOn Is HeRe (U22182)
posted 1 day, 14 hours ago
Pretty sure Des did score, against Luton Town in a 1-1 draw at the CG I seem to remember
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You’re bang on dave, it was an injury time equaliser against Luton - the only one he scored for Forest
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Against Steve Sutton, who was on loan at Luton from Forest.