Lewis O'Brien wants to stay

Those talking about forest wanting to recover their fee are ignoring that it will have been amortised over the contract. So 5m over 4 years with 2 left is only 2.5m . The loan fees have probably paid for last year’s too. So we could see a deal for around 1.5/2 with a promotion bonus.
 
changingman said:
As important as personnel is working out exactly what we want from that midfield two and how we want them to play. Last season it worked really well, this season not so much (albeit injuries haven't helped).

We're really poor on the transition in midfield, so if we're sticking with a two we need to do some thinking on how we counter that. In possession, what do we want from the MF - penetrating runs from deep, supporting/forming the base of attacks, long-balls into the front three? Accept that most complete midfielders should be able to do all three (and more) but each of our options actually has quite different attributes and I'm not sure how we thread them together (yet).
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In possession: Against high press teams, we need CM to drop deep and receive the ball under pressure, and retain possession and when able to turn and drive with the ball from a central position, opening the pitch up. Against low block sides, we need CM to move the ball wide quickly and look to shoot from the edge, or play short through balls

Out of possession: we need to delay counters, to allow our defence to regroup. So press but not commit to the challenge. Need to be good atheletes to work back against low block sides, that try to counter.

Barlasser doesn't have the athletiscism to get back, or the open play shooting to fit our system. Work of all he isn't able to handle a high press.
Howson, the athleticism is just about hanging on as his career hits the twilight years. He can receive it under pressure, and can drive forward and pick a through ball, he hasn't got a consistent shot on him, as his goal tally proves

Hackney - is excellent at dropping receiving, turning and driving, his athletiscism is decent, but his decision making out of possession is his weakness. still, he has most of what you need to be a Carrick CM

and finally the man of this thread, O'Brien. He is OK at receiving under pressure, but isn't really a receive, turn, rive guy. He doesn't get caught dwelling so much, but he doesn't turn playing against a high press into effectively a quick break counter attack like Hackney does. He doesn't really have a shot, or pick a through ball, he does well at the out of possession stuff.

O'Brien is a good backup, Barlaser should be sold, Howson should be a backup at his age, Hackney needs a new partner.
 
Not good enough for a team trying to get promoted, he’s at best third choice for our midfield this year, if we want to stay where we are scrapping for the play offs then he’s your man. £4M for what he is showing is a joke, what world are people living in!
 
He was doing very well before his injury.
Since he’s come back he's really improving, but there's room for more.
Perhaps the best display of his skills was the running on and off the ball at King Power in our victory over Leicester.
(y)
 
I said after the Leeds game it’s the best I’ve seen him play for us, he carried the ball forwards well. But overall, I’ve been pretty unimpressed considering the hype about how good he was before. £1-2mil, yeah, any higher, no thanks.
 
For me , he's a sensible replacement for howson ( get a year more but that's probably it )

Can play anywhere.
Won't ' let you down '
A good pro
Nice fella
Commands some respect from other players

Probably not a starting 11 top two side ( , but neither is howson or Barlaser )

50 to 60 games a year needs a squad , I'd be looking to keep him as a Howson replacement for 2 mill max and 15k a week ish .
 
A big factor for O’Brien was the injury. It was a bad one and as he says himself has taken time to get fully fit and confident. We need 4 CM in a squad playing 4-2-3-1 so I would happily have him back as one of those.
 
I'm amazed some think he's only an 'average' champo CM and that we 'can do better'.

We've been trying to sign a CM to replace or partner Howson for 5 years. We still haven't even come close. It's not as easy as saying 'we can do better'.

I imagine if you offered 90% of champo clubs or fans O'Brien they would have him in a heart beat.
 
Ayresome_park said:
Look at the facts:

22 appearances
0 goals
1 assist
1 yellow card

What exactly does he provide? For me there's plenty of average championship midfielders that offer much more for probably much less wages.

We need to look elsewhere in my opinion.
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I suggest you don't look up the stats for Adam Clayton when he was with us.

Or George Boateng.

They were obviously sh!te
 
I would have him at the right price. I have really struggled to pin down exactly what his strengths are and I think he has occasionally suffered for his versatility and he has covered a number of positions - now I have no problem with this and having someone in the squad who can wear a number of hats if needed (in the same way Jonny and Paddy both have) is an undervalued thing in a squad.

He hasn't had that much football in the past couple of years, what with being frozen out at Forest and then significant injuries here. I suspect he is still feeling his way back in fitness wise and would really benefit from a full pre-season and consistent run of injury free games. My memory of him from his breakthrough at Huddersfield was someone with a lot of energy and workrate. The video above of him v Leicester was what I was expecting from him on a regular basis, but maybe he is being asked to do something else for us. He is also, by all accounts a good lad in the dressing room and is a good role mode for the younger lads. I trust that the leadership of the team will have a plan for him and if the price is right, I fully expect him to be with us next season.
 
Marvanelli said:
I suggest you don't look up the stats for Adam Clayton when he was with us.

Or George Boateng.

They were obviously sh!te
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He is a very average championship player on premier league wages, there's plenty of championship midfielders that can do what he does week in and week out without the high salary.
 
I think he has shown all the attributes at times.

Decent tackles, interceptions, good cover positioning

Decent driving runs and passing.

Occasional runs in behind/link up out wide.

He showed these more often with Huddersfield.

But it hasn't fully come together. I think like Jonny - he could end up improving and becoming a long time fixture in our midfield.

At worst he is good enough to be one of 4 options in the midfield - with a return to Huddersfield form he could be one of the best in the league.

Sign him if the price is right...
 
I think this is a total non-story. Surely, any player on loan would answer the same even if only to hedge his bets?
Boro might might end up being his only option so he would be daft not to keep the club and fans sweet no matter what his real intentions are.
 
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