Lewis O'Brien wants to stay

BoroMart said:
Slightly off topic but I was thinking last night about who could get a chance in these final games. I'd definitely give Gilbert a start or two on the left or 10. Bangura has to get starts. Law McCabe, Ajay Matthews, Sonny Finch might get 10-15 min cameos. I think that's about it. I don't see any others ready for an opportunity. I don't think O'Brien has the technical ability or pace to play that left role for us, yes he can do it better than Greenwood or Silvera, but he isn't the answer for next season which is effectively what we are trying to work out. I'd rather give Bangura a game at LW to be honest.
Click to expand...
I was really pleased for Ajay getting on against Leeds. it would be nice if he/Finch/McCable could get 20 mins+ in a game rather than 3mins +. It's not enough time to get settles into a game.

Interesting that McCable, Finch, Matthews are the ones that have been given cameos this year in front of Bridge, Willis and Woolston who are all a year up.
 
BoroMart said:
Hackneys appearances have been very stop start to be fair and whoscored does weight scoring based on how the team performed too, Hackney was playing when the team were going through a tough spell because we didn't have a LB or CF which harms his rating. If we are comparing the two, I'd look at the raw stats on attacking and passing for the two players.
Click to expand...
I agree in terms of raw ability, but could equally say he contributed to those underperformances (if that makes sense?)

It's clear he's not been at his best this season but we all know just how good he can be. If that ranking were based on potential pure ability he's top of it every time.
 
viv_andersons_nana said:
Again, what are his qualities? Going off WhoScored, statistically his main strengths are aerial duels and blocking. His weakness is concentration. His style of play is tackling and he gets fouled a lot. He’s your bog-standard combative midfielder. It sort of tallies up with my thoughts on him. Industrious, gets stuck in, doesn’t go missing but doesn’t really do much else. He doesn’t seem to do much with the ball.

Personally I don’t really think that’s enough to justify bringing him back unless it’s to replace Barlaser and we sign a real quality midfielder as well.
Click to expand...
100% although I think there is another gear in him. Looking at his whoscored for Huddersfield he was a better attacking player in his last year at Huddersfield. (highlighted) 1.1 shots per game (0.6 this season), 1 key pass per game (0.7 this season), 2.1 dribbles (0.5 this season), I think he's got a little more to his game, but I'm just not sure he's going to get to the level we need as a starter. Great squad player though

1713951539342.png
 
Ironops said:
Id love him to stay but I cant see Forest taking a hit of £4-5m on him to allow us to get the deal done - I dont see us spending more than £3-4m on any single signing
Click to expand...
Different ways to look at it. They've already committed to an 8m plus 8m (4x40k) wage contract. Total contract value of 16m. They've commit to that, and written 8m off so far.

Do they want to continue to commit to that 8m remaining commitment for little or no return? Or sell for 2m, pay half his wages, would reduce their commitment to 4m. This will be how they look at it in the boardroom. He's an 8m FFP anchor on the club right now.
 
Agree with the majority of the above. Ayling and O'Brien will add real championship quality and experience. They both know the club and league.

So no fecking around 'settling in'. We had that issue last season with so many from new leagues and countries. You need a bit of 'ready to go' experience.

That said both will be very much dependent on wages. Unlike the ones who joined in the summer they will be on decent contracts. Ayling is free so that helps a little as no transfer fee. I imagine O'Brien could be on very good money. Also probably cost 3-4mil (I'd imagine).
 
B_G said:
I was really pleased for Ajay getting on against Leeds. it would be nice if he/Finch/McCable could get 20 mins+ in a game rather than 3mins +. It's not enough time to get settles into a game.

Interesting that McCable, Finch, Matthews are the ones that have been given cameos this year in front of Bridge, Willis and Woolston who are all a year up.
Click to expand...
Yes, I think Willis has had injuries that have held his proogress back. surprised that Bridge hasn't had a chance. I agree on 20m, I think the 3min thing was just to give them a taste and let them get nerves out of the way ready for a longer stint
 
  • Like
Reactions: B_G
Keep him if the money's right: I like him.
If it's too expensive, move on. It's not like taking him out of the squad would harm us like losing our loan signings last Summer did.
 
I was actually most impressed by him when he covered at left back and came forward.

O'Brien is someone I'd be prepared to pay fairly high wage for, to reflect his experience and that he is a good versatile Championship player.
But not on top of a high fee too - he becomes too expensive a wage/amortisation package - and I'm not sure I see a high value saleable asset thereafter.
Let Forest take the hit on his fee and current contract.

I'd hope we have a better CM partner for Hackney.
Saying that, I hope we have Hackney.
 
parmoboy said:
They might choose to offload the high earners who don't have that Championship experience.

O'Brien has proven himself at this level and that may influence their thinking.

Smallbone had seemingly been classed as being surplus to requirements by Southampton when they were in the Premier League, and so they sent him out on loan to Stoke, but he's been a first teamer for Southampton this season in the Championship.
Click to expand...
would love Smallbone at the Boro
 
Who the frigg thinks O'Brien has the requite skills to play on the left of a 3 behind the striker.
Not in a million years.

He is an industrious, hard working, box to box type midfielder.

To be one of the regular two sitting midfielders, he needs to improve his ball retention and passing on the half turn, and although he works hard, he needs to be more effective at screening the back 4, numerous times when he has played he has been positionally suspect when we are out of possession.
 
Wouldn’t be against taking him, good player for the right price..2-3 million.
Or another season on loan…still need a bit of steel in the middle though.
 
I dont think obrien and Hackney can play together they are similar driving midfielders and Hackney is better at it. For me its a lot to lay out for a backup player considering we still need a new anchor midfielder to partner Hackney
 
According to Capology he's on £15 grand (unverified), which is reasonable. The same as Luke Thomas (verified) and Isiah (new contract). I'd sign him at the right price. It's OK saying we need better quality, but you've got to find and convince those players to come and there's always the chance they are not the answer even when they do.

A bird in the hand etc.
 
pierrequiroule said:
According to Capology he's on £15 grand (unverified), which is reasonable. The same as Luke Thomas (verified) and Isiah (new contract). I'd sign him at the right price. It's OK saying we need better quality, but you've got to find and convince those players to come and there's always the chance they are not the answer even when they do.

A bird in the hand etc.
Click to expand...
Luke Thomas was 19 year old academy graduate with 3 senior appearances when he signed that contract with Leicester.

O'Brien was 23 and had 123 senior appearances and was a £10million signing. I doubt very much he is on £15k per week and if he is, he wants to sack his agent.

Most other sites have him listed in the £40-50k bracket which sounds more plausible.
 
I assumed the £15 is what we're paying him during the loan. Another loan may not be out of the question if Forest stay up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top