Victor Osimhen is one of the most unstoppable centre forwards I've ever seen. His physicality is off the charts, but he also ticks all of the necessary parameters to excel at the *ELITE* level.
Below, in this in-depth thread, I break down the player & his future...
MEGA-THREAD!
Below, in this in-depth thread, I break down the player & his future...
MEGA-THREAD!
Victor Osimhen is a one-of-a-kind type of striker. His physicality & mobility is truly elite, so much so to the point where he recently beat the Serie A all-time jumping record which was previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
To achieve such a feat, one has to be a freak athlete.
To achieve such a feat, one has to be a freak athlete.
Osimhen is as mobile and as quick as they come, akin to Erling Haaland. You know those long monstrous strides Haaland possesses? Osimhen has that exact trait in his game, except he works even harder out of possession.
His pressing is relentless.
His pressing is relentless.
The sheer speed in which Osimhen covers ground strikes fear into defenders building out from the back, and he also uses that mobility to run the channels and hold defenders off, making him an elite outlet too.
He may be the best outlet in the sport.
He may be the best outlet in the sport.
Osimhen works his socks off, has insane levels of mobility to cover ground quickly and to break free of defenders, can hold defenders off with his back to goal, and bully them in duels.
Crucially, though, he also has the technical quality to back that physicality up.
Crucially, though, he also has the technical quality to back that physicality up.
The Nigerian isn't some technical phenom, but he doesn't need to be when considering how special he is physically.
Osimhen is 6'1 but carries himself like he's 6'4, and this means he can create separation thanks to the physical edge he possesses against virtually every defender.
Osimhen is 6'1 but carries himself like he's 6'4, and this means he can create separation thanks to the physical edge he possesses against virtually every defender.
Osimhen is one of the few forwards in the game that I've seen get the better of van Dijk for speed. That's what you're dealing with here..
Anyway, back to his technical quality - Osimhen uses that physical edge to back into defenders, create separation, and buys himself time.
Anyway, back to his technical quality - Osimhen uses that physical edge to back into defenders, create separation, and buys himself time.
Often times such physical specimens like Antonio at West Ham or Darwin Nunez of Liverpool are raw technically, and Osimhen is in a sense, but he's not so raw to the point where he's a detriment to his team link play wise.
He's definitely above average in that regard.
He's definitely above average in that regard.
What makes Osimhen truly special, though, is the fact that he is a focal point in central areas unlike someone like Darwin Nunez who often drifts wide and does a bit of everything as opposed to specialising in the #9.
It's partially why he scores so many goals.
It's partially why he scores so many goals.
Napoli focus a lot of their chance creation methods around combination play on the sides before picking out Osimhen in the box, and he's one hell of a target to pick out, whether that be in aerial situations, attacking the box from deep, or scoring tap ins.
Do not underestimate the effectiveness and importance of positional discipline in the #9 - it's why Pep signed Haaland. Haaland doesn't drift positionally so Pep can continue to build rigid team dynamics around that, whereas other superstars drift and do their own thing (Mbappรฉ).
Even guys like Rashford don't necessarily 'cut it' in the #9 because he wants to get touches on the ball out wide.
That's partially because he's so good and wants to be more involved, but that's why him and Mbappรฉ aren't true #9's, but Haaland and Osimhen absolutely are.
That's partially because he's so good and wants to be more involved, but that's why him and Mbappรฉ aren't true #9's, but Haaland and Osimhen absolutely are.
That means potential suitors for Osimhen will regard him as tactically suitable to join their team. A positional play coach, a counter-attacking coach, or a pressing-orientated coach would all love this guy in their team, and that's because he ticks virtually every box.
And there's more.. Osimhen strikes through the ball with technical prowess.
Do you realise how crazy that is? For a guy so physical to be able to strike through the ball with ferocity is wild. Look at how he strikes through the ball in these clips below...
Do you realise how crazy that is? For a guy so physical to be able to strike through the ball with ferocity is wild. Look at how he strikes through the ball in these clips below...
Let's not get it twisted, though. He's not some Harry Kane level ball-striker, for example. I haven't seen him strike through the ball on his left foot (yet), & because he's such a physical specimen he can often operate at such speed where his technique becomes harder to execute.
However, with that physical prowess means he can also strike through the ball with natural power because of what a special athlete he is combined with the fact that he can create separation by using that speed, power, & general physical edge he possesses against all defenders.
Osimhen also has the mentality required to be the main man. We've seen that all season in Napoli's title charge. He also demands the highest standards from himself and gets visibly upset with himself when he misplaces a pass, for example.
He's truly an exemplary footballer.
He's truly an exemplary footballer.
We're looking at a player who ticks all of the necessary boxes to excel in the #9.
He's an outlet, a focal point, he works hard, can link play, hold off defenders, strike through the ball, create separation for himself, and has the mentality of a lion.
He ticks every damn box!!
He's an outlet, a focal point, he works hard, can link play, hold off defenders, strike through the ball, create separation for himself, and has the mentality of a lion.
He ticks every damn box!!
So, how does that profile fit in with the absolute elites. Well, it depends on the club. Osimhen spearheads attacks, akin to an Erling Haaland.
He's not going to relentlessly link play and release runners in behind the way a Harry Kane or a more technical centre forward would.
He's not going to relentlessly link play and release runners in behind the way a Harry Kane or a more technical centre forward would.
This isn't to say Osimhen can't do that, because he can, but he prefers to be the runner himself as opposed to creating for others.
The environment he's currently in suits him best, and that's a setting where he spearheads attacks and others create for him (again, like Haaland).
The environment he's currently in suits him best, and that's a setting where he spearheads attacks and others create for him (again, like Haaland).
Teams that play that way include Arsenal and Manchester City, for example, but they're both currently 'set' in the #9, so they won't go for him.
Manchester United also play a similar style, except I'm unsure if that's a profile that's optimal to fit in with a certain Rashford.
Manchester United also play a similar style, except I'm unsure if that's a profile that's optimal to fit in with a certain Rashford.
Rashford is currently United's main man, and that will likely continue when considering the absurd qualities he possesses. What's particularly crucial for Rashford to excel is space to attack in behind, but if Osimhen is spearheading the attack he eats a lot of that space up.
That's maybe why a Harry Kane or a Duลกan Vlahoviฤ may be more suitable for ten Hag's project as it stands, because they are more so "to feet" #9's who are less reliant on physicality to stretch the pitch.
They could drop & use their elite link play to release Rashford in behind.
They could drop & use their elite link play to release Rashford in behind.
ล eลกko is another player that has been reliably linked with Manchester United, and he's also similar to that ilk of Osimhen and Haaland.
It's clear all 3 of them either have the potential to be or are already elite 'pure' '#9's, but is that what Manchester United really need?
It's clear all 3 of them either have the potential to be or are already elite 'pure' '#9's, but is that what Manchester United really need?
Even compare the difference in Rashford's performance under ten Hag pre and post Ronaldo for a case study in a similar environment.
With Martial and Weghorst he has players who link play and create space for him, whereas Ronaldo suffocated the space for Rashford to use.
With Martial and Weghorst he has players who link play and create space for him, whereas Ronaldo suffocated the space for Rashford to use.
Now, Osimhen is of course a far better player than the current version of Cristiano Ronaldo, but he's similar in the sense that both spearhead attacks, and that may not be optimally functional in ten Hag's current system.
However, ten Hag does *love* pure #9's. It's his style.
However, ten Hag does *love* pure #9's. It's his style.
Haller, Huntelaar, Dolberg, Brobbey, Weghorst.. these are some of the #9's ten Hag has used and signed in the past, with all of them being focal points and natural #9's as opposed to false #9's.
That's why he has an interest in Osimhen, and also because he's a special player.
That's why he has an interest in Osimhen, and also because he's a special player.
However, ten Hag also has massive appreciation for an individual like Anthony Martial who he consistently cites when referencing United's 'optimal' performance levels.
There's no coincidence there. Martial, when fit and firing, links play and involves others like few others can.
There's no coincidence there. Martial, when fit and firing, links play and involves others like few others can.
Osimhen may be complete, but he may not make those who around him excel the way ten Hag may wish. He would absolutely score a phenomenal amount of goals because he's a special player, & one who is absolutely cut out for the elite level, but is the environment optimal? I'm unsure.
Please don't mistake this as a criticism of the player, because it's not.
I have said he's similar to Erling Haaland, the best #9 in the world, and that he would excel for two teams that are better than Manchester United right now, but environments matter in this game!
I have said he's similar to Erling Haaland, the best #9 in the world, and that he would excel for two teams that are better than Manchester United right now, but environments matter in this game!
This is why I think ten Hag and Manchester United should be cautious in terms of who they sign in the #9. They have to consider team dynamics on top of long-term fits.
Harry Kane may be the ideal fit, but is it viable to spend โฌ100m or more on a player who'll be 30 next season?
Harry Kane may be the ideal fit, but is it viable to spend โฌ100m or more on a player who'll be 30 next season?
Victor Osimhen may be a future world beater in a similar environment to the one he's currently in at Napoli, but is he the right fit in United's system dynamics?
These are merely questions that the club will have to consider, along with considering other alternatives & factors.
These are merely questions that the club will have to consider, along with considering other alternatives & factors.
Either way, though, Victor Osimhen is a uniquely special player, and that can't be forgotten amongst the transfer speculation surrounding the player.
He's on the verge of helping Napoli bring back the Scudetto for the first time since 1990.
We should focus on that for now ๐ค๐ต
He's on the verge of helping Napoli bring back the Scudetto for the first time since 1990.
We should focus on that for now ๐ค๐ต
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