The 22-year-old has copped a lot of unfair flak this season from some supporters.
Nottingham Forest’s Ben Osborn celebrates their first goal
Football fans are a strange breed, and the Nottingham Forest fans who seem to have issues with Ben Osborn emphasise that point, with the Player of the Year candidate coming in for some unfair criticism.
No player should be immune from criticism, but it seems because the 22-year-old isn’t scoring 20+ goals a season like Frank Lampard did for Chelsea, he’s allegedly living off his matchwinning goal against Derby County, isn’t quick enough, and isn’t good enough.
The reality couldn’t be further from the truth, and there is a reason why Osborn has played in all 41 Championship fixtures to date, as without his influence on the pitch, Forest would be in the relegation zone.
To put this into perspective, Osborn has more Championship assists this season (six) than Tom Ince, Fernando Forestieri, Aaron Mooy, Alex Pritchard, Izzy Brown and Jonny Howson, while playing for a Forest side who has endured a shambolic season.
Derby County’s Chris Baird in action with Nottingham Forest’s Ben Osborn
Given the nature of Forest’s campaign before Mark Warburton stepped in, it’s completely understandable that Forest fans would take aim at their underperforming players – of which there have clearly been many – but Osborn hasn’t been one of them.
What fans seem to forget is that he is still only 22, and he’s already the Reds’ most creative outlet. Given owner Fawaz Al Hasawi’s tendency to sell the club’s best players and most exciting prospects, Forest fans should be making the most of Osborn’s ability and potential while they still can, as opposed to laying into him needlessly.
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