Oviedo – the 'miss' of the season

I would also cash in on Mirallas; as good as he is, he's not a team player. He's played in nearly every midfield position this season so you can't say Martinez hasn't tried to accommodate him. He hardly scores and, when there's an obvious pass on, he ignores it nearly every time.

My team for next season (I've left the striker blank as it doesn't look like Lukaku will stay and I've no faith in Naismith (although he works his nuts off so I would definitely keep him at the club).

Howard
Coleman
Stones
Jagielka
Baines
Gibson
McCarthy
McGeady
Barkley
Oviedo
?????

If we can just get a decent striker I think we have a top team.

Don't think I've seen one bad comment on him on this site, which itself is an achievement and shows the high level of performances he must be giving us very critical bunch.

I agree with Sam that Kone has been a major miss, but my nominee would be Barkley, who was just truly blossoming when he was injured and has yet to show even a glimpse of that form since.

That said I too am a huge Oviedo fan and I think we have badly missed his pace and ability but also he seems the type of lad who would be badly missed for his presence in the dressing room and his energy on the pitch.

The sooner he is back the better.

Agree with the sentiments above though, doesn't look like he is going to get a look in at LB now that Baines has signed long term, unless he is able to convert into an out and out left midfielder? I hope so, as Pienaar needs some competition for that spot.

From the glimpses I saw of him, he does look to fit the utility player bill and in that offer a lot more than our previous equivalents...thinking of Neville primarily. Martinez probably follows the Spanish template of filling the team up with what I call midfielders, albeit ones who are comfortable on the ball....a bit like some of the earlier Spanish teams, the lack of an out and out striker will probably be a problem until it's properly addressed.

Would love to see BO at the World Cup..lining up against England.

Agree with Sam with regard to Kone. A mighty blow for Martinez.

Not too worried about Barkley. I feel he is about to explode again.

Oviedo's energy is badly missed in my opinion.

Exactly my thoughts Sam. Kone, if fit, could have proved invaluable with the paucity of striking options in the past 6 weeks or so. Maybe, even before that to give Lukaku chance to refresh his batteries. I know he got hammered a bit in his few cameo appearances earlier in the season but there is a good player in there and his speed and goal threat could have been the difference in us keeping pace with the top four instead of dropping away

I would go with Barkley as 'the loss of the season' but have a sneaking fear that he is one of those players who will fail to fill his potential because of a propensity to get injured. A higher quality Rodwell, if you like.

On the evidence to date, it is impossible to know what element was lost by Kone's absence. I was very suspicious of 'the fasting stories' that surrounded his abysmal pre-season and on the very brief look we had of him in real action he looked no improvement on Jelavic.

So to me 'the greatest loss' of this season has surrounded Lakuku. First his loss of scoring form and then his absence through injury. I'm convinced that the goals we expected of him will prove to be the difference between fourth and the inevitable seventh.

I think had Bryan stayed fit he would have reduced the disappointing Pienaar to a permanent bench position by now. I find Pienaar so frustrating – often a headless chicken, who goes down at the slightest touch and then moans at his colleagues when he hits yet another lazy or inept pass way beyond them – then looks on incredulously that they didn't 'read' it. I'm not saying he doesn't have his moments... but they are now way too infrequent for me. A once classy player going down hill unfortunately.

Pot. Kettle. Black? I don't think so. I haven't been malicious or disrespectful to Pienaar. But fire away anyway.

Oviedo would be owning the left mid / wing position if he had not gotten injured, Pienaar has been looking like he's half interested lately, there's been no drive or determination and we miss that massively however future for us in that position is bright as when Ovideo comes back he'll provide what we're lacking.

And as for Jim Potter @970, I couldn't agree more with the Osman remarks, he just plays his game and does his best, always, it's not his fault that he's "not good enough" or that he was played out of position for years by OFM.

As if he's going to turn around and say "hey boss, seriously I'm not good enough to play that position, pick someone else please...." and yes I know lots of people that I have worked with over the years who were crap at what they did but did they turn around and resign or something, no they didn't and furthermore if your boss asks you to do something you don't usually do or asks you to do something that you know you are rubbish at, is it really your fault that things don't go the way they are supposed to......?

For years Leon lived near me and his kids went to the same school as mine, whenever I saw him I felt like walking and apologising for the nasty remarks and downright abuse he suffered / suffers from sections of our supporters, he's an honest lad who does his business as best as he is able to and I for one am glad he's had the career with us that he has.

Sam, it is a valid point that we have missed an extra striker this season, but to say Kone has been the miss of the season is a bit of a punt, as he really hasn't played for us yet – a few minutes here and there at the start was it? On the other hand, Oviedo had played consistently for the first XI for a significant amount of matches before his injury.

The best players this season that contributed the most while in form were Barkley and Deulofoe, but losing Oviedo was sort of the last nail in the coffin for our form.