The Sunday Telegraph
 

Local boy Osman makes the grade

By Louise Taylor, 26 September 2004

"You keep watching him and you keep thinking can he or can't he; will he or won't he" David Moyes, September 2004.
 
Wondering whether players, perhaps in your reserves or the lower divisions, are capable of making the elite-level grade constitutes a Premiership manager's eternal dilemma.

If Everton's manager always knew Wayne Rooney would adapt to such rarefied climes, Moyes was less convinced about Leon Osman. Sure, the 23-year-old forward-cum-midfielder had skill - indeed, after Rooney, he was the most technically gifted individual at Goodison Park - but the boy from nearby Skelmersdale certainly did not fit the local, if unfair, stereotype depicting inhabitants of 'Skem' as aggressive bruisers.

A link player happiest hovering in the hole, Osman is small, slight and lacks the developed musculature uniform among professionals.

No matter; he has impressed hugely since taking Rooney's place in Moyes's XI, the £20 million wunderkind having started the season with a broken foot and since moved to Manchester United.

The quantum leap experienced by a player whose seasons on the sidelines were leavened only by loan stints at Carlisle and Derby, is highlighted by the anxiety surrounding a groin injury which will require a late fitness test at Portsmouth today.
Moyes has repeatedly lauded Osman's role in achieving Everton's unexpectedly high-altitude league position and must wonder whether the financial problems which prompted the enforced off-loading of 18 professionals this summer have proved a disguised blessing.

"Compared to most players I'm small and lightweight but I'm trying to build myself up," explained Osman. "There are a lot of big, physical, athletic pros around now but I believe the best Premiership players are still the technically gifted ones."

After 13 years on Everton's books and a total of six first-team appearances before this season, he is simply delighted to prove he ranks among the latter band. "I've been confident in my ability and felt capable of playing in the Premiership for a number of years now so although I'm happy with the way things have gone I wouldn't say I'm surprised. I'm just delighted I've finally been able to seize my chance."

Partly courtesy of Rooney's exit? "I was happy in that I knew my first-team chances would maybe improve but it's still sad to see a player of Wayne's ability leave."

Paradoxically Rooney's departure has coincided with a togetherness conspicuously absent during last season's dalliance with relegation. Much of this stems from an apparent sea change in Moyes's managerial philosophy, the Scot seemingly having discovered that being nice to players and sometimes listening to their opinions is not necessarily a sign of weakness.

"The players are talking to the manager a lot more this season and he's also chatting to us more," said Osman. "Even though he's brought in a couple of fitness trainers and we've been doing a lot of hard running, the atmosphere has been more relaxed; it's enjoyable.

"He's aimed to put last season's problems right and get a good togetherness. The manager talks to us individually about little improvements we can make; he also tells you things you're good at and you should be aiming to stay good at.

"With having such a bad end to last season and all the stuff in the summer, we all felt we really needed to pull together to show people we're a good side. All the pundits were predicting we would finish in the bottom three but we're determined to prove we can play."

The once ultra-intense Moyes, 41, appears to have lightened up. On Friday he feigned puzzlement at his squad's new craze for stretching their socks over their knees - a la stockings - opining: "They'll be wearing suspenders next - they'd never get away with it in Glasgow."

Turning serious, he explained his policy shift. "We tried to change the feel of the place, twist a few things differently; I altered things here and there to try and make the players feel better. We all knew we wanted to improve so we had conversations about it."

Creditably, Moyes listened. "I don't know whether it's for the better but, yes, I've changed," admitted a manager who has surely reaped additional benefits by being forced to look at Leon Osman in a new light.

© Telegraph Group Ltd

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