Victor Osimhen Tactical Analysis⏳⭐️
A detailed deep dive on the Nigerian Forward and why he could be transformative for Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United side
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Player profile
Name: Victor Osimhen
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Nationality: Nigeria
Club: Napoli
Height: 1.86m (6 foot 1)
Value: £58.5m
Senior games played: 161
Strengths/Weaknesses
✅Finishing
✅Dribbling
✅Speed
✅Power/Strength
✅Heading
✅Movement
✅Defensive contribution
❌Ball retention
❌Potential Injuries
Key Talking points to the Thread
1️⃣Finishing
2️⃣Dribbling
3️⃣Defensive Contribution
4️⃣Hold up play
I will also look at his key stats, comparison to Haaland and summarise my thoughts on a move to United. I’d love to mention more but there’s too much to talk about!
1️⃣Finishing
Osimhen is a top finisher. He has 4 goals in 7 Seria A games this season. An average of 0.6 goals per game as fitness has prohibited him from playing full 90s
Per FBref he ranks in the 93rd percentile for xG, 98th for shots and 80th for goals scored. Elite⭐️
🎥1- Wow. A hopeful ball over the top but the pace/power of Osimhen destroys Smalling before a crazy finish. What a goal
🎥2- lovely movement into the right channel. Sheer pace before unleashing a venomous shot, Great finish again. He is so difficult to stop in full flow twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
🎥1-Sensational! Again a hopeful ball but great touch, perfect control & vision to read the flight before a perfect finish. He suits the physicality of the PL
🎥2- nice movement but the touch & use of the body is special. Touch with the right, body between CB/ball & a top finish twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
He’s so good in the air! Sits in the pocket between LB/CB then drifts over, reading the flight of the ball before powerfully attacking it with a great finish.
At 6,1 he has a great leap, excellent timing & reads the flight well. Again, a trait suiting the style of the PL & ETH
Wyscout shot map⚽️
I love how central he plays. Look at his goals, they are centred around the 6 yard box: he’s a true penalty box ST
That’s what we miss. Someone in the right place, right time & stays central. Too often MR/CR7 drift left, Osimhen will stay in the scoring zone
2️⃣Dribbling
Osimhen has a great dribbling technique. He is agile but his power allows him to hold people off with ease and push past defenders.
He ranks in the 81st percentile for Carries into the penalty area & in the 78th percentile for shot creating actions from dribbles
From his early days at Lille. Looks a lot lighter here but the pace from the standing start is frightening
Timing of the run perfect, nice short touches before a chop back past the defender and a composed finish. He has improved a lot since then
🎥1- that’s Van Dijk he’s against, it’s easy for him. Pace to get in behind, strength to hold him off before the quick feet earns the pen
🎥2- this isn’t your usual CF. Beautiful play, the dribbling is exquisite, the strength and gets a good shot off. Creating for himself twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
3️⃣Defensive Contribution
This is another Elite part of Osimhen’s game. He offers a lot out of possession, he is very hard working
FBref rankings
Dribbled past- 94th
Tackles (Att 3rd)- 91st
% of dribblers tackled- 90th
Shots blocked- 87th
Pressures (Att 3rd)- 81st
🎥1- his height/Aerial ability is a real asset defensively. From corners, often marks the near post making crucial clearances
🎥2- really like seeing this. Poor pass into him but doesn’t complain/give up. He presses the opponent, winning the ball and foul. Exactly what ETH wants twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
🎥1- Fantastic work ethic. 4v1 but chases and hounds the defenders, winning the ball. Gives away a free yes but it’s the work ethic I like
🎥2- the Erik ten Hag ST in one video. Speed into the press/vision to read the play. Wins the ball back and an easy goal. Simple but perfect twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
4️⃣Hold up/link play
🎥1- Excellent! The jump is superb & a deft header to play his teammate in. Good way to evade a high press, we lack this option
🎥2- at Utd he will need to play with his back to goal, He can do it. Strength, backs his body before spinning & earns the free twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
🎥1- His pace in behind will force teams to drop, giving us greater control. Willingness to run channels so key in the PL
🎥2- Against a PL club proving he can do it! Running the channel again, pace and power to get by the FB before a composed pass in. Lovely play twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Osimhen League stats⚽️🅰️
Charleroi 18/19- 25G, 12⚽️, 3🅰️
Lille 19/20- 27G, 13⚽️, 4🅰️
Napoli 20/21- 24G, 10⚽️, 3🅰️
Napoli 21/22- 27G, 14⚽️, 2🅰️
Napoli 22/23- 7G, 4⚽️, 1🅰️
4 full seasons. 49 goals & 12 assists at the age of 18-22
He has so much time to improve. He’s a goalscorer
Comparison with Haaland
Both players FBref report. We can see very similar stats & percentile rankings although Haalands goalscoring is on another planet
We need a young, long term ST. One who’s quick, strong, powerful & a finisher. That’s Haaland, but it’s also Osimhen
Concerns❌
Some recurring injuries that do concern me such as the shoulder injury but seems to be over that. His explosive style could cause muscle injuries
I think Napoli will look at least £100m, not sure we can afford that in 2023, we need a ST then
Can he do it at United🤔
Yes. His physicality and speed is perfectly suited to the premier league. He has the power and explosiveness to cause huge problems to defenders
I think he’s proven it across the Belgian, French and Italian league. England is the next step
Summary
- He’s a fantastic finisher. On his right and left but also through his heading ability. The variety and unpredictability of his finishing means he’s so tough to handle
- he’s immense physically, he can handle the premier league and bring others into play
Summary
- his link play is very underrated. Can back into defenders, keep the ball & lay it off for others or spin the defender & use his dribbling to make opportunities for himself
- he runs the channels excellently. Always an outlet & his pace forces opponents like to drop of
Summary
- defensively excellent. Works extremely hard and is a top presser. Ten hag will love this
- he comes from a pressing team. Makes it easier to adapt to the pressing routines of our team
- injury record a slight concern but he can be managed/rotated with Rashford/Martial
Thank you for reading! I hope you’ve learnt more about Osimhen and what a fantastic player he is. Thanks to Wyscout/FBref for providing data
Please like, comment, retweet and follow. It’s appreciated as a lot of work goes into the threads
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#Glazerout
#ManUnited
@htomufc. Seen your Napoli video and agree they are excellent. Think Osimhen would be a great option for United
What do you think? You’ve done your research on the club
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