Michael Obafemi F Plymouth Argyle (loan from Burnley) b.2000

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Originally Posted by SkStu

He’s also had some success at PL level already in his career to point to.

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He hasn't really though. 4 goals in 32 games, the last almost three years ago, is nothing really. I think being a squad player for a promoted Championship side isn't a good place to be ahead of a Premier League campaign. It's very close to the door.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Maybe we have to start considering the 2nd half of last season is a major anomaly in his career rather than the norm

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I don't quite agree with this either - or maybe I just don't want to! That scoring run for me showed that he could play football - it was different to a green unknown forward coming in and scoring the odd goal in the Premier before defenders got wise to him. I think he can get back to that level, but it may need another move to do it, and that seems unlikely quite so soon.

But certainly good to have Cannon coming through as insurance just in case!

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Originally Posted by SkStu

I’m not as worried about him as others seem to be. He’s a good striker with some top-level assets and, I think, was a long term play by VK who’d become established over time rather than filling an immediate/desperate gap. He’s also had some success at PL level already in his career to point to. And he’s done well for us over the last year.

I could be overly optimistic but I’m just not too worried or disappointed at this point.

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I could see him being used as part of a deal to get a better CF, and even Luke McNally too. They've gotten Obafemi cheap compared to what they would have paid 12 months ago there's no doubt about that and don't think the last few months would have changed much their opinion on Obafemi. Even their big money CF hasn't gotten much minutes.

But Luke McNally's loan has been great and Coventry have a player or two that Burnley have shown an interest in. Could honestly see McNally and even Obafemi at Coventry next season or at least being used to try get Gyökeres or Hamer next season. Both players will have a year left on their deals and plenty of interest. Burnley could well offer cash plus players to tempt Coventry if they cash in on either player this summer.

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Originally Posted by JR89

Even their big money CF hasn't gotten much minutes.

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Foster? He's started their last three games - without scoring, granted, but as a crude measure of the pecking order, that still has him ahead of Obafemi.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

He hasn't really though. 4 goals in 32 games, the last almost three years ago, is nothing really. I think being a squad player for a promoted Championship side isn't a good place to be ahead of a Premier League campaign. It's very close to the door.

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4 goals, 3 assists in the equivalent of 13 games playing time from the age of 17-20. He's still 22. All i'm saying is I am not deeply disappointed or worried yet. There's still plenty of upside to be very excited about.

I think "in the equivalent of" is a bit overused tbh - attacking players are far more likely to get subbed off, so it doesn't make sense to reduce one player's stats by minutes in an attempt to make him seem more prolific than he is. You could do the same with lots of other players. Aaron Connolly, is 23 and scored 5 goals (I don't know how many assists) "in the equivalent" of 24 games from age 19-21 - not much different, but nobody would really say he's had some success in the PL.

Three years is a long time ago.

You know the obvious counter to that perspective on playing time so I wont get into it - 4 in 32 appearances has as many "buts" as 4 in 1200 minutes.

Look, the core of my post is not that he was prolific in the PL - it was one short line in a longer post. There is plenty to like about Obafemi even if he isn't yet the main guy at Burnley in his 3 month stint there. There is no need to be too worried or disappointed yet. I don't think that is too wild a take.

I think we all agree theres a player in him, but we have only seen his real potential for half of a season to this point yet. Stu is right that at the age of 22 we shouldnt be too worried yet, but I definitely have more doubts after the last 2 months than I did when he wasnt playing for Swansea earlier this season.

I gave him a pass for that because I thought there may have been some behind the scenes dealings that his move to Burnley was guaranteed and he was basically just seeing out his time there. I think that looking back on it that lack of intensity he had early in season probably affected him after the move. Its hard to just switch on and off. So Id hope a proper reset in preseason will help him to kick on next season and try get back to the player he was last year.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Stu is right that at the age of 22 we shouldnt be too worried yet, but I definitely have more doubts after the last 2 months than I did when he wasnt playing for Swansea earlier this season.

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Yeah, I think "worried" is too strong. I'd be worried about Aaron Connolly, not about Obafemi.

But the bit in bold is how I feel about the transfer too. Maybe pre-season will help reset, but then he still has to show some reason why he'd be in contention for a starting spot next season in the Premier when he doesn't seem to be in contention this season in the Championship.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Yeah, I think "worried" is too strong. I'd be worried about Aaron Connolly, not about Obafemi.

But the bit in bold is how I feel about the transfer too. Maybe pre-season will help reset, but then he still has to show some reason why he'd be in contention for a starting spot next season in the Premier when he doesn't seem to be in contention this season in the Championship.

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Ashley Barnes may be more suited to Championship football than Premiership. Obafemi has the one thing that always helps a striker, serious pace. Hes good at holding the ball up too, so I can see a scenario where he could be their main striker next season but he has a lot of work to do to get there.

On the bench again today, albeit he came off it earlier than usual, getting 23 minutes at the end

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

On the bench again today, albeit he came off it earlier than usual, getting 23 minutes at the end

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Where he's at:

https://www.lancs.live/sport/footbal...int_source=nba


(n.b. I hope he also has two turntables and a microphone)

Interesting piece.

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Originally Posted by Vincent Kompany

You can see the threat he’s got in those moments but in order to play 90 minutes at the intensity and the tempo we play at, he’s certainly on his way, but I always feel at the moment there is some other guys that are a little bit further and so we’re not going to force anything because you run the risk of injuries then.

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So he's not a bad player, they just have better options at the moment. Kind of what we're thinking here really. And then a slightly worrying mention of injuries too (given his history)

Perhaps Company is nursing his hamstrings. Are there questions about Obafemi's hamstrings ?

Are there not? He seems to have that injury curse many fast players have.

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Originally Posted by Yard of Pace

Where he's at:

https://www.lancs.live/sport/footbal...int_source=nba


(n.b. I hope he also has two turntables and a microphone)

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One has to just clap your hands at that gem there YOP.

Not even in the squad for the final game of the season; not sure why.

Burnley not missing him anyway as Barnes and Brownhill have them 2-0 up on Cardiff before half-time

Looks like Ashley Barnes is close to signing for Norwich - so one person less for Obafemi to challenge (though plenty of time to sign players of course), and one more for Idah to challenge.

Bad news for Obafemi as Burnley confirm he picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty and going by reports will miss the start of the season

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Originally Posted by JR89

Bad news for Obafemi as Burnley confirm he picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty and going by reports will miss the start of the season

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https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023...of-the-season/ He's having an operation on the tear. Sounds like a bad one.

That's a disaster, he needed a good preseason there

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Originally Posted by John83

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023...of-the-season/ He's having an operation on the tear. Sounds like a bad one.

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Another hamstring issue doesn't look good for his long term future either. Also it's his third time getting injured in 12 months while on international duty.

This guy's going to have a career like Keith O'Neill, isn't he?

his hammys are done imo. cant be one to pin our hopes on any more. his game is built on those bursts of pace, that'll slowly waste away with all these injuries. a bit like sean maguire.

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

his hammys are done imo. cant be one to pin our hopes on any more. his game is built on those bursts of pace, that'll slowly waste away with all these injuries. a bit like sean maguire.

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Kenny better light a candle and say a prayer that nothing happens to Ferguson or we're ****ed. While he's at it maybe throw in for Cannon to stay and not need up being Scott Hogan 2.0.

Had half an hour for Burnley's U21s as his return to action continues
https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/...ackburn-rovers

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Had half an hour for Burnley's U21s as his return to action continues
https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/...ackburn-rovers

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Great Burnley certainly could do with him

On the bench for Burnley today (away to Arsenal), joined by Josh Cullen.

Hasn't made the bench the last couple of weeks; don't think he's injured, just out of favour. Burnley signed an Ivory Coast international striker from Chelsea today (who scored against Shamrock Rovers in the Conference League group stages in 2022 actually) so looks like even less chance of him featuring you'd imagine.

Hasn't started a league game since Nov 2022. 20 minutes of action this season. I know he's had problems with injury but the move to Burnley has been an unmitigated disaster. Don't know if any snifters of interest for a loan move by the end of the month?

Fofana is the Ivory Coast striker. I was curious whether he was in their ACON squad, which would reduce the possibility of Burnley letting Obafemi out on loan. He's not, and in fact only has 3 caps for them, no goals. His club record isn't exactly stellar either.

2021–2022	Molde	42	(15)
2023–	Chelsea	3	(0)
2023–2024	Union Berlin (loan)	12	(1)

Granted, he's only 21, and the stats can be deceptive.

It seemed like Burnley had already more or less given up on Obafemi even by the time they formally signed him, but the terms of the loan required them to take him. There's a good player in there as we know, but he needs to stay fit and show it in training if he's ever going to get a decent chance.

They got him so cheap that a six month loan in the championship and could still make a profit on him if he found goal scoring form. Was it something like £3m they paid for him and Swansea turned down £8m a few months before that.

Reports he's having a medical at Millwall this week ahead of a loan move.

Good move
If he grows up he will be a very important player for us.
Ferguson is the only striker we have that's better than Michael O'

Having his medical today.

After one sub appearance and one start, he's not even on the bench for Millwall tonight

Can hardly be injured already, can he?

Missed out through illness

Scores his first goal for Millwall, and his first goal for anyone in over a year, away against Blackburn tonight.

Had actually been dropped for the game, but came on at halftime for Emakhu

Edit - and Szmodics equalises ten minutes later, naturally enough

Millwall likely managing his minutes I'd say. After coming back from illness has played 45mins, 72mins midweek, and came on at half time tonight.

He scored!
I believe in this guys ability big time
If he stays fit and acts like an adult I think he will be a very important player for us

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

He scored!
I believe in this guys ability big time
If he stays fit and acts like an adult I think he will be a very important player for us

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He did ok in general through the 2nd half. His pace in behind caused Blackburn a few problems. You'd just love him to stay fit long enough to see how good he could actually be.