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

[pineapple stu]

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

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.

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

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!

[JR89]

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.

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.

[pineapple stu]

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

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.

[SkStu]

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.

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.

[pineapple stu]

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.

[SkStu]

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.

[Razors left peg]

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.

[pineapple stu]

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.

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.

[Razors left peg]

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.

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.

[pineapple stu]

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

[Yard of Pace]

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

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)

[pineapple stu]

Interesting piece.

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.

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)

[seanfhear]

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

[John83]

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

[Kingdom]

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)

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

[pineapple stu]

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

[pineapple stu]

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.

[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

[John83]

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

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

[Razors left peg]

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