Why Selling Derik Would Sheer Stupidity

In a move that shocked no-one but upset a few, defender, Derik Osede was publicly transfer listed last week having been deemed surplus to requirements by Phil Parkinson. This should hardly come as a surprise, Parkinson has never appeared to rate Derik, giving him starts only when he has needed to through injury and dropping him regardless as soon as players return. Derik has been hampered by injury at the start of this season but the un-droppable nature of Beevers and Wheater and his lack of physical stature (which is a must for Parky - see Wilbraham over ALF and Dervite over Derik) has also limited playing time.

So given that he hasn’t really had a proper run at the team and we need every space and scrap of cash, why would I want him to stay? At the moment the answer is very much ‘necessity’. The news of Derik’s listing came just before the news that Darren Pratley will most likely be out for two months and Karl Henry for a month. The two have formed a decent partnership in the middle of the park characterised by hard work, grit and defensive discipline which have helped Bolton Wanderers to their recent revival. With these two out of action there are no defensive minded midfielders to take their place. Vela could be moved back and Cullen could fill in but neither is at home with the role.

Derik on the other hand has been long touted for such a role. Since coming to the English game it has been said he might be a bit lightweight to play centre back but could be decent in midfield due to his mobility, passing range and defensive attributes. In fact in the limited times we have seen Derik play this role, we have seen his best performances. Whilst he does not have the engine of Pratley or the aggression and experience of Henry he is probably a more rounded midfielder than both of them.

If this move were to happen we not only add a capable defensive midfielder to the line up, giving Ameobi and co’ license to get forward again but another physical prescience is gained in the team. Just the other week, Ken stated in his notes that tall physical midfielders are the order of the day and that he was on the hunt for one, yet seemed to ignore 6ft tall, Derik Osede who very well could be that player. It’s also worth pointing out that with his goal against Huddersfield he become our joint 4th top scorer with 2 goals. Taken with his lack of game time, he has a goal every 135 minutes highlighting that he carries an aerial threat at set plays (a big thing for us). Teams struggle enough as it is to mark Beevers, Wheater and Madine so why not add another threat and force them to choose where they put their big men?

I really hope he does get a fair chance in this role because selling him to bring in someone else on the cheap just seems like sheer stupidity.