Michael Osei, not good enough

Striker extraordinaire in the late 80s and early 90s for Asante Kotoko and assistant coach of the club under Masud Didi Dramani and David Duncan, it was only a matter of time before he was given the job in the same capacity.

The pomp and pageantry that heralded the arrival of the egocentric Duncan only sought to delay his appointment but with Kotoko in a massive free-fall after only five games in the season, management of the club had had enough.

A stunning two-nil reverse against WAFA on match day one followed by insipid performances against Ashgold, Medeama, Berekum Chelsea, and Hasaacas had the Reds deeply rooted in the relegation zone.

All the talk of Kotoko regaining the league from regional neighbours Ashgold had fizzled out in thin air. The criticism directed at management had become unbearable. A decision had to be taken that early in the season before a dramatic and painful plunge to the unknown.

Osei was placed in a temporary position to stem the tide. 16 league games and 28 points from a possible 48, one would have thought the former striker had done enough to keep his job for the foreseeable to say the least.

But it doesn’t look like it though. The gaffer has come under incessant pressure for failing to pick up maximum points in games that were “easier to win”.

The big question thus would have to do with the sudden clamour for some kind of support for the technical team with the hiring of a technical director to support the coaching staff. Something has surely gone wrong somewhere with as the fans are clearly not amused.

FORM

It is difficult to comprehend the whole idea of easy games in the Ghana Premier League these days. 20 points separate leaders Hearts of Oak atop the log and New Edubiase at the bottom. With 38 points from a possible 63, it’s fair to say that the leaders have had their fair share of seasonal slumps.

Juxtapose that with Kotoko, who with 33 points lie 4th on the log. Osei has won 28 of these points, only bettered by Aduana Coach Cioba Aristica, who has won every single point by the club this season (34), from their last 18 games. On this score, it makes practically no sense whatsoever to dispense with the services of the gaffer.

Big question though is whether Osei could have done more from his 16 games in charge of the Reds. To be fair to the fans, Kotoko have been dreadful since the commencement of the second round of the season.

The Reds have picked up a mere seven points from a possible 18, dropping 11 points in the process, winning a single game against Wa All Stars and drawing against Techiman City, Bechem United, Inter Allies, and Hearts of Oak. They may have only lost a single game though but the crushing 4-1 loss to Ebusua Dwarfs has been extremely difficult to take.

Their rivals in the top three places on the log – Accra Hearts of Oak, Wa All Stars, and Aduana Stars – have picked up 12, 10, and seven points respectively also from their six second round games. On that score, Osei may have performed creditably and could possibly turn around the situation.

The challenge for him though is the level of expectation in managing a top club. Good is not good enough. Standards are so high and you simply have to deliver on a consistent basis.

TACTICS

Managers the world over are credited with the achievements of their sides per their tactical supremacy. The likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, and Carlo Ancelotti are revered for the impact they have had over their sides in years past.

One may argue that the quality of players available to a manager also plays a big part in their success story. Juxtapose that with team Kotoko and the tactics manager Osei has adopted during his reign and you would have to say that the inconsistencies have cost him points along the way.

Managers vary their tactics based on the personnel available and the strengths of their opponents. Beyond the Kotoko-Hearts match where his tactics were spot on, he has fluffed his cards in one too many games.

The argument in his favour though would have to do with the fact that he is a lot closer to the players away from match days on the training ground and may be taking his decisions based on the effort of the lads and other indicators.

PERSONNEL

With Lionel Messi, Suarez and Neymar leading an attack, there is a chance trophies may be guaranteed season in, season out for Barcelona. Surely Kotoko do not have that kind of personnel to unleash on their opponents week in, week out.

In Ernest Sowah they have a goalkeeper with national and international experience which has been demonstrated on the pitch when given the opportunity. The centre-half partnership between Amos Frimpong and Osei Agyemang have given their all to the side, but other key departments have struggled.

Frimpong has had to be drafted as a right back in key games while the left full back position has barely been a stable one. Eric Donkor, Samuel Kyere, and Tuffuor Frimpong have all had their turns in there. Utility players do help, but as Mourinho said at his Man United unveiling, experts do a better job. Shipping in 19 goals in 22 games hasn’t helped either.

The midfield has barely been consistent either. Nyame, Nyarko, Sarfo Gyamfi, Evans Quao, Bennet Ofori, Jackson Owusu, Kwadwo Poku have barely put in consistent performances when given the opportunity.

The strikers for me have barely been convincing. 22 goals in 21 games is a very poor return to be honest. Halipha Sedogo, Adzeko Mandela, Kwame Boateng, Elvis Amoh, Dauda Mohammed, Obed Owusu, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Emmanuel Osei Carlos, and Seidu Bancey can surely do more. They are there for a purpose, which is to score goals and nothing more. It’s simply not good enough!

FANS

Kotoko fans would surely travel the length and breadth of the country to support their team. Great you might say, but I have personally seen a worrying trend over the years. Someone has got to tell these fans they are not in the stadiums to sit as Egyptian mummies. Kotoko barely have a cheer song.

They barely urge the players on as was reminiscent of huge parts of the game against Hearts on Sunday. Most of them are just happy making their way to the stadium. That’s great on a financial footing, but you have got to do more than just paying up at the gate. Sing, sing, and cheer the lads on for 90 minutes and time added on even in moments of crisis.

MANAGEMENT/BOARD

They surely can do more than they have done all season. There has got to be a reason why Michael Osei has not been named the substantive head coach of the team after the farce surrounding Duncan’s departure.

He is either good enough to manage the club, or you hire someone else. When an employee isn’t certain over his future, he clearly would not be working with his all. When the issue has come up over the period, the responses by management and the board have not been any better. The talk about the possible hiring of a technical advisor has not helped matters. It would only unsettle an unsettled manager.

FUTURE

Nine games and a possible 27 points could still see Kotoko end up being crowned champions, granted their competitors drop points along the way. It’s all ifs and buts now of course. It will surely be up to Osei and his backroom staff to turn things around beginning with the tie against New Edubiase on Wednesday. Can they?