Olsen has flashed real quality, yet I still want more from him. Those two assists for Chermiti were nice moments but they felt driven more by the striker’s finishing and movement than by a winger running defenders ragged. I’m not writing him off — he looks a tidy player — but at times he’s too comfortable coming inside and we need him to go past people and create more consistent danger from wide.

Assists and angles: credit where it’s due

The first assist and the overhead finish were stunning pieces of play, but let’s be honest: Chermiti did the heavy lifting. One was clever movement and the other sheer technique. That doesn’t absolve Olsen of responsibility though. If he wants to be a top-class wide man in our team he has to threaten the full-back, win duels and drag defenders out of position. Coming inside is fine if it opens lanes or creates overloads. If it just makes us predictable, defenders sit deeper and his influence drops.

Timing of the signing — fair concern

Signing a player who hadn’t played for three months in the middle of a title race was always going to be a gamble. Match sharpness isn’t something you buy overnight; fit players have rhythm, read the tempo and know how to cope with pressure games. Danny had reasons to back him, you can see why the club took the chance, but integrating somebody under that kind of pressure is tricky. Give him time, but also expect him to show more intent to take players on as he settles.

Missed bite: Barron’s absence felt real

Before he got injured Barron was bringing the kind of work-rate and intensity that lifts a team. Losing that engine has been tangible — we’ve missed someone who chases loose balls, presses without rest and sets tempo. Whoever fills that gap has to bring energy and urgency; tidy passing isn’t enough on its own. For now, Barron’s type of game is what I want back most of all.

So yes, patience with Olsen, but not complacency. He looks promising, and if he can add more one-on-one danger we’ll all be better off. In the meantime, we need the midfield bite that made us hard to play against.

Written by GMW: 23 March 2026

Tags: transfers injury