Olsen looks off the pace

To be fair, you can see why people liked Olsen when he was on it. That one moment of individual quality against Tierney — taking them on and creating a great goal — reminded you what he can do. Trouble is, that spark felt fleeting, and the interview about him falling out of love with football left a sour aftertaste.

He’s got the ability, no doubt

There’s no denying the lad has skill. When he’s confident and moving at tempo he can hurt opponents one-v-one and create chances out of nothing. You get the sense he understands the half-spaces, timing his runs, and can beat a full-back when he commits. That’s the Olsen people talk about — the player who can change a game in a flash.

But desire matters as much as talent

What worries me is the attitude. You mention the interview where he spoke about football feeling like a job and a failed move to Germany — add that to visible match fitness issues and it becomes harder to shrug off. Against a limping Tierney he only tried to take them on once and after that drifted into safety football, sideways and backwards passes, no tempo, no edge. That kind of performance costs us in the final third and when we need players to run in behind or press, the lack of bite shows up.

What I’d do next

Short term, give him the chance to show his commitment — more minutes if he trains like he means it, less if he doesn’t. Long term, I’d be scouting replacements now. Don’t wait until the summer panic. If he’s not fully invested and physically ready, we need someone hungry to take those positions and push the team forward. Simple as that.

Truth is, talent only gets you so far. Desire and consistency win games week in, week out. If Olsen can’t prove he’s back in love with the game, I’d back sending him back and moving on before next season.

Written by bigbluejim: 17 March 2026