Source: Liverpool_Echo
Nigel Martyn: Brave and classy - goal fit for a king from Everton's Leon Osman
I SAT next to that famous old Evertonian Derek Temple at Sunday's game - and like probably 30-thousand other Blues we turned to each other and mouthed 'What is he doing?' when Leon Osman lined up another shot, just minutes after he'd sliced one well wide.
But Ossie knew exactly what he was doing. His shot was absolutely unsaveable.
I wondered what he was doing because I'd seen Bilyaletdinov in a good position for a little pass in to his feet.
But Leon had confidence in his ability, and more importantly the courage to forget about the shot he'd sliced.
It's that kind of attitude which David Moyes will have had in mind when he named Ossie as skipper in Phil Neville and Joseph Yobo's absence.
Ossie clearly cares about the club and wants to do well for the club, which is why I've never understood that concept of fans being less forgiving with local players.
You would think that they would be able to identify more with one of their own, but sometimes it does seem that familiarity can breed contempt.
When players come through the youth ranks it can be easy for fans to treat them a little less like superstars because they haven't cost a big transfer fee.
But that underplays how much those local players care about their club.
I know Ossie certainly does and his value to Everton over the years is inestimable.
