Amadou Onana - Signed

[Risso]

The second half of last season Luiz wasn't very good at all. After Kamara's injury he should have been able to step up his game, but didn't, quite the reverse.

[Brazilian Villain]

The same Onana who spent a good time on Everton's bench is an upgrade on Douglas Luiz...the jilted lover vibes are very strong.

The quoted fee seems crazy* for a player who promised far more than he delivered at Everton. Yes, he's young, talented and "wait until Emery coaches him" but come on. Dycheball or not, he should be more than capable of outshining likes of James Garner, Gueye and Doucoure on a regular basis.

Player ratings v West Ham.

Onana 2/10

[PaulWinch again]

The second half of last season Luiz wasn't very good at all. After Kamara's injury he should have been able to step up his game, but didn't, quite the reverse.

I never really get that argument. He did drop-off no doubt, but Kamara performed a very different role to Luiz which then Luiz was left trying to cover. Instead of being able to do what he did well, he needed to cover a role he wasn’t best suited to. It’s not that surprising he didn’t excel..

[Monty]

Yeah, I think that's quite unfair! If you're moving a fridge and the other guy drops out, should you be able to 'up your game'? Luiz was left doing two different roles on empty, one of which he was totally unsuited to. He did play less well, and I do think Onana might well be an upgrade, but I think that's not a fair assessment.

[ian c.]

The same Onana who spent a good time on Everton's bench is an upgrade on Douglas Luiz...the jilted lover vibes are very strong.

The quoted fee seems crazy* for a player who promised far more than he delivered at Everton. Yes, he's young, talented and "wait until Emery coaches him" but come on. Dycheball or not, he should be more than capable of outshining likes of James Garner, Gueye and Doucoure on a regular basis.

Player ratings v West Ham.

Onana 2/10

If Bronte's ratings for the team average 4/10 over the course of the season we will have won the league at a canter.

[Somniloquism]

Yeah, I think that's quite unfair! If you're moving a fridge and the other guy drops out, should you be able to 'up your game'? Luiz was left doing two different roles on empty, one of which he was totally unsuited to. He did play less well, and I do think Onana might well be an upgrade, but I think that's not a fair assessment.

People do realise that other people were also played in that role as well don't they. Luiz wasn't expected to solely cover the Kamara role AND do his own role, however him not having Kamara there meant his faults were more obvious as he didn't have the backup cover. However it was very obvious when Luiz missed the two matches that his performances were getting below par. The same Kamara was missing yet out midfield was the best it had been for months. He comes back in and the team performance dropped again. Personally I think it was a rare mistake by Emery to drop Luiz straight back in although later injuries forced his hand again.

[Monty]

Tielemans and McGinn were never suited to playing in the midfield two, let alone alongside a player much more regarded as a playmaker. Luiz was doing a role and a half at least, in a very uneasy compromise to cover for injuries and tiredness.

[Risso]

Yeah, I think that's quite unfair! If you're moving a fridge and the other guy drops out, should you be able to 'up your game'? Luiz was left doing two different roles on empty, one of which he was totally unsuited to. He did play less well, and I do think Onana might well be an upgrade, but I think that's not a fair assessment.

"Totally unsuited to." He came to us as a defensive midfielder, and has played that position absolutely loads, in fact for almost half of all games in his career.

[Somniloquism]

Tielemans and McGinn were never suited to playing in the midfield two, let alone alongside a player much more regarded as a playmaker. Luiz was doing a role and a half at least, in a very uneasy compromise to cover for injuries and tiredness.

The Arsenal and Bournemouth performances beg to differ.

[Monty]

OK, let's amend that - they on aggregate did not perform well in those roles alongside Luiz, who was not in his best role, and ended up shouldering all of the deep-lying stuff himself.

[Risso]

He wasn't left with doing two roles at all, that's just nonsense I'm afraid.

[Monty]

It's nonsense to expect attacking midfielders to drop in deep and not have the partner pick up the slack.

We had nobody in the squad to replace Kamara, and it showed. We also had nobody to replace Luiz, and it showed.

[eamonn]

"Defensive midfield" is too clearcut a description for a central midfielder who doesn't play behind the strikers and also sounds outmoded in 2024 when the best midfielders have a bit of everything in their game and in combination with their teammates, are fluid with the spaces they occupy.

Luiz has always been better on the ball than off it, I'm not sure he was ever a defensive midfielder.

[Monty]

"Defensive midfield" is too clearcut a description for a central midfielder who doesn't play behind the strikers and also sounds outmoded in 2024 when the best midfielders have a bit of everything in their game and in combination with their teammates, are fluid with the spaces they occupy.

Luiz has always been better on the ball than off it, I'm not sure he was ever a defensive midfielder.

Which is why I prefer 'deep-lying', as any position map tells you that's the case.

[Risso]

It's nonsense to expect attacking midfielders to drop in deep and not have the partner pick up the slack.

We had nobody in the squad to replace Kamara, and it showed. We also had nobody to replace Luiz, and it showed.

Tielemans, McGinn? Tielemans has got everything that Luiz has in his game, and more.