Amadou Onana

[AV84]

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

The accent most likely comes from watching TV and films. A lot of mainland Europeans learn English from an early ago, so would have a basic knowledge of it, but the accent has to have come from hanging about with a lot of London lads, or watching a lot of Top Boy or The Only Way is Essex and the likes.

Hi, Eastie - how's tricks?

I don't know what that means.

Eastie is a former poster on here  - before flouncing off - who seemed to have an uncanny and intimate knowledge of the life of our players.

OK. For the record, not me. And I was just making assumptions based on his age, and the specific accent he has, he was more likely to be watching those things than Eastenders, or Only Fools and Horses, for example.

[jwarry]

Don’t you just love our manager.  From Bham live…

Amadou Onana has lifted the lid on his discussions with Unai Emery before he penned a five-year contract with Aston Villa.

The Villa manager put across his honest assessment of the midfielder, where he can improve and how he will fit into the team. Onana believes that Emery will be able to get the best out of him after leaving Everton in a deal worth £50m, while he even snubbed late interest from Manchester United, who were reportedly offering better financial terms

Onana reported for pre-season Bodymoor Heath on Monday before he jetted out to the USA with his new teammates for the club's 2024 tour. The 22-year-old will play a key role in Emery's side in the years to come after being told exactly where he can develop by the Spaniard.

"We exchanged words and discussed, he wants to teach me certain things and that we have the same vision of the game and the player that I can become," Onana told La Derniere Heure. "He highlighted my qualities but also my flaws that I need to improve. I was totally in tune with his analysis

"I needed this challenge. Play for the top of the table and be able to have big collective ambitions. He needed more physicality in his midfield. Someone who knows how to stop the counters as well as how to project himself forward.

"He asked me to dare to take my responsibilities and play the game from my position. I think my profile meets his expectations. The first time he saw me play, it was under Frank Lampard (at the beginning of the 2022-23 season) and he has followed me since, because I had caught his eye."

Asked if he will play as a 'modern number six', Onana replied: "I will have this role and it is very clear for the coach. I did it well in the national team recently. It was this version of me that they liked. It's my real football.

"The European Championships have boosted my value. I’m convinced of that. My performance at the European Championship was in balance with the player I am and the qualities I have. At Everton we often played a completely different type of football.

"I was able to show all my qualities at the European Championships. I was enjoying myself on the pitch, I think it showed. I was very confident that the European Championships would accelerate my future. Mentally I was fully ready to give the best of myself and I think I did my job well."

[Dante Lavelli]

That interview is very encouraging.  A player humble enough to realise he is not perfect.  The awareness to identify Emery as the person that’ll make him improve.

… and compare and contrast versus Duran.

[Footy-Vill]

People have mentioned similarities to Viera. I'm getting more Yaya Toure vibes.

To be honest either will do!

Rodri is what I'm thinking. The Spain and Man City midfielder.

"We exchanged words and discussed, he wants to teach me certain things and that we have the same vision of the game and the player that I can become," Onana told La Derniere Heure. "He highlighted my qualities but also my flaws that I need to improve. I was totally in tune with his analysis

"I needed this challenge. Play for the top of the table and be able to have big collective ambitions. He needed more physicality in his midfield. Someone who knows how to stop the counters as well as how to project himself forward.

Asked if he will play as a 'modern number six', Onana replied: "I will have this role and it is very clear for the coach. I did it well in the national team recently. It was this version of me that they liked. It's my real football.

Thanks for this article. I think that confirms my thinking.
Emery wants someone for a 6 and I would say he's our Rodri. That's how he'll be moulded. And its confirmed he will play the role as CDM. Ross Barkley I expect will be alongside him at times in a two 6s pivot.

Funnily enough Onanu is going to be number 24 and Barkley is number 6 !

[AV84]

I like the fact that Emery speaks to the players so honestly. If they sign for us they can have no illusions about that they're signing up for. I think he spoke to Barkley too and that's why I'd expect zero complaining about not playing enough, or anything else once we're up and running.

[Border villan]

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

By things said Emery struggled with learning both French and English. Onana seems to have sailed through learning languages, some people are just naturally good with them, others not so much.

I get all that, but I know people from all over the world who speak great English, but you can always tell where they're from (broadly). I've never heard somebody who's only spent a couple of years here with such a lack of their own accent when using it. Anyway, I thought he must have grown up here or something, but no, he's just a genius.

When I speak Spanish to non-Mexican Spanish speakers, I get told I have a Mexican accent (which is a total thrill), but they mean I sound odd because I'm clearly a British person with a slight Mexican accent, which is weird to them. This lad's just got it. Fair play to him.

I’m surprised they don’t ask if you are from Bishops Castle.

[brontebilly]

If we'd sold Luiz, McGinn, Bailey or Watkins at the end of Gerrard's tenure, there wouldn't have many positive reviews from Villa fans for them either.

Certainly not Bailey anyway, his performance at Fulham that night matched his performance in Deano's last game. Drinkwater levels. His turnaround has been phenomenal.

The other three were just being mismanaged really, McGinn took a lot of crap off fans, including one or two on here, but he was being asked to effectively cover Cash when he went forward. Gerrard was probably worse than Sherwood really on tactics. Arsenal wanted Luiz, his talent was never in doubt but his application certainly was. Watkins/Ings just never clicked, Emery sorted that one within a few weeks. Took a lot of heat here for that decision at the time. Mings improved out of all recognition too once Gerrard went.

[eye digress]

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

He has many talents, but being fluent in English is not among them!

[eamonn]

I like the fact that Emery has elevated us so far above Everton, they'll never catch us now.

[Sexual Ealing]

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

He has many talents, but being fluent in English is not among them!

It's very rare to find people who are totally fluent. If you can do your job in another language, you're good enough in my book.

Edit: Emery's problem is he doesn't try hard enough with the accent. I've heard loads of people who know a million times more Spanish than me, but they spew it out like they're from Castleford so nobody understands them, which kind of defeats the point of learning the effing thing in the first place.

[pablo_picasso]

That interview is very encouraging.  A player humble enough to realise he is not perfect.  The awareness to identify Emery as the person that’ll make him improve.

… and compare and contrast versus Duran.

Absolutely.

Half the battle for players to progress is to realise that they are nowhere near the finished article.

[Steve67]

This guy is already really talented and far better than the Everton player we saw.  He's going to be brilliant in box penalty areas too.  Just the type of signing we needed and will be able to play next to Bouba when he's back and ready.  Looking forward to seeing him in Villa colours.

[eye digress]

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

He has many talents, but being fluent in English is not among them!

It's very rare to find people who are totally fluent. If you can do your job in another language, you're good enough in my book.

Edit: Emery's problem is he doesn't try hard enough with the accent. I've heard loads of people who know a million times more Spanish than me, but they spew it out like they're from Castleford so nobody understands them, which kind of defeats the point of learning the effing thing in the first place.

He thinks in Spanish as he speaks in English, hence the tortured syntax.

That being said, as the substance of what he says is admirable, all is forgiven. 😀

[Footy-Vill]

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

He has many talents, but being fluent in English is not among them!

He's fluent in a number of languages.

I know, but so is Emery. Onana's nailed the accent.

By things said Emery struggled with learning both French and English. Onana seems to have sailed through learning languages, some people are just naturally good with them, others not so much.

I get all that, but I know people from all over the world who speak great English, but you can always tell where they're from (broadly). I've never heard somebody who's only spent a couple of years here with such a lack of their own accent when using it. Anyway, I thought he must have grown up here or something, but no, he's just a genius.

When I speak Spanish to non-Mexican Spanish speakers, I get told I have a Mexican accent (which is a total thrill), but they mean I sound odd because I'm clearly a British person with a slight Mexican accent, which is weird to them. This lad's just got it. Fair play to him.

I’m surprised they don’t ask if you are from Bishops Castle.

The minute he has a bad game he going to be critics because he has this extra interest that may or may not hinder his footballing performances
But I can say now he'll get questioned
Also Emery wants players to be professional and live and breathe football so I do wonder what's going to happen to 24am
And how are people with Onana doing this are you ok ?
He's just released this

[Brazilian Villain]

The minute he has a bad game he going to be critics because he has this extra interest that may or may not hinder his footballing performances
But I can say now he'll get questioned
Also Emery wants players to be professional and live and breathe football so I do wonder what's going to happen to 24am
And how are people with Onana doing this are you ok ?
He's just released this

It's music to my ears.