Amadou Onana

[Dave]

Was he an upgrade on Dougie? No

DL's best for us is still better than Onana's best at time of writing.

It's very obvious that won't be the case at the end of their respective Villa careers.

[Crown Hill]

Agree with the first sentence.

Not sure about the second sentence at all. The jury is out although I hope you’re right. If anybody can get the best out of him it’s Unai.

[Drummond]

He's different to Luiz in what he offers. Luis was more of a ball player and Onana offers dynamism and drive. They were both great but Onana has the potential for a higher ceiling.

[paul_e]

Given we already had Tielemans and Kamara if you asked me to pick between Doug and Onana for the 3rd regular starter in there I'd have absolutely no hesitation in picking the latter, regardless of individual skill our midfield is far better balanced now, and with Bogarde and Barkley around as competition for spaces I firmly believe this is the best midfield we've had this century and is up there with the best central midfield units in the world. None of them are absolute top drawer talent but they work so well together that it more than makes up for the difference.

I think Hemming gets added to the group properly next year as well.

[Garyth]

He's different to Luiz in what he offers. Luis was more of a ball player and Onana offers dynamism and drive. They were both great but Onana has the potential for a higher ceiling.

I'd add that Onana adds a lot more in defence - either through aerial presence, or those sneaky long-legged tackles when the opposition think they're through.

As paul_e noted: together with our other options, it makes us very well balanced in midfield.

[ChicagoLion]

He's different to Luiz in what he offers. Luis was more of a ball player and Onana offers dynamism and drive. They were both great but Onana has the potential for a higher ceiling.

I'd add that Onana adds a lot more in defence - either through aerial presence, or those sneaky long-legged tackles when the opposition think they're through.

As paul_e noted: together with our other options, it makes us very well balanced in midfield.

we will need him for their  camp corner routines.

[rob_bridge]

He's different to Luiz in what he offers. Luis was more of a ball player and Onana offers dynamism and drive. They were both great but Onana has the potential for a higher ceiling.

I'd add that Onana adds a lot more in defence - either through aerial presence, or those sneaky long-legged tackles when the opposition think they're through.

As paul_e noted: together with our other options, it makes us very well balanced in midfield.

I think the Man City game was making of him. He helped contain Haaland's physicality and his mobility snuffed out Foden

First time he looked like a 50m player and looked like it most of the time since.

[Dante Lavelli]

On the playing side, it looks like we're rationing his minutes in such a way as to keep him available, and that's making a huge difference.

Keeping him fit has been his biggest problem.  How realistic is it that we can simply ‘manage his minutes’ to avoid that problem?  any spots science bods out there?

[Brend'Watkins]

On the playing side, it looks like we're rationing his minutes in such a way as to keep him available, and that's making a huge difference.

Keeping him fit has been his biggest problem.  How realistic is it that we can simply ‘manage his minutes’ to avoid that problem?  any spots science bods out there?

Those monitors that players now have must be giving info that suggests at some point he needs to be substituted because at a certain point in a game because of how he plays he will be more susceptible to injury. His minutes are being managed as are SJMs and Tielemans. They’re all monitored I know but there must be some data that suggests a certain player is now more susceptible to injury having reached x minutes after so much exertion. That’s what I think anyway. Rogers doesn’t comply with any of this because he’s made of different stuff.

[Sexual Ealing]

I wear a bra that doesn't tell me when I'm due to get injured, but that does ensure I get a table to myself on the train.