Amadou Onana

[aj2k77]

When we've needed him to really step up for us he's gone in to hiding. Not a £50m player by a long shot. Guimaraes went to Newcastle for £40m. He'd be fantastic in our team. Onana is great when he can hide amongst Tielemans, McGinn and Kamara. He's not a main man, he's a foot soldier. If there's a deal in the Summer after the World Cup then get it done.

This group has shown it doesn't have the fortitude for the biggest of games. Olympiakos, Palace, Man Utd. Break it up and try again.

[Crown Hill]

Not sure he’s goes hiding. He’s a limited player with some attributes.

He’s never really fitted into our style of play since he signed. He’s more Carlton Palmer than Patrick Vieira.

He’s been useful when we’ve been under the cosh against Man City, Arsenal and Newcastle and when we were defending set pieces against Spurs.

Otherwise he’s very limited especially on the ball.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He was absolutely superb before his injury, levels above anything shown previous or since. He may think he's world class but even he admits it's easy when you have Youri and Kevin de Bryne either side of you for Belgium (and the best midfield in the PL when fit).

I think it's all down to expectations, for me with everybody fit he'd be on the bench as would the Brazilian lad who couldn't get 90 minutes at Forest. Together not good enough to play as a two, a third midfielder is needed to help out. For some strange reason Unai doesn't see it.

[tomd2103]

Needed him to really step up in the absence of Kamara and Tielemans and he hasn't.  He's at his best when he's alongside Kamara and I think we should have got that kind of player in the January window, especially as Bogarde has hit a poor patch.  Onana and Luiz just isn't working. 

[AV82EC]

The reason it isn’t working is he isn’t Boubacar Kamara. He’s a totally different type of midfielder trying to do the things Kamara does and he can’t within this system. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a good footballer, I think he is (other opinions are available), but I think Unai needs a rethink on how he’s being deployed.

[ChicagoLion]

The reason it isn’t working is he isn’t Boubacar Kamara. He’s a totally different type of midfielder trying to do the things Kamara does and he can’t within this system. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a good footballer, I think he is (other opinions are available), but I think Unai needs a rethink on how he’s being deployed.

I agree, the midfield set up is wrong and the Luiz Onana combination does not work.

[AV82EC]

The reason it isn’t working is he isn’t Boubacar Kamara. He’s a totally different type of midfielder trying to do the things Kamara does and he can’t within this system. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a good footballer, I think he is (other opinions are available), but I think Unai needs a rethink on how he’s being deployed.

I agree, the midfield set up is wrong and the Luiz Onana combination does not work.

I’m not sure it’s that black and white CL. It could work but it may need a different set up around it to make it work, do we need a more deep lying 10 to assist, maybe a deep lying 6 with Luiz/Onana as 8s in a 3 man mid, return to the box midfield with 2 x 10s and a floating winger. I don’t know and I’m sure Unai is wrestling with the problem as we speak.

[Ian.]

There’s not many around who can play the Kamara role. It’s not a standard deep sitting midfield position, he’s the connection from the back and it’s such a very brave and specific role to play. We haven’t got anyone from our current squad that’s going to fill that position well and that’s no criticism to Onana or Dougie.

[AV82EC]

There’s not many around who can play the Kamara role. It’s not a standard deep sitting midfield position, he’s the connection from the back and it’s such a very brave and specific role to play. We haven’t got anyone from our current squad that’s going to fill that position well and that’s no criticism to Onana or Dougie.

Agree with this Ian, it requires immense positional and structural discipline as well as a very good ability to retain possession and pass the ball in pressure situations.

[N'ZMAV]

if Kamara is out - then Bogarde must play.

[Ian.]

Yep, even Kamara made a few errors early days under Emery.

Still, it’s time to be less conservative, we’ve lost ground. I think Emery thought we would still have the players to control the game, keep it tight and still carve out opportunities. However our front line of Ollie or Abraham are starved of any attacking threats, which isn’t helping with Ollie being so out of form as sharp as building block.

Our wide play is non existent, Sancho isn’t the man for a fight, Bailey isn’t the Bailey from 23 and Buendia is suffering and Rogers crowded out.

Not being able to strengthen like a top end side should be able to during January, has really hamstrung us.

It’s so bloody frustrating, but I have a feeling Emery will tweak it and try something different now.

[N'ZMAV]

wouldn't be a bad thing to throw Alysson and Abraham in

[eamonn]

Kamara could always play on the half turn, Onana can't. He's just not comfortable with the football which is a slight problem.

[andyh]

Onana should be our Ian Taylor.
The same physique, a very similar style, the same energy.

Unfortunately, Onana hasn’t got his heart.

[Steve67]

Onana should be our Ian Taylor.
The same physique, a very similar style, the same energy.

Unfortunately, Onana hasn’t got his heart.

If Carlsberg did posts……….