Amadou Onana

[itbrvilla]

So inconsistent. Was the best player on the pitch vs Arsenal away (first half), but has large periods of being ineffective, or nor (or not being able to) be as physical as he can be.  Too injury prone too. 

[TheToffnar]

He's one of those players for me who needs to be at at least 95% to be truly effective, given how important that position is to how we play, especially without Kamara.

I do think there's an argument for moving him on in the Summer if we can get at least what we paid for him back. He's electric to watch at times, but he's had several games now where he's had the chance to be a real gamechanger/leader within the side and he's just not been that guy.

[achilles]

I do wonder if he is 100% fit, as he is better than what he has been showing recently.

Emery might be asking him to play due to our midfield issues?

[TheToffnar]

Maybe, or he's just caging it because of World Cup.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Maybe, or he's just caging it because of World Cup.

This is my thought.And others.

[brontebilly]

I do wonder if he is 100% fit, as he is better than what he has been showing recently.

Emery might be asking him to play due to our midfield issues?

What player is 100% fit at this stage of the season? Onana finds a hole to hide in far too often. EL games like v Salzburg and Eagles come to mind. Newcastle very good, Arsenal away for 45 mins and Man City.

[Demitri_C]

Tielemans is miles better than Luiz.

Yet luiz has scored more league goals this season than youri has in a handful of appearances.

This is where luiz is netter than youri. He does score more goals.

Youri has a better overall game though

[Drummond]

He's scored once. So yes he's definitively proven he's better.

You should compare notes to Smirker.

[Beard82]

Youri and Luiz are both great players - and assuming we can make the ratios work - would be great to have in the squad.

[rooboy316]

Part of our problem is not having a similar player to Kamara. Onana isn't it, never has been either. So judging him on trying to cover a position that's not his means he'll never do well enough.

Onana playing his game is brilliant, but he's not allowed to at the moment.

There are parallels between this and when Luiz was asked to play the Kamara role and was getting some heat for his performances. Although I think Onana is more suited to that role than Luiz, it’s not the best position for either.

So what does Onana bring exactly? He can't pass a ball 10 yards so that rules out the playmaker role, leave that to Tielemans or Luiz. He doesn't have Kamara's skill set or tactical awareness, so that rules out playing as the holding 6. He's evidently not a replacement option for Kamara from a succession planning perspective.

Like Luiz, he’s an 8, who can play at 6 if needed but isn’t the best at it. More physical and better at breaking up play than Luiz, but less composed and not as good at passing.

[Baldy]

McGinn (arse assisted), Kamara and Tielemans can 'turn on a sixpence' and turn defence into attack in a flash.

Alas, Onana is unable to do this. Luiz maybe given time.

Hence, we are currently to slow in our build up and nullifying our attacking midfielders and forwards.

Onana has a role to play but it does not involve creativity. 

[brontebilly]

McGinn (arse assisted), Kamara and Tielemans can 'turn on a sixpence' and turn defence into attack in a flash.

Alas, Onana is unable to do this. Luiz maybe given time.

Hence, we are currently to slow in our build up and nullifying our attacking midfielders and forwards.

Onana has a role to play but it does not involve creativity.

I'd agree but that's a massive flaw in his game. Can't really play football in midfield without that skill. Takes courage too, Kamara has had his pocket picked a few times but that's the risk you have to take. Luiz can do it but maybe being understandably cautious so far. Tielemans is brilliant at it and hits those high risk straight passes forward. Never that comfortable watching McGinn's bum roll in front of our box, tends to get away it with alright but safer further up pitch.