Amadou Onana

[Toronto Villa]

To me Onana is most effective as destroyer of opponents attacks and then gives it up for others to charge forward. With McGinn back I find he settles back to that role. He’s a lot less effective in a more advanced position. He’s the Kamara replacement, occasional set piece menace. Pops up with the odd goal which is nice.

[ldavfc4eva]

MOTM for me today, won every dual in the air and on the ground

[andyh]

So where was he playing today?

Everywhere

[KevinGage]

Much better today.

[PaulWinch again]

Watched it back now - he was excellent. He continued what he started again at Lille, disrupting the opposition in both halves of the pitch. Makes a huge difference.

[eamonn]

Keep it up, don't get injured.

Nicking the ball off Bowen in ourdefensive third and setting Morgan away might have been his finest moment in a Villa shirt.

[cdbearsfan]

Anyone that wants to get rid of Onana is a heid the baw IMO.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Today he gave the type of performance I expect from him. Disciplined in his role, put himself about, made himself available for the pass and even put in a crunching sliding tackle. Well done, big fella.

It was his tackle and quick release that set us away for Watkins' goal.

I was referring to the earlier one in front of the dug outs. Thou shalt not pass.

[dcdavecollett]

Has he returned to form as his place has now come under pressure with SJM, Yuri and Ross now coming into match-fitness?

[Baldy]

Has he returned to form as his place has now come under pressure with SJM, Yuri and Ross now coming into match-fitness?

My thoughts exactly.

Hope he keeps it up. A great asset when firing on all cylinders.

[ChicagoLion]

Has he returned to form as his place has now come under pressure with SJM, Yuri and Ross now coming into match-fitness?

Don’t know , don’t care.
I just hope he sustains it and keeps off the treatment couch.

[paul_e]

Could be the pressure or could be that he was worried about injuries and playing within himself a little. Either way he was excellent on Sunday. If he can keep that up until the end of the season our chances of top 4 and a trophy are much higher because he makes us far harder to play against.

[Drummond]

So where was he playing today?

Played as one of the two in front of defence, with Ross Barkley.  Was excellent in both boxes.  When he plays like this, he looks every bit what we paid for him.

So where he always plays then.
Reading above it suggests he was in a totally different position,
From what I saw he was excellent.

No, he played on the left of the two instead of the right. Barkley is definitely stronger and more able to out a foot in than Luiz and it allowed Onana to push on more, and be less disciplined.

[paul_e]

So where was he playing today?

Played as one of the two in front of defence, with Ross Barkley.  Was excellent in both boxes.  When he plays like this, he looks every bit what we paid for him.

So where he always plays then.
Reading above it suggests he was in a totally different position,
From what I saw he was excellent.

No, he played on the left of the two instead of the right. Barkley is definitely stronger and more able to out a foot in than Luiz and it allowed Onana to push on more, and be less disciplined.

Yep, Onana is definitely better when he has a bit more freedom to 'go hunting' for the ball, which is why he isn't, and never was, a direct replacement for Kamara who has incredible positioning and discipline, it's why they actually look really good as a pair (especially with Tielemans playing slightly in front of them).

[brontebilly]

Has he returned to form as his place has now come under pressure with SJM, Yuri and Ross now coming into match-fitness?

Think his place was safe regardless. Those three + Luiz are competing for 2-3 other positions. None of them are comfortable in the 6 role. Forest away will be a bigger test for Onana, their midfield with likes of Anderson is far stronger than West Ham or Lille.