I’ll add that I’d definitey keep O’Nien if he was purely seen as a utility player who can come on and do a job. But if his existence in the squad is blocking a move for a dedicated centre midfielder, I’d sell for the right price
Spot on. He will be able to league 1. Top lad and good to have around the squad but it's a high level business and our direction of travel means we need improvements.
Also, rightly or wrongly O’Nien gets singled out because of the furore last summer when he was looking at championship clubs instead of signing early with us. That was fair enough for him. But it kinda set the perception of him as being a player who could play at this level. Which then sets expectations on him higher than say Matete. And whilst Roberts and Embleton played crap, they just came across as having a **** game. If I’m honest O’Nien didn’t look like he was having a **** game, he looked like he was having a normal game for his level. Really hard to quantify what I’m saying there so it’s all opinion only
Felt he was trying to hard to compensate for his lack of natural ability, the lad just wants to do well so won’t have a pop at him for that just feel his time as a first 11 regular is up here unfortunately
any incomings? he asked desperately trying to get the thread back on track.............................
He was the second best player on the pitch actually, according to this site which does have pretty detailed info. https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-sheffield-wednesday/msQ He's consistently underrated by people on here, I don't know if it's because they aren't aware of his defensive value which is considerable (compared to his teammates) or if it's some other reason.
Think if he does go , and matete goes on loan which i think he needs it's going to be a busy couple of weeks . Have we got enough time to get all that done as there are more urgent potions that need addressing in my opinion
The eye test tells you he was nowhere near the 2nd best player on the pitch. Look we have different opinions on his performance last night and thats totally fine. I just hate when people say that others are wrong just because they dont agree with them. Also im 100% aware of his play defensively - i work as a football scout so this is an area i focus a lot on when watching CMs. No point us continuing talking about oniens performance on the transfer thread... hopefully theres a new signing today for us all to celebrate
I get more annoyed about players being unfairly made into scapegoats and being called **** every game when the truth is it's not the case, but each to their own.
I'm not accepting data on a game I've just watched. The midfield 2 were simply outnumbered and outplayed by the midfield 3. Still trying to figure out where Roberts was meant to be playing.
As @Southern A says, stats need contextualising. I was discussing Flynn Downes the other day who is a good example, best completed passing stats in the league but only ever passes square or backwards. That being said, one of the main purposes of using statistical analysis is to remove the subjectivity of observation, whether that's in a talent ID scenario or for performance analysis/training/tactical reasons. If it was just to be dismissed on the basis of perception from normal observation, there would be no point doing it.
Nothing wrong with getting annoyed at that at all. But folk are entitled to their opinion, whether we agree with it or not. As said previously i would love nothing more than O'Nien smashing it in the Championship as think hes a great lad and has done well for us over last few yrs
I didn’t even watch the game as I was busy but I’ve seen a few people mention a midfield 2. There within lies the problem. Whenever we play a 2, no matter who it is, they get overran. It’s hard enough for a 2 to play against 3 in the middle when you’ve got good midfielders never mind when they’re sh*te.
To be fair, Embleton dropped deep quite a lot to supplement O'Nien and Matete. There was just an overall lack of intensity from the first whistle
I always think Luke looks more comfortable the further back he plays,when the game is more in front of him. He seems lost a lot of the time in midfield?
Our midfield is a mystery to me tbh. Embleton, O'Nien and Neil seem to drift in and out of games. I thought the presence of Pritchard would motivate them to keep going at every stage of the game. All three have the perfect platform to push on, in their careers, but this present form isn't going to cut it imo.
Imo,Neil and Embleton are much better the further up the pitch they play....for me, I don't see either as holding CM. As I've said,I think O9s' better performances for us have come when he's deeper...centre back or full back...so I don't see him CM either. I think Matete can play there,but he needs coaching and more matches. Apart from Evans, we have nobody competent in that role.