Thought there was a thread about him but can’t find it! Anyhow. IMO Neil looks a level above what we’re used to. His vision is next level and not only can he see the pass but he can make the pass too! Needs to learn a few “dark arts” but o’nien can teach him that!! So what do we do when everyone is fit? When Evans comes back, I’d like to see him in one of those front 3 positions. We have mcgeady, Gooch and Embleton up there but, as a 3, for me they don’t work. All individually capable (some/most of the time) but not as a 3. We’d have central midfielders O’nien, Evans, Pritchard, Embleton, Neil, Embleton capable of playing wide I believe? Not fir getting Diamond of course. o’nien and Evans would be my 2 definitely. I’d like to see Neil further up the pitch. Especially in games like the Burton one where they were camped on their box line for large parts. But how do we keep them all happy is another issue! They can’t all play
He is a million times better than the player I saw for the U-23s a couple of years ago. He looked pretty poor (in a very poor side tbf). But, he has clearly knuckled down and the new regime have a plan for him and all the you lads to develop physically off the pitch. Long may it continue for him because he looks a 'proper' player, I'm excited to see how he grows and develops this season.
Rather than 4-2-3-1, I'd prefer to see us employ the tactics that Leeds play which is usually a 4-1-4-1. Instead of 2 DM's in O'Nein and Evans. I'd play Evans as our defensive midfielder and then choose 2 out of 3 from Neil, Pritchard and O'Nein for the two central AM roles. Embleton would need to compete for a place out wide. I don't think he has the talent of Pritchard or Neil.
Right now for me he's in our strongest team alongside Evans in centre midfield. O'Nien would be right back O'Nien has become a fans favourite playing right back, and whilst we all want to see him in midfield, I'd rather see him at right back than on the bench, Obviously in an ideal world we'd have a proper right back. And even then Winchester has done really well there, Nice to have options that don't make us feel a bit sick for once
Theres so much potential in the lad. Receiving the ball and picking passes through the lines seems a real strength of his. Theres stuff to work on but game time is only going to help with that.
Neil and Evans in the middle with Embleton ahead of them is our best 3 but we can’t rely on Evans. He’ll be lucky to play 20 league games IMO.
I would not like to see O9 at rb and I'm confident that position will be strengthened soon. For me it's got to be Evans and Neil in centre midfield.
This for me. I’ve said before I think Luke can be a good midfielder or and outstanding RB. Neil’s passing is really eye catching. I’d have him, Embo and Evans as the CM trio.
I think he is an exceptional talent. He wants the ball, plays quickly and mostly forward. He has great vision and rarely gets caught in possession. I think he will play a lot of games this season. It is a strong looking area of the pitch though and at 19 may need a rest here and there. He would be brilliant off the bench passing behind tired defenders. The good thing about him is he can play deep or high with his passing. He will look good in a 433 or in a wing back system which I think we might use on occassion to allow us to play 2 strikers. In the system when he has two wing backs to hit he would be hard to stop.
watch the highlights v burton and you will see him watch the ball go past him after geads knocks it down...they scored from the resulting cross and failure to clear. i like the lad and he deserves his starts but let's not get too carried away yet, he is a young lad and will make some mistakes and we know what some in the crowd are like with the slightest fault from a player, would hate to see him drop his natural game for fear of the crowd getting on his back...that said, he needs these games to learn, next time he will 'claim' that knock down. i would give him sub appearances for now knowing he is able to fill in when needed, right now evans is the calm head in front of the defence and onien is the 'niggly bugger' putting the tackles in with embleton ahead of them.
Think you must’ve edited my post when you quoted it…… people will do anything to take the piss out of me…..
I think his vision is superb and on the ball he is an absolute joy to watch. But agree totally about his “nouse” off the ball is still lacking. Something that o’nien does very well. The “jiggly” fouls which you need. The annoying little things the opposition hates. think he is destined to play at a much higher level than we currently reside, ability alone yells me that. But he still, as you say, has a lot to learn
Im still expecting big things from this lad, you cant keep a good talent down, and it will always rise to the top. This season i expect he will deliver big style
Feel like Wenger when I watch O'Nien; within the confines of the game, I'm not even willing to see fault. Niggly little prick. Love him.
I think a lot of young lads lack the nous off the ball, certainly the more forward minded ones. It is a consequence of how academies coach now and u23s football. In my experience we dont coach kids the ugly stuff much, but we do coach lots of technical stuff. Likewise u23s isnt the sort of game where you will see that sort of stuff. You learn it playing mens football where the result is king. I think he will learn soon enough because he seems really bright on the pitch. I am massive fan of his and this might seem daft but he reminds me of Fabregas when he first arrived at Arsenal. Has that same ability to take the ball and turn, great vision and passing range. Also plays with an enthusiasm to do well. I agree that he is destined to play at a really high level.
