MOWBRAY "SURPRISED" BY O'NIEN Luke O'Nien has played almost every position on the pitch for Sunderland in recent years, but Tony Mowbray plans to keep him at centre back for the remainder of the season... DESIRE “Luke O’Nien is someone I’ve been pleasantly surprised with. He brings a real physicality and drive to play in the position where he has been playing for us. He brings the legs, athleticism and desire that helps the job get done." PARTNERSHIP “For me, if he’s playing at centre-half, then he gives you an athleticism around Danny Batth. Danny’s there as a British-style centre-half, to compete, win headers and be dominant, whereas Luke brings legs, athleticism and a real desire to be in and around whoever he’s playing alongside. I think there’s been a nice balance to the defence recently, with Aji (Alese) on the left-hand side with his speed and physicality too.” COMMITMENT “The main thing with Luke is the competitive edge that he brings. He wants to win at everything he does. If we’re doing relay sprints in training, in groups of four or five, then he’s desperate for his team to win. He gets very emotional about it, and he plays the same way. I can understand why different managers have played him everywhere because you get total honesty and total commitment from him, whatever position he’s asked to play.” BALANCE “We’re trying to keep that core unit going, even though it gets difficult when you get into three-game weeks. It gets harder for the more experienced players to repeat every three days, especially with someone like Corry (Evans) and the load we put on him. It becomes a bit difficult, and that’s why the likes of Dan Neil and Elliot Embleton have to grow up fast and take that responsibility of being a senior figure, so if Corry needs a break, we can rotate around. We know they can play there and do the job, it’s just a question of whether they’ve got that same stability that someone like Corry gives you, where he knows how we want him to play and where we want him to be.”
There may be more talented players than O'Nien but he is a top bloke and puts the effort in. I'll always appreciate him for his contribution.
Top bloke is O9. Great comments about Neil and Embleton which we've all been saying, they need to develop and grow up fast to help when Evans is injured/tired/suspended.
I like O'Nien. Great grafter, good player and a top lad. Must be one of our longest serving players by now as well. Glad he is showing he can cut it in the Championship.
Can't see what's not to like about Luke, but there's plenty who do which is a shame imo cos he wears his heart on his sleeve and gives his all every game.
We'll see. O'Nien always looked at his best as a centre half, and as TM says he brings a competitive edge. He is also an improver, who has looked comfortable in the Championship.
Agree. But we don't know when he'll be match ready, and there might very well well be further injuries by then. Or suspensions. Nice to know though, that we are not trying to play in the Championship with the likes of Browning and the other slow motion plodders we had under Grayson!
Absolutely! This league/season is a world away from the last time we were in this division. Having said that, we need to win on Sat and get some points on the board - after a good start. 4 points from 12 is not a great place to be
Could do with it, though the drop off in points was likely with no CF. But we are in every game, so there is always a chance of points. I watched Wigan last night actually. Very well organised and athletic. Wyke and Keane up top. Hard game on Saturday that, but they can be ran through.
I think Keane and Wyke is a better option for Batth and O'Nien to cope with. Anyone with pace might worry us, but you know who is definitely going to pop up with a goal
Great lad and a better footballer than he gets credit for. Many of his long balls over the top have been top drawer and that's from both feet.
No matter how good Ballard is he should have to earn his place back. That’s the level of competitiveness we need in all positions.
So you just think he’ll drop O’Nien for that reason? What would that say to others trying to get in the side if we drop someone who is in good form just because a “so called “ better player gets fit? I like Ballard. Rate him very highly. But he will have to sit on the bench if the side are defending well. You earn your place in the side
The same goes with Cirkin, because Alese has done nothing to deserve dropping. In fact quite the opposite
Ballard is clearly the better defender. He may be eased back into the side, but he'll be our main CB in teh 2nd half of the season Don't get me wrong, I like O9 the bloke and think he's done well as a CB, albeit I feel safer when he's part of a 3 than a 2, but he's not a very good footballer.
He's much better facing the oppositions goal. He doesn't quite have the awareness or speed of foot to take the ball in tight spaces which is what he will need in midfield at this level. We have seen he can pick a pass in the last few weeks he's played 6 or 7 big switch balls to Clarke in the last 3 games all of which have been successful. I think he need to realise its RB or RCB if we wants to stay here as its clear as day these are his best positions and personally he is a more than useful squad member. I get people's point about Ballard being a better defender as he probably is but as has also been said he will have to displace ONien for me rather than simply replace him purely because he is fit.
