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Luke O'Nien

Think he's always done well when the game is played in front of him and always struggled when players run in behind him, even when playing in midfield in League One. He had a stinker today with intelligent players running off him. For the first goal, he actually had hold of Watkins at the point Cash had the ball out wide but lost him when Cash played McGinn in and didn't track the run for the cross. Second goal very similar - he had hold him at the point the cross came in, with Watkins in front of him, but lost him when Watkins ran behind him. For the third goal he actually covered the space to block Watkins' run ok but Alderete left Rogers to run in the gaping hole in between them. Fourth goal Abraham runs off him.

If Alderete is injured I'd be fairly comfortable with him starting against Forest still - Wood is much more of a static target and I'd fancy him and Ballard to deal with him. Need the midfield to pick up Gibbs-White though.

Depending on the opposition he's equally capable of an 8/10 or a 3/10 and because of that you're always going to get extreme views. Today wasn't a good day for him.
 

Bg86 said:
Genuinely quite surprising how many people seem to think Mukiele just decides to go forward and 'out of position' whenever he fancies as opposed to it being tactical mind :lol:
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I’m sure he’s expected to get forward but that’s not what today was imo. He was chaotic. Wasn’t just staying high and wide. He was chasing the ball like an u9. I’m sure it’s a function of his desire to win but we can’t have him pointlessly pressing the keeper and leaving poor Talbi having to cover at fullback as he did today. That’s not a tactical plan. That’s a mess in my view.
 
L-R-W said:
I just don't understand his selection at all. We had a really difficult away game at an in form Champions League team with a top striker in peak form.

We left one of our best players of the season in Ballard, a Dutch international with 20 caps in Geertruida, and a player who has done really well this season in Hume (which would have allowed Mukiele to play CB), on the bench.

So that we could leave Luke O'Nien in the team.

It was a crazy decision.
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Iam sure he has his reasons, I can only assume Ballard was not used for 90 minutes for obvious reasons and he felt that O9 was important to the way we built play.

Truth is one on one with one of the best strikers in the country he was always going to be exposed.

He’s done well overall, and been a valuable squad player this season but can only see his value in a back 5
 
The Cabbage said:
I’m sure he’s expected to get forward but that’s not what today was imo. He was chaotic. Wasn’t just staying high and wide. He was chasing the ball like an u9. I’m sure it’s a function of his desire to win but we can’t have him pointlessly pressing the keeper and leaving poor Talbi having to cover at fullback as he did today. That’s not a tactical plan. That’s a mess in my view.
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I'd suggest it is far more likely the player with champions league pedigree is following instruction as opposed to just sprinting around out of position and pressing the opposition back line from right back as Reg watches on
 
What I will say is, Le Bris is ruthless. Remember the half time removal of Hume not so long ago after his shocker 45 mins.

Ask yourself why Le Bris doesn't do that for O9.
 
Chewit said:
They were all guilty, there was an argument for saying O9 was left exposed
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He defo was for the second goal. 4 other Sunderland players were there also yet reading here it was all Luke's fault.
The soap powder said:
RLB is not ruthless like

Sometimes he is allergic to a sub before 70 minutes
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I disagree. He is overly cautious for injuries but if he feels someone has fucked up massively like Hume did that game he will take them off.
 
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Bg86 said:
I'd suggest it is far more likely the player with champions league pedigree is following instruction as opposed to just sprinting around out of position and pressing the opposition back line from right back as Reg watches on
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I’m not so sure. Reg doesn’t tend to intervene too much, preferring to let players problem solve. Also he has his trusted senior pros on a very long leash. But either way it doesn’t matter. Whatever Nordi was doing today was counterproductive. Hopefully between them they can knock it on the head next game out.
 
I also think it should be noted but hasn't been just how below par Roefs was today. Not a criticism just an observation.
 
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The Cabbage said:
I’m not so sure. Reg doesn’t tend to intervene too much, preferring to let players problem solve. Also he has his trusted senior pros on a very long leash. But either way it doesn’t matter. Whatever Nordi was doing today was counterproductive. Hopefully between them they can knock it on the head next game out.
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In all honesty I think we were left open today after adjusting our play to be more attacking and having a go of it, first 10 mins there was a massive difference in the tempo and direct play imo and we were trading blows with them for most of the game instead of the usual sit back and wait for chances
 
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