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O'Nien at CB


First things first... I think Luke O'Nien is a great. Ultimately, his spot will be taken by Seelt, Triantis or, should he ever be match fit again, Alese - they're all ball playing defenders brought in to develop. Until such time as them as watch training, day in day out, determine that someone is ready to replace him, I'm fine with the imperfect, but hugely likeable, Luke O'Nien to be playing.
 
Statistically the 6th best CB in the league. The top 2/3 teams with the better CB stats. Not bad for someone who's shite and not a CB.

We can't score and can't defend set pieces. Those are the biggest problems currently.

He's a very very big reason for that. He wins pretty much nothing in the air, because he's both not very good at winning headers and he's also too busy trying to cuddle someone and not even looking at the ball at corners and the like
 
Statistically the 6th best CB in the league. The top 2/3 teams with the better CB stats. Not bad for someone who's shite and not a CB.

We can't score and can't defend set pieces. Those are the biggest problems currently.
I saw those stats, pile of crap. Not sure how dribbling and passing are relevant for a CB.

He's been at fault for so many of our goals this season. That's the most important job of a CB, he's makeshift and it's not his fault.
 
He's best at DM but because of the owners penny punching we sold our best CB to decrease the wage bill and didn't buy a replacement who can come straight into the team.
 
He's best at DM but because of the owners penny punching we sold our best CB to decrease the wage bill and didn't buy a replacement who can come straight into the team.
Mowbray made it clear O'Nien was first choice ahead of Batth this season.

 
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You can be a small(ish) centre half but you need a very good spring in your step and reading of the game. It's unusual admittedly but there are some good ones around below 6 foot.
Kevin Ball is the same height as O'Nein, but he did have a good leap on him.
 
You can be a small(ish) centre half but you need a very good spring in your step and reading of the game. It's unusual admittedly but there are some good ones around below 6 foot.
Top notch i agree but 09 isnt that. His height and lack of being a cd all his career shows

I thought mowbray would know better being a former centre half himself

By no means do i dislike 09 either, he just isn’t good enough imo
 
Huge L09 fan, but last few games have exposed his weaknesses a lot more. Maybe it’s due to drop in form of Ekwah in front of him?
 
He's a very very big reason for that. He wins pretty much nothing in the air, because he's both not very good at winning headers and he's also too busy trying to cuddle someone and not even looking at the ball at corners and the like
More than just him and I'm sure you know that, but the stats don't lie and main point still stands.

Coaching is a problem on set pieces. We can all see it.

But for a wonder strike and a cracking pass for their 2nd (RB miles away) that game should have been won 4 or 5-2. They took thier chances, we didn't. I see Onion getting the blame for the second but again it wasn't just him.

The missed opportunities at the other end is a worry. We're creating lots of chances. Stats again say we're one of the best in the league at chances created.

If folk don't like O'nien at CB what do they want?? Triantis and Seelt look way off quality and we (finally) have a way of playing after years of turgid shite that they didn't look close to being part of. That 1st half against Birmingham was terrifying.
I saw those stats, pile of crap. Not sure how dribbling and passing are relevant for a CB.

He's been at fault for so many of our goals this season. That's the most important job of a CB, he's makeshift and it's not his fault.
Your first sentence makes anything you say irrelevant.
 
If Pembele is as good as we’ve been told, is the longer term solution to play Hume CB and Pembele RB. Or is Alesse the answer, personally I wouldn’t be adverse to seeing what Alesse would bring to the holding midfield role?
 
Love him to bits, tries his heart out, but he's a liability at CB. He was at fault for the 2nd goal on Sat imo. He still loses his head easily and goes wild, which is not what you want for a CB.

Thoughts and pelters on a postcard.

need to move him into midfield in place of Ekwa and put Seelt or Triantis in defence. I would replace Robers with Auochichie as well
 
Problem with playing him in midfield is that he's crap in midfield
Exactly when was the last time he played there people can call him a makeshift cb but he plays there 99 percent of the time, people saying he is a liability are slightly harsh we can do better but he was part of the side who got top six with a makeshift defence.
Hume being miles out of position didn't help things.
Partly blame Mowbray in this as a general point for him playing hybrid role half the time
 
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He's best at DM but because of the owners penny punching we sold our best CB to decrease the wage bill and didn't buy a replacement who can come straight into the team.
He hasn’t had a single good game at DM for us, how is it suddenly his best position?
 
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