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Player watch: Josh Onomah

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
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That's a bit of revisionism.

Very unfair to say son and alli haven't worked hard off the ball in the last two years, actually it's just not true.


But they certainly didn't always. Son still isn't great at it, and Alli has only just started to do it consistently. That's not revisionism, I've heard football journalists say the same about Alli, about him coughing up the ball and not leaving others to try and win it back.

And I think this is relevant response to someone saying Onomah isn't being played because for Poch it's 100% commitment to work off the ball or nothing. Which clearly isn't the case.

If you want an fantastic example of Son's laziness, go and watch Moses's goal for Chelsea last season.
 

dontcallme

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Mar 18, 2005
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This season we seem to mostly be within one goal of the opposition so not many chances to play a youngster once the game is won just to give him minutes.

We are in two cups and in a strong league position given that our home games are at Wembley.

So have to say Pochettino is doing a lot right.
 

taricco

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
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Like he didn’t tolerate Son and Alli not working very hard off the ball for much of the last couple of years?

Our whole forward press effectively went a bit awol for big chunks of last and beginning of this season because of it.

Alli's just getting the hang of it last couple of months.

I agree. But Alli and Son have it in their game and have proven it in the past (they also contribute a lot to the team). Poch obviously doesn't think Onomah or Edwards have proven this yet. Surely you must think that Poch is making a decision here based on something. He's not an idiot and sees these guys every day - I'm not saying his team selection/player management is perfect, but we have to trust that he has seen these guys a lot in training and that they aren't showing enough yet.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
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I think Trix post in Edwards thread shows things are gonna get much tougher for the kids. In future youth players won’t get 40 appearances like Onomah had to prove themselves,will probably be more like 10-20. When you look how things are going to get tougher you have to say Onomah had his chance but didn’t take it like winks did. Sounds harsh but that’s what happened.
 

jurgen

Busy ****
Jul 5, 2008
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Not sure the Alli comparison helps Onomah’s case at all. Son has always played a different position so that’s a moot point. Aside from actually working hard, both of them have also put up amazing numbers of goals and other incisive moments in their careers with us so far.

In Alli’s case he arrived as a stand out lower league midfielder who was also contributing many goals to his team. Even then, Poch has not trusted him as a central midfielder many times so far, presumably due to those defensive and work rate aspects he values so highly in the middle of the park, and Alli has flourished further forwards. Given most of the arguments around Onomah have focussed on him not being played in his proper position as a CM, and how unfair it is to player him as an AM as a result, Alli doesn’t seem to be a great comparison because he shows both how tricky it is to get Poch to play you in CM but also proves what a young player can do even if they’re asked to shift their position and role slightly to move their game on, rather than be ‘accommodated’ only in the position they believe to be their best..
 

coys200

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May 22, 2017
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Not sure age has anything to do with Poch trusting someone to play CM. He played bentaleb mason dele winks there all he deemed good enough. Even TOB at 17 has been on bench as a CM.
 

SpursD22

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Aug 3, 2017
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Aston Villa has lost 2 games in a row but I bet the Villa fans will say it’s Onomah’s fault even though he didn’t play in both games
 

coys200

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May 22, 2017
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Really trying to work out our CM options. With dembele age/injury winks injury I think a new CM is probably top of our shopping list. The squad is currently 24 which I think is max for Poch at a stretch may go to 25. So if we don’t sell sissoko which I don’t think we will as Poch likes him as a utility player. It means we’d have to fit in new CM and Onomah taking us to 26. I’m struggling right now to see anything other than Onomah sold or another loan year.
 

Westmorland

Active Member
May 21, 2014
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Really trying to work out our CM options. With dembele age/injury winks injury I think a new CM is probably top of our shopping list. The squad is currently 24 which I think is max for Poch at a stretch may go to 25. So if we don’t sell sissoko which I don’t think we will as Poch likes him as a utility player. It means we’d have to fit in new CM and Onomah taking us to 26. I’m struggling right now to see anything other than Onomah sold or another loan year.
I believe Josh will still qualify an under 21 if he is with us next season so would be a free pick. He is 21 in April but was under 21 this Jan . Rule is born after Jan 1 1997
 

coys200

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May 22, 2017
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I believe Josh will still qualify an under 21 if he is with us next season so would be a free pick. He is 21 in April but was under 21 this Jan . Rule is born after Jan 1 1997

Not sure if that really makes a difference. He would obviously still be a 1st squad member. Just not sure Poch likes having excess players he has to try and keep happy.
 

dontcallme

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Mar 18, 2005
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Think the clock is ticking on him will be one of those that comes back up the leagues later on his career when the penny drops

You could be right.

Poch has said he likes his midfielders to be animals. Helikes them to be physical, tenacious and to press in packs.

This isn't Onomah's style so I don't see where he fits in.

This doesn't mean Onomah can't/won't have a good career but unless he becomes more tenacious I can't see Poch playing in the deeper midfield role.

Would be a good fit at Swansea or Southampton.
 

Sanj

Well-Known Member
Jun 22, 2003
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Josh looked strong and dominant when he came on as a sub in the England u21 game over the weekend.
Winning the ball back, starting a number of attacks, keeping the ball, picking the right passes and surging forward past the oppo as well as penetrating passes that created chance for the u21's.

However, you got the feeling it looked all to easy for him and did wonder if he had more to give. He does look like a Dembele replacement, but would be good to see him take more control of games when he plays for Villa.

p.s. Walker-Peters also played well at left back, couple of important interceptions/ blocks and involved in the build up for the goals.
 

JonnySpurs

SC Veteran
Jun 4, 2004
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Shout out for Onomah after his performance last night for England Under-21's. From what I saw he was magnificent. He couldn't have looked more like Dembele in his prime if he tried. Strong and powerful, dribbling past and away from opposition players like they were from sunday league.

At one point in the 2nd half, he tackled back a Ukraine player on the half way line, they both overshot the ball, then turned & ran back to it, Onomah beat him to it and then almost immediately skipped away from another Ukraine player in brilliant fashion. He then drove away from both, getting to the edge of the box before laying the ball left to Maddison who cut inside, hitting a lovely curling effort that went just over.

Honestly, I was SO impressed with him. He looked like a man playing against boys at time, not only in his playing style and ability but physically as well.

I have a slight worry that Poch doesn't rate him but I'm desperately hoping that's not the case and he will get a chance to prove himself in the summer during pre-season.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
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You can tell Josh will be a powerful player just like Kane in respect that they need / needed time to grow into their frames and control it.

Not at all saying Josh is Kane or anything of the sort , I look at Onomah and think this guy could be frightening once and IF he/can take control.
 
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