[Gandalf Greyhame]

Good save, credit for that. However, his distribution, a supposed strength, still leaves a lot to be desired. He tries to make long passes, but doesn'y always succeed in finding his man - I can think of at least two instances where he overshot the wide man and into the stands. Also, I don't if it's on Onana or ETH, but he spends too much time on the ball, waiting for movement.I know you want to play around the press and draw their forwards higher up, but it doesn't make sense to wait when their forwards are static as well. Just pausing the game for no reason and killing our tempo. I think it's Onana who likes to keep possession and wants to make a difficult pass rather than the right one.

 

[DJ_21]

Good save, credit for that. However, his distribution, a supposed strength, still leaves a lot to be desired. He tries to make long passes, but doesn'y always succeed in finding his man - I can think of at least two instances where he overshot the wide man and into the stands. Also, I don't if it's on Onana or ETH, but he spends too much time on the ball, waiting for movement.I know you want to play around the press and draw their forwards higher up, but it doesn't make sense to wait when their forwards are static as well. Just pausing the game for no reason and killing our tempo. I think it's Onana who likes to keep possession and wants to make a difficult pass rather than the right one.

Ball playing keepers do tend to dwell on the ball and take forever with a decision, like you said it’s to draw their forwards higher which creates space in behind. It’s annoying though when there’s simple passes in front of him. Allison was the same against Arsenal, he took forever on the ball when he came out with it. Some opposition teams are smart though and don’t press the keeper. They keep shape in front of the keeper.

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

Ball playing keepers do tend to dwell on the ball and take forever with a decision, like you said it’s to draw their forwards higher which creates space in behind. It’s annoying though when there’s simple passes in front of him. Allison was the same against Arsenal, he took forever on the ball when he came out with it. Some opposition teams are smart though and don’t press the keeper. They keep shape in front of the keeper.

And teams who are more defense or counter-attack minded, like Wigan were for a large part of the game, don't press the keeper as a team as well - just a lone forward going through the motions of hurrying the keeper up to make a pass. Wigan didn't even bother to do that - they were static, and so was our team unfortunately. In such cases, all Onana is doing is pausing the game, allowing the opposition to catch their breath, and disrupting our own attacking tempo. It's infuriating. At least DDG was in a hurry to get it out to Maguire (who would be the one wasting time on the ball, but that was on Ole).

The whole point of having a ball playing keeper like Onana, and ball playing center backs like Varan, and underlapping full-backs like Dalot, is to rotate posession out of the back faster, more accurately. Especially so when you have someone like Mainoo showing for the ball and carrying it up the field. And even then, against League 1 opposition, we failed to pick up our pace. It's just poor coaching.

 

[lex talionis]

And teams who are more defense or counter-attack minded, like Wigan were for a large part of the game, don't press the keeper as a team as well - just a lone forward going through the motions of hurrying the keeper up to make a pass. Wigan didn't even bother to do that - they were static, and so was our team unfortunately. In such cases, all Onana is doing is pausing the game, allowing the opposition to catch their breath, and disrupting our own attacking tempo. It's infuriating. At least DDG was in a hurry to get it out to Maguire (who would be the one wasting time on the ball, but that was on Ole).

The whole point of having a ball playing keeper like Onana, and ball playing center backs like Varan, and underlapping full-backs like Dalot, is to rotate posession out of the back faster, more accurately. Especially so when you have someone like Mainoo showing for the ball and carrying it up the field. And even then, against League 1 opposition, we failed to pick up our pace. It's just poor coaching.

Very nicely put. The whole idea indeed of Onana's genius with the ball at his feet was to rotate the ball out of the back faster and more accurately, given that that was a weakness of De Gea. But after a shaky pre-season Onana has been hesitant with the ball and too often inviting unnecessary pressure on himself with the idea of allowing the striker to come so close to him that a passing lane would be opened to his fullback, but in so doing invites undue pressure on his fullback around our buildup play suffers. When our keeper stands with his foot on the ball trying to lure in pressing in order to bypass it, he's only sabotaging our own buildup play. And when that press doesn't come, standing with the ball at his feet accomplishes nothing but kill any momentum we may be building out of the back.

 

[Member 76197]

I've been a massive critic of his so when he had a good game I should really give him his dues. Also thought the save last night was the first top, top save I've seen from him.

Let's hope he can carry that on against teams that aren't Wigan now.

 

[Oranges038]

And teams who are more defense or counter-attack minded, like Wigan were for a large part of the game, don't press the keeper as a team as well - just a lone forward going through the motions of hurrying the keeper up to make a pass. Wigan didn't even bother to do that - they were static, and so was our team unfortunately. In such cases, all Onana is doing is pausing the game, allowing the opposition to catch their breath, and disrupting our own attacking tempo. It's infuriating. At least DDG was in a hurry to get it out to Maguire (who would be the one wasting time on the ball, but that was on Ole).

The whole point of having a ball playing keeper like Onana, and ball playing center backs like Varan, and underlapping full-backs like Dalot, is to rotate posession out of the back faster, more accurately. Especially so when you have someone like Mainoo showing for the ball and carrying it up the field. And even then, against League 1 opposition, we failed to pick up our pace. It's just poor coaching.

There were loads of examples where he pinged first time balls out to the fullbacks and defenders. And in fairness against Wigan Mainoo, McT and Fernandes should be dropping betweent the lines and looking to pick up the ball more often than they were. Wigan's pressing shape was good and they generally clogged up that central area with 4/5 players.

Onana will stall with the ball until he has an option for a pass, the onus is on the midfield and other players to make themselves an option for a pass. Utd fans just aren't used to it, but this is how it works when you have a goalkeeper who doesn't treat the ball like a like grenade.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

Nice to see him move off his line quickly for the save yesterday - it's something I've been critical of him for at points this sesaon, so have to give him credit when he does it well.

 

[daveskimufc]

Did he leave for Afcon? Or waiting til after spurs?

 

[lex talionis]

Did he leave for Afcon? Or waiting til after spurs?

Onana is expected to play tomorrow v Spurs. Whether he immediately leaves after the game for AFCON duty but still miss the opening match remains to be seen, but that appears to be the plan.

 

[Red00012]

Did he leave for Afcon? Or waiting til after spurs?

Plays the spurs game and flies after the game .

 

[Red71]

Onana needs to have a very tight game at the least today, if not a blinder, to justify the decision to move heaven and earth to keep him here for the spurs game. Any feck ups and he and ETH are going to get absolute pelters in the press and online. It could get very noisy! Not that Bayindir will mind but…

 

[Nicoteiro]

Is there a clause in his contract where Club pays him more if he stays on the line?

 

[PlayerOne]

Awful keeper and massive coward too. Just sticks to his line and watches the game go by. ETH has made another huge mistake here

 

[mu4c_20le]

Second goal was the type of goal we'd take the piss out of our rivals for

 

[massey]

Thank god for the African nations cup.

 

[Murder on Zidanes Floor]

He's so passive in goal.

 

[lex talionis]

Can’t be blamed for the first goal, but he’s got to do better on the second goal. Come out and close the man down FFS. You may still get beaten, but get beaten like a man not like a mouse.

 

[Ludens the Red]

Remember when we released our keeper in the summer in order to bring in a keeper who could

- make less errors
- play the ball out the back
- come and collect crosses and be active off your line

Yeah that went really well.

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Thank god for the African nations cup.

Wait till you see Bayındır.

 

[lost7]

Felt like his passing was sharp today... sadly when it comes to being an actual goalkeeper, he's absolutely a passenger. Useless to expect him to even make a couple of saves

 

[glasgow 21]

Onana is not the keeper we need. We need a keeper who is going to dominate his 6 yard box for starters. Move for Bento Paranaense or Carnesecchi Atalanta.

 

[massey]

Wait till you see Bayındır.

Can't wait tbh another ten hag master stroke no doubt.

 

[Sgreddevil]

Absolutely mediocre keeper. I thought he was meant to be a commanding keeping but end up he likes the goal line as much as De Gea but with worse shot shopping capability. There are too many times he allowed the ball to come into his 6 yard space. He should never have allowed that 1st goal was a result of him not coming off the line to punch or collect the ball.
Better keeper would have saved the 2nd near post goal but I have zero faith in him doing anything more than average.
I am still wondering what ETH sees in him to persist with him. Probably time for ETh to pack up with his bunch of cronies (bar Martinez)

 

[Pronewbie]

Mental if anyone's blaming him for Bentancur's power shot. Try standing in front of that. By the time you move an inch the ball would have been in the back of the net.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

Should be sacked along with Ten Hag.

 

[Unam333]

Wait till you see Bayındır.

I would play Heaton.
I'm serious.

Good luck at the African Nations Cup. Hopefully you'll win the trophy.

 

[bond19821982]

Corner for the First goal started with him not giving it to Evans. I understand Evans isn't great on ball but still he had some space to receive it. Long ball to Garnacho, misses it results in a corner and they score.

Second goal is on Evans and Mainoo/Eriksen. Didn't even put an effort to stop the player taking a shot.

Pretty sure hate agenda is very much on and would be defaulted to Onana.

 

[lex talionis]

Mental if anyone's blaming him for Bentancur's power shot. Try standing in front of that. By the time you move an inch the ball would have been in the back of the net.

The point is that Onana needs to anticipate that shot, not react to it. Top keepers close that down before the forward strikes the ball.

 

[Martial'sEmergingSmile]

His passing under pressure was good today, especially in the first 15 minutes where we really used him as an extra outfielder in the build up.

Unfortunately he's permaglued to his line on crosses which is becoming a massive issue. His goalkeeping in general just doesn't inspire any confidence. Very weird fundamentals.

Really think we should cut our losses early this summer if at all possible. Could try for Alvaro Valles who looks like a Vicario clone - just exudes confidence, completely dominates his area and some of the best 1v1 technique I've seen...just so fast off his line and makes himself huge. Good with his feet too. More touches than any goalkeeper in Europe. Seen him linked with Barca and Bayern so we probably wouldn't have a big chance anyway.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

His reaction to their post was hilarious

 

[Pronewbie]

The point is that Onana needs to anticipate that shot, not react to it. Top keepers close that down before the forward strikes the ball.

I thought his positioning was ok considering Evans had forced Bentacur slightly away from goal and could have squared that. That goal was on Evans not closing him down all the way IMHO.

 

[IWat]

Absolutely mediocre keeper. I thought he was meant to be a commanding keeping but end up he likes the goal line as much as De Gea but with worse shot shopping capability. There are too many times he allowed the ball to come into his 6 yard space. He should never have allowed that 1st goal was a result of him not coming off the line to punch or collect the ball.

Yep, it was the same for the corner that hit the bar, it was well within the 6 yard box and this guy is rooted to his line once again doing silly hand motions to make up for the fact he's not getting anywhere near it. He needs to go as soon as it's practical.

 

[Sgreddevil]

Yep, it was the same for the corner that hit the bar, it was well within the 6 yard box and this guy is rooted to his line once again doing silly hand motions to make up for the fact he's not getting anywhere near it. He needs to go as soon as it's practical.

Exactly. This should be basic fundamental of goalkeeping and what I expect a 27 year old experienced keeper will know. Keepers should always go for the balls coming into the box. Even if they could not reach that, very often referee will give a foul for infringment. Staying on the line doesn't allow the chance of that happening. Ypu can't always rely on your defenders to clear that for you as the chance of them getting to the headers are just 50-50. There is a reason why keepers can use their hands in such situation and get into advantage position. Seeing Vicario doing that perfectly at the other end just made you feel even worse.

 

[The holy trinity 68]

That pass where he had the ball just in his own half and pinged it down the left and we had a good chance, was awesome.

 

[always_hoping]

Errors that leads to goals are to called out and this keeper especially in the champions league has made plenty this season however it was Wan Bissaka losing his man on the corner and having nobody on the post for the first goal and Evans for the 2nd goal who was at fault for the goals today but SKY went out of way to lay the blame at the keeper was a bit silly but not unexpected.

 

[Tibs]

His reaction to their post was hilarious

???

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Mental if anyone's blaming him for Bentancur's power shot. Try standing in front of that. By the time you move an inch the ball would have been in the back of the net.

This whole thread is a train wreck. He’s made some bad mistakes in Europe so he’s absolutely hated now. And people will find a reason to blame him for every single goal we concede, bar none. And that’s not an exaggeration. Literally every goal you’ll find at least one person trying to blame him. Usually a bunch of people. It’s almost funny. But mainly very very boring.

Anyway. I didn’t watch the game so can’t comment on his overall performance. I did see some nice long passes in the bits and pieces of the game I managed to watch and wouldn’t blame him for either goal.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

???

When they hit the post from the corner. Onana waving his arms over his head.

 

[Ace]

Less presence in the box than De Gea… Absolutely rooted to his line , if not behind it, for set piece deliveries.

 

[lex talionis]

I thought his positioning was ok considering Evans had forced Bentacur slightly away from goal and could have squared that. That goal was on Evans not closing him down all the way IMHO.

To be fair to Onana, Evans fell apart on the play and the Betancur found himself in point blank range facing only Onana. However, a top keeper would have seen Evans being beaten and the point blank shot coming and thus come out to close the angle. Keepers of the quality of Allison and Ederson, and before them Buffon and Schmeichel (father and son, actually) would have closed the forward down to smother the shot. Not every keeper has the anticipation that top keepers have, anticipation being what distinguishes the top keepers from just good keepers. Onana is a good keeper but he's nowhere near being a top keeper as he doesn't see danger coming early enough. Yes of course by the time Betancur took the shot there was nothing Onana could have done about it, but the point is that Onana needs to anticipate the danger and close down the forward. Betancur may still have beaten Onana, but Onana has to make it is difficult as possible to be beaten.

But there's no doubt that Evans got beaten on the play.