[Nas-JR]

Incredible. In no way did we control possession from back to front, meticulously tearing City apart with quick, short passing.

I didn't say, we controlled possession back to front, I said we beat the press. Which we did multiple times, with a few times leading to a quick back to front transition. It was the complete contrast to last year's final with de gea in net ( up until 65th mind).

My point is there's clearly potential there under the right conditions.

 

[lex talionis]

I didn't say, we controlled possession back to front, I said we beat the press. Which we did multiple times, with a few times leading to a quick back to front transition. It was the complete contrast to last year's final with de gea in net ( up until 65th mind).

My point is there's clearly potential there under the right conditions.

Sorry, we did no such thing v City or anyone else this season. What we did was produce outstanding long balls first from Dalot (recollection only...could be wrong on that) that found Garnacho after a catastrophic miscommunication between Gvardiol and Ortega (100% sure about that) for the open net goal by Garnacho and then long ball from Rashford to Garnacho (100% sure about that) that led to the pass Bruno who put in the assist of the season IMO to Mainoo for the manly finish. Bypassing City's midfield was the key to victory, not playing through it with short passing starting from Onana.

But your broader point is well taken, that Onana could be the beginning of something special. But on this occasion Onana's passing led to nothing special. Where Onana really stands apart from other keepers isn't his actual passing, but his first touch, which is fantastic even by the standards of an outfield player. He's no Pirlo, but for a keeper his first touch in like nothing I've ever seen from a keeper before. But his passing as such as acceptable, but nothing more than acceptable. Escaping danger from pressure with that first touch...wow.

 

[Nas-JR]

Sorry, we did no such thing v City or anyone else this season. What we did was produce outstanding long balls first from Dalot (recollection only...could be wrong on that) that found Garnacho after a catastrophic miscommunication between Gvardiol and Ortega (100% sure about that) for the open net goal by Garnacho and then long ball from Rashford to Garnacho (100% sure about that) that led to the pass Bruno who put in the assist of the season IMO to Mainoo for the manly finish. Bypassing City's midfield was the key to victory, not playing through it with short passing starting from Onana.

But your broader point is well taken, that Onana could be the beginning of something special. But on this occasion Onana's passing led to nothing special. Where Onana really stands apart from other keepers isn't his actual passing, but his first touch, which is fantastic even by the standards of an outfield player. He's no Pirlo, but for a keeper his first touch in like nothing I've ever seen from a keeper before. But his passing as such as acceptable, but nothing more than acceptable. Escaping danger from pressure with that first touch...wow.

We can agree to disagree then. I was behind the net the first half and thought his composure on the ball (as well as martinez) was second to none and helped us avoid being penned in like we always are vs city. I guess that's one of the aspects you're maybe disregarding. Composure to pick the right pass when given 2/3 options. He can also pass and kick with both feet which I find pretty unique for a keeper!

I do think you're being harsh when you say his passing is only acceptable overall even if you disagree with how I'm describing him. He's not showed it anywhere near enough this year but I do wonder if it's been instructions from the manager to go long. Omly time will tell who got it right but here's hoping the team as unit gets better.

 

[lex talionis]

We can agree to disagree then. I was behind the net the first half and thought his composure on the ball (as well as martinez) was second to none and helped us avoid being penned in like we always are vs city. I guess that's one of the aspects you're maybe disregarding. Composure to pick the right pass when given 2/3 options. He can also pass and kick with both feet which I find pretty unique for a keeper!

I do think you're being harsh when you say his passing is only acceptable overall even if you disagree with how I'm describing him. He's not showed it anywhere near enough this year but I do wonder if it's been instructions from the manager to go long. Omly time will tell who got it right but here's hoping the team as unit gets better.

For some reason, I can't bold on this post.

I 100% -- make that 110%! -- agree that Onana's composure on the ball was second to none, on a par with any of the outfield players for either side. We didn't get penned in but it wasn't because of Onana. What broke City was our longball play and now that I've reviewed the video again I can confirm with 100% Platonic and even Aristotelian certainty that it was Dalot's long ball to Garnacho that led to the first goal and we all know about Rashford's long ball that found Garnacho that led to the Mainoo goal. Onana had nothing to do with either goal. This is incontestable fact.

But this thread is about Onana. An opinion only, but Onana's actual passing is on par with many other top keepers, by no means poor but by no means extraordinary. Sticking with the modus operandi of opinions, Onana's first touch is extraordinary and I cannot think of another keeper I have ever seen who has as a fantastic first touch on the ball as Andre Onana.