Player watch: Josh Onomah

[ClonedFromSandrosBeard]

I trust Pochettino totally on this one.

I think he is fallible in this instance. I don't think Onomah has been managed well, seeing him play buggar all last season really irked me and has stalled his development by that amount of time imo. You need to get out there, make mistakes in any career, to develop. I just don't see how this guy went from 17-20 in the first team picture and seemingly made no progress.

 

[SpursD22]

While I like the idea of blooding youth, I dont think Poch can really afford to given where we currently are in the league. Every single game is vital and having players suddenly come in who dont have the necessary experience wont win us games.

I completely disagree. I think it could give us a positive spin if we give the right player the chance. What if we gave Marcus Edwards the chance and he gave us something we’ve been missing? I think KWP, Onomah and Edwards are ready to make a impact on the first team while players like TOB, Skipp, Tanganga, Bennetts and Sterling should start train with the first team, travel with the squad and maybe get a couple of minutes. Just look at Liverpool, TAA has helped them. And I didn’t say they should start every game or play in the big games, I mean play against lower ranked teams and in the FA Cup

And I feel like we’re saying that all the time, “we can’t currently afford to” when are we going to start giving them the chance then?

 

[taidgh]

I don’t know if I should post this or not since I’m not a ITK and people won’t believe me but I’m going to do it anyways.

I have a cousin who used to live in Enfield and he knows someone that knows someone that is close to Josh. And Josh said that he felt like he get unfairly threatened at times and should’ve got more game time because he felt he 90% of the time he always performed well in training. He used to sometimes after training stay with Mousa Dembele to learn a few things from him, he looked up (still looks up) to him. And Mousa said to him that he’s the closest he’s seen anyone like him in terms of football qualities.
Poch speaks to the academy players from when they’re very young and he has a good relationship with Poch and Josh has multiple times said that he wants to play in the Dembele role but Poch always said that he wasn’t ready and that position is the most risk position. Poch is stubborn and won’t change his opinion quickly, so Onomah suggested for over a year that he should go out on loan but Poch disagreed and Josh got a bit frustrated since he didn’t even get the chance here. But he kept moving on. After the World Cup Josh came back earlier than expected to pre season just to impress on the staff, he went to the gym much more but instead Poch felt like Josh gave the wrong impression and came out a bit over confident and cocky. Josh spoke to Poch multiple times in the summer, almost demanding getting a real chance in midfield and Poch got a bit frustrated since he told Josh to be patient, so Josh pushed for a loan move and eventually Poch gave the thumbs up, Josh missed out on 2 Premier League clubs and got a bit mad at that but he accepted a Aston Villa loan move. Bruce and Poch had talked for some times and Bruce is a big Onomah fan. Josh says that he likes it in Birmingham, feels like he’s getting along well with the team mates but is still a bit frustrated because he doesn’t play in his preferred position, when played there at the beginning of the season he felt he did good and was progressing but Bruce prefers him higher up in the pitch because he can hold up the ball well and link up play. Josh said that he will 99% stay at Villa for the rest of the season and has been offered a permanent deal from Villa but he won’t agree to that, Villa has also been talking to Spurs about a permanent deal but we don’t want to sell and we would demand a lot of money. Josh wants to come back in the summer and fight for his place. Poch still sees a future with Josh but they don’t agree on certain things for example his preferred position. Poch doesn’t think he’s ready to play there but Josh disagrees. And Josh feels like he’s earned the chance here and wants to see a clear path for him here. He’s happy for Winks since they’re good mates but sees him as a competitor and he said that Winks was also a bit frustrated at the beginning. All in all Josh will stay at Villa for the rest of the season, sees a future here but is a bit frustrated and wants to get a real chance.

If you don’t believe what I’ve said just ignore me

First off, thanks for posting. Very illuminating.

I think Poch wants players he feel will work their bollocks off for the team. Everyone in the first team does. Players like Lamela and Sissoko have repeatedly got more chances than many fans believe they deserve because they work hard and do what Poch asks them to do. It seems from your post, that Josh has done some of what Poch expects from him, but not enough. Him switching off when not played in his favourite position? Mark against. Sometimes training with Dembele and staying late? Mark against. Vociferously pushing for opportunities when he (perhaps) hasn't shown enough? Mark against. I get that Josh might feel that he's done enough to merit time in CM, but surely it's not up to him alone to decide that. And though Steve Bruce is a bit of a dinosaur, he also knows his football. It's a bit telling then that he also hasn't played Josh in CM after a few initial outings. Lot's of people here will say that Poch is not giving Josh a fair chance. And I'm not saying it's all on Josh either. But a few things stick out of what I read there that suggests that while Poch sees the talent and is willing to wait, things might not ever work out for Josh here.

 

[eddiev14]

I think he is fallible in this instance. I don't think Onomah has been managed well, seeing him play buggar all last season really irked me and has stalled his development by that amount of time imo. You need to get out there, make mistakes in any career, to develop. I just don't see how this guy went from 17-20 in the first team picture and seemingly made no progress.

Maybe he wasn’t very good in training or wasn’t doing what Poch wanted him to do, to effectively play our system.

Who knows. Not us, that’s for sure.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I don’t know if I should post this or not since I’m not a ITK and people won’t believe me but I’m going to do it anyways.

I have a cousin who used to live in Enfield and he knows someone that knows someone that is close to Josh. And Josh said that he felt like he get unfairly threatened at times and should’ve got more game time because he felt he 90% of the time he always performed well in training. He used to sometimes after training stay with Mousa Dembele to learn a few things from him, he looked up (still looks up) to him. And Mousa said to him that he’s the closest he’s seen anyone like him in terms of football qualities.
Poch speaks to the academy players from when they’re very young and he has a good relationship with Poch and Josh has multiple times said that he wants to play in the Dembele role but Poch always said that he wasn’t ready and that position is the most risk position. Poch is stubborn and won’t change his opinion quickly, so Onomah suggested for over a year that he should go out on loan but Poch disagreed and Josh got a bit frustrated since he didn’t even get the chance here. But he kept moving on. After the World Cup Josh came back earlier than expected to pre season just to impress on the staff, he went to the gym much more but instead Poch felt like Josh gave the wrong impression and came out a bit over confident and cocky. Josh spoke to Poch multiple times in the summer, almost demanding getting a real chance in midfield and Poch got a bit frustrated since he told Josh to be patient, so Josh pushed for a loan move and eventually Poch gave the thumbs up, Josh missed out on 2 Premier League clubs and got a bit mad at that but he accepted a Aston Villa loan move. Bruce and Poch had talked for some times and Bruce is a big Onomah fan. Josh says that he likes it in Birmingham, feels like he’s getting along well with the team mates but is still a bit frustrated because he doesn’t play in his preferred position, when played there at the beginning of the season he felt he did good and was progressing but Bruce prefers him higher up in the pitch because he can hold up the ball well and link up play. Josh said that he will 99% stay at Villa for the rest of the season and has been offered a permanent deal from Villa but he won’t agree to that, Villa has also been talking to Spurs about a permanent deal but we don’t want to sell and we would demand a lot of money. Josh wants to come back in the summer and fight for his place. Poch still sees a future with Josh but they don’t agree on certain things for example his preferred position. Poch doesn’t think he’s ready to play there but Josh disagrees. And Josh feels like he’s earned the chance here and wants to see a clear path for him here. He’s happy for Winks since they’re good mates but sees him as a competitor and he said that Winks was also a bit frustrated at the beginning. All in all Josh will stay at Villa for the rest of the season, sees a future here but is a bit frustrated and wants to get a real chance.

If you don’t believe what I’ve said just ignore me

Thanks for this really interesting.

The thing is, I see both sides of the argument. CM is clearly his best position and long term he'll play there. But...

A key weakness of his is what he does off the ball. I'd argue that while the likely long term differentiator, in the position he wants to play in, is what he does going forward, the base requirement for that position is actually what his done off the ball:
- the cover/protection that he provides the back four through his positioning
- the movement he gives and the options that provides the rest of the team
- his tackling/interceptions

Those are the areas of the game that are lacking in my opinion. For now anyway.

He deserves more of a chance, for sure, but I can see why there's been a reluctance to play him there

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

I love the way players get all the blame, but the coach who's job it is to teach, instil and enhance these qualities gets away Scott free. He's played Winks, Alli and Eriksen there and they are all varying degrees in flawed defensively and without the ball.

Nobody would suggest that Onomah be put out there and expected to hold our midfield together in PL games. But Anyone who's watched Onomah over the last few years, or even in the recent WC knows that he's capable of demonstrating those qualities you say he lacks, but he's a kid, they need to be developed, he's not going to develop them playing out on the wings.

How about if Poch had played Onomah in midfield in games that he clearly didn't care much about, the Europa, domestic cups, 20-30 minutes games when we are 3 or 4 nil up, and especially in pre season friendlies. But with players like Wanyama, Dier or Dembele with him. It was almost like out of stubbornness he was refusing to play him there, playing him is a winger, knowing he isn't going to show anything like his best qualities.

This.

I'm not blaming anyone. For all we know Poch/the coaching team have been trying to teach these qualities to Onomah and for whatever reason he just isn't getting it. And by that I mean he isn't showing enough in training to be trusted in a competitive match in his favoured position.

I've seen Onomah in youth team matches and at the WC. Yes, he can demonstrate those qualities but I have found he has an over reliance on his superior physicality which doesn't translate to senior football as well. He simply is so much bigger than many of peers in youth team football that he can barge them off the ball without much trouble. I've seen him try this at senior level and it just doesn't work. It also means he loses the ball more regularly as he can't shield the ball as well.

I find it odd that your almost implying in your last paragraph that Poch is setting up Onomah to fail. Why even bother including him at all? What point is it making?

My take is that he recognises Onomah's talent and wanted to integrate him, so played him in different positions just to get him on the pitch, and give him enough confidence to eventually perform in his preferred role. Because as we all know there is a psychological barrier to overcome before youth team players feel they belong in senior football. Okay, this method might not have worked but I understand the logic. Playing him in deeper mid role where his mistakes would have been highlighted more if they had led to defeats could have been to an even bigger detriment to his development.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I'm not blaming anyone. For all we know Poch/the coaching team have been trying to teach these qualities to Onomah and for whatever reason he just isn't getting it. And by that I mean he isn't showing enough in training to be trusted in a competitive match in his favoured position.

I've seen Onomah in youth team matches and at the WC. Yes, he can demonstrate those qualities but I have found he has an over reliance on his superior physicality which doesn't translate to senior football as well. He simply is so much bigger than many of peers in youth team football that he can barge them off the ball without much trouble. I've seen him try this at senior level and it just doesn't work. It also means he loses the ball more regularly as he can't shield the ball as well.

I find it odd that your almost implying in your last paragraph that Poch is setting up Onomah to fail. Why even bother including him at all? What point is it making?

My take is that he recognises Onomah's talent and wanted to integrate him, so played him in different positions just to get him on the pitch, and give him enough confidence to eventually perform in his preferred role. Because as we all know there is a psychological barrier to overcome before youth team players feel they belong in senior football. Okay, this method might not have worked but I understand the logic. Playing him in deeper mid role where his mistakes would have been highlighted more if they had led to defeats could have been to an even bigger detriment to his development.

You may be right, but I still struggle with that logic. You have a player who’s always been a cm, always excelled as a cm, you have numerous opportunities, including friendlies, to play him as a cm, without much risk of catastrophe, but you continue to stick him out on the wing?

I can understand his first few minutes or start maybe, but the friendlies in the summer, off the back of the WC when his confidence was sky high?

And then to play TOB there. Really strange.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

You may be right, but I still struggle with that logic. You have a player who’s always been a cm, always excelled as a cm, you have numerous opportunities, including friendlies, to play him as a cm, without much risk of catastrophe, but you continue to stick him out on the wing?

I can understand his first few minutes or start maybe, but the friendlies in the summer, off the back of the WC when his confidence was sky high?

And then to play TOB there. Really strange.

The two aren't mutually exclusive though, and Poch wouldn't be the first manager to integrate a central player out wide in their first few appearances. Onomah has never excelled as a CM, in any form of senior football. And what do friendlies tell you? That you can beat Roma 5-0 and make David Bentley look like a world beater?

The fact is at the moment, Onomah isn't getting anywhere near us or Villa as an out and out CM, there's no blame to Poch here (there are on other cases, KWP etc etc), we're staring down the barrel of a Dean Parrett rather than a Steven Gerrard currently.

Workrate and discipline are two staples of a CM in our system 90% of the time, both of these things Onomah is currently lagging behind in, and I don't see how starts in meaningless pre-season friendlies or bringing him on for 15 minutes when we are 3-0 up are going to do about that.

Be honest, his loan spell at Villa has been very hit and miss, and we cant just lay the blame at Poch/Bruce's door for everything regarding Onomah.

 

[JimmyG2]

Of course established, experienced and older players are more reliable.
But it's not as if they don't make mistakes
and serious ones too.
Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Lloris, Son, Dele,Eriksen, even Sir Harry, Dembele and Winks
have all made mistakes and expectedly so.
So with all the usual safeguards give youngsters a go.
We will soon find out if they are worthy of more games
They might just surprise us.
Foyth and KWP certainly did me.

Show me a player that doesn't make mistakes
and I will show you a player that doesn't try anything different.

Dele is in a class of his own in this mistakes game
which is why I like him so much.

 

[smallsnc]

Of course established, experienced and older players are more reliable.
But it's not as if they don't make mistakes
and serious ones too.
Aurier, Sanchez, Dier, Lloris, Son, Dele,Eriksen, even Sir Harry, Dembele and Winks
have all made mistakes and expectedly so.
So with all the usual safeguards give youngsters a go.
We will soon find out if they are worthy of more games
They might just surprise us.
Foyth and KWP certainly did me.

Show me a player that doesn't make mistakes
and I will show you a player that doesn't try anything different.

Dele is in a class of his own in this mistakes game
which is why I like him so much.

With Josh, I don't think it is about mistakes but is about lack of consistent effort.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

The two aren't mutually exclusive though, and Poch wouldn't be the first manager to integrate a central player out wide in their first few appearances. Onomah has never excelled as a CM, in any form of senior football. And what do friendlies tell you? That you can beat Roma 5-0 and make David Bentley look like a world beater?

The fact is at the moment, Onomah isn't getting anywhere near us or Villa as an out and out CM, there's no blame to Poch here (there are on other cases, KWP etc etc), we're staring down the barrel of a Dean Parrett rather than a Steven Gerrard currently.

Workrate and discipline are two staples of a CM in our system 90% of the time, both of these things Onomah is currently lagging behind in, and I don't see how starts in meaningless pre-season friendlies or bringing him on for 15 minutes when we are 3-0 up are going to do about that.

Be honest, his loan spell at Villa has been very hit and miss, and we cant just lay the blame at Poch/Bruce's door for everything regarding Onomah.

But he has excelled as a CM in senior football. In one of his only 2 or 3 starts for Villa, their fan forums were full of praise for him. Realistically, what more do you expect him to do? It's scant evidence, but he's had scant chances to excel. Villa bypass the midfield, ask anyone who's watched any of their games this season, Bruce lost the next game with Onomah in CM and just decided to completely change to a long ball game, but even then he's had some great reviews from their fans playing elsewhere. And he did start him in Cm last game I believe, before being knocked out and taken off.

He didn't have a single chance to excel as a CM in senior football for us, that's the point. How could he ?

And when he was played, out of position, he did all those things you say, he worked hard and was disciplined, he tracked his FB, tackled, he just didn't do the wonderful things you'd expect of a wide AM/forward to do, because guess what, he isn't one.

So having been played as a Wide AM for us in his couple starts and sub appearances, and demonstrated a willingness to work hard and be diligent, surely the net step would be to play him, next to a proper experienced CM. like Wanyama, in CM, in a CM2 or if you really want to hold his hand, in a CM3, on some of those occasions where it's appropriate to do so, the cup games, the Europa, the friendlies etc.

You say you won't learn anything by doing that but that's not true is it. You will always learn something, even if it's that he's flakey and not to be trusted. But if in those 20-30 minutes at the back end of a real game, or if in a cup game or friendly he demonstrates some of the qualities you are looking for, you learn something positive, and can then think about the net stage of development.

Look how totally out of his depth Kane looked at stages of his senior development at loan clubs.

And the other thing is, why does Onomah have to show this perfect uber diligence (as well as his natural ability) from the get go, when we watch players Like Alli fuck around, not pressing properly, for about 80% of his time here, Son the same, or Sissoko in CM, who fouls every time he gets near anyone and has the technique of a Rhino on crack. Winks isn't brilliant without the ball, and Dier can't press properly in case he gets turned too and Eriksen's not exactly Roy Keane either.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

But he has excelled as a CM in senior football. In one of his only 2 or 3 starts for Villa, their fan forums were full of praise for him. Realistically, what more do you expect him to do? It's scant evidence, but he's had scant chances to excel. Villa bypass the midfield, ask anyone who's watched any of their games this season, Bruce lost the next game with Onomah in CM and just decided to completely change to a long ball game, but even then he's had some great reviews from their fans playing elsewhere. And he did start him in Cm last game I believe, before being knocked out and taken off.

He didn't have a single chance to excel as a CM in senior football for us, that's the point. How could he ?

And when he was played, out of position, he did all those things you say, he worked hard and was disciplined, he tracked his FB, tackled, he just didn't do the wonderful things you'd expect of a wide AM/forward to do, because guess what, he isn't one.

So having been played as a Wide AM for us in his couple starts and sub appearances, and demonstrated a willingness to work hard and be diligent, surely the net step would be to play him, next to a proper experienced CM. like Wanyama, in CM, in a CM2 or if you really want to hold his hand, in a CM3, on some of those occasions where it's appropriate to do so, the cup games, the Europa, the friendlies etc.

You say you won't learn anything by doing that but that's rubbish isn't it. You will always learn something, even if it's that he's flakey and not to be trusted. But if in those 20-30 minutes at the back end of a real game, or if in a cup game or friendly he demonstrates some of the qualities you are looking for, you learn something positive, and can then think about the net stage of development.

Look how totally out of his depth Kane looked at stages of his senior development at loan clubs.

And the other thing is, why does Onomah have to show this perfect uber diligence (as well as his natural ability) from the get go, when we watch players Like Alli fuck around, not pressing properly, for about 80% of his time here, Son the same, or Sissoko in CM, who fouls every time he gets near anyone and has the technique of a Rhino on crack. Winks isn't brilliant without the ball, and Dier can't press properly in case he gets turned too and Eriksen's not exactly Roy Keane either.

It's difficult to put a coherent argument to any of those points made out of sheer fantasy mate...

So he's excelled in CM because some Villa fans said so on a fan forum? You then say it's scant evidence, if true, how can you even hang your hat on it yourself? Makes zero sense. Then you blame Bruce for his style of football. The **** is paid to win football matches in the way he sees fit, he believes/believed that not playing Onomah in CM (where he had supposedly 'excelled') was the best way to do that. To me that's more evidence than the fans saying he played well on a forum, look at some of the fuckers who post in the match thread on this site if you want more than scant evidence of that.

Then we get on to how well he tracked back and worked hard in the few appearances he has made for us? Really? Can you actually put your cock on the block with that? Or are you hamming it up to make a point?

Revert to the same line of evidence on the Kane argument.

We'll leave the nonsense about some of our own players. Currently Onomah makes Sissoko look like Pogba.

As I've said before, this is Parrett, Smith, Dos Santos revisited. You will never be proven wrong because it's not possible to do so, but this is nothing more than a dick waving exercise.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

It's difficult to put a coherent argument to any of those points made out of sheer fantasy mate...

So he's excelled in CM because some Villa fans said so on a fan forum? You then say it's scant evidence, if true, how can you even hang your hat on it yourself? Makes zero sense. Then you blame Bruce for his style of football. The **** is paid to win football matches in the way he sees fit, he believes/believed that not playing Onomah in CM (where he had supposedly 'excelled') was the best way to do that. To me that's more evidence than the fans saying he played well on a forum, look at some of the fuckers who post in the match thread on this site if you want more than scant evidence of that.

Then we get on to how well he tracked back and worked hard in the few appearances he has made for us? Really? Can you actually put your cock on the block with that? Or are you hamming it up to make a point?

Revert to the same line of evidence on the Kane argument.

We'll leave the nonsense about some of our own players. Currently Onomah makes Sissoko look like Pogba.

As I've said before, this is Parrett, Smith, Dos Santos revisited. You will never be proven wrong because it's not possible to do so, but this is nothing more than a dick waving exercise.

That works both ways though. How can you use Poch shouldn't give him a single chance as an CM because "he hasn't ever excelled as a CM in senior football" as an argument when he's not had a chance to excel as a CM ?

It's a much more spurious concept than saying he's excelled at every level as a CM that he's been given a chance to excel in and when he's been played elsewhere he's done the basics right.

In all the games he played as an Am he did work hard, what he didn't do was look like a fantastic AM, because he's not a fantastic AM.

Smith has now proven himself to be a very decent PL right back. Hardly evidence of me/anyone being wildly off the mark.

Sissoko makes Dean Parrett look like Pogba.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

That works both ways though. How can you use Poch shouldn't give him a single chance as an CM because "he hasn't ever excelled as a CM in senior football" as an argument when he's not had a chance to excel as a CM ?

It's a much more spurious concept than saying he's excelled at every level as a CM that he's been given a chance to excel in and when he's been played elsewhere he's done the basics right.

In all the games he played as an Am he did work hard, what he didn't do was look like a fantastic AM, because he's not a fantastic AM.

Smith has now proven himself to be a very decent PL right back. Hardly evidence of me/anyone being wildly off the mark.

Sissoko makes Dean Parrett look like Pogba.

No, there is zero evidence that he has excelled as a Championship level CM.

Smith is not a very decent PL right back. You can quote 0.35 key passes per game all you want.

Look, I like seeing home grown guys excel as much as the next ****, and I think the KWP situation is absurd. I don't even really buy the party line about Edwards not being ready either, he could give us as much as Sissoko coming on for the last 20 mins when we are 2-0 up for sure. But Onomah. No. You are as far off the mark with him currently as you were with Parrett (Perratt).

 

[Bus-Conductor]

No, there is zero evidence that he has excelled as a Championship level CM.

Smith is not a very decent PL right back. You can quote 0.35 key passes per game all you want.

Look, I like seeing home grown guys excel as much as the next ****, and I think the KWP situation is absurd. I don't even really buy the party line about Edwards not being ready either, he could give us as much as Sissoko coming on for the last 20 mins when we are 2-0 up for sure. But Onomah. No. You are as far off the mark with him currently as you were with Parrett (Perratt).

If I'd said Dean Perratt is the next Iniesta that would be fair. But I didn't. And at a time when we were watching Lennon whiz about insipidly doing the square root of fuck all, playing Dos Santos should have been a viable option. How an earth can you say Smith isn't a decent PL RB?

It's not really about wanting to see home grown players excel, it's about wanting to see good players with high potential that we've spent years preparing, given fair chance to succeed (in varying degrees) or fail (in varying degrees). And by fair I don't mean start 20 league games, I mean one game in their correct position at least.

I think Onomah, like KWP and Edwards could and should have been given more opportunity to prove what he's about. Good or bad. If it's bad, then fine, we'll move him on for a few mil like Townsend etc, and it won't be a catastrophe either.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

If I'd said Dean Perratt is the next Iniesta that would be fair. But I didn't. And at a time when we were watching Lennon whiz about insipidly doing the square root of fuck all, playing Dos Santos should have been a viable option. How an earth can you say Smith isn't a decent PL RB?

It's not really about wanting to see home grown players excel, it's about wanting to see good players with high potential that we've spent years preparing, given fair chance to succeed (in varying degrees) or fail (in varying degrees). And by fair I don't mean start 20 league games, I mean one game in their correct position at least.

I think Onomah, like KWP and Edwards could and should have been given more opportunity to prove what he's about. Good or bad. If it's bad, then fine, we'll move him on for a few mil like Townsend etc, and it won't be a catastrophe either.

Smith is nothing more than ok. You said he was very decent. Trippier isn't anything more than decent, but he's better than Smith.

Just generally don't see your obsession with Onomah, KWP and Edwards have qualities we are lacking in a certain extent, Onomah has nothing we are currently missing.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Smith is nothing more than ok. You said he was very decent. Trippier isn't anything more than decent, but he's better than Smith.

Just generally don't see your obsession with Onomah, KWP and Edwards have qualities we are lacking in a certain extent, Onomah has nothing we are currently missing.

We are playing the likes of Sssoko in CM and you are saying we aren't lacking there ? If Poch had spent the year it took for Sissoko to be deemed remotely playable, giving Onomah a few more chances, maybe we'd have a CM available now who hasn't got the footballing IQ of an 8yo? And would at thievery least be more viable going forwards and either save us having to spend another 30m or at least recoup what we will recoup for Sissoko but without the 30m outlay and 10% of the 100k pw wages?

 

[Spurs_Bear]

We are playing the likes of Sssoko in CM and you are saying we aren't lacking there ? If Poch had spent the year it took for Sissoko to be deemed remotely playable, giving Onomah a few more chances, maybe we'd have a CM available now who hasn't got the footballing IQ of an 8yo? And would at thievery least be more viable going forwards and either save us having to spend another 30m or at least recoup what we will recoup for Sissoko but without the 30m outlay and 10% of the 100k pw wages?

Well in that I think you have your answer. Poch just doesn't rate Onomah. Which isn't his fault.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Well in that I think you have your answer. Poch just doesn't rate Onomah. Which isn't his fault.

seemed quite positive about him here:

Asked if he can go on to play for Roy Hodgson's team, having represented the national team at Under 16 to Under 19 level, Pochettino replied:

'Why not? It is impossible to set the limit for him as he is 18 and is very strong. His quality is amazing and he only needs to work hard and then he'll be fine.

'He is a special boy, a special player, because of his talent, his potential and his body. His body is powerful and he has quality in his feet. I don't know how he will develop.

'Sometimes you get an instinct about a player but I prefer to keep that inside. Football is always about input and feeling and sometimes you don't know why but you think this guy can be a top player.

'Maybe it is about knowledge about football as we have been in football all our life. I think we have a lot of talent here.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...aise-special-Joshua-Onomah.html#ixzz53EKTM6jW

 

[Spurs_Bear]

seemed quite positive about him here:

You could have posted that 3 hours ago BG.

"He only needs to work hard and he will be fine."

Case closed.