7 EPL games, 11 goals conceded: Did Man U err by replacing De Gea with Onana?

Andre Onana and Erik ten Hag‘s promising first season in charge has unraveled and turned into a nightmare second season both on and off the field.

And Manchester United fans are extremely concerned about Onana’s weakness at keeping the ball out after the club brutally cut ties with their long serving goalkeeper, in the summer to sign Onana for £47 million ($57 million).

Onana’s shot stopping and reactions were also regarded as assets when he arrived in Manchester with a reputation for being at ease with the ball and possessing an outstanding passing range, as demonstrated during Inter Milan’s run to the Champions League final the previous year.

However, in the first six games of his United career, he faced 38 shots on target, stopped 65.8% of them, and allowed 14 goals.

Oluchi Eze, while speaking about Onana and Manchester United believes that Onana and United are going through a phase just like every other club or players at some point in time on their career. “in football, when you are bought into a club either as a coach or a goalkeeper or an outfield player, there are particular expectations that you should fulfil especially when a big club like Manchester United is involved.

And as a big club that hasn’t been in the limelight for years, the fans are there clamouring for success even the owners and rival clubs too watching to see how the club will come on top again.” So, a lot of things, a lot of expectations out there on Manchester United just like Chelsea but we are talking about United. So like I said earlier, Onana is going through a phase which I believe is caused by expectations.

Let’s take for example Paul Pogba when he joined United, there was so much expectations from him because of what he did at his former club. He was expected to deliver immediately and he was bought with a record fee so he was expected to deliver immediately.

This expectations also affected joao Felix at Chelsea and is currently affecting Enzo Fernández and Caicedo too. I think when a certain amount is paid to get you to a club, you are coming to replace somebody that has created impact in the club and that births certain expectations and that is what is happening to Onana. So what people say after games are affecting the guy. Initially, he will always tell you he doesn’t care because everyone has their own style and stuffs and taking blames. I think the fans and everyone should bear with him.

The pressure for him to deliver is affecting him. There is no way Weare going to compare him to David De gea because David De gea has paid his dies and mind you that he didn’t start being a legend immediately he got to  Manchester United. I’m not giving excuses for him (Onana) but I believe fans should give him time.

De gea is a legend at United and for Onana to do like that, he will need lots of time. Look at Eden Hazard move to Real Madrid from Chelsea. The initial plan was to replace Ronaldo, try and replicate what Ronaldo did at the Santiago Bernabue but that did not happen and I wouldn’t blame anyone if they called that move a flop.

So about Onana, give him time not eternity (I understand) but give him time. He was so good at the last champions league (final) and that’s what made a club like United go for him. See the Senegalese goal keeper when he came to Chelsea, he helped them win the Champions league, win the cub World Cup, won Africa Cup of nations, won so many things but in second year, he started having issues and some fans started abusing him and from Injury, he finally left.

Akunne Onicha, also had this to say ” There’s really no basis for the comparison between the two. They are two different goalkeepers.” David dey gea had his own issues when he was at United but when it comes to what it means to be a goalkeeper first and fore most which is stopping the goals from entering, he was a top notch shot stopper but when it comes down to Onana, alot of people thinks that with his won style of play (you know) playing from the back, being a ball playing goalkeeper that he could add a lot to Manchester United but I felt it was wrong because Onana while at Inter Milan had alt of top defenders playing in front of him and you know when it comes to defending no body dies it better than the Italians.

Now back to England, you have the likes of Martinez, Varane and in some cases Lindelof or maybe Maguire. It’s not going to be the same thing. Look at the games he (Onana) has played for United and he’s been conceding goals as if it’s no man’s business, week in week out. Its not going to stop because he is not a very good shot stopper. Look at the good defence he had at Inter and also the amount of cleansheets he had last season.

So, I think we made a huge mistake letting David De gea go and I know yes he (de gea) was making those silly mistakes but in those games that he made the mistakes, he will still come up with about ten very good saves and in the game against Bayern Munich, we needed those kind of saves to be made by Onana and when you look at the goals he concedes, they are simple goals that on a normal day, an average goal keeper should be able to save those balls and that makes you wonder what exactly he is doing.”

Akunne continued by talking about the long balls and him being able to play from the back, assists that will go to the striker, I have not even seen him do that at United. Most of the times he does plays the long balls , it gets to the opponent. He was exceptional against Manchester City at UCL final last season, no doubt about it but he was playing in a different system and coming to United, I think the system is not working for him and I feel that we are going to continue alot of goals as long as Onana is in-between the sticks for United” he concluded by requesting for the second choice goalkeeper to play some minutes “I would like to see the goalkeeper we bought from Turkey, I think he might actually have a shot at taking that number one shot from Onana.

Reacting to Akunne’s analysis, Decency sportstv agreed with him saying” Akunne, I really agreed with what you said. Every goalkeeper, every player has their own specific thing that they do that makes them outstanding, makes them unique in their own own different way.” she continued.” I said it before every goalkeeper has their own weakness.

“Also, lots of little issues are beginning to erupt just like when Ronaldo was there, in fact the whole Manchester United team needs some sort of refurbishment or something because Onana isn’t just the problem even though we are discussing him now. The coach should find a way to beef up his defence to help him too. Onana alone cannot defend, him alone cannot save. Its true that its work but I’m not going to blame him entirely. He is a ball playing goalkeeper and not a very good shot stopper so the coach has to work on how to protect him on the field.”

Stephen Enoch when asked about his take on the Onana-De gea issue by crispNG has this to say” I an so happy at whatever is happening at Manchester United because I love it when the lose their match but funny enough, I always watch their games. I don’t miss their matches” he continued by expressing his likeness towards Onana. In his words “I like the guy(Onana) so much. The fact that he owns up to his mistakes should count for something and I just hope that he moves from this phase as soon as possible.

In Amosking’s Opinion, he believes that United should give Onana time” after all  Rome was not built in a day”he said he believes that Onana needs time to fell with his team mates though that doesn’t mean he is doing very well at the moment, he is not doing very well and in fact I could have saved most of the goals he has conceded. “so he should step up and do his main job as we (the fans) try to reduce the pressure on him