André Onana | signed for United | On a flight to NYC

[Adnan]

Duncan Castles seems to think we're trying to sign him. and we've even had a bid rejected by Ajax, who value the 23 year Cameroon international at €40m.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[dove]

Out of all talented Ajax players it would be very disappointing to get the worst.

 

[BluesJr]

Sign.

 

[Adnan]

Out of all talented Ajax players it would be very disappointing to get the worst.

After De Ligt and De Jong he's potentially the highest rated. @Ajaxsuarez

 

[Zoo]

It wouldn’t make sense with Dean Henderson highly thought of.

 

[Adnan]

It wouldn’t make sense with Dean Henderson highly thought of.

Henderson will most likely spend another year at Sheffield United.

 

[dove]

After De Ligt and De Jong he's potentially the highest rated. @Ajaxsuarez

Ok, I probably picked the wrong games to watch. Every time I saw him he looked terrible.

 

[Rozay]

Not the tallest keeper.

 

[Dante]

He's prone to spilling it.

 

[Adnan]

Ok, I probably picked the wrong games to watch. Every time I saw him he looked terrible.

This move would make more sense than signing Oblak right now IMO.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

It wouldn’t make sense with Dean Henderson highly thought of.

Is Joel pereira any good as well?

I'd rather give a chance to Dean Henderson than buying Onana especially we got an experienced GK in Romero as well.

 

[Adnan]

Not the tallest keeper.

Same height as Oblak, 6'2

 

[Rozay]

Same height as Oblak, 6'2

Without the hair?!

 

[Adnan]

Without the hair?!

Not sure..

 

[deafepl]

Onana's distribution and commanding of defense are ridiculously good. If United believe the type of modern goalkeepers like Onana is a way to move on and catch up with footballing like City, Barca, and Bayern, etc, they are probably convinced that Dean Henderson is not the type of goalkeeper we need unless Dean Henderson can prove he is up with Onana in term of commanding defense and organizing defense to play out from back.

I hope Dean Henderson can prove United wrong. Would be good to have a goalkeeper for a decade we produced from our academy

We should get Maignan, he is really on another level in term of organizing the defence and commanding, he's soo confident and composed on balls, he easily dominates the box.

 

[bond19821982]

Hows he compared to Henderson? Henderson is good on ball ?

 

[Keeps It tidy]

If you are the type that thought Alisson took too many risks playing it out the back Onana will give you are heart attack.

 

[marukomu]

He's prone to spilling it.

Very good.
His name does make him sound like a wanker.

 

[simonhch]

It’s funny how you associate certain nations and continents with certain types of players. I don’t think I’ve seen an African goalie I rated since Thomas Nkono. Likewise I’ve always been pretty lukewarm on South American keepers. The flair football of those regions often produces eccentric goalkeepers, with a high propensity to punch the ball out rather than catch it, even when under little pressure. Brazil actually have two quality No.1s right now in Ederson and Alisson; but even they haven’t produced top quality keepers in my opinion. Despite dominating the World Cup. I’m very lukewarm over this transfer, especially when we have Henderson, who to me has all the attributes to become our long term no.1.

 

[bosnian_red]

Dont really believe we're in for a keeper even if De Gea leaves. We have so many positions to sort out, and I genuinely believe we'll try to do it properly but to do so takes time. Romero is a good goalkeeper. We have some terrific younger prospects to be future goalkeepers like Henderson, so in the scenario that De Gea leaves this summer or next, I think we'll make do with what we have for a year or 2 while we focus on the outfielders. Then once that's sorted, if Romero/Henderson aren't good enough, buy a new one.

 

[sglowrider]

Onana's distribution and commanding of defense are ridiculously good. If United believe the type of modern goalkeepers like Onana is a way to move on and catch up with footballing like City, Barca, and Bayern, etc, they are probably convinced that Dean Henderson is not the type of goalkeeper we need unless Dean Henderson can prove he is up with Onana in term of commanding defense and organizing defense to play out from back.

I hope Dean Henderson can prove United wrong. Would be good to have a goalkeeper for a decade we produced from our academy

We should get Maignan, he is really on another level in term of organizing the defence and commanding, he's soo confident and composed on balls, he easily dominates the box.

Good call.

 

[Loublaze]

It’s funny how you associate certain nations and continents with certain types of players. I don’t think I’ve seen an African goalie I rated since Thomas Nkono. Likewise I’ve always been pretty lukewarm on South American keepers. The flair football of those regions often produces eccentric goalkeepers, with a high propensity to punch the ball out rather than catch it, even when under little pressure. Brazil actually have two quality No.1s right now in Ederson and Alisson; but even they haven’t produced top quality keepers in my opinion. Despite dominating the World Cup. I’m very lukewarm over this transfer, especially when we have Henderson, who to me has all the attributes to become our long term no.1.

Is this an assessment of Onana's individual ability or a preconceived notion/prejudice of African and South American goalies as a whole? Sounds like the former to me. Its no wonder the player had this to say in this brilliant article.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48147087

Ajax Amsterdam and Cameroon's Andre Onana says black goalkeepers have to work harder than white stoppers to make it to the top of European football.

The 23-year-old believes there is a misconception that black keepers make too many mistakes.

"I don't see the difference between white and black goalkeepers," he said.

"They're the same - they make mistakes. I make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. Black keepers need to prepare well because it's not easy for us."

Onana's Ajax can reach the Champions League final on Wednesday, as they protect a 1-0 lead at home against Tottenham Hotspur, whereupon he could become the first black goalkeeper to contest the final since Brazil's Dida, who played for Milan in 2007.

The Cameroon international has played every minute of Ajax's Champions League campaign, which began in the second qualifying round in July 2018.

"We don't have a lot of black goalkeepers at the top and people already have in their mind that black goalkeepers are not confident or they make too many mistakes," Onana told BBC Sport.

"It's something we have to change. It's not easy for us to arrive at that level especially when you are black but for me it really doesn't matter - black or white, in the end I am a goalkeeper."

Onana has been first choice at Ajax since 2016 after joining them from Barcelona a year earlier.

He learnt his his trade at the Spanish giants after a move from the academy in Douala founded by Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o.

He feels his growth in recent seasons is because he can accept criticism.

Former Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who is now the CEO of the Dutch club, is also helping his development.

"We talk more when I make mistakes because when you win, even if you make mistakes, no one is going to talk about that mistake," he explained.

"Nobody wants to lose but sometimes you have to lose to learn. When you are playing at a high level, I think the key is to be calm.

"It doesn't matter what happens because if you are calm you are going to absorb the pressure. Don't think too much about the game. Relax. Take your time.

"When you have the ball, you are the boss. You decide what you are going to do."

While there are not many black goalkeepers playing in top leagues in Europe, his country has a rich history of producing top goalkeeping talent.

The roll call of Cameroon goalkeepers who have graced the Europe football scene is impressive.

Joseph Antoine Belle played for France's biggest clubs, including Marseilles, Bordeaux and St Etienne.

Jacques Songo'o played for Deportivo La Coruna while Thomas Nkono and Idriss Carlos Kameni both starred for Spanish club Espanyol among others.

The legacy is continuing not only with Onana but his cousin Fabrice Ondoa too, who plays for Belgian club KV Oostende.

Onana's performances like many of his clubmates has seen him linked with a move away from the Netherlands and he still dreams of a return to Spain and the club that gave him his first taste of European football as a 13-year-old in 2010.

"Barcelona is my home. When I go there all the doors are open. It's normal because I was there since I was young," he said.

"Everyone would love to go to Barcelona but for me it's important to play. I am happy when I play so I will try to play somewhere."

 

[Sanche7]

Barca to De Ligt - we have signed your friend Frenkie De Jong, it will be lot easier for you to adapt to a new league with a familiar face in front of you
United to De Ligt - we are planning on signing Onana, it will make the transition much easier for you, to have a familiar face right behind you

 

[Adnan]

Van Der Sar has most likely recommended him too. I'm pretty confident we must've asked Edwin's opinion before making a bid and got a glowing report. That's assuming Castles is infact correct, regarding us making a bid.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

I’ve heard that Onana is very fecking good.

But I won’t be able to ever hear his name without replying “what’s my name”

 

[sglowrider]

So he dreams of Barca... his home etc

Where have we heard all this before?

 

[simonhch]

Is this an assessment of Onana's individual ability or a preconceived notion/prejudice of African and South American goalies as a whole? Sounds like the former to me. Its no wonder the player had this to say in this brilliant article.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48147087

Ajax Amsterdam and Cameroon's Andre Onana says black goalkeepers have to work harder than white stoppers to make it to the top of European football.

The 23-year-old believes there is a misconception that black keepers make too many mistakes.

"I don't see the difference between white and black goalkeepers," he said.

"They're the same - they make mistakes. I make mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. Black keepers need to prepare well because it's not easy for us."

Onana's Ajax can reach the Champions League final on Wednesday, as they protect a 1-0 lead at home against Tottenham Hotspur, whereupon he could become the first black goalkeeper to contest the final since Brazil's Dida, who played for Milan in 2007.

The Cameroon international has played every minute of Ajax's Champions League campaign, which began in the second qualifying round in July 2018.

"We don't have a lot of black goalkeepers at the top and people already have in their mind that black goalkeepers are not confident or they make too many mistakes," Onana told BBC Sport.

"It's something we have to change. It's not easy for us to arrive at that level especially when you are black but for me it really doesn't matter - black or white, in the end I am a goalkeeper."

Onana has been first choice at Ajax since 2016 after joining them from Barcelona a year earlier.

He learnt his his trade at the Spanish giants after a move from the academy in Douala founded by Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o.

He feels his growth in recent seasons is because he can accept criticism.

Former Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who is now the CEO of the Dutch club, is also helping his development.

"We talk more when I make mistakes because when you win, even if you make mistakes, no one is going to talk about that mistake," he explained.

"Nobody wants to lose but sometimes you have to lose to learn. When you are playing at a high level, I think the key is to be calm.

"It doesn't matter what happens because if you are calm you are going to absorb the pressure. Don't think too much about the game. Relax. Take your time.

"When you have the ball, you are the boss. You decide what you are going to do."

While there are not many black goalkeepers playing in top leagues in Europe, his country has a rich history of producing top goalkeeping talent.

The roll call of Cameroon goalkeepers who have graced the Europe football scene is impressive.

Joseph Antoine Belle played for France's biggest clubs, including Marseilles, Bordeaux and St Etienne.

Jacques Songo'o played for Deportivo La Coruna while Thomas Nkono and Idriss Carlos Kameni both starred for Spanish club Espanyol among others.

The legacy is continuing not only with Onana but his cousin Fabrice Ondoa too, who plays for Belgian club KV Oostende.

Onana's performances like many of his clubmates has seen him linked with a move away from the Netherlands and he still dreams of a return to Spain and the club that gave him his first taste of European football as a 13-year-old in 2010.

"Barcelona is my home. When I go there all the doors are open. It's normal because I was there since I was young," he said.

"Everyone would love to go to Barcelona but for me it's important to play. I am happy when I play so I will try to play somewhere."

Please do not make this about race. I knew someone would go there. There is nothing prejudicial about my comment. I have very clearly stated that my observations about goalkeepers from two specific regions (which are full of players from multiple ethnicities) are that the style of play mostly produces keepers who have an approach I don’t favour. I never once mentioned skin colour, and it’s a lazy and cheap blow to boil the argument down to that. You’ve listed about four African goalies who made it on the European scene, who were all decent, but never in the top tier of keepers, and all who fit the mould of keepers I don’t particularly rate. I’m not going to harp on about the insinuations of racial prejudice in your post, and I don’t expect you to know that say my wife is from Sierra Leone, or I have a mixed race child - but I do expect you to read the content of a post before making insinuations.

If Onana is good enough and the club sign him, I’m 100% behind him; but my observation stands that I have not personally seen an African goalie that I highly rate since Thomas Nkono at Italia 90; and until Alisson and Ederson recently, I have seen very few South American keepers that I rate either. Stylistically the football cultures often embue such players with too much flair for my comfort in a position that should be all about calmness and control. I particularly referenced this with regards to the tendency to punch over catching. Regarding Onana, I have not seen enough of him to make a judgement call either way; and YouTube is a shit barometer. It was merely an anecdotal observation that didn’t need to be turned into something malignant.

If I say I haven’t seen an Italian striker I rate since Del Piero, because Italy tends to produce forwards whose stylistic merits are by products of their footballing culture, would that be prejudicial too?

Sorry, I don’t mean to snap off on you; but that really rubbed me up the wrong way to be characterised like that.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

So he dreams of Barca... his home etc

Where have we heard all this before?

He is a Barca academy graduate. But, Ter Stegen has the #1 shirt for Barca for a long time so he can only go back as a backup.

 

[Adnan]

So he dreams of Barca... his home etc

Where have we heard all this before?

He grew up in Barcelona after arriving there via the Samuel Eto'o foundation. His comments aren't surprising tbf.

 

[sglowrider]

He grew up in Barcelona after arriving there via the Samuel Eto'o foundation. His comments aren't surprising tbf.

He is a Barca academy graduate. But, Ter Stegen has the #1 shirt for Barca for a long time so he can only go back as a backup.

Its a shame for him. So much about life is about timing.

 

[Darlington Padgett]

He's a bit wreckless at times and really prone to errors, we could do better. He's the goalkeeper equivalent of Bailly, great moments but would cost us big time with his errors too.

 

[MrBest]

No thanks to this. If De Gea goes, use Romero and promote Henderson. Oblak will not come.

 

[Cliche Guevara]

I’ve heard that Onana is very fecking good.

But I won’t be able to ever hear his name without replying “what’s my name”

fecking hell, was just singing that round and round in my head as I was reading through the posts!

 

[VorZakone]

He's a bit wreckless at times and really prone to errors, we could do better. He's the goalkeeper equivalent of Bailly, great moments but would cost us big time with his errors too.

Is this still the case though? I think the amount of errors has drastically decreased this season.

 

[Sjaakmeoff]

If De Gea leaves, i would get Cillessen. I know he's not rated on here, but even Barca fans think he's too good to be a benchwarmer.

 

[Enigma_87]

No thanks to this. If De Gea goes, use Romero and promote Henderson. Oblak will not come.

Romero is bang average and will be another Taibi/Carroll, Henderson is 2-3 years away from first team football. Onana is a modern keeper and non brainer. Henderson distribution from what I've seen is poor.

 

[poleglass red]

Romero is bang average and will be another Taibi/Carroll, Henderson is 2-3 years away from first team football. Onana is a modern keeper and non brainer. Henderson distribution from what I've seen is poor.

Taibi? Romero has already played more games than him and done better, so that comparison is out. I like Romero, when he has played for us he has looked good. Very difficult thing to do as a keeper is not play for ages then come in and look natural, which he does when he plays. I'd be happy with Romero for this season. Henderson is the real deal btw, might be a bit young, 22 is still young for a keeper. You mention his distribution is poor, actually it's not, it can be improved but have you seen Onana dealing with crosses, all keepers have areas that need improving on. We have areas we need to strengthen in considerably, keeper is one area that isn't a priority right now. Use the funds we have for the areas crying out for it. We don't and won't be able to fix everything in one window

 

[Nickosaur]

Onana
AWB - De Ligt - Lindelof - Shaw

Oldest player there would be Lindelof, 24.

 

[Enigma_87]

Taibi? Romero has already played more games than him and done better, so that comparison is out. I like Romero, when he has played for us he has looked good. Very difficult thing to do as a keeper is not play for ages then come in and look natural, which he does when he plays. I'd be happy with Romero for this season. Henderson is the real deal btw, might be a bit young, 22 is still young for a keeper. You mention his distribution is poor, actually it's not, it can be improved but have you seen Onana dealing with crosses, all keepers have areas that need improving on. We have areas we need to strengthen in considerably, keeper is one area that isn't a priority right now. Use the funds we have for the areas crying out for it. We don't and won't be able to fix everything in one window

Romero has averaged around 4-5 games per season in the league and was sub in Monaco and Sampdoria yet he’s good enough?

It’s one thing to fill in for a game or two rather than play whole season and that isn’t actually something to praise him for.

He has made fair few feck ups - against Swansea, Derby etc.

It’s very difficult for a keeper to sustain good form.

As I’ve said from what I’ve seen from Henderson his distribution is rather poor, of course he’s young and can improve.

 

[Gopher Brown]

If De Gea leaves, i would get Cillessen. I know he's not rated on here, but even Barca fans think he's too good to be a benchwarmer.

He’s just signed for Benfica.

Edit: signing for Benfica. No deal yet.