Ola Aina

[General]

Was writing up the general overarching insights into Kenny Tete, who many seem to think we're imminently signing and so thought i'd run a generalised rule over Ola Aina.

in the last two seasons he's made 30 and 32 appearances for Torino.

23 of the thirty games he played in 2018/19 he played on the wings.

31 of his games last season were played on the wing - which indicates he may actually be seen as a RW by our transfer team? - that'd be underwhelming if true.


He's made 5 assists in those two seasons and scored 1 goal.



There was a manager change last season with Walter Mazzarri being replaced by Moreno Longo. When Mazzarri got fired he had lost 11 games, won 8 and drawn 3 leaving the club in 12th. He'd been at the club since 2018. Under Longo, they only won three out of the remaining 14 games.


Last season Aina lasted the full 90 twelve times. It also seems as if he started off as their first choice but as the season went on he became second choice with 9 of those full 90 coming before February. Torino's second half of the season actually saw them do worse though ending the season in 16th, two off the relegation places which started at 18th.

he played in 14 of their 20 season losses last season

They also switched their tactics a lot during the last season.


Weirdly Torino finished 7th the season before  2018/19 playing 3-5-2.

he played the full 90, 17 times...

[The Rock]

Insightful and thanks General.

[AnOldBrownie]

Way higher expectations for this RB (who can also play on the left wing).

This is our starting RB within the next 4 weeks.


Oh, and most of his wing play was on the left, not the right.

[The Rational Fan]

Is he a right sided or left sided player? He has played 95 times on the right and 86 on the left, so one might say right, but last season he played 27 times on the left and 9 on the right.

Is he a wide defender or wide midfield? He has played 130 times in defense and 63 times in midfield, so one might say defender, but last season he played 34 times in midfield and 2 in defense.

I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with Oina as RW and Bryan as LW with full backs, when we are ahead trying to close out a game or facing the BIG SIX.

[RaySmith]

Parker seems to like wing backs, like Christie and Bryan.
Fullbacks who are integral to our attacking play.

Aina has the advantage of being able to play on the right or the left.

[Tabby]

Is he a right sided or left sided player? He has played 95 times on the right and 86 on the left, so one might say right, but last season he played 27 times on the left and 9 on the right.

Is he a wide defender or wide midfield? He has played 130 times in defense and 63 times in midfield, so one might say defender, but last season he played 34 times in midfield and 2 in defense.

I wouldn't be surprised if we end up with Oina as RW and Bryan as LW with full backs, when we are ahead trying to close out a game or facing the BIG SIX.

Torino often play with wing backs, who are called defensive wide midfielders in some places. He is a right back that can play on either side and also can play in midfield.

[rebel]

Parker seems to like wing backs, like Christie and Bryan.
Fullbacks who are integral to our attacking play.

Aina has the advantage of being able to play on the right or the left.

Wing backs play is 'all good', but the 'issue is' players need to take on defenders, we too often get the ball in the opposition half and it's worked all the way back into our half. The forwards are waiting for something, it's a lost opportunity. There needs to be a plan A, plan B and plan C.

So we've signed 'Swiss Army' knives, they can play various positions, for minimal expenditure.

[We Are Premier League]

so he could be cover on the left is one of our wingbacks were to leave...hope not :(

[absenteeism]

Poor attacking stats from Aina if that is the position we want him for.

Knockaert is already a good defensive winger.

We are really trying to solidify the team. Think we will struggle for goals

[Deeping_white]

Poor attacking stats from Aina if that is the position we want him for.

Knockaert is already a good defensive winger.

We are really trying to solidify the team. Think we will struggle for goals

You can't say Knockaert is a good defensive winger and then say we'll struggle for goals in the same statement when he contributed absolutely nothing offensively other than the occasional shot from distance? At least in the championship he was supposed to have been proven, one PL team already thought he wasn't good enough at this level and sold him to us

[Bassey the warrior]

Poor attacking stats from Aina if that is the position we want him for.

Knockaert is already a good defensive winger.

We are really trying to solidify the team. Think we will struggle for goals

You can't say Knockaert is a good defensive winger and then say we'll struggle for goals in the same statement when he contributed absolutely nothing offensively other than the occasional shot from distance? At least in the championship he was supposed to have been proven, one PL team already thought he wasn't good enough at this level and sold him to us

Absolutely agree. He's not a good defensive winger, he's someone that works hard tracking back but he's not especially adept at defending. His main attributes are supposed to be dribbling, crossing and shooting, all of which were poor last year.

[Statto]

Poor attacking stats from Aina if that is the position we want him for.

Knockaert is already a good defensive winger.

We are really trying to solidify the team. Think we will struggle for goals

You can't say Knockaert is a good defensive winger and then say we'll struggle for goals in the same statement when he contributed absolutely nothing offensively other than the occasional shot from distance? At least in the championship he was supposed to have been proven, one PL team already thought he wasn't good enough at this level and sold him to us

Absolutely agree. He's not a good defensive winger, he's someone that works hard tracking back but he's not especially adept at defending. His main attributes are supposed to be dribbling, crossing and shooting, all of which were poor last year.

Also agree, happy to give someone another chance this year but I'm starting to think he may be a spent force, his confidence/mojo may have been lost irretrievably