Caleb Okoli - new cult hero

[Clever Fox]

1 minute ago, Nolucklcfc said:

You don’t know that. 

It wasn't a secret.

[Skidmark]

Imagine him next to someone who knows how to defend like Souttar.

 

 

[Noahfence]

Whilst he’s not great I’d much rather him at the back than Coady Faes and Vestergaard 

[Clever Fox]

5 minutes ago, JimJams said:

He wanted away cos he wasn't getting played.

He fell out with Cooper and Cooper would'nt play him.

[JimJams]

10 minutes ago, Clever Fox said:

He fell out with Cooper and Cooper would'nt play him.

I don't think you've got that right.  He literally started Coopers final game against Chelsea.

 

[Hales]

Loved his passion with that clearance. He needs to start. Felt much more confident with him there. Of course he will be rusty and will get leggy towards the end but he needs to play! Come on Ruud!!

[Dan]

I'm not totally convinced by him but I think he's got the shortest rap sheet of our centre halves by a mile this season. Deserves a run of games for me.

[StanSP]

Proper loved the celebration of making that clearance off the line. Showed more passion and desire in that moment than some of his fellow defenders or players have all season. 

[AKCJ]

I think he's a bit of a donkey but I also think he's the only player we've got that actually wants to defend.

[Kinowe Soorie]

Played well last night considering he hasn’t had much of a look in recently.

Quite possibly the best goal line clearance I’ve seen, and loved the celebration afterwards.

We can’t keep playing Vesty, massive slug.

[Claudio Fannieri]

I thought he was excellent last night, whilst he might be as progressive in his passing like Vesty or have the ability to carry the ball like Faes, the big difference is he can defend, he is aggressive and actually looked to be a bit of a leader last night. 
 

His performance, alongside the return of Wilf was the real positives and for me we have to build the defence around Okoli, next season him alongside Ben Nelson would be a pretty decent pairing. Hopefully move on Faes in the summer and reinvest in a new defender that can challenge the two and we are in a far better position. 
 

I really like him as a player and a character. 

[UniFox21]

Once again has done enough to prove he should start.

[ozvaldo]

Thought he did ok last night considering he’s been out of the frame for so long. 
 

If he was with someone organised and who didn’t sprint out of position (Faes), we might have a chance of only conceding 2 goals a game. 

[C.J]

Nice to see a bit of passion after the goal line clearance.

Quid says it's back to Wout&Janick against Arsenal though 

[Walshy5]

Best of a bad bunch. Nothing more.

[Deeg67]

1 hour ago, C.J said:

Nice to see a bit of passion after the goal line clearance.

Quid says it's back to Wout&Janick against Arsenal though 

Arsenal is going to eat us for lunch and make us pay the check anyway. Why trash Okoli's confidence by starting him there?

[Aus Fox]

3 minutes ago, Deeg67 said:

Arsenal is going to eat us for lunch and make us pay the check anyway. Why trash Okoli's confidence by starting him there?

Because he’s the better player? He is a huge improvement on Vestergaard, therefore should be playing.

[Deeg67]

If you want him at his best for the matches we realistically might get points out of I don't think it helps him to be part of a 5 or 6 goal drubbing against Arse.

[gurru991]

I really like the lad & feel that he will continue to improve with more game time. If I never have to watch Vesty doing his oil tanker impersonation ever again I will be happy.

[Aus Fox]

1 hour ago, Deeg67 said:

If you want him at his best for the matches we realistically might get points out of I don't think it helps him to be part of a 5 or 6 goal drubbing against Arse.

So because we might lose a game don’t play your best players because they might be a bit fragile?

There is absolutely no logic in this at all. In the position we are in we cannot afford to role over a lay down for anyone. 
We need to play the best 11 every game now.

[Deeg67]

Faes or Coady I wouldn't care, they've been around the block enough. But Okoli seems pretty fragile mentally at the moment, based on the reports of his being homesick and rumors he was being sold. You're not getting anything from Arsenal anyway, in Okoli's case specifically I'd protect the young player and sit him.

[Parker Pen]

32 minutes ago, Deeg67 said:

Faes or Coady I wouldn't care, they've been around the block enough. But Okoli seems pretty fragile mentally at the moment, based on the reports of his being homesick and rumors he was being sold. You're not getting anything from Arsenal anyway, in Okoli's case specifically I'd protect the young player and sit him.

Don’t forget he played at the Emirates earlier in the season and wasn’t terrible. I like his defend first mentality and the fact he has more pace that the other options.

[Deeg67]

2 hours ago, Parker Pen said:

Don’t forget he played at the Emirates earlier in the season and wasn’t terrible. I like his defend first mentality and the fact he has more pace that the other options.

Agreed, and that's the case for playing him. If you want to bet on the 1% chance of getting anything out of the game he probably gives you a marginally better chance than the other alternatives. 

[ClaphamFox]

3 hours ago, Deeg67 said:

Faes or Coady I wouldn't care, they've been around the block enough. But Okoli seems pretty fragile mentally at the moment, based on the reports of his being homesick and rumors he was being sold. You're not getting anything from Arsenal anyway, in Okoli's case specifically I'd protect the young player and sit him.

He’s 23, not 17. 

[dayday]

I would start him  , could never be any worse than the cart horses who start every game .