GOAL: Time to bring up two of the American defenders who are playing in the Premier League - Antonee Robinson and Chris Richards. Considering that you were a defender, what have you seen that you like about them? What do you think are areas where they need to grow?
ONUOHA: I love the fact that they're both very, very established in teams who have got a ton of respect for being teams who can win against anybody. Obviously, they're not teams who are pushing for the Premier League title as such. But their importance is such that you feel the difference when they're not there. I think for Antonee, he captains Fulham. I think that's a big statement in itself. And the talk was last year, you look at how many assists that he's bringing to this side, and how many people would have thought that that level of attacking power would be coming from, say, that left side, that left center for Fulham? But it's a big deal with that. And then even defensively, like he's as good as anybody in that league, because he's strong, he's physical, and reads the game well. And he's committed to not just winning the ball back, but starting the next attack. So that's impressed me.
With Chris as well, playing in that back three for Palace, that's one of the best back threes in the Premier League. You know what you're going to get from them. Defensively, very, very solid. They've got a threat in terms of how he attacks in the box, as well. It's actually both boxes - defensively and in attack - and he understands his role in his club perfectly, which is where I think he deserves a ton of credit. And I think for the two of them, the only thing that's sort of missing from them, I think, is a different sort of test.
Because the two clubs that they play for, there is a level of expectation, but it's more of a tamed one. So it'd be interesting to see if they ever make a step up to a team and, say, push for the Champions League, one that, like almost expects to be winning trophies every year. How would that affect their performance? Well, for now, I believe that the jobs that they're doing, they deserve a ton of credit for. Because they're key players in their teams. And when we talk about how big the Premier League is, as I say, that's that's amazing in itself.
GOAL: You brought up a really good point in terms of the fact that they could be challenged more. Jedi, in particular was linked with Liverpool, linked with Manchester United at one point. Has the window of opportunity for him to move to a bigger club passed? Or because he's 28, or do you think he should still be pushing for another move?
ONUOHA: No, to be honest. The push probably comes from how well he's playing, because he can end up being part of the conversation. So I don't think that the window has passed because to say that anybody at 28 can't have some of the best years ahead, I think, misses the point. There are a ton of players who you see the best football that they have, like post-30, you know? So I'm not hard on that whatsoever. And the fact is, for him, he can go to that next level when he's asked to go to that next level. So I don't think that window is closed, whatsoever.
Obviously, when it comes down to Liverpool, with Milos Kerkez and potentially other people in that position, that would be a difficult situation for him. But again, to give Antonee credit, his style of play is one that doesn't just suit the Premier League. You know, he can play anywhere, in my mind, and those challenges and those pressures can be matched up in a different league. If that's to be the case where, you know, he plays Champions League on a year to year basis, or, you know, he plays for a team that is keen to win leagues. Because his profile fits that down to a tee.
