ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

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ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

Post by Enugu II »

Henry Onyekuru: A Detailed Analysis Of His Playing Style
http://scoutafriq.com/henry-onyekuru-analysis/
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Henry Onyekuru is the Nigerian sensation, who has been causing havoc in Belgium this season and is unsurprisingly being linked with a move to many high-profile clubs this summer.

He is a direct and pacey forward who can play anywhere across a front three, or in an alternative system, as a winger. He has featured heavily from the left flank, coming inside and using his dangerous right foot.
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Onyekuru was born on the 5th of June 1997, in Onitsha, Nigeria. He is 5ft 9, and his gradual, early progress saw him move on from the Aspire Academy to Belgium, where he has continued to develop into one of the most exciting prospects from Nigeria in recent times.

The KAS Eupen superstar has erupted onto the European scene. Let us guide you through the talents of the 19-year-old in a bit more detail –

The first time I watched Henry, I thought to myself “This is a natural born finisher.”

Onyekuru took little time to adapt to European football and during his first season with Eupen (15/16) began to make an impact from the substitute’s bench, securing his place in the starting eleven as the New Year arrived. Featuring 19 times that season in the Belgian second tier, he produced 6 goals in just 859 minutes on the field.

Due to structural re-arrangements from the Belgian Football Association and license issues for the division winners’ White Star Bruxelles, KAS Eupen, who finished second in the division, were promoted. This provided Onyekuru with a new challenge amongst stronger opposition to test his early, but raw promise.

Henry found no difficulty at all in adapting his game for the higher standard and he has been a revelation for Eupen, who fought capably for Europa League qualification, but ultimately just fell short. However, Onyekuru was a driving force for the team across all fronts with a sensational goal-scoring output.

In the regular Jupiler League season, he scored 12 non-penalty goals before adding a further 11 (9 non-penalty) in the Europa playoff season matches. Adding to this, two goals from the three Beker van Belgie (Belgian Cup) fixtures he was involved in.

Therefore achieving a phenomenal 25 goal total for the campaign, one conversion every 152 minutes. Producing an ultimate output of 0.59 goals per 90 (minutes). For a harsh but insightful reference, Monaco wonder kid Kylian Mbappé’s goals per 90 – 0.95, so a bit of a way to go yet. But that is not fair and he is not normal. Even still, these are fantastic numbers for a 19-year-old in any professional environment, outperforming his expected goals (xG) per 90 of 0.29. This highlights the quality of his ability to finish chances which are of difficulty (unexpected value) and also to do this consistently.

But what is it which allows Henry Onyekuru to be so effective in front of goal….

Behind the numbers, we can see there are many goals which display unbelievable promise and potential that Henry possesses the requirements to adapt and achieve realistic sustainability in an alternative, more intense European League. This is due to the wide variety of tools which he has utilised in accumulating these 25 goals.

Many of his goals have been far more complex than being in the right place to finish off a well-developed move. He has proved to score goals of different varieties all based on a foundation of his direct movement, pace and elusive dribbling. But he combines this with a composure in tight spaces, a coolness to slow the game down when everyone else is panicking.

He showcases a wide range of shooting techniques including off-balanced toe-pokes, powerful and explosive strikes, well-composed/finessed finishes and ridiculous solo efforts. This is a portfolio of real versatility and excitement.

His goal breakdown is heavily weighted to his stronger right foot, with that contributing to 20 of his goals (80%), three from his left-foot and two headers. His two penalties (right foot) were dispatched without hesitation like a true goal-scorer. All but one of his goals have been scored from inside of the penalty area.

His goal-scoring appears extremely natural, and he is capable of adapting his body position to the needed situation in order to get the best chance of converting along with appropriate shot selection. It is instinctive and ruthless.

He is constantly finding space in between centre-backs and exposing high-lines or on the counter attack. Henry is ridiculously relaxed and comfortable one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he shifts the fear and has no problem in going around the keeper.

There are many stand-out goals from Henry Onyekuru this season which will be remembered:

Firstly against Club Brugge in the Cup, receiving the ball outside of the box with his back to goal yet wriggling through four players and poking the ball beyond the goalkeeper –

Another memorable solo effort was the driving run from inside his own half against Royal Excel Mouscron, beating another four men, to somehow squeeze away a finish in off the post –

But maybe on a lower key level to those eye-catching moments are some of the other goals which outline his purity as a finisher. The chipped finish in the Juplier fixture with Lokeren – Onyekuru holds his line to stay onside before embarrassing the keeper with a subtle lobbed shot –

He executes a lot of aesthetically pleasing goals, such as against Oostende, where he controlled the ball with his right foot, marked tightly by the defender in the box, then dropped a shoulder to turn and unleash an emphatic left-footed strike.

It is addictive to watch his style as he operates at full speed but unlike many with that skill set, he appears to be consistently capable of providing an end product. And this can also be accounted for in his creative production.

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Henry Onyekuru registered nine assists for the 16/17 season and looking at the more detailed breakdown of his creation, he was able to provide 1.35 key passes per 90 minutes on the pitch at an expected assists rate of 0.15 per 90. Meaning that the productivity of Onyekuru’s key passes should result in an assist every six-and-a-half games. With an impressive total per 90 of 0.39 through passes (just under one every two games), it identifies his direct and progressive yet intricate intentions. For context, that is a higher through ball output than Cesc Fàbregas’ per 90.

This is a respectable contribution especially when considering combined with his scoring potential, he is an obvious and legitimate goal threat offering an invaluable dual scoring contribution of 0.80 per 90, across his 41 matches. It is quality production for a player who has so much time to develop and learn.

And Onyekuru’s technical dribbling ability provides the catalyst for so much of his capability to find space for crosses and shots, operating at above 3 dribbles over the course of a match and with a pass completion of 75%, his ball retention appears to be solid at this level.

Looking at Onyekuru’s heatmap, it is evident that he was deployed from the left this season but enjoyed drifting centrally, as before-mentioned, to occupy the gaps left by defenders and take up strong scoring locations – with an xG of 0.13 per shot taken, he is logical in his shot choices and rarely takes long-range ‘chancers’. In keeping with this shooting pattern, Henry Onyekuru only needs just under eight shots to find the net.


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onyekuru heatmap

Overall he is a refreshing player with energy and directness, a genuine love of being on the ball, making things happen and ultimately scoring goals. Almost like a Jermain Defoe, Asamoah Gyan or Nicolas Anelka, not always stylistically, but in a way in which you look at them and say, yes, you were born to score goals, regardless of all else.

It is completely fair to argue that the defending may not be of the toughest quality in Belgium, but one thing which is certain, if Onyekuru is warranted space, be that on a counter attack or defenders backing off, he can punish teams instantly and will not hesitate to attack with his change of pace and composed head when it counts.

His reactions, balance and unorthodox style should see him cope in the not too distant future with whichever League’s defensive obstacles he is faced.

It will be interesting to see if he does move centrally as his career progresses as he could be likened in style to Samuel Eto’o. Technical, fast and devastatingly clinical. But with his impact running in from wide and using his direct dribbling nature he may feature on the wing to keep learning his trade for a few years yet. Much like a similar Henry did – Thierry.

And Arsenal are actually one of the teams who have been rumoured to be interested in Onyekuru’s services this summer transfer window. He would be an exciting project for any Premier League club.

But the pathways of Michy Batshuayi (Standard Liège, Olympique de Marseille, Chelsea) and Ousmane Dembélé (Stade Rennais F.C., Borussia Dortmund) are good guidelines to follow. Sensible, stepping-stone moves. Competitive enough with adequate exposure.

Ideally, for Henry Onyekuru would be a move to a club bridging the Europa to Champions League gap, in a mainstream European division, who promote and believe in talented youngsters (RB Leipzig, Ajax, Olympique Lyonnais, Borussia Dortmund etc). In this environment, he could quickly attract further attention and blow up if used correctly in an effective system where he can improve his skills around similarly gifted players and has the freedom to attack.


Statistical data: via Global Soccer Network –

A team of young, creative and open-minded thinkers with a main target to revolutionize the modern day scouting in soccer. A rating agency for professional footballers with their very-own unique rating system, the GSN-Index.

Twitter – @info_gsn
Last edited by Enugu II on Wed May 24, 2017 12:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: AN ARTICLE: On Henry Onyekuru

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Henry Onyekuru: Should Arsenal and Nigeria Get Excited?
http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4055/mai ... um=twitter
May 23, 2017 17:40:27

The Eupen forward is having a breakthrough season, and has earned a national team call-up, but what exactly does he bring to the table?

Henry Onyekuru's invitation to the Super Eagles was long overdue. There had been some incredulity at his absence from the initial squad named by Gernot Rohr, and even now he is only in by virtue of the unavailability of striker Olarenwaju Kayode for the friendlies against Corsica and Togo.

Not that it matters how he got in, only that he has, and finally has the chance to showcase his abilities to the coaching crew. They are considerable, as his output with modest Eupen no doubt attests: 24 goals and nine assists in 41 games across all competitions are eye-catching numbers for one so young.

You can interpret it either of two ways, based on the standing of the Belgian league and Eupen. He may well be a big fish in a small pond, which might explain the initial reluctance to call him up (though to be a big fish anywhere at all at 19 is probably not the worst thing in the world); or his excellence with little may be demonstrative of his ability to do even better at a higher level.

With interest from the Premier League, most notably in the shape of Arsenal and West Ham United, we certainly will find out soon enough. Admittedly, the peculiarities of the English top-flight do lend themselves to his talents: Onyekuru is rapid from a standing start, boasting superb acceleration, and is unerringly direct.

While he can play all across the front line, he favours the left as it gives him the space he needs to go through the gears, as well as come inside on his stronger right foot. He will usually receive the ball deeper and wider, and try to roar past his marker on the outside, before then cutting across him to get goalside. This means he cannot be stopped without recourse to a foul.

His low centre of gravity (he stands at about 5ft 9in) enables quick changes of direction, but his dribbling style really isn’t defined by it, unlike most players his size. He does have good close control, but relies more on his speed and trickery, often looking he has shown too much to the opponent before snatching it away. Perhaps it is to do with the fact he runs and dribbles with a straight stance, not hunching – he looks bigger than he is, and dribbles like a taller player.

In front of goal, Onyekuru is an improviser. He possesses good movement, especially when he has to spin in behind a full-back; he is often up and away before they even know it. When through, he can finish in a number of ways; though, like most speedsters, he seems to enjoy going past the goalkeeper. That doesn’t preclude dinks, curled finishes in the manner of his idol and namesake Thierry Henry, and even a pirouette (he didn’t score with that one, but he did win a penalty).

There is a lot to admire about him, but he is still a teenager, so there are a lot of areas wherein he can improve. That is only natural. His aptitude for the defensive side of the game, as well as his decision-making, are still undeveloped (the latter especially). Henry Onyekuru Eupen
Really, it is doubtful how good a move to East London would be for him at this stage, especially considering West Ham’s approach without the ball. The Hammers are not exactly a model of stability, all things considered, and he is unlikely to make a mark at such a young age where the demands and expectation are immediate and stratospheric.

A move to Arsenal could be more appropriate, although that would represent an even bigger step-up for a teenager who's yet to taste competitive football outside Belgium. How many players have made that kind of leap...let alone to do it successfully?

Perhaps the biggest weakness in Onyekuru’s game is a streak of single-mindedness. It can manifest as overconfidence or as selfishness, but too often he wants to go alone. He will often get the better of his marker, and opt for a shot from an angle rather than lay in a teammate in a better position centrally.

In spite of these – and one might even chalk it up to youth – there is plenty to be excited about where the Eupen forward is concerned.

The prospect of a link up with Rohr’s attacking prodigies is uber-appealing; one need only think what a front four including him, Isaac Success, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho could get up to, for instance.

The future has snuck up on us all, much like Onyekuru himself!
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Re: ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

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Re: ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

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Ed Dove‏ @EddyDove 21h21 hours ago

Iheanacho 20, Iwobi 21, Onyekuru 19, Ndidi 20, Simon 21, Aina 20...If I was a true Nigerian I'd be getting pretty excited right about now!
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Re: ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

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EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal to pay 8 million Euros transfer fee, £38,000-a-week for Onyekuru

May 24, 2017 44

SCORENigeria has yet again Arsenal have moved a step forward in their bid to sign exciting Nigerian striker Henry Onyekuru after they offered to pay his Belgian club eight million Euros as transfer fee, while the player will be on £38,000-a-week.

SCORENigeria first broke the story on Monday morning that Arsenal have opened transfer talks with KAS Eupen for the striker.

The 19-year-old forward, who is in Eagles camp in Ajaccio for international friendlies, is now the top target of a rash of Premier League clubs after a super run in the just-ended season in Belgium.

A source close to the enterprising player revealed only to scorenigeria.com that Arsenal prepared to fork out eight million Euros to Eupen as transfer fee with the player on an initial salary of £38,000-a-week.

“All things being equal Henry (Onyekuru) will realise his dream and aspiration of playing for his childhood club Arsenal as the London club have offered to pay him £38,000 a week and also ready to pay Eupen eight million Euros.

“He may even get more as talks are still on going with his agency Mercato.”

http://scorenigeria.com.ng/2017/05/24/e ... -onyekuru/
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Re: ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

Post by Abbey »

Let's hope all these hyping are deserved. We'll soon find out...
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Re: ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

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Wishing him luck wherever he lands.
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Re: ARTICLES: On Henry Onyekuru

Post by niyi »

What was the point of comparing his output to Mbappe's? Ine is a winger and the other a striker.
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