Season › 2018-19 › News
Onyekuru scores title-deciding goal for Galatasaray
The Nigerian striker, on loan from Everton for the season, netted the crucial goal in a game that descended into chaos at times as fans threw projectiles from the stands and Emmanuel Adebayor ended up being shoved to the ground.
Onyekuru scored his 17th goal in all competitions for Galatasaray this season after Soufiane Feghouli had cancelled out Riad Bajic's opener.
It capped what has been a successful season for the 21-year-old, one which will enhance his chances of more regular action for Nigeria and, in turn, bring him closer to meeting eligibility requirements for a work permit to play in the English Premier League.
His 14 goals in 30 league games meant he finished top scorer for Galatasaray but according to Paul Joyce of The Times, there are no guarantees Onyekuru would break into Everton's first team next season if he were granted permission to play in England.
Joyce quotes Marco Silva as saying: "I didn't decide yet. At this moment we have four [right-footed] wingers in our squad — Richarlison, Lookman, Bernard and Theo — and he is one more with a right foot. We would have to think about a work permit, also."
Onyekuru was signed by the Blues in the summer of 2017 and spent the next season on loan at Anderlecht for whom he made 19 league appearances, scoring nine times before suffering a knee injury.
To date he has seven caps for Nigeria but is expected to be in their squad for the Africa Cup of Nations which kicks off in Egypt in a just over a month's time.
Reader Comments (38)
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2 Posted 20/05/2019 at 09:22:23
Surprised to hear that he is considered a winger.
However, if you look at his gold return and compare it to Theo and also compare the rages and the fact that Theo apparently wants to go to the MLS, I can see no contest.However, if you look at his goal return and compare it to Theo's and also compare their ages and the fact that Theo apparently wants to go to the MLS, I can see no contest.
3 Posted 20/05/2019 at 09:29:01
By contrast, Theo Walcott does not do well on the left at all. He certainly prefers the right. You would think that he, wanting to be a central striker, could copy the Richarlison style and use the left side to get central, particularly when the striker goes right. He scored a good goal doing just that a couple of weeks ago.
Lookman seems to be capable on either flank, and i'm not sure which side is his best. I used to think it was the left, but he looked very comfortable on the right.
Mirallas certainly prefers the left, and never did well from the right. He always used the wide position to cut inside, beat a man and shoot. He cannot do that from the right, as he has no left foot. Mirallas never liked getting crosses in, so having no left foot didn't hinder him on the left.
Bolasie is very right footed, but he can cross well with his left. He's clearly worked hard on his left over the years. Whether he can get the explosive speed back that underpinned his ability to beat a man remains to be seen. Whether he was good enough before his injury is a different debate all together.
Vlasic is not a winger at all. He's far too slow. He cannot beat a man wide, where you need pace. In the middle, his quick feet allow him to dance through congested areas and he's certainly quick enough there. He'll never be a winger for me though.
So Henry, I'd say, work permit aside, that there is a space for him. I doubt Theo Walcott would be sold, due to his big wages being too much for most suitors, but Lookman may well be sold and so Henry could easily take his space.
We've been linked to quite a few wingers in the press. That would indicate that we are looking at wingers. For example, Lossl aside, you don't see us linked with goalkeepers.
Personally, I think there's nothing better in football than a flying winger. I think Richarlison and Bernard are right up there and both can be better next season. I would like to think that Lookman can improve and find more playing time too, whilst Theo could be sold. I wouldn't be looking to sign a first choice winger, not unless a top class player is available (ie one good enough for a CL team). I would also hope that there's room for Gordon, Evans, Bowler or Broadhead to get a look in too. Gordon in particular (the youngest of the quartet) is my tip for the first team, he's more of a number 10, but often plays on the right for the u23s and is more likely to get games there than ousting Sigurdsson.
4 Posted 20/05/2019 at 09:56:36
5 Posted 20/05/2019 at 09:59:29
Also, can see Theo heading to the MLS this summer, so that should free up a slot.
6 Posted 20/05/2019 at 10:16:01
He deserves to be given a chance.
Other clubs seem to be able to get work permits, but Everton seem to sit back and accept it.
7 Posted 20/05/2019 at 10:37:51
8 Posted 20/05/2019 at 10:41:38
Get him here and let's have a look.
9 Posted 20/05/2019 at 11:17:08
Ray @6, spot on there with the Work permit argument, as I have mentioned on here once or twice, other Clubs never seem to face these issues.
We could definitely do with at least running the rule over both Henry and Vlasic even if it's just a couple weeks at Finch Farm to assess their usefulness to us and see if they genuinely want go be with us.
The only thing with Vlasic, who allegedly has stated that he wants a move, is wanted but Russian side CSKA are unlikely to cough up what we should be asking for him.
The other side of the coin being as well is that if a Work Permit is sorted out and Vlasic was convinced to stay, would Silva give them decent game time?
I was a bit pissed off last season that when we went through that turgid period and crying out for change, or at least different tactics/personnel Silva kept picking the same crew and tactics which didn't appear to be working.
10 Posted 20/05/2019 at 11:36:42
But he is absolutely rapid. And that's useful. Will he work as hard as Silva wants his wingers too? I'm not convinced.
11 Posted 20/05/2019 at 16:13:35
12 Posted 20/05/2019 at 17:11:42
13 Posted 20/05/2019 at 18:33:08
However, Henry has done well and who cares if he is another right footer if he can find the net.
Townsend of Palace is very one footed but does well on the opposite flank.
Theo and Lookman have failed to impress this season especially Theo who has had many opportunities but not enough goals when it mattered.
14 Posted 20/05/2019 at 19:06:33
15 Posted 20/05/2019 at 19:10:47
16 Posted 20/05/2019 at 19:24:30
Maybe we'll just sell him for double and put it down to a reasonable investment, Chelsea style.
17 Posted 20/05/2019 at 23:34:50
18 Posted 21/05/2019 at 00:05:46
Onyekuru can only score within the league he's playing; imo, both he and Vlasic should be kept for our first-team squad until at least after preseason, and ideally until at least January to see what they offer us.
19 Posted 21/05/2019 at 01:56:58
20 Posted 21/05/2019 at 02:05:40
There is a goal Henry set up with a nice backheel pass. Video review cancelled it for a handball by a teammate. And then his goal.
Really want to see him at Goodison.
21 Posted 21/05/2019 at 08:10:38
I have never totally trusted a player who has half a sheep's arse on his head, but I think Henry could persuade me to think otherwise. I personally hope we can get the Work Permit sorted, even if only to assess him, and have a bit of a pre-season with us.
I know these clips can make players look better than they are, but he has scored goals everywhere he has been, so he must be doing something right.
22 Posted 21/05/2019 at 11:31:51
Henry is like the rest. It's all potential until we see them playing in the Prem. I'm with you, let's get him in and see what he can do. I'll say this, though, since I do make a point of checking up on him. For a scrawny-looking little fucker, he's actually very strong and definitely WILL fight to get the ball.
Hopefully, we can get him in and see what's what.
And that little backheel pass for the disallowed goal made me think of Pienaar. I remember him assisting on a goal or three with that backpass.
23 Posted 21/05/2019 at 12:14:53
24 Posted 21/05/2019 at 13:14:05
Here we are, what 3 years on, and we still don't know if we can get the visa. Seems like absolute bullshit to me that deflects from the core of the business. good player or not.
Yours truly
Absolutely perplexed
25 Posted 21/05/2019 at 13:28:17
I've got news for you mate...We still are.
26 Posted 21/05/2019 at 14:33:50
27 Posted 21/05/2019 at 14:53:04
28 Posted 21/05/2019 at 15:06:02
29 Posted 21/05/2019 at 15:39:04
Nothing to be perplexed about. If we do end up selling the lad, it'll likely be for more than double what we paid. Or, if we can get the work permit (if not now, maybe in January), we have an exciting new player.
Personally I hope he can make his career here, fast and skilful and decent goal record, and very young still.
Walcott is just not good enough, Lookman may not have a future with us, so wide players are much needed.
30 Posted 21/05/2019 at 16:29:03
31 Posted 22/05/2019 at 01:16:38
We have been on so many wrong decisions over the decades, if we get the right players in, you can bet we will not be 40 odd points behind them next season.
The also rans will hopefully start getting right decisions, but you can be sure the top clubs will be dreading var coming in.
32 Posted 22/05/2019 at 07:29:15
How did Gala's goal get disallowed for a slight handball on the halfway line, Did one of the opposition players ask the ref to check the telly?
If he did then is this going to happen every time a goal is scored? This will eventually take the emotion out of the game, and it wouldn't surprise me if the refs then start deciding how to use this rule?
I hope we have a big fucking bouquet of flowers ready for Martin Atkinson anyway, because I'm sure he's dreading refereeing Everton, and finally having to give them a decision, so maybe this VAR, might just work!
33 Posted 23/05/2019 at 15:53:05
Waiter!!! One more please!
34 Posted 23/05/2019 at 17:08:27
35 Posted 23/05/2019 at 22:20:26
Guys where do I find the Transfer Rumour tracker?
36 Posted 23/05/2019 at 22:30:15
37 Posted 23/05/2019 at 22:56:39
Many thanks.
38 Posted 26/05/2019 at 17:14:25
This all points to him moving to Anfield.
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1 Posted 20/05/2019 at 08:26:34
We are a bit overloaded with wingers, not to mention Bolasie, Vlasic and Mirallas even, we could also include Bowler and Dowell at a stretch - although Bernard habitually plays on the left for us.