Philosopher

If Jack were in this team instead of Buendia that inside left of midfield box, we would be murdering teams. Jack is better than Ash as a winger. Both at their peak, Jack's goals and assists ratio in his last two seasons with us is every bit as good a Youngs if not better. Plus Jack controlled games on his own. Remember Ash had the advantage of a better manager and more competitive team. Jack kept a team up that would otherwise finish last, then got a team to 11th that should have been embroiled in a relegation fight.

Sorry, but to put Buendia in the top 5 is in my opinion putting the cart before the horse. Watkins, Mings, and Martinez are far more important to the first team than him. We can't compare ability of defenders with attackers, as they're totally different skillsets, so instead I look at importance to the team, of which he is probably behind Young, Moreno, and Ramsey as well. Is Ramsey a better player, in aspects yes in others no. But I'd argue his physicality and ball carrying are more important. But I don’t think there is much difference between the two. Bailey has put in many crosses and cutbacks that should have had a finish on. Claiming poor finishing or movement is simply pie in the sky. All teams miss more chances than they score. To blame his inferior numbers on poor finishing is laughable. Sorry, I usually agree with you on many points, but we have to differ here.

Cash absolutely has a future here. But much of that depends on whether, Emery rates KKH, and whether he is happy being rotated, and not being first choice. Cash can be an attacking force for Emery as what he asks his attacking fullbacks to do is bomb forward, play one twos, and get to the byline. Cash can do that. I hope he doesn't try to sign Juan Foyth as he is too slow. Whether he wants a more defensive right back or not, whoever it is will need some pace.

Sorry but Buendia has done nothing to deserve being in our top 5 players list, let alone being spoken of in the same breath as Martinez. You can probably count his good performances on one hand. He might have one man if the match award in one and a half seasons. He played well at the weekend, but it wasn't like he was unplayable, and we lost! Buendia isn't anywhere near being a nailed on starter, like Martinez, Kamara, Luiz, Mings, and even Watkins (who has done far more at Villa then Buendia). Bailey has more goals, assists, and man of the match awards, but gets constantly hammered on here. Seriously I like Buendia, he is talented, and he tries his best. But his lack of pace, strength, and not being a capable ball carrier hamper his effectiveness.

I don't remember that. But I do remember his step dad (Butler) to say that Bailey is a winger. His left foot is very good, he is very comfortable on the left. I can see him being used on both flanks depending on what Emery plans to target, and the respective form.of the wide players.

I disagree with you on two points. Firstly Emery's tactical approach is about overloading one side of the pitch a having versatility throughout the team so the team can shape-shift between different formations. As we have both said the team (once fully adjusted to his methods) will be able to seamlessly shift between 2 to 6 at the back, 2 to 4 central midfielders, and 1 to 3 forwards. This is also a coach that uses his subs to change games. Versatility and flexibility is what make his system work. He would absolutely look to target the right side of the pitch if a weakness was identified there. At Villareal he had Pino, Baeno, Chukwueze, and Danjuma 4 very different widemen and rarely did he play even 3 together. Baeno popped up on both wings. He also had Moreno up to who also can play off the right. That's without mentioning Nicolas Jackson. So the idea he will only play one way just isn't right. As for Duran you don't replace a 21 year old talented striker for a 19 year old because he less ready for first team football. Throw in he let Ings leave hints at his huge potential. The MLS is comparable to the Championship, where he excelled for a really poor team. So he isn't as far off as it seems at first glance. I'm not saying he is ready now, but this time next season I wouldn't be surprised if he was on the verge of cementing a place in the first team.

Well he could use Mings as an inverted left back (as there isn't much difference between a ball playing centre back that used to be a fullback and a 6 fullback cross) with Cash RB, and Duran right striker. Put Bailey left wing (where he is better suited), as left forward then have Buendia inside him. If Duran is good enough this could be extremely effective. A diagonal ball from Mings to Duran could be a nice little pressure reliever. Plus Mings carrying to ball into midfield from left back. Also if you have a big tall striker on the right having a left winger pumping in crosses from the left. Bailey can certainly cross.

If you look at Emery's system, the attacking left back and left striker work the left wing, and the left winger is a central midfielder. Then he has a more conventional approach of the right, with the right striker playing as a right forward providing plenty of width, that doesn't need to track back much. With a conventional defensively oriented full back. Essentially a lop-sided 4-4-1-1. He chose to favour attacking one side of the pitch (in this case the left). This concentrates our attacking threat on that side, but with one or two passes the ball can be switched to the right side with that wide forward in acres of space. John Duran is a left footed striker converted from a winger with pace and power. So it's highly likely he was brought in to do the same as Ollie only from the right channel. We also have Cash that can do the marauding fullback role. Also we can move Bailey to the left to play as a conventional winger for a very different attacking threat that keeps the two banks of 4 unchanged. You basically have a winger whipping in dangerous crosses into the path of a striker with the presence of a target man, but the pace and skill of winger. We can move Mings to left back and Carlos to left CB, then we can go to 5 or even 6 at the back without a single personnel change. Also Nico Williams is starting to make more sense. As I was a little confused as to why he want another left footed right forward, when we have both Bailey and now Traore back. But it makes sense if you consider Bailey to be more comfortable on the left and as a conventional winger. Traore and Williams are both very much inside forwards. Then he can even play Bailey as the left midfielder or as left forward, and there is plenty of competition at right forward, and left forward.

I always said Ollie is perfect for Emery's system. He has the pace and work rate to stretch teams, loves to work that left channel, and has enough strength to hold the ball up. Literally Ollie is made for Emery's tactical approach. So even if Emery decided that Ollie wasn't quite good enough for his first choice, he would certainly be good enough for now and a fantastic squad player if a superior alternative is acquired. If you look at Emery's system, the attacking left back and left striker work the left wing, and the left winger is a central midfielder. Then he has a more conventional approach of the right, with the right striker playing as a right forward providing plenty of width, that doesn't need to track back much. With a conventional defensively oriented full back. Essentially a lop-sided 4-4-1-1. John Duran is a left footed striker converted from a winger with pace and power. So it's highly likely he was brought in to do the same as Ollie only from the right channel. We also have Cash that can do the marauding fullback role. Also we can move Bailey to the left to play as a conventional winger for a very different attacking threat that keeps the two banks of 4 unchanged. You basically have a winger whipping in dangerous crosses into the path of a striker with the presence of a target man, but the pace and skill of winger. We can move Mings to left back and Carlos to left CB, then we can go to 5 or even 6 at the back without a single personnel change.

Ollie looks to be gaining confidence. Think he is finding his feet again.

Digne looks to cross, Moreno looks to get to the byline and either cut back or flash it back across the six yard box. Moreno is better in congested areas due to his superior pace and agility. For what he does Digne needs to do better defensively. Moreno gets further forward and links up very well but leaves space to attack as a result. We play with a double pivot and our wide midfielders work hard and want to be more central so we have ample cover for a marauding fullback. I felt Moreno gave us better balance going forward. We lost that Balance a bit when Bailey was taken off. Digne is more comparable to Targett. Targett wants to play like Moreno, but is to slow a cumbersome in comparison. Digne is a better crosser than Targett, they all have their defensive frailties. Targett gets murdered everytime he is left exposed one on one against pace. Moreno, lacks a defenders instincts, and Digne in rash, has poor communication.

I said it yesterday, we will need luck with VAR

He needed a good performance, shame it was marred by a loss!

If you concede 4 goals and score 2 it's not failure to take chances why you lose! I do agree on Duran, looks lively. Looks like we may not need that striker we all want.

We conceeded 4 goals, defensive errors all around, 2 huge mistakes from Kamara, but Bailey gets the blame? We attacked really well, scored two, should have scored more, but Bailey part of that attacking performance is to blame for us losing! I can't comprehend! This is not rational at all!

Ming lost his man after the clearance. Has to do better in those situations.

So he is human!

Bailey's looking sharp.

It was a simple chance to take one that most prem players would score nine times out of ten.

Most people can jump half a foot. A tall player wouldn't even need to jump.

Buendia is supposed to be a create, supposed to help us break opposition down. I haven’t seen enough of this. He is very replaceable, throughout his time at Villa we haven’t seen him do this with any regularity. He is making Bailey look consistent.

A header from 6 yards with a prone goalie. Not on a plate yeah!

His goal against Leeds was in a plate he was just in the right place. His overall performance that day was poor. His second half performance against Tottenham was good. That's it. Bailey has been far better, but far more shat upon!

Don't where to put this, but looking at things, it can be argued that with Ings sold, Buendia looking very poor ATM, and Bailey being a mixed bag, along with the return of Traore and resurgence of McGinn, that none of the 100m worth of Grealish replacements should be starting games for us if everyone is fit. This really shows the summer 2021 business in an awful light. 100m mostly wasted! Ironically I have feeling that if Bailey was played left, Buendia Right midfield and a proper centre forward like a Moussa Dembele that plays through the middle would be very dangerous.

I would say McGinn tries a lot of through balls when played on the front left of the midfield box. The difference for.me is McGinn is stronger and faster and holds on to the ball better and carries it better then Buendia. I am starting to think a fully fit and firing McGinn starts ahead of Buendia. It could be that our best starting line up doesn't have any if the three Grealish replacements. Though I do prefer Bailey to Traore, but not by much.