Keener window-cleaner

He played really well for Sweden yesterday, Austria would have been 3-4 goals up if it wasn't for him in the first half. And continued to make some top class saves in the second. Could have done a bit better on the first goal. Austria is not a bad team either, leading the group. PL still seems to physical for him and too high tempo, and he is not at all suited to Emery's tactics where the GK need to be comfortable on the ball. But it's no question that he is a good international class GK.

Not at all, and I'm not saying that he is the required shape, good enough or suggesting he should play for us, only saying that I'd like Emery to have a look at him during pre season as he has a profile that we are lacking, someone who is good at hold up play in the no 10 position. Regarding if Wes is shit or had potential, or how he performed during his 5 months in the premier league I think most is said repeatedly in this thread with a variety of opinions. I of the opinion that he showed enough potential not to rule out that he could become a good premier league player if played to his strengths. His stats were not that bad with 6 goals in half a season. His performances against Everton and Manchester United I thought were really good. Then of course there is no question that he looked a bit awkward, running with a bit of a limp, sometimes his touch and passing looked like he wasn't a footballer by trade and didn't really seem to strike the ball clearly, was quite bad at heading the ball as well. At the same time, he now and then showed some sublime skills with some through balls and nice weighted passes and read the game quite well, as some of the highlight reels show. I don't know if he would have adapted to the PL, but going by the Everton and Man U game I'd be willing to give him a chance. As of now I have no idea at all what shape he is in, but would do no harm to let Emery have a closer look. It would be fun to see Duran and Wes come on for the last 15 mins and bully the defenders! (Perhaps we could throw in grant Holt in that mix as well )

Rumours gone a bit quiet on this one. I'm not sure what I hope for at the moment. A couple of months ago I suggested us going for him. But after more consideration I'm a bit afraid that he is a little bit of a one trick pony. The fact that he doesn't seem to fully fit to our tactics is an interesting one. If he mainly hugs the touchline and lurks around the shoulder of the full back, then runs at goal, well then that is not the way we play with our inverted wingers and Moreno bombing forward. But as Emery has said that he is looking for different porfiles on players, Barnes would give us the option to play with traditional wingers or wide forwards. With Digne as LB and Barnes LW or wide forward there we have a classic left side and would give us options to play that way in some games. Now if it is sound to fork out £30-40M for a player who would excpect to play regularly, just to have in case of a back up tactic, I'm not sure.

I hope he is with us for pre season so that Emery can take a look at him, perhaps he will never come back in the same shape as before his injury, sad if so. But if he can get back to that shape, I do think he fills a profile that we currently dont have. Emery spoke about having players with different profiles to play in different ways. Wesley was in the beginning of his career playing as a no 10, I think a big strong target player as a no 10 is something we are missing. Wesley was acutally quite good in the hold up play and bringing others in to play with one or two touch passes. With the ball at his feet running towards defences he got exposed. But hold up play and then coming in the second wave I think he could do a job, if he gets back in the same shape as before. Wesley occupying a couple of defenders and creating space for Watkins to run could be a tactic in some games.

I watched the game as well as I was interested in taking a closer look at Tielemans. I thought he would play as a holding midfielder, but was a bit surprised that he played to the right in a 3 man midfield, playing quite high up the pitch. I saw it as their tactics was to create space on the wings for their super fast wide forwards and instead of playing through the midfield try to play it directly from the back to the space on the wings. Allthough that was Tielemans main position in the build up play, he quite often drifted centrally and helped out and especially in the second half he quite often was in the holding midfielder role, at times he also was the one pressing high up the pitch. I thought he would be more on the ball in the build up play, dictating play, but as said, I think it had to do with their tactics, not playing through the middle. I think this is why some regard him having a quiet game as he didn't have the ball in the build up as much as expected. The main thing I take away from watching him though is how mobile and quick he is. Reading on here I expected to see someone who had lost his legs and was slow, a Tom Huddlestone type. It was nothing like that, I thought he looked quick, and was at times in the second half the one tracking back and helping out in defence despite playing in a more forward role. Now don't misunderstand me, he is probably not fast on longer distances and as a winger or full back he would perhaps be exposed, but operating in the middle of the pitch there is no problem what so ever as I see it. As said he looks quick in his first steps and in the first yards of running. He looked athletic and put himself about. As a comparison I dont think De Breune is very fast on long distances either, neither is Luiz and he is excellent. Allthough he didn't have the ball that much you can see that he is really good on the ball, yes he misplaces a couple of through balls, but he also picked out some sublime passes that directly created good chances. The shot at the end also shows what he is capable of. Another thing that struck me was that he reads the game really good, he helps out and is in good positions defensively and in the build up play and often gives instructions, looks a really intelligent player. A top top signing this.

I think he looks absolutely fantastic, sublimed control and good passing, and that x-factor with speed and dribbling, scores some real wonder goals as well. He played quite much for Spain in the WC which says a lot for a 20 year old not playing at Barca or Real. I think it would be an absolute steal if we could get him.

Booo! Lee Kang OUT! I had really high hopes that we would sign him, seemed perfect for us and a real talent, someone who can keep possession and also create, and seemed to be fairly cheap. Booo-boo-booo! Anyways, give med Harvey Barnes to the left and some exciting player like Nico Williams or Deulofeu to the right and I'm fine! To that a new back up GK, CB, RB and perhaps a striker please

Thanks but I don't read too much into statistics (yes Wes Edens, Lange & co won't like me)

MysteryMan with Hairyhands!

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts @GrumpyFox! Must say I have a soft spot for Leicester, it's a nice club and followed them a bit as your former player Pontus Kåmark is from my home town. Regarding Harvey Barnes I posted on here some moths ago that he was one of the players I wanted us to sign this summer, if possible. However, playing the devils advocate there are some things that has made me hesitate a bit lately. First of all, would you say that he is a topp class passer suited to a possession based playing style? Under Emery we play with lots of possessions that requires players who are really good and careful passers. We already have one direct runner in Bailey, he is supposed to be a winger, but as he is quite much heads down and makes his own runs where he loses the ball more than 50% of the time, he is often played in a more advanced position in the front two. I'm a bit worried that Barnes is the same type of player that doesn't contribute to the possession as much, but rather lurks around the full back and, plays a one-two and runs at goal (and does that really well). So what would you say, can he adapt to a possession style of play? Didn't Rodgers play with much possession as well? The second thing is that I don't know how much effort he puts in defensively. In Moreno we have a very much forward going full back, so he will need to track back and cover for him at times. Will he do that? And lastly, how is his character? Is he a nice person, good team mate? Thanks!

He is one of my favourite players.

We had villalad21, but unfortunately he has gone quiet over the last few years.

Fully agree, problem is he is not a quick and good enough passer of the ball to be suited to a possession based system like we now have, or any other mid table PL team. Defensively and breaking up play he is top class!

10/10 all around, 100 out of ten for Emery! Fantastic performance and super result! So happy that we have qualified for Europe now!!!

Feels like a top club reject, would rather we sign a top up and coming player from a team around or below us. But if Emery wants him, bring him here. First Villa manager that I wholeheartedly trust to sign whoever he thinks suits us.

I think Barcelona has been really dogdy run over the last years, wouldn't really want anyone involved in that coming to us. Big name or not.

Big Donk was solid today, not a misplaced pass. We know his limitations, he will take one or two touches on the ball too much, but that's better than trying to play direct passes and make howlers. Likewise he will never play the through balls that Luiz does, but he does a good job defensively and is solid. Should upgrade on him in the summer though. Or he can stay and be fourth choice to the mid two spots.

Traoré or Delphino123?

Get a room!

I think what adds to the impression that he is really bad is that he has played in so few matches, and in those it has been away to Man C, against Liverpool (or was it Man U?), away to a flying Newcastle. It hasn't made it more easy for him. Also that he comes in and directly gets compared to Martinez. Ability wise, he is far better than Nyland, Kalinic and Bunn for example, but he surly hasn't showed it so far. So just going by his few performances for us, I'd say he is up among the worst ones. But it's a bit unfair, it's a bit like saying that Helenius is the worst player we ever had as he basically played only one game and lost his pants. This is not a defence of Olsen really, I was sceptic when he arrived and he needs to be replaced asap, but he is not a bad goalkeeper per se, just been very bad for us and isn't suited for the PL.

I think we should consider loaning him out to a PL club where he would start games to give him PL experience and to see if he can produce also at the highest level.

I think it's as simple as the tempo is slower in the Championship.

Yes, there was in particular a bit of a disconnect between him and Watkins with the latter running in another direction than the pass at a couple of times. But as said above, him a Luiz dragged us back into the game at the end, and he put a real shift in and assisted the goal.

I hope he rotates a bit to the Fulham game, it's hard to be 100% in all 3 games in about 10 days and I thought some looked a bit off it today.

I thought Buendia, Luiz and Konsa were our best players today. Don't understand how some thought he had a bad game.