TheLegendOfLeonBailey31

Obviously a huge Bailey fan (allthough I wish I could change my handle)... but I agree about him being dropped... or at the very least agree that he needs to show better consistency and take advantage of the opportunities he continues to get. He has moments of pure class, but far too often he's swinging and missing in one way or another. I hope he finds a groove here at the end of the season and starts being what I had hoped he would be when he signed for us. Want him to succeed in a Villa shirt.

Has the potential to be an absolute force.... he's already a unit that moves like a gazelle and he's not even a "man" yet... he's impressed in his first 2 PL appearances as a 19 year old. That control turn around rocket off the bar was sublime. I would have creamed my shorts if that went in. Emery mentioned he's been impressed but still needs to work with him tactically speaking... I think under Unai's tutelage, he could really really flourish. It's going to be fun watching him continue to get his feet wet the rest of this year, and then this Summer is going to be huge. Next August it's time to unleash him.

Fantastic start.... really going to be able to get his message/style/tactics etc across to the players during the WC break... hopefully we finish strong. Excited about then Emery era.

Hope that is the sign of more things to come.... I think Unai is really going to unlock the best that LB31 has to offer. Exciting start.

...and I hope he is. He's SG's guy.... SG's gone, and Coutinho has been horrible so far this year. Buendia all day over him for me. Get him out.

I'm excited both because we get to retain the player, but also if someone does want to come from him we can cash in on that asset. He was phenomenal today though. Hope to see a lot more of that.

Cool if I post again? Haha... hell of a game from him today. Was awesome against Chelsea, shit mid-week, but awesome today again playing in his natural position. Long may it continue.

He was outstanding... If only JJ had a better first touch on that 2v1

I think a personal message is due again to address what's going on... maybe it would help turn around the toxicity some. Transparency and just trying to reengage with a fan base that is less than pleased.

100%. Definitely good partner for Bouba... will definitely help in the areas we are lacking... give us some profile on set pieces at both ends... a little more strength/size overall... and both LD and Bouba will hopefully start busting shit up in midfield and releasing our talent to go the other way.

4-2-3-1 please. We are leaking goals.... play two CDMs (LD32 and BK44) to help us quell that and stop getting bossed in midfield.... and then pick your front 4.

In my opinion this is horrendous asset management. I like Luiz... think he's a quality player.... but we've been playing him in a sub-optimal role (much better as an 8 than a 6), and rarely starting him. Yet we don't want to sell him, and he won't extend. I get not wanting to sell him at the last minute because then you're **** until January if you can't bring in a replacement, but letting a player like him go for nothing in the Summer, is again, poor asset management. My hope is SG starts putting him in the XI to start, and he establishes himself prior to the world cup... maybe we turn things around, the mood changes, and he signs an extension... and if not... I 1000000% move him in January if you can, and bring in a replacement for the rest of the year. If we let him leave for nothing in the Summer I'll be pretty miffed

Can sack Gerrard all you want.... but if Purslow and Lange don't go with him... I think that's a mistake.

Agree to disagree. Coutinho, for me, is just getting his place because of his past successes... he can't finish 90 minutes... and just doesn't create what Buendia creates. Bailey and Buendia are our two brightest most talented player that actually might help us look dangerous and actually score.

I think we are in big big big trouble. Our two most talented players, in my opinion at least, Buendia and Bailey... rarely start. Bailey's dad/agent blasts Gerard yesterday. I imagine Buendia isn't happy and neither is Leon. Coutinho looks cooked for the most part and can't finish 90 minutes. Mings stripped of captaincy, given to McGinn, who frankly looks poor for the most part... his slip that led to a 2v1 and should have probably led to us going behind had me losing my shit. Seems like the morale/vibe around the club is pure shit... we can't create shit... and we just find ways to lose and play uninspired football. With the roster we have, the results should be better... so maybe it is a SG issue? All I know is this is not what I was expecting this year to be.... and now we have 3 points from 4, about to play Arsenal and Man City.

Sort of insane that this is even being discussed. Last season didn't end great, and the Bournemouth loss was horrendous... but let's give the man some time... especially now that one of his big signings is more or less done for the year. That's not his fault. I'm interested to see what SG/Lange etc decide to do over these next two weeks. Regardless, I'm backing SG and the project unless it becomes painfully obvious that we need to go another avenue. I think stability at a club is important.

Not trying to dig at you... but how in the world do you not have Buendia in your starting XI after what we just witnessed? Coutinho did literally nothing in 60 minutes. Emi was a firecracker.... had 3 key passes and a goal and was all over the place making things happen.

I'll give it to Watkins with two assists. Would have loved for him to finish that chance late, or facilitate again (if he drew it back instead of shot, Buendia had a wide open net). Speaking of Buendia. Has to start. He was so lively once coming on. Made so much more happen in 30 minutes than Coutinho did in 60. Kamara great. Ramsey much better, so dangerous carrying the ball. Great to see Mings get back in and play well. Hope Carlos, Cash and Coutinho are alright. Really would have enjoyed a stress free finish versus what it was... but we'll take the three points and move on.

Good lord are we bad at set pieces.... gotta fix that somehow. Very happy to be up 1-0 and that Waktins/Ings hooked up. Coutinho next to no impact in that first 45. Wonder when Gerard will bring on fresh legs to kill the game. Would like a double swap of Buendia and Bailey early in the 2nd half. Let's finish this **** game and get 3 points.

Newbie... Joined October 17th 2021 (day after the Wolves debacle), first result after joining was 3-1 loss to Arsenal. JJ's first ever PL goal.

I personally think it's possible. Mentioned that a few times and certainly this display, and also his reaction afterwards makes me think that. If things were okay in the dressing room, and he had them really behind him, then he would have ripped them for that performance. He didn't do that... I expected rage, and he was soft like a kitten in his interviews. Just my opinion at least.

Same here. Beyond pumped... and that's all been erased real quick.

I think it's clear that we need a top quality number 8 in the door, pronto, and that we currently lack pace, creativity, and cohesion/unity. So so many crosses that seemed to be blindly driven that had legitimately no chance of finding anyone. Yes they sat back, parked the bus etc after the insanely early goal conceded (instant shrinkage for this fella) but shouldn't the players and the coaches be able to figure out a way to break them down and get at least 1 or 2 quality looks? If you can't figure it out in the remaining 43 minutes of the first half... surely at the half you can put together a plan and go out and execute it. I don't know. Just such a deflating game. Anyone get the feeling that maybe things aren't all warm and fuzzy in the locker room with the stripping of the captaincy, dropping of Mings, Buendia not being in the starting XI even though he's clearly one of our best players, Sansons cryptic post etc? Very much hoping they train pissed off this week, and came out against Everton and blow their doors off. Need that big time. Otherwise things are going to get toxic quick I fear... and continued shrinkage for me.

Anytime Bill Murray is used as a response, I'm all for it... especially when it's used this well. Bravo.

Even he wasn't that bright.... the brightest of a lot of dim performances... I'm more concerned with the style of play... or lack their of. I think we need a serious midfielder coming in... and I'm not even sure that fixes it.