VillaJay

Moreno has been our best player, Tielemans for Diaby at some point is needed.

We're a much better side that these, just need to up the intensity and win the duels in the second half.

22 minutes ago, Condimentalist said:

He reminds me a lot of Balotelli. All the talent but a bit of a loose cannon with questionable attitude. 

Like Balotelli, he can definitely be a difference maker, but whether he fulfils his promise is debatable at this stage. 

I like his potential and if he goes we should command a profit plus a big % sell on fee. We'd better also get a replacement who can start as well as affect games as Duran ain't ready for that. 

Has a bit of that Balotelli fire in him, he's very raw and immature on the pitch, so would not surprise me if he's the same off it.

I'm not convinced he has the technical ability with the ball at his feet to make it at the top level, but he's hard to work out, his goal against palace was brilliant and he has some strong qualities.

Wouldn't be overly disappointed to see him go.

As has been mentioned, disappointing couple of games, but in perspective we are in a really strong position and the utd performance overall was poor, but their goals were result of individual errors and some luck, the high line is an easy stick to beat us with when we lose.

I expect us to beat Burnley well and finish the year in at least third place, our style of play is the best we have potentially ever seen in the premier league and above all it feels sustainable. The MON years relied on individuals and counter attacking, we regularly control games and we have had a little luck in some games, but overall we've earned that through our style of play and bravery to play on the front foot.

The utd loss was a particularly bitter way to lose, but I'm confident we'll be at least 10 points ahead of them by the time they come to VP in February.

Naive, and cost us a little for the goal. Very raw but something there with him.

Stands out like a sore thumb, great attitude, great servant so far, but we've moved quickly and he hasn't been able to keep up, no shame in that, but expectations have gone up hugely and he's not at those levels.

Has plenty of good qualities, but better served from the bench as a squad player.

2 minutes ago, Tom13 said:

Tbf he still needs to prove the consistency. Needs a consistent run of starts to do that and shut the 'haters'/doubters (of which I was one) up properly.

Agreed, playing very well right now and looks to have stepped up to show his best form in his villa career so far. Needs to continue this form, but more than deserves his place in the team right now.

Superb footballer, especially in a possession based system where he's expected to get on the ball.

Hugely impressed with him this season and a very different type of player to Moreno, who is also a very good footballer.

Great options.

To be fair, even last season where his form was middling at best, he was involved in a lot of goals.

I remember watching a review of all our goals last season, and Bailly had many assists to the assister.

He's always had the contribution ability, he was just lacking some consistency and just getting the basics right.

He's not really suited to this team and I'm sure we would have sold him if we had suitable offers, I also have no idea why we bought him, it seemed a strange signing at the time.

He played very well at home to Newcastle last season and also in the UTD home win too, just two off the top of my head where he contributed and passed the ball well too.

He can contribute as part of an already well drilled team, but missing Mings, Moreno, Ramsay and Buendia is meaning it's taking us some time to get back up to speed as a unit.

Very likeable player, but showing himself to be a bit of a weak link in the first team, played very poorly last night and a lot of moves break down with him.

A good versatile squad option, but as a footballer Digne and Moreno are miles ahead of him.

He puts up good numbers and is a good player, like many wingers he can be very inconsistent and I've heard ex pros before and most recently Ben Foster talk about players mentalities today where the slightest niggle some players just won't play through it, and lack the resilience when things aren't going there way so take the easy way out.

Leon obviously has a strong mentality to get to where he has today in his career so it's hard to know.

Can only play better in the second half, really poor first half performance.

Tielemans looks miles off it so far, as does Donk and many others.

Mings, Buendia, Ramsay and Moreno are huge losses to how we played last season. Will take some time to get back to those levels in performance, but the positive is we have been picking up points.

Villa 2-1 in this one. Have to be better in the second half.

Progress isn't always linear, it's unlikely we would have just kept going like we did last season's run. There will be ups and downs and some heavy defeats which hopefully we've gotten out of the way already.

Unai has shown that this team has a style and identity that so far has been successful, it's still very much a work in progress and once we have JJ and Moreno back our starting 11 will be stronger again.

Not many sides could deal with the injuries we've had to key players without some re-adjustment.

Top 8 and Conference league win this season should be the aim and build again, with hopefully some strong domestic cup runs.

That would be progress once again.

Plenty of experience in the side, helps the younger lads.

Can see another 5-0

It's been a brilliant window and despite the bench at the weekend our depth looks good. Ideally one more attacking player but look at the below options available after the international break, we've never had such options off the bench - All are full internationals too.

Bench

Olsen
Diego Carlos
Lenglet
Tielemans
Bailey
Zaniolo
Dendoncker
Duran
Digne
Chambers
Traore
Coutinho?

Injured
Mings
Buendia

Perfectly suits the way we're looking to play - Emery wants us to control the game, our build up play in defence is crucial to that.

Pau and Lenglet don't need to be physical defenders as the goal is for us to be on the front foot and spend less time defending near our own box.

We don't need a James Tarkowski / Richard Dunne as ideally there will be no need for any last ditch defending with us camped in the opposition's half similar to City and Brighton.

Lenglet is a very good footballer at centre half.

The issue with having too many players is also one we don't see as fans, it's the day to day at the training ground, the imbalance of the sessions and having to fit too many players in.

When Ramsay, Moreno, Donk are back the bench will look much stronger.

We do need 1 more attacking option and ideally a right back but I'm sure the club are working to the last minute, and most likely waiting for clubs to get replacements in etc.,

Sounds like we will look to add 1 or 2 more going off Unai's comments in the article, won't be direct replacements for Ty and Emi so sounds like we are looking for flexible options who can play multiple positions.

Also seemed to confirm Archer, JPB and Aaron Ramsay are all on their way out but with the hope they can come back via buy back clauses.

Maybe a loan and a big name forward option at the last minute like a Ferran Torres, Felix or similar is my guess.

He's fairly effective and puts up some ok numbers in goals and assists, also looking at our goals last season I noticed he was heavily involved in the assist before the assist.

Hopefully he can push on, there's a player there, just very frustrating at times.

Big season for him.

I really don't think Wan Bissaka is any better than Konsa at right back who himself is very good one v one.

I watched Wan Bissaka live a few weeks ago in a friendly and he was really poor technically and his passing was terrible.

Really don't rate him.

2 minutes ago, Rodders said:

Is that genuine, seems a bit early for the line up?

Seems to be real

I'd be surprised if it's not an obligation to buy loan deal, wouldn't make sense otherwise with us in a position of 3 high earning senior left backs next season.

Digne is a good player, but not suited to how emery sets us up.

3 minutes ago, villa89 said:

That's the minimum we should expect. He is going to play around 50 games this season assuming he doesn't get a serious injury. 

Scoring 20+ goals even with conference league to contend, is no easy task and very few players score more than that in the PL each season.

Considering Ollie doesn't pad his tally with pens like Ivan Toney and others, he's done well each season he's been here.

He won't be on pens this season either so 20+ would be a very good return.