DJBOB Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) I think under Unai, he’s a lot more economical about what to do with the ball depending on where he is on the pitch and his off the ball runs. During his assist, it’s easy to miss but he checks back and makes his marker slow down before turning on the jets to get in behind for McGinn’s pass. And if you watch him off the ball, he is constant in these off the ball movements. Always executing double or triple moves - towards the ball, in behind, cutting in. It makes his marker jittery and his movement unpredictable. When he receives the ball, he’s making the right decisions too. He rarely tries to take on his marker in the middle third of the pitch, and as a result, we rarely have a high turnover coming down his side. When he receives it entering the final third, his marker is afraid of getting too close lest he blow by them so he can set up passes like the one he did for Cash for the second goal. And when he receives it in the final third in stride, he’s got whatever poor LB he’s playing backpedaling immediately and as a defender, that’s the last thing you want to be doing - back pedaling into your box not knowing which way Leon is going. Edited February 25 by DJBOB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) Just seeing the closeup of his build up to the pass for Ollie's goal. Wow, it had to be perfect to pull it off Running at speed, chops it past the first defender with perfect precision and weight (With Outside of foot ), then passes it though minimal space between 2nd defenders leg, with again just enough precision to evade the third defenders outstretched leg and perfectly into Ollie's path! Edited February 25 by JAMAICAN-VILLAN 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rightdm00 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 3 hours ago, Leeroy said: Yeah 2007-08 but they were mostly from crosses or set pieces, Bailey's assists are more varied. I did say Bailey's challenge will be to do it consistently for next 3-4 years, if he does he will eclipse Young. Agree. Bailey absolutely looks to be the better player. Now just needs to bring the consistency part. Honestly if Unai gives us a couple more years we will have a # of new Villa legends that will surpass anyone from our previous time in the PL. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 (edited) Edited February 25 by Jas10 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 The key/answer to unlocking our players’ full potential, ability and form: Playing for a world class coach and manager makes all the difference… he’s educated and elevated them and got them playing with confidence and joy… it’s beautiful to behold… Better to “go big” on the right manager (we’ve seen what happens when you go the other way, far too often) than to splash out on players with no rhyme or reason. We are blessed. Support and appreciate this man as much as possible… Well done Leon, you’ve been brilliant… keep going 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 As well as his dazzling displays on the pitch, I do enjoy Leon’s interviews too… speaks really well… positive yet humble… so invested and determined. There’s no lack of work ethic with Unai around… but also, it’s so good to see our players with smiles on their faces and enjoying their football (and playing such a wonderful and effective style)… must be such a good vibe and atmosphere at the club… it’s quite apparent/evident… Our manager has done such incredible work… it’s hard to fully appreciate… but there’s loads still to do! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 The talent was always there with Leon… it was more about being properly coached, given the correct guidance and instruction, finding fitness and consistency… and Unai has given him everything he needed in that sense… that’s why he is excelling now… we wouldn’t have ever seen these kind of displays under any previous manager… Just as he has done with players like McGinn and Luiz… Unai has taken Leon to a whole new level… that few would have imagined… Pau is an example of a player who he has helped develop (just look how good he is!) previously too… it’s bloody exciting to think of the form he will bring out of other players too… just a bit of time and patience needed on our side… The players are really lucky and need to make the most of this opportunity to learn and develop… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condimentalist Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 18 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: Just seeing the closeup of his build up to the pass for Ollie's goal. Wow, it had to be perfect to pull it off Running at speed, chops it past the first defender with perfect precision and weight (With Outside of foot ), then passes it though minimal space between 2nd defenders leg, with again just enough precision to evade the third defenders outstretched leg and perfectly into Ollie's path! Yes that was an exceptional assist and he knew exactly what he was doing. Man is red hot right now. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 26 VT Supporter Share Posted February 26 One of our most important players. I was ready to sell him in the Summer. Remarkable turnaround. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steero113 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 On 25/02/2024 at 00:48, Rightdm00 said: Bailey is on track to have more league G+A than Grealish has ever had in a season. Jack was amazing but he never had much end product. What? This is absolutely, utterly, unfathomably, mental. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jas10 Posted February 26 Popular Post Share Posted February 26 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted February 26 Popular Post Share Posted February 26 3 minutes ago, Jas10 said: 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 I’d rather forget JG and not speak of him again, part of our past and didn’t want to be part of our future… we move on, and we’ve been all the better for it tbh, esp since Unai arrived. He is irrelevant to me at least… Anyway, they are different players… JG could hold onto and carry the ball but would tend to slow down play for the most part and try to create… whereas Bailey is faster (has a wider array of skills too) and more of an attacking/goal threat… he enjoys the speed of the game rather than trying to slow it down and dictate things… it’s about being effective and clinical for him now and it’s wonderful to see… But… it’s hard to compare, JG played in different (inferior) teams and for different (inferior) managers… Leon is here for the now and future… we can forget all about the guy who turned his back on us and just focus on and enjoy the players who are helping push us forwards and enjoying being at the club… Maybe Purslow did alright in the end , apart from Ings(!) I suppose we have replaced him in the aggregate and are a much better team regardless these days! I must always mention Unai though… he is the real reason we are so good now… 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 2 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: Lovely to see that it’s all working out so well now, the key was having a proper coach and manager at the club to get the best out of players like Leon… they were being hindered… I was massively excited when we first signed Leon and, tbh, he had underwhelmed until Unai arrived… now he’s even better than many of us had expected! What a turnaround, what a story… the next chapter is to take us to CL!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jas10 Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 7 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: Delighted that both Ollie and Leon have committed their futures to the club, it makes them even more likeable too Proper deadly partnership now… they will continue to be vital in terms of what we achieve and our aspirations… Boy do we have some top players now… UTV!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philosopher Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 He is now the ideal Emery right winger. Unplayable at his best. So exciting. I knew he come good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders129 Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 PL stats since he arrived: 13 goals, 13 assists. For context Grealish is 11g/11a in the same period (whilst playing for a team on top of everyone) With the trajectory he’s on I’m very happy where we are. Not to go off topic but Buendia’s bagged 9g/8a without playing this season and Ings 13g/6a and we recouped £10m I know just looking at g/an output is reductive but if someone offered you £30m and 40 extra g/an over three years you’d say it was a pretty good deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 The pass in the lead up to Luiz goal was sublime as well - perfect lane, weight and angle. ( Think the pass was to McGinn ) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Condimentalist Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 3 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said: The pass in the lead up to Luiz goal was sublime as well - perfect lane, weight and angle. ( Think the pass was to McGinn ) To Cash. Yeah lovely. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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