Nicolò Zaniolo

[Risso]

30 minutes ago, NurembergVillan said:

I'd be interested to see if he looks any different with Moreno behind him. A totally different kind of full back to Digne, really.

I can't really see why it would make that much difference. His first touch is poor, and he gets dispossessed far too easily. 7 times in one half yesterday. That's not going to change just because somebody different is passing him the ball.

[NurembergVillan]

3 minutes ago, Risso said:

I can't really see why it would make that much difference. His first touch is poor, and he gets dispossessed far too easily. 7 times in one half yesterday. That's not going to change just because somebody different is passing him the ball.

Moreno is quicker and gets up to support and even beyond the attacker a lot sooner than Digne, which gives the defence more to think about.

Zaniolo's passing can be quite cute and I think Moreno would benefit from that.

The first touch and being dispossessed thing, I can't make an argument. It's strange though, because from what I've seen of him elsewhere he looks really polished.

[RicRic]

10 hours ago, Philosopher said:

I felt Bailey tried to make thing happen, but he was double teamed most of the time. 

I'd personally have taken off McGinn for Bailey. I felt that although Zaniolo wasn't particularly effective we had zero threat on the right as both McGinn and Cash were totally shut down. It was a poor game from both McGinn and Cash. Bailey at least provide a threat and we were far more dangerous down that side when Bailey came on.

However when McGinn moved to the left it was worse there. Only Digne provided any attacking threat, at least Zaniolo was getting into dangerous positions and asking more questions. 

In hindsight the half time subs should've been Bailey for McGinn, and Carlos for Cash. Then maybe Mangala wouldn't  have even had that shooting chance. Cash was getting murdered by Elanga defensively, and did absolutely nothing offensively.

Theres no way you can call mcginn poor im not sure you have called that one fairly 

[Philosopher]

9 minutes ago, RicRic said:

Theres no way you can call mcginn poor im not sure you have called that one fairly 

He did have a poor game. He is played in one the creative positions and came nowhere near creating or scoring. Going forward he was impotent yesterday.

Only yesterday mind. But I do find a common theme that whenever he is kept quiet the team tend to lose.

[OutByEaster?]

2 hours ago, NurembergVillan said:

Narrator:
"And here we find ourselves in one of VillaTalk's annual discussions about whether a new signing from a foreign league is either settling in or not good enough.

Watch how they largely disregard their previous experience of good players taking a long time to find their form in a Villa shirt. Even specimens signed from English clubs such as Digne and Buendia.

It's a remarkable sight as they trawl through hours of footage - not just of gameplay, but facial expressions and body language. Round and round they dance, searching for an answer that will only come with time.

Indeed, it is time that shall determine whether the Zaniolo is indeed "good enough" or whether the Alpha Posters have earned that right to say they called it all along."

in a dance as old as time.

[DJBOB]

I think the dispossession and misplaced passes is more of a product of Zaniolo still learning his role in an unfamiliar position. It took ages for Bailey to learn it and he’s just now comfortable with it. 
 
The rest of the team have played their roles for so long that they know when and where the passes are on and off whereas Zaniolo still looks like he needs more time to think where the pass is on. 

[Vive_La_Villa]

He needs to improve.

[VillanousOne]

4 hours ago, NurembergVillan said:

I'd be interested to see if he looks any different with Moreno behind him.

Kenneth Williams gif

[Kiwivillan]

Claret and Blue podcast talking about the tedium of section of fans looking for scapegoat after every loss specifically Zaniolo from Forest game. Other podcasts have addressed as well. It's ridiculous and boring for where we're at

[Tomaszk]

[Zhan_Zhuang]

Zaniolo is in because there is a weakness on the left with Ramsey's injury.

So he's in at the deep end, he's trying but has missed some very good chances. 

Fans have a right to voice their concerns and the holier than though rhetoric doesn't really help.

Emery wants to win, and if a player like Zaniolo is not doing the business he gets subbed at half-time in consecutive matches. 

[smg]

5 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

No but the idea of the bad game sticks in some posters minds and as soon as the player makes a mistake in the next game it gets jumped on and then this spreads game after game picking up others as it goes. In recent seasons Konsa, McGinn, Watkins, Digne and now Zaniolo have all been selected for this treatment by some fans .

[DakotaVilla]

And more often than not those players have had poor runs of form.

It’s perfectly reasonable to question Zaniolo at the moment and to want to give Bailey a few games now before Ramsey comes in and makes it his own position again.

The focus will then go to Matty Cash because he is then clearly the weakest member of the XI and the next one that needs to be upgraded. 

[Made In Aston]

I wouldn't write Zaniolo off just yet. Emery said that performances weren't as good as they could be because of the ongoing investigation and playing out of position. I'm sure those things are addressed then we will see a much better player. 

[Tom13]

3 hours ago, Tomaszk said:

Player gets hooked at half-time.

We discuss some negatives aspects of his performance on that particular day.

Scapegoating!!

Edited November 7, 2023 by Tom13

[Paul33]

Zaniolo is different to our other midfielders - Buendia excepted - in so much as he rarely takes the easy option. Instead, he tries to make things happen and when he is on his game, he breaks the game line and opens up opportunities for our forwards. When he is off his game however, he ends up running down blind alleys and giving the ball away.

I think he has things messing with his head at the moment but I really don't want to see his exuberant style tamed because it is very useful. Maybe he just needs a break and when Ramsey returns, I think he'll get that break. 

Edited November 7, 2023 by Paul33

[maqroll]

I'm backing Zano to score against Alkmaar.

[TheMelvillan]

3 hours ago, maqroll said:

I'm backing Zano to score against Alkmaar.

backing him with positive vibes or putting a bet on?

[AshVilla]

4 hours ago, maqroll said:

I'm backing Zano to score against Alkmaar.

I'm backing Emery to hook him off again at half time when he contributes nothing but heavy touches and missed chances.

[OutByEaster?]

He looks a little fragile at the moment - he started really brightly against Forest, then on five minutes he was pulled back while on a run, struggled through the foul, got pulled back again and found the ref had decided not to give either - you could see his frustration and a moment later the break in his concentration meant that he didn't track a man he should have and we were a goal down - before and after that he was a different player, you could see the life drop out of him.

I just get the feeling he needs one thing to go right at the moment, he's in a new country in difficult circumstances and he wants to succeed - he looks to me to be a confidence player and he could really do with just something going in for him - if it does, then I think he'll really light up.