Zatman Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 When I read the threads on our own forum I always get the feeling most of my team's players, are terrible, not worthy of wearing our jersey and should be sold off/replaced as soon as humanly possible should come on here after a defeat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfcwills10 Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Ah, i've watched about 10 matches of full highlights of this guy playing last season, doesn't look great tbh. I'm normally positive but he seemed to shy away from the ball all the time and didn't seem overly comfortable on the ball!! Who know, i'm normally positive but not jumping with joy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwivillan Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Don't get this signing at all. Looks very average and not going to play area we short in like LB We need a squad. I'm not saying this lad is filler, he may make it here or he may not. But who would you rather have - Stephen Ireland, tried tested and proven to be absolutely useless or Leandro Bacuna? Genuine question. Yeah not complaining for the price. I just don't see him cutting it in Premier League on what I've seen but I'm happy to be proved wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodigan Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 welcome to the club, leandro.... great to see new young players being given a chance at the club.... thing is we're buying young and cheap, but all these guys have been playing as established first team players in their respective teams for some time before we buy them.... all of the players that we are buying look like they're young, competent and on the way up in their development - a consistent theme, and one that is turning out to be correct in more cases than not: benteke westwood lowton sylla bowery okore tonev bacuna helenius if you take out benteke, these guys are costing slightly upward of 2m per player, and i'm guessing most of them will hold their own at premier level.... if say the seven other than benteke cost 16m, that in the context of some other clubs spending over the last couple of seasons sounds like brilliant business by the club... am thinking of players like fletcher, samba, jarvis, carroll, remy - players other clubs are paying top dollar for in trying to compete in the premier league.... its certainly going to be a great ride next season.... UTV and well done RL and PL... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredyeah Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Hey all, Just like Sublime, I also signed up due to the Bacuna transfer. Just to throw my 2 cts in there... Bacuna has always been seen within the club as the talented player in our squad and as you are probably aware, there are some mixed feelings about him in Groningen. I think this comes from the fact that he hasn't excelled in many games. He can be a bit wild sometimes, but my guess is that that's also because of his age. Please bear in mind, it is hard to excel in a squad when you're 18-21 and you have played all the positions in midfield, in 433 and 442 and right winger and as a back. This tells me that the three different trainers we had last years still preferred a 18-21 year old Leandro Bacuna over other players... In an interview Bacuna said he was pretty much done with all the different positions and wanted to focus on a position as a CM. Next game he was positioned as a right winger... He's hardly ever injured and is fit. Like all players from the Dutch league nowadays who transfer to the bigger leagues, expect some time where he needs to build on his physique, as the PL requires more physical labor than the dutch league does. Also... please bear in mind the the northern part of Holland (especially Groningen province) is known for it's stubbornness and 'stay in line / don't draw any attention to yourself' mentality. The glass is always half empty, so to speak. Next to that, Bacuna is the last player we have in our first squad that actually is own youth. I'm positive that he'll turn out to be a valuable contribution to the Villa squad. Just don't expect him to shine from the very first minute in a Villa jersey. Let's wait and see... A lot of (Groningen) people were also quite negative when Robben, Suarez, Koeman, Nevland, Granqvist, etc. left Groningen.... P.S. About the Dutch and the English language: Another big advantage we have in the Netherlands is that English / American shows don't get translated, but subtitled. The Spanish and German for instance re synchronize whole shows with their own audio. We're just too small to only get by with Dutch. If I go on holiday to the UK and I need inquiries, I speak English. When I am in Amsterdam and somebody asks me for directions, I get approached in English, Spanish, German, etc. Funny how that works... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 It seems he's a good penalty taker and got a powerful free kick. Good to have a 2nd peno taker in case Benteke is not playing and even for when he leaves next summer. It sounds like this kid is very raw and I wouldn't expect too much of him in his first season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biskitt Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I've no idea how good he is but for the reported £1-1.5m then it's a no risk transfer really as if he doesn't work out, I'm sure another Dutch club would take him back. Physically he looks quite suited as he's tall, looks quick and quite strong as well. I wonder how much an equivalent 21 year old English player with over 100 top flight first team games, 17 goals and 10 U21 caps would cost. £5m perhaps ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SikhInTrinity Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Thanks Freddyeah, it sort of coincides with what this reporter says. Optimistic about this kid if we develop him in his natural position. http://tinyurl.com/kylb3au Leandro Bacuna joined the early summer influx of promising foreign youngsters when he arrived at Villa from FC Groningen last night. Michiel Jongsma, an expert on Dutch football, gives Mat Kendrick the lowdown on the Holland under-21 international midfielder. Tell us about how and when Bacuna first burst on to the scene in Holland... Bacuna was handed his debut quite surprisingly aged 18 and nine days. He is a youth product of FC Groningen. He was first handed a role as an attacking midfielder and impressed under Ron Jans. He played 20 games in his debut season, most of them as a starter. He’s now 21 and has already played 109 league games (in a 34-game league) and scored 14 times. He has nine caps at under-21 level. Bacuna was selected for the preliminary squad of the Euro Under-21s, but missed the cut. We hear Bacuna is quite versatile – what is his best position? Bacuna originally broke through as an attacking midfielder or a winger, but that was mainly due to personnel problems in that position. He has been unlucky from that perspective, as he had three different managers in four seasons, which offered him no continuity and hampered his development. He has played as a striker under Jans’ successor, Pieter Huistra, and has been a right-back under Robert Maaskant this season. However, he’s most comfortable in the middle of the park, in a box-to-box role or a controlling role. He has stated lately that he wants to develop in those positions instead of being shipped out to the wing, something that has regularly happened. How is he regarded in Holland? Fans in Holland sometimes say he has been inconsistent, but I think he has been good in central midfield throughout his career. At the moment I am not sure he is of Villa’s level, but I think he can develop spectacularly and prove to be a bargain and most informed FC Groningen-watchers would agree. What stage of his development is Bacuna at and how would you describe his playing style? Bacuna is basically a piece of raw talent. He is right-footed, very strong, with a high workrate, energetic and quite pacy. He has the ability to play a full game with intensity and he comes across very eager. His passing is good, but not outstanding. He has a good long ball and a thunderous right foot. Bacuna has developed himself as quite the free-kick specialist, although he powers them more than he places them. He has been good against top teams and was instrumental in wins against, for example, PSV, in which he nullified Kevin Strootman, and Feyenoord. I think he can learn a lot from Lambert. Villa had high hopes for Karim El Ahmadi when he arrived from the Eredivisie, but he has flattered to deceive. How will Bacuna fair in the Premier League? El Ahmadi is tactically and technically more astute, but has disappointed for Villa. Bacuna is a completely different player who can ‘take on’ the whole of the midfield. He would be best suited as a box-to-box midfielder. The tempo will be a test for him, but his style should suit the Premier League. He can be infuriating, because he still needs to harness his attacking strengths and can occasionally waste possession with ambitious long passes and shots. Sometimes the execution does not match the intention. He should suit Villa’s game, though, and provide something more exciting than El Ahmadi and Stephen Ireland. Is there anything else of interest you can tell us about Bacuna?. Most of his goals have been penalties – he is quite the specialist. He is the regular penalty taker, which tells you he is able to handle pressure. He is eager. He demonstrated this by using the summer of ‘11 to develop his left foot. Michiel Jongsma is the editor of Benefoot.net, a website specialising in the Dutch and Belgian footballing leagues. He has written for Football Weekly, Voetbal International, ESPN, and just-football.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VILLAMARV Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I've no idea how good he is but for the reported £1-1.5m then it's a no risk transfer really as if he doesn't work out, I'm sure another Dutch club would take him back. Physically he looks quite suited as he's tall, looks quick and quite strong as well. I wonder how much an equivalent 21 year old English player with over 100 top flight first team games, 17 goals and 10 U21 caps would cost. £5m perhaps ? henderson cost Liverpool about 16m didnt he? Welcome to the Villa Leandro, best of luck to ya Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legov Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Some steel, sounds good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaAlex Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Confirmed to have cost less than 1m euros. Bargain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Confirmed to have cost less than 1m euros. Bargain! How? From the sounds of it he had a bit of a rough season, being dicked around as he has. But still, 21 year old Dutch U21 international for a few hundred grand? Does not compute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SikhInTrinity Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 It's about 850k with a future sell on of 20%, plus we play them in a friendly. Teams like Groningen are not exactly cash rich. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 If he had a poor season playing out of position under 3 different managers then perhaps we got him at a good time. When his stock is low so to speak. Hopefully he can get settled here and push on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Demitri_C Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 sounds like a reserve/squad player to me someone we are looking to develop i expect KEA to start raving about him soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredyeah Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 FC Groningen has bought some terrible players, which all basically were no good. Bacuna was 'used' the last seaons to fill the gaps. For his natural position as CM we've had Femi (3,3 Milion), Lindgren (brought back), Sparv (1,1 Million), etc. Those guys needed to play to make sure we could sell them... And about him not being at the U21: Did you know that we have 10 A internationals that are also playing on the U21? Van Rhijn, Martins Indi, Blind, De Vrij is also the defensive line in our 'big' orange squad.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jarpie Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 FC Groningen has bought some terrible players, which all basically were no good. Bacuna was 'used' the last seaons to fill the gaps. For his natural position as CM we've had Femi (3,3 Milion), Lindgren (brought back), Sparv (1,1 Million), etc. Those guys needed to play to make sure we could sell them... And about him not being at the U21: Did you know that we have 10 A internationals that are also playing on the U21? Van Rhijn, Martins Indi, Blind, De Vrij is also the defensive line in our 'big' orange squad.... How did Sparv do last season? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 No offence to you all passing judgement on the player based on some highlights, but ye know the square root of fck all about this player compared to Lambert and his team. Again no offence, but it's amusingly stupid the judgements that have been passed on him in this thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted June 14, 2013 Moderator Share Posted June 14, 2013 Sounds like if anything he has been dicked around by multiple managers and has been impeded by his own versatility in a team that have struggled to meet their own expectations. A more rigid midfield role should bring the best out of him and as I and Conor have said, it doesn't matter what he did before anyway. Lambert will have seen something that fits with what he wants from the player. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonLax Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 No offence to you all passing judgement on the player based on some highlights, but ye know the square root of fck all about this player compared to Lambert and his team. Again no offence, but it's amusingly stupid the judgements that have been passed on him in this thread. I don't think I've seen anyone give a final judgement on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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