Big_John_10 Posted June 18, 2013 Share Posted June 18, 2013 I think he'll be a straight replacement for Holman. Probably won't start much but add energy and workrate that we'll need at certain parts of games. Difference with him and Holman is that he's young enough to improve on the technical side of his game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted June 22, 2013 VT Supporter Share Posted June 22, 2013 Will Leandro Bacuna’s Versatility Be the Key to His Success at Villa ? By Elliot Sutcliffe Aston Villa’s new midfield maestro Leandro Bacuna is a typical Paul Lambert signing, which at the moment appears to be ‘young and unheard of’ That is until you scratch the surface and dig a bit deeper. As usual, to find out the positive or negative on Lambert’s mystery men, we’ve sought council with sources from the player’s home land. There’s not a lot online to make Leandro Bacuna feel like a ‘wow’ signing, if you do a quick google search of the 21-year-old. He spent 10 years at his hometown club FC Groningen, after signing as a 10-year-old. He played 109 league games in Eridivisie scoring 14 goals. There’s no flashy Youtube videos, no big transfer rumours surrounding him. So an Dutch insight was certainly needed on Villa’s new acquisition. Mlaz Corbier, columnist for Groningen’s biggest fansite ‘FCG Online’ spoke of his ‘disappointment’ regarding Bacuna’s departure. “This truly is a steal for Aston Villa, especially after hearing how much the claret and blue paid for him! When playing as a box-to-box midfielder last seasom, the team finally started to play and create opportunities. Bacuna (alongside Rasmus Lindren) was the true engine of the struggling team and were the only salvation of a dreadful season.” However, Corbier also explained how Bacuna hasn’t always been able to express himself in a Groningen shirt. He berates the previous two managers for “abusing the youngster’s versatility” when they should really have been building the team around him. It is often very difficult when you have a player able to do a good job in a number of positions. Manchester United’s Phil Jones is a good example of an exceptional young talent who is perhaps being stunted by his ability to play a number of different positions. When we spoke to Groningen TV, they put us in touch with Nico Swart who also labelled Bacuna’s versatility as a potential problem, rather than a benefit. “Last season he played in many positions (right defender, defensive midfielder, right winger, left winger, striker), sometimes he excelled, sometimes he was unsure. I think it would be best for his development if he gets a permanent position in the squad and plays week in week out.” Swart also labels Bacuna’s attributes as “strong, hardworking and athletic.” He is capable of shooting from distance and does a lot of running but can sometimes be quite rash at times. Nathan Baker syndrome springs to mind there. Both Swart and Corbier also highlight Bacuna as a set piece specialist, claiming he had never missed a spot kick for Groningen whilst at the club. It’s unlikely he’ll be wrestling Benteke off penalties though, providing our enigmatic striker commits his future to the club that is… All in all we seem to have acquired an unpolished gem – an excellent athlete with good technique and ability. In a midfield three, he would have the engine to get up and down the pitch and whilst he shouldn’t be moved around too much, he does have the potential to provide cover in effectively every position on the pitch apart from centre half and goalkeeper! According to our Dutch sources, we should be excited by his potential and expect to hear ‘Bacuna Matata’ to the tune of Lion King from the terraces! http://www.myoldmansaid.com/leandro-bacuna-aston-villas-versatilty-dutch-insider-view/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandaq Posted June 22, 2013 Share Posted June 22, 2013 Interesting, but we will see. I am not getting my hopes up just yet, but it is certainly a possibility that he is of better quality then we might suspect. I do wonder about which position he is gonna fill, I originally thought he would be a backup for Weimann but Lambert might have something else on his mind.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 he does sound a lot like MIlner type player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwan Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Looks the part of a CM on the OS pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMcGrath_5 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Having a cracking game in today's friendly against Bochum by all accounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I think he'll be a straight replacement for Holman. Probably won't start much but add energy and workrate that we'll need at certain parts of games. Difference with him and Holman is that he's young enough to improve on the technical side of his game. The way I see this player aswell. Surprised some think he'll be the answer to our attacking midfield issues considering the fans of his last dutch club didn't think he was up to much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I think he'll be a straight replacement for Holman. Probably won't start much but add energy and workrate that we'll need at certain parts of games. Difference with him and Holman is that he's young enough to improve on the technical side of his game. The way I see this player aswell. Surprised some think he'll be the answer to our attacking midfield issues considering the fans of his last dutch club didn't think he was up to much. Strange as how some Genk fans didn't think Benteke would be up to much either! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LockStockVilla Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 The one thing I've noticed so far is he has a very tasty cross on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KjParton Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Sounds like he had his best game for us today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
King Cropley Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 I think he'll be a straight replacement for Holman. Probably won't start much but add energy and workrate that we'll need at certain parts of games. Difference with him and Holman is that he's young enough to improve on the technical side of his game. The way I see this player aswell. Surprised some think he'll be the answer to our attacking midfield issues considering the fans of his last dutch club didn't think he was up to much. ...surprised that you obviously don't rate him, based on random opinions and not seeing him play....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nnock1984 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Doesn't look bad for £800k! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KjParton Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Just had a look at the highlights, he looked really good at points! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjp26 Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 Just had a look at the highlights, he looked really good at points! Any part of his game that sticks our particularly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KjParton Posted July 14, 2013 Share Posted July 14, 2013 (edited) Just had a look at the highlights, he looked really good at points! Any part of his game that sticks our particularly? From what I watched, he was breaking forwards into space a lot and finding either good balls out wide or to other players in advanced positions. He also had a good header cleared off the line. I think he got the assist for the Helenius header with a good cross. Edited July 14, 2013 by KjParton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Czechlad Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I thought he'd be another Holman type signing but I seem to have forgotten Lambert made this signing not McLeish so shame on me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjp26 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 Just had a look at the highlights, he looked really good at points! Any part of his game that sticks our particularly? From what I watched, he was breaking forwards into space a lot and finding either good balls out wide or to other players in advanced positions. He also had a good header cleared off the line. I think he got the assist for the Helenius header with a good cross. Sounds good. When he said he prefers to play as a center mid I wasn't sure if it was defensively, creatively or as an attacker. I guess he will play in front of Westwood (our playmaker from deep) and Sylla (our enforcer). Basically doing what Con says McIniesta does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBM Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 i think if we cant find a suitable (cheapish) AM, then bacuna may do the job if given a chance to adapt however, alternatively, then ye, like a super sub to come on with 20 minutes left to offer bucket loads of energy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KjParton Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I think you're right Andy he probably could do that job. However I would definitely want a proven quality AM signing someone like Belhanda/Kiyotake - they just have that extra bit of flair and quality about them that a 5-10m signing has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samjp26 Posted July 15, 2013 Share Posted July 15, 2013 I think you're right Andy he probably could do that job. However I would definitely want a proven quality AM signing someone like Belhanda/Kiyotake - they just have that extra bit of flair and quality about them that a 5-10m signing has. Not just because of their price tag though. Huddlestone is going for £5m and he has the flair of Heskey on the right wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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