Où est Johnny Deux?

[QBVILLA]

Having foreign rather than British signings has imo become an obsession at Villa for the fans.If Makoun was a Brit signed from an English club I don't think we'd see much of a fuss about him being sold as he hasn't shown himself to be much of a footballer.

[Dave Cooper please]

Let's hope that works after seeing the results of the 2011 Census yesterday - highest immigration ever.  Take a walk round Villa Park (I mean outside) and you will hear very little English!

But nearly all of them can speak English, they just choose to use their native language when talking to each other. Just like English immigrants in, say, Spain do.

[eamonn]

I'd wager that the Spanish of English immigrants in Spain's is a lot worse on average than a typical East European working in the UK.

[Percy McCarthy]

And I think you'd win. But I don't want to get in over my head discussing it with that well-known authority on everyday Astonian folk, SURREY villain.

[peter w]

I doubt his English is that much worse than in 2010. The level A1is very basic so I think this is a story that has been twisted from out of context phrases. You know, "is he definitely coming back"?
"well as long as he passes his English
"surely that's a formality"
"you never know"

[Steve R]

I don't see where the 'three managers wouldn't pick him' comes from. Houllier did pick him; he then got a ban followed by an injury and then was reported to have been given compassionate leave to return to Africa.

McAllister didn't have the option of picking him.

'I can manage people me' McL. certainly had an issue with him, and seemingly wrote him off without  ever watching him play a first team game.

The same manager thought loaning Jenas was a good idea, and thought it a good idea to spending 4 mill on his pal. So who knows?

The Makoun I saw briefly was very comfortable on the ball, had no problem receiving it when under pressure and was adept at keeping possession when he moved it on - without unduly slowing the game.

He also appeared to struggle a bit with the pace of the PL. Something which may or may not have been an interim state of affairs.

If he doesn't make it at VP it will be because he either cannot adjust  to PL football or just plain can't settle in England. He's certainly given enough indication that he is a good enough footballer.

I'd rather give him a chance to fail rather than no chance to succeed.

[Toronto Villa]

good points Steve. I also think Houllier had he stayed would have purchased players to work alongside Makoun. You put an El Ahmadi for example next to Makoun that compliments his style and passing ability you get the best out of him. At the time, we didn't have those players. We do now or will do in the near future.

[QBVILLA]

That last game against Hereford he looked a million miles off the pace and should've seen red for a horrendous tackle.

[PaulTheVillan]

Can't see him playing for us again. Sorry.

[Hookeysmith]

That last game against Hereford he looked a million miles off the pace and should've seen red for a horrendous tackle.

But conversely at Mold Trafford he was probably MOTM so its a tough one - as for the pace of the prem, he is not the first and wont be the last player from abroad to have to come here and struggled with it in their first year

At the end of the day it is down to the guys who work and train with him every day - the actual game time is only a snapshot of what a players does all week

I would like to think that during training he could show his worth - the problem is he aint even training at the moment so you cannot pin much hope on that

[SoccerHQ]

Who wasn't poor against Hereford, it took us 82 minutes to score against a team relegated to the conference ffs.

I do think this disrupted pre season will go against Makoun so he'll be well down the midfield order and will probably be moved on.

[Louzie0]

Think Johnnie Deux could add some midfield guile and a bit of jolie je ne sais quoi to a midfield and attack who got a bit constipated (if you ask me) going up the middle all the time against the Philadelphia Union.

Please keep him PL!  A touch of class with El Ahmadi.

[tomd2103]

Can't see him playing for us again. Sorry.

Agree Paul.  I just think it has gone a bit too far and I can see him being sold or used in an exchange deal to bring another player in before the transfer window closes.   

[pauliewalnuts]

He also appeared to struggle a bit with the pace of the PL. Something which may or may not have been an interim state of affairs.

Agreed.

He's not the only player who struggles to adapt to the pace of the PL. Petrov, when he came here, seemed to struggle and took a second too long to do anything, and he was like that for the best part of his first season.

[Chris Smith]

Time to say goodbye. There's always the possibility that given time he might work out but I'd rather PL get his own men and if we try again with Makoun then it's one less chance for Bannan.