Ashley Westwood - Sold to Burnley

[PaulWinch again]

I hadn't noticed a thread about him, but think since he became a fixture in the side he's been excellent. He has great vision and composure and he is what we've been missing for a long time, a midfielder who can retain possession and pick a pass. He's also very mature for his age, he is constantly instructing players around him about their positioning. I think he's very much future captain material.

[Matt Collins]

Extremely impressed.  A month ago I was worried about what would happen when KEA disappears for the ACoN. Now he's ahead of him in the side on merit. A real team player, very good technically and unfazed (at least since his Southampton jitters).

[eastie]

I hadn't noticed a thread about him, but think since he became a fixture in the side he's been excellent. He has great vision and composure and he is what we've been missing for a long time, a midfielder who can retain possession and pick a pass. He's also very mature for his age, he is constantly instructing players around him about their positioning. I think he's very much future captain material.

Spot on , a really good signing and delighted for him.
Lowton, Westwood, Vlaar and benteke all seem quality signings, Bennett will come good too I think , not convinced totally by Holman but he puts the effort in , the only one I've been disappointed with is kea.

[olaftab]

I think he has all the right attributes to be top notch central midfielder. I would like him keep his head down listen to Sid occasionly and keep working hard.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Had my doubts but he is starting to gain confidence. Think he is going to be a big player for us ........

[Irish villain]

By the end of this season he could well be a key player for us. In fact, this ties in to a wider point about Paul Lambert's tenure.

The way MON left meant Houllier wasn't able to clear the place out and ended up facing resistance and under-performances from MON's lot. Then TSM was brought in at a time when, far from being able to clear out the dead-wood, he had to work with them as our best players were sold. His signings weren't great and it was very hard to feel in any way enthusiastic about a bunch of journey man who were overpaid and didn't have the ability they seemed to think they had.

This year has been our first proper clear-out in ages! Lambert got rid of many players who had been stinking the place out and has unearthed some hungry, up-and-coming prospects to replace them. Whereas last season it felt like our team were ambling through games they weren't enjoying, this season it feels like we have a bunch of ambitious youngsters who want to make it in the game. I think we are finally moving forward with a plan that could take us back to the right end of the table.

[Chipsticks]

If you'd told me two months ago that he was going to look head and shoulders better than El Ahmadi I would've laughed in your face.

I think this proves how good Lambert is with money. MON would've got someone from the Premier League with the same amount of ability, but with twice the ego and for about seven times as much money.

[Californian Villain]

By the end of this season he could well be a key player for us. In fact, this ties in to a wider point about Paul Lambert's tenure.

The way MON left meant Houllier wasn't able to clear the place out and ended up facing resistance and under-performances from MON's lot. Then TSM was brought in at a time when, far from being able to clear out the dead-wood, he had to work with them as our best players were sold. His signings weren't great and it was very hard to feel in any way enthusiastic about a bunch of journey man who were overpaid and didn't have the ability they seemed to think they had.

This year has been our first proper clear-out in ages! Lambert got rid of many players who had been stinking the place out and has unearthed some hungry, up-and-coming prospects to replace them. Whereas last season it felt like our team were ambling through games they weren't enjoying, this season it feels like we have a bunch of ambitious youngsters who want to make it in the game. I think we are finally moving forward with a plan that could take us back to the right end of the table.

He did? Like who exactly?

[oldtimernow]

By the end of this season he could well be a key player for us. In fact, this ties in to a wider point about Paul Lambert's tenure.

The way MON left meant Houllier wasn't able to clear the place out and ended up facing resistance and under-performances from MON's lot. Then TSM was brought in at a time when, far from being able to clear out the dead-wood, he had to work with them as our best players were sold. His signings weren't great and it was very hard to feel in any way enthusiastic about a bunch of journey man who were overpaid and didn't have the ability they seemed to think they had.

This year has been our first proper clear-out in ages! Lambert got rid of many players who had been stinking the place out and has unearthed some hungry, up-and-coming prospects to replace them. Whereas last season it felt like our team were ambling through games they weren't enjoying, this season it feels like we have a bunch of ambitious youngsters who want to make it in the game. I think we are finally moving forward with a plan that could take us back to the right end of the table.

Agree with all you say there

[oldtimernow]

By the end of this season he could well be a key player for us. In fact, this ties in to a wider point about Paul Lambert's tenure.

The way MON left meant Houllier wasn't able to clear the place out and ended up facing resistance and under-performances from MON's lot. Then TSM was brought in at a time when, far from being able to clear out the dead-wood, he had to work with them as our best players were sold. His signings weren't great and it was very hard to feel in any way enthusiastic about a bunch of journey man who were overpaid and didn't have the ability they seemed to think they had.

This year has been our first proper clear-out in ages! Lambert got rid of many players who had been stinking the place out and has unearthed some hungry, up-and-coming prospects to replace them. Whereas last season it felt like our team were ambling through games they weren't enjoying, this season it feels like we have a bunch of ambitious youngsters who want to make it in the game. I think we are finally moving forward with a plan that could take us back to the right end of the table.

He did? Like who exactly?

Warnock & Hutton for two

[Jarpie]

By the end of this season he could well be a key player for us. In fact, this ties in to a wider point about Paul Lambert's tenure.

The way MON left meant Houllier wasn't able to clear the place out and ended up facing resistance and under-performances from MON's lot. Then TSM was brought in at a time when, far from being able to clear out the dead-wood, he had to work with them as our best players were sold. His signings weren't great and it was very hard to feel in any way enthusiastic about a bunch of journey man who were overpaid and didn't have the ability they seemed to think they had.

This year has been our first proper clear-out in ages! Lambert got rid of many players who had been stinking the place out and has unearthed some hungry, up-and-coming prospects to replace them. Whereas last season it felt like our team were ambling through games they weren't enjoying, this season it feels like we have a bunch of ambitious youngsters who want to make it in the game. I think we are finally moving forward with a plan that could take us back to the right end of the table.

He did? Like who exactly?

Warnock & Hutton for two

And Collins.

[SoccerHQ]

He's showing now why a Crewe fan I know was raving about him.

Crucially he said as long as we gave it a bit of time, he'd show his passing quality in the prem and he's doing that now.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He reminds me very much of Scott Parker. Very comfortable on the ball, always aware of what's going on around him, always looking to get involved and keeps things fluid whilst making it look very easy.

If he's the standard of lower league player Lambert buys, he'll have no complaints from me.

[PaulWinch again]

I think he's a better passer than Parker.

[Bottom Right 89]

Thank God for that, the way things have been when I saw the title of this thread I thought it was going to be some tabloid with photos of him sniffing coke off a hooker down the Belfry.

This kid impresses me everytime he plays, a couple of the passes he made yesterday to set up holman and benteke in the first half were top drawer and great the media haven't noticed. My only criticism is that he plays too deep but that's more about the formation we play, would like to see what he could do further forward. Keep it to yourselves we could have another Gareth Barry on our hands but to people at work who follow other teams keep saying Westwood isn't up to it, championship material. A bit like Benteke as soon as people start to notice him we've had it.