Ashley Westwood

[nigel]

Again, I hope Lambert twigs that we look better with a 3 man mid. Put someone in to help out Delph and Westy and we look better.

Westwood is a class act though. So rarely wastes a pass and is always available.

The work rate of Andi and Gabby cannot be underestimated, with a mid 3 of Westwood, Delph and Sylla their support is vital.

[supertom]

Again, I hope Lambert twigs that we look better with a 3 man mid. Put someone in to help out Delph and Westy and we look better.

Westwood is a class act though. So rarely wastes a pass and is always available.

The work rate of Andi and Gabby cannot be underestimated, with a mid 3 of Westwood, Delph and Sylla their support is vital.

True. And they do work their bollocks off.
Yesterday we completely ran midfield. Had it been just Westwood and Delph? I'm not sure we would have. If Zog had played, we'd have looked disjointed. As much as he's had a few games where he's done okay. We do still look better when he's not playing. Certainly if Chaz plays, you sacrifice one of our front 3, not a presence in centre mid. One of our major struggling points all season.

[warleyboy]

Would like to know the feelings of everybody on Westwoods new season.
For me tonight, he played lots of sideways and backwards passing, but no head up and looking for runners.
Is this something Lamborghini wants him doing, because last season he looked much more vibrant and positive.

[olaftab]

I thought he  made bad decisions by choosing the wrong option and/or delaying too long is making the right pass.

[PeterWithesShin]

He's been disappointing so far. Then again compared to last season a few have the same form. Westwood, Lowton, Weimann and even Benteke have yet to play really well. And yet we get some decent results and score a few. If everyone hits form we'll win the league I tell ya.

[OCD]

I thought he looked 'under-cooked' in the 3 league games (as did Sylla last night) but I thought Westwood played really well last night. His passing was classy, always retaining the ball with some quick 2-touch control and pass movements. He played one or two balls over the top, particularly later in the game and he broke forward for a shot on goal after Gabby had countered. Westy and KEA ran the game last night.

[Mortimer's Bear]

He's been disappointing so far. Then again compared to last season a few have the same form. Westwood, Lowton, Weimann and even Benteke have yet to play really well. And yet we get some decent results and score a few. If everyone hits form we'll win the league I tell ya.

I said the same about Lowton and Weimann, I think Gabby and Benteke have looked pretty good so fay though.

[Ian.]

I thought he looked 'under-cooked' in the 3 league games (as did Sylla last night) but I thought Westwood played really well last night. His passing was classy, always retaining the ball with some quick 2-touch control and pass movements. He played one or two balls over the top, particularly later in the game and he broke forward for a shot on goal after Gabby had countered. Westy and KEA ran the game last night.

I thought he was brilliant last night. He's going to be another class act.

[claretandbeer]

I thought he had a disappointing first half but a superb second half where he was quicker to the ball ,quicker to close down the opposition and more penetrative in his passing.

[supertom]

He's not started brilliantly but we're only 3 league games in. He'll get back up to speed soon enough. I think the way we're set up, Ashley is essential. Even though he's been below par so far. I don't think we have anyone else to play the role he does. Karim struggles playing the deeper role. He's actually looked better being in the side and having a bit more freedom and being a bit more advanced of Westy. Put Karim in Westy's position and he'll struggle again I think.

Once he gets into gear and starts picking out a few more telling passes he'll be on it again. I do wish his set pieces would improve though. We're still consistently poor in that area.

[paul_e]

I thought he had a disappointing first half but a superb second half where he was quicker to the ball ,quicker to close down the opposition and more penetrative in his passing.

I agree, we looked to be a bit lax at times in the first half and Westwood was a key part of that, at the start of the 2nd half Benteke stepped up a level and the whole team responded, after which Westwood was superb.

[ozzjim]

He's not started brilliantly but we're only 3 league games in. He'll get back up to speed soon enough. I think the way we're set up, Ashley is essential. Even though he's been below par so far. I don't think we have anyone else to play the role he does. Karim struggles playing the deeper role. He's actually looked better being in the side and having a bit more freedom and being a bit more advanced of Westy. Put Karim in Westy's position and he'll struggle again I think.

Once he gets into gear and starts picking out a few more telling passes he'll be on it again. I do wish his set pieces would improve though. We're still consistently poor in that area.

I think he is a really class player but has had a couple of ropey games, but second half against Liverpool and then from about half an hour in last night he looked much better, and significantly looked much happier in himself. Maybe a bit of confidence building for him at the start of his second season, but longer term I just have no worries about him at all. He is a damn good player, and they tend to come through slower patches.

[PaulWinch again]

I haven't seen any of our football since the Arsenal game, because I've been away but I really rate Westwood and he is going to be class.

[nigel]

He's been disappointing so far. Then again compared to last season a few have the same form. Westwood, Lowton, Weimann and even Benteke have yet to play really well. And yet we get some decent results and score a few. If everyone hits form we'll win the league I tell ya.

 The players mentioned were the stand out outfield players last season.
Do you think that the other players are just playing better and therefore those 4 don't stand out so much?

Look at Delph, he had a great end to the season and has carried it on this season, and so far has been the stand out player for me..
Guzan hasn't had that much to do, so the defence must be playing better.

[Dante Lavelli]

Maybe a bit of confidence building for him at the start of his second season, but longer term I just have no worries about him at all. He is a damn good player, and they tend to come through slower patches.

There was an interview with him just after he'd broken through last year, possibly after the 3-1 at Liverpool where he said (to paraphrase) "he wanted to be dropped and taken out of the limelight after his poor debut."  When he signed I think he thought he'd be playing a lot of reserve football initially.  So I think you're right that he lacks a bit of confidence.  A rare breed of footballer to even think it, let alone say it.