Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[Gerrin]

Hopefully PL has him pencilled for one of the midfield three positions as that looks to be by far his best position judging by that article.

[eastie]

Leandro Bacuna can't wait for the start of pre-season training on Monday as he looks to form an important part of Villa's "new generation."

Bacuna recognises the work done by boss Paul Lambert to create a young, emerging team which is striving to improve.

Lambert has snapped up Jores Okore, Antonio Luna, Aleksandar Tonev and Niklas Helenius too as he aims to build on the progress made in his first term in charge.

Bacuna wants to be part of that exciting set-up and stresses that he will fight with everything he's got to be a success in claret and blue.

He said: "It's a new beginning for me. It's a new step for me. I'm looking forward to being part of this young, hungry team we have at Villa.

"The manager is trying to create a new generation, to build something here and improve us all as players. He wants the guys to go out there and show what they can do. I'm up for the challenge.

"For every player who's coming in, it's good to find themselves in a team and an environment such as this.

"We will get the opportunity to show that we want to play and what we can do. We need to show the manager what we can do. You have to show the very best of yourself. That's what I will be looking to do.

"I'm fully focused to show myself at my new club. My mentality is that you start at the bottom and you prove yourself. This is what I intend to do."

Bacuna is relishing meeting his new team-mates - and beginning life in the Barclays Premier League which he says is "the top level."

He added: "I can't wait to get started because it's a good group of players here - nice guys. I'm looking forward to meeting all of them and starting this new journey together.

"In training, I will do my very best every day. I will go out there and try to show what I can do.

"I want to develop a good bond with the fans too. I fight. I always fight for the team. If you do that, you get a lot of supporters behind you. That's a huge thing.

"I can't wait to get started in the Premier League. It's a high standard and it will be really good to be part of it.

"It's another level. The Premier League is the very top. Everyone wants to play in it. This is a nice time to join it. I can't wait to get started."

[Steve R]

I'll say one thing  for Lambert's new signings. They all speak remarkably good English.

[LeeB]

I'll say one thing  for Lambert's new signings. They all speak remarkably good English.

For schure.

[Merv]

Interested to get a good look at Bacuna in action. There's a real gap in the Villa team for an attacking midfielder just ahead of the deeper two central midfielders and everything I've read about this lad suggests he's got bags of drive and energy and a great shot on him too. Could be what we're missing.

[Chris Jameson]

I'll say one thing  for Lambert's new signings. They all speak remarkably good English.

Hopefully Gabby's  will start to improve as a result

[Ads]

I'll say one thing  for Lambert's new signings. They all speak remarkably good English.

Hopefully Gabby's  will start to improve as a result

You can tell that Gabby and Andi are mates by the laters ever thicker Erdington Brummie accent.

[gervilla]

I'll say one thing  for Lambert's new signings. They all speak remarkably good English.

Hopefully Gabby's  will start to improve as a result

I reckon Gabby has been getting elocution lessons.
There is an interview with him as an extra on the on the Season Review DVD and I was able to understand everything he said.

[Toronto Villa]

I'll say one thing  for Lambert's new signings. They all speak remarkably good English.

Hopefully Gabby's  will start to improve as a result

Deffinutleeeeee

[Percy McCarthy]

Just giving him a bump as he did well yesterday. Some wicked set-pieces and looked the part in open play too (apart from that mad back-pass).

[Matt Collins]

Yep he played really well. Nice to see a whipped in set piece for a change!

Still think lowton is ace though and will reclaim his place.

Bacuna looks a lot better wide at the moment. I we did revert to 4411, perhaps bacuna could take tonev's place and give more protection to lowton, come inside to support the midfield and allow lowton to overlap.

Still not convinced by the 4411 though.

[ozzjim]

Yep he played really well. Nice to see a whipped in set piece for a change!

Still think lowton is ace though and will reclaim his place.

Bacuna looks a lot better wide at the moment. I we did revert to 4411, perhaps bacuna could take tonev's place and give more protection to lowton, come inside to support the midfield and allow lowton to overlap.

Still not convinced by the 4411 though.

I think it was a needs must formation when Westwood got injured and with the Norwich wide players in mind to protect the full back. Weimann put a hell of a shift in, but I though Bacuna was our best outfield performer by a street. Put Redmond and then the missing link Pilkington in his pocket. Pace gets him out of trouble, and I agree he could sit very effectively in front of Lowton. Looks a snip for what we paid considering his versatility.

[thick_mike]

Did well, looked strong defensively and his set pieces were good.

[Mister E]

When Bacuna gets fully up to speed, he and Delph in midfield will be very hard to handle. I think he may become the pick of the 2013 signings.

[Dante Lavelli]

When Bacuna gets fully up to speed, he and Delph in midfield will be very hard to handle. I think he may become the pick of the 2013 signings.

That's what I was hoping, assuming that saturday's performance can become his consistent level. 

The pace and energy of Delph and Bacuna either side of the Westwood would be pretty frightening and would certainly protect the back 4 (without having an out and out destroyer).  It'd probably mean that creativity would have to come from Gabby or Weimann (or to replace one of these)but a pretty  dynamic team nonetheless.