Leandro Bacuna - Sold

[Villa-Villan]

I immediately took a dislike towards Redmond when I saw him ask the referee to book Bacuna because he dared to tackle him.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I think bacuna and Luna will provide perfect foil for citi's wide men providing we don't play too deep.

I think Bacuna and Luna will form the perfect rhyming couplet once I can get the metre sorted.
Just hope Tony Moon can stop Jesus from getting a decent cross in!
;-)

[tomd2103]

Bacuna impresses me far more as a right back than a midfielder. I'm not sure his passing is disciplined enough for a central role but his pace and aggression trumps Lowton as a full-back so I'd keep him there for the time being and make Lowton fight for his place.

I thought his passing against Liverpool was dreadful. It is this giving the ball away that continuously puts pressure on us, it's not just him but that game I really thought he was shocking but it is great to see defensively he was sound. We are not in it for the short term, most of these guys will take a while to settle unfortunately.

Agree that he struggled against Liverpool in a more central role.  Wouldn't mind seeing him out wide on the right, with Tonev switched to the left. 

[ChicagoLion]

Bacuna impresses me far more as a right back than a midfielder. I'm not sure his passing is disciplined enough for a central role but his pace and aggression trumps Lowton as a full-back so I'd keep him there for the time being and make Lowton fight for his place.

I thought his passing against Liverpool was dreadful. It is this giving the ball away that continuously puts pressure on us, it's not just him but that game I really thought he was shocking but it is great to see defensively he was sound. We are not in it for the short term, most of these guys will take a while to settle unfortunately.

Agree that he struggled against Liverpool in a more central role.  Wouldn't mind seeing him out wide on the right, with Tonev switched to the left.

You want to see Tonev in a Villa shirt again?

[Toronto Villa]

Bacuna impresses me far more as a right back than a midfielder. I'm not sure his passing is disciplined enough for a central role but his pace and aggression trumps Lowton as a full-back so I'd keep him there for the time being and make Lowton fight for his place.

I thought his passing against Liverpool was dreadful. It is this giving the ball away that continuously puts pressure on us, it's not just him but that game I really thought he was shocking but it is great to see defensively he was sound. We are not in it for the short term, most of these guys will take a while to settle unfortunately.

Agree that he struggled against Liverpool in a more central role.  Wouldn't mind seeing him out wide on the right, with Tonev switched to the left.

You want to see Tonev in a Villa shirt again?

Yes. I certainly haven't given up on him.

[supertom]

I wouldn't be writing off Tonev yet. Its far too early. You can't put down Bacuna as a great piece of business after a couple of games, if you're not gonna give Tonev a fair shake. I think he'll come good. Though I do think Bacunas adaptability means that he'll really have a big impact this season.

[dave.woodhall]

Bacuna impresses me far more as a right back than a midfielder. I'm not sure his passing is disciplined enough for a central role but his pace and aggression trumps Lowton as a full-back so I'd keep him there for the time being and make Lowton fight for his place.

I thought his passing against Liverpool was dreadful. It is this giving the ball away that continuously puts pressure on us, it's not just him but that game I really thought he was shocking but it is great to see defensively he was sound. We are not in it for the short term, most of these guys will take a while to settle unfortunately.

Agree that he struggled against Liverpool in a more central role.  Wouldn't mind seeing him out wide on the right, with Tonev switched to the left.

You want to see Tonev in a Villa shirt again?

That's the spirit.

[ROBBO]

There is one big upside with some of the players mentioned and that is they cost very little and if they don't make the grade Lambert will move them on with little lost. The market we are shopping in will have more misses than hits.

[Mister E]

The market we are shopping in will have more misses than hits.

will it?
Lambert - so far - has proved more than capable of spotting the hits.

Bacuna looks like a decent player who - at 21 - is finding his feet in the P'ship. He was wayward against Liverpool but also showed that he likes the ball at his feet, has real pace and is prepared to attack defenders (all similar to Delph). When moved to full back he looked cool and combative.
I cannot speak for Saturday, since I missed the game; but comments here are really encouraging.

[Ads]

I wouldn't be writing off Tonev yet. Its far too early. You can't put down Bacuna as a great piece of business after a couple of games, if you're not gonna give Tonev a fair shake. I think he'll come good. Though I do think Bacunas adaptability means that he'll really have a big impact this season.

Are you saying that less than 90 minutes on the pitch is not enough time to make bellend comments about writing a player off?

[supertom]

I wouldn't be writing off Tonev yet. Its far too early. You can't put down Bacuna as a great piece of business after a couple of games, if you're not gonna give Tonev a fair shake. I think he'll come good. Though I do think Bacunas adaptability means that he'll really have a big impact this season.

Are you saying that less than 90 minutes on the pitch is not enough time to make bellend comments about writing a player off?

Yes. Too early to write off, too early to think we've got the next Pele/Maradona.

A few people were writing off Benteke this time last year.

[Ads]

I wouldn't be writing off Tonev yet. Its far too early. You can't put down Bacuna as a great piece of business after a couple of games, if you're not gonna give Tonev a fair shake. I think he'll come good. Though I do think Bacunas adaptability means that he'll really have a big impact this season.

Are you saying that less than 90 minutes on the pitch is not enough time to make bellend comments about writing a player off?

Yes. Too early to write off, too early to think we've got the next Pele/Maradona.

A few people were writing off Benteke this time last year.

You're mad. We have had five minutes to judge him. He was knocked off the ball TWICE!!!1! and undercooked TWO passes!!!111!!!

Plus he kept shooting, which no Villa midfielder is allowed to do.

[supertom]

I wouldn't be writing off Tonev yet. Its far too early. You can't put down Bacuna as a great piece of business after a couple of games, if you're not gonna give Tonev a fair shake. I think he'll come good. Though I do think Bacunas adaptability means that he'll really have a big impact this season.

Are you saying that less than 90 minutes on the pitch is not enough time to make bellend comments about writing a player off?

Yes. Too early to write off, too early to think we've got the next Pele/Maradona.

A few people were writing off Benteke this time last year.

You're mad. We have had five minutes to judge him. He was knocked off the ball TWICE!!!1! and undercooked TWO passes!!!111!!!

Plus he kept shooting, which no Villa midfielder is allowed to do.

You've persuaded me.

Ship him off!

[Dante Lavelli]

The market we are shopping in will have more misses than hits.

will it?

Probability suggests so, yes. That's not to say PL is doing a bad job but in reality we cannot expect every signing to come off.

I also think it'll become harder as we improve as there'll be less opportunities for the fringe players to play and prove themselves.

[dekko]

The market we are shopping in will have more misses than hits.

will it?

Probability suggests so, yes. That's not to say PL is doing a bad job but in reality we cannot expect every signing to come off.

I also think it'll become harder as we improve as there'll be less opportunities for the fringe players to play and prove themselves.

I disagree.  Its not as though these players are random punts, plucked from minor leagues on the off chance that they'll come good.  Remember, we had a 30-game dossier on Westwood when we signed him, and its probably fair to assume that every other sigining will have had a similar level of scouting done one them too.  The management/scouting team will have done everything possible to ensure they've got the right players.

Will they all be good enough?  No.  But I'd say so far Lamberts signings have been more hit than miss.