Villa player loan watch

[Matt C]

All I can say about Sylla is I struggle now to recall him playing for us.

[paul_e]

Sylla was very good when he was playing as the furthest forward of the 3 but as a defensive midfielder (as odd as that sounds).  He hasn't got great positioning but he's got loads of energy and has enough ability to win the ball and move the ball on.  When he came in during his second season he was being asked to sit and defend space, and his concentration and reading of the game isn't good enough for that.

[OCD]

When we do come to change the manager (whenever that is), everyone will get a fresh chance so it's not inconceivable that the likes of Sylla could still have a future with us. Then again, Lambert could outlast him.

[adrenachrome]

Watching Brighton and for the first 20 minutes, the only thing I could see the loan helping Gardner with was his ability to look up at the sky. The football improved a bit as the half went on, but, in all honesty, he isn't really standing out at all in a game full of pretty average players.

And that is exactly how I saw it. Gardner had one reasonable free kick and Bent took up the right positions but the ball never got through to him. Sami Hypia looked a deeply worried man even before they started!.

Terrible game.

Gardner booked for a bad foul.

A wit on the main Brighton supporters' message board calls him Landscape Gardener, "best seen from 180 miles away".

[Villa in Denmark]

Sylla was very good when he was playing as the furthest forward of the 3 but as a defensive midfielder (as odd as that sounds).  He hasn't got great positioning but he's got loads of energy and has enough ability to win the ball and move the ball on.  When he came in during his second season he was being asked to sit and defend space, and his concentration and reading of the game isn't good enough for that.

And that's just another illustration of the about turn between the end of his first season and the last 18 months. Sylla thrived playing the pressing game high up the pitch, but looked completely lost (along with just about everyone else) when we became way more passive and only started pressing 10 yards into our half instead of 20 yards into the opposition's.

We might well be more compact and a bit more defensively robust, but it's come at a hell of a cost.
Hopefully the positive signs against Leicester wI'll be continued.

[adrenachrome]

Sylla was very good when he was playing as the furthest forward of the 3 but as a defensive midfielder (as odd as that sounds).  He hasn't got great positioning but he's got loads of energy and has enough ability to win the ball and move the ball on.  When he came in during his second season he was being asked to sit and defend space, and his concentration and reading of the game isn't good enough for that.

And that's just another illustration of the about turn between the end of his first season and the last 18 months. Sylla thrived playing the pressing game high up the pitch, but looked completely lost (along with just about everyone else) when we became way more passive and only started pressing 10 yards into our half instead of 20 yards into the opposition's.

We might well be more compact and a bit more defensively robust, but it's come at a hell of a cost.
Hopefully the positive signs against Leicester wI'll be continued.

Good point.

Okore gives us the option of playing a higher defensive line. I think his delayed return was due to PL having understandably lost his nerve, and thinking the risk to the new solidity was too great. 

[adrenachrome]

Aston Villa: How the loan players are performing at struggling Brighton

[Quiet Lion]

Nearly all of my Brighton supporting mates think Gardner is pretty shit / ineffectual and would like him dropped. I have been down the Amex a couple of times and he didn't really stand out in any way in either game.

Some tidy touches but that is about it.

Having said that things aren't going well for Brighton just now, if the team were playing like they were for last few seasons I am sure he would be performing at a higher level.

[Matt Collins]

My brighton supporting mate - and I take the point they are on a downer at the mo - said:

Bennett - should be a good championship full back but needs to learn to defend
Gardner - you just don't notice him playing and he's incredibly slow
Bent - good positioning but doesn't contribute anything to the team

[hilts_coolerking]

Bent - good positioning but doesn't contribute anything to the team

That faint noise you can hear is monty clapping somewhere.

[PeterWithesShin]

It's been a hectic week for our loanees.

In League Two, it's been a mixed few days for JANOI DONACIEN'S Tranmere Rovers.

The Merseysiders lost 2-0 at Burton Albion on Friday where Rovers defender Liam Ridehalgh saw red for a foul on Kelvin Maynard and Damien McCrory scored the resulting penalty.

Shane Cansdell-Sheriff's header doubled Burton's lead from Matty Palmer's corner.

However, Micky Adams' men made it a super Sunday as they moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Northampton at Prenton Park yesterday.

The hosts took the lead when Kayode Odejayi converted low at the front post for his first league goal for the club.

Veteran Marc Richards levelled before the break after good work by Joel Byrom.

But Tranmere regained the lead when Kirby curled home after a one-two with Max Power, inflicting a fifth straight league loss on the visitors.

In League One, ENDA STEVENS and Doncaster Rovers enjoyed a fruitful Christmas period after picking up four points out of a possible six.

On Boxing Day, the Yorkshire side beat 10-man Coventry 2-0 after early goals from Andy Butler and Harry Forrester.

They then travelled to Peterborough on Sunday, earning a point in a goalless draw despite creating numerous chances.

The ever-present Forrester struck the woodwork while goalkeeper Ben lnwick saved well from left-back STEVENS.

Rovers now sit 14th, three points off the play-off places in a congested League One.

Three goals in the final 20 minutes saw DANIEL JOHNSON's Oldham beaten on Boxing Day by Crewe Alexandra.

Leeds loan man Nicky Ajose fired the Alex ahead from the penalty spot after Harry Davis was fouled by George Elokobi with 20 minutes remaining.

Elokobi then made amends five minutes later as he equalised from a corner.

But Ajose had the final say and secured the points with a brilliant 30-yard chip four minutes from time.

The on loan Villa man played the final 16 minutes of the contest and the Latics will look to get back to winning ways in their trip to Barnsley on Monday evening.

Goalkeeper JED STEER'S Yeovil Town dropped to the bottom of League One after defeat to Bristol City on Boxing Day.

Matt Smith scored his first goal for league leaders City in the 31st minute while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas doubled the reds' lead from the penalty spot.

Ben Nugent's 35-yard shot two minutes from time gave Yeovil late hope but the Ashton Gate outfit held out to take the West Country bragging rights.

The Glovers now host fellow strugglers Leyton Orient on Monday evening.

In the Championship, DARREN BENT, JOE BENNETT AND GARY GARDNER all featured as Brighton came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Reading on Boxing Day.

It was the tale of the two managers as Brighton contested their first match since Sami Hyypia's departure while Steve Clarke earned his first point as Reading boss.

Two first half goals from Glenn Murray put the Royals in cruise control but the Seagulls pulled one back through Jake Forster-Caskey's effort just before the break.

And, in the 90th minute, Inigo Calderon converted Adrian Colunga's 90th-minute delivery to earn a point.

Brighton take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday and are likely to be without Bent who picked up a groin injury on Friday.

Elsewhere, YACOUBA SYLLA played 90 minutes as Kayseri Erciyesspor lost 3-1 at İstanbul Başakşehir in the Super Lig on Saturday.

Alexandru Epureanu put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes but Edinho equalised.

Two goals in 10 minutes from Doka Madureira and Jérémy Perbet sealed victory to extend Sylla's side's winless run to four matches.

[Mister E]

It's been a hectic week for our loanees ...

.. goals in 10 minutes from Doka Madureira and Jérémy Perbet sealed victory to extend Sylla's side's winless run to four matches.

Pretty depressing stuff, really. Second-rate players playing in lower clubs all of whom seem to be fighting for their lives.
Like the first team, we need to up the game for these types of players.

[Richard E]

It's been a hectic week for our loanees.

In League Two, it's been a mixed few days for JANOI DONACIEN'S Tranmere Rovers.

The Merseysiders lost 2-0 at Burton Albion on Friday where Rovers defender Liam Ridehalgh saw red for a foul on Kelvin Maynard and Damien McCrory scored the resulting penalty.

Shane Cansdell-Sheriff's header doubled Burton's lead from Matty Palmer's corner.

However, Micky Adams' men made it a super Sunday as they moved out of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win over Northampton at Prenton Park yesterday.

The hosts took the lead when Kayode Odejayi converted low at the front post for his first league goal for the club.

Veteran Marc Richards levelled before the break after good work by Joel Byrom.

But Tranmere regained the lead when Kirby curled home after a one-two with Max Power, inflicting a fifth straight league loss on the visitors.

In League One, ENDA STEVENS and Doncaster Rovers enjoyed a fruitful Christmas period after picking up four points out of a possible six.

On Boxing Day, the Yorkshire side beat 10-man Coventry 2-0 after early goals from Andy Butler and Harry Forrester.

They then travelled to Peterborough on Sunday, earning a point in a goalless draw despite creating numerous chances.

The ever-present Forrester struck the woodwork while goalkeeper Ben lnwick saved well from left-back STEVENS.

Rovers now sit 14th, three points off the play-off places in a congested League One.

Three goals in the final 20 minutes saw DANIEL JOHNSON's Oldham beaten on Boxing Day by Crewe Alexandra.

Leeds loan man Nicky Ajose fired the Alex ahead from the penalty spot after Harry Davis was fouled by George Elokobi with 20 minutes remaining.

Elokobi then made amends five minutes later as he equalised from a corner.

But Ajose had the final say and secured the points with a brilliant 30-yard chip four minutes from time.

The on loan Villa man played the final 16 minutes of the contest and the Latics will look to get back to winning ways in their trip to Barnsley on Monday evening.

Goalkeeper JED STEER'S Yeovil Town dropped to the bottom of League One after defeat to Bristol City on Boxing Day.

Matt Smith scored his first goal for league leaders City in the 31st minute while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas doubled the reds' lead from the penalty spot.

Ben Nugent's 35-yard shot two minutes from time gave Yeovil late hope but the Ashton Gate outfit held out to take the West Country bragging rights.

The Glovers now host fellow strugglers Leyton Orient on Monday evening.

In the Championship, DARREN BENT, JOE BENNETT AND GARY GARDNER all featured as Brighton came from behind to draw 2-2 at home to Reading on Boxing Day.

It was the tale of the two managers as Brighton contested their first match since Sami Hyypia's departure while Steve Clarke earned his first point as Reading boss.

Two first half goals from Glenn Murray put the Royals in cruise control but the Seagulls pulled one back through Jake Forster-Caskey's effort just before the break.

And, in the 90th minute, Inigo Calderon converted Adrian Colunga's 90th-minute delivery to earn a point.

Brighton take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Monday and are likely to be without Bent who picked up a groin injury on Friday.

Elsewhere, YACOUBA SYLLA played 90 minutes as Kayseri Erciyesspor lost 3-1 at İstanbul Başakşehir in the Super Lig on Saturday.

Alexandru Epureanu put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes but Edinho equalised.

Two goals in 10 minutes from Doka Madureira and Jérémy Perbet sealed victory to extend Sylla's side's winless run to four matches.

Good to see that the 90th minute delivery led to a 90th minute equaliser. If Brighton had scored in the 90th minute from a 47th minute pass you'd have to ask questions about the Reading marking.

[Dave]

Gardner and Bent no longer at Brighton and they start winning again.

[Matt C]

Is that Bennett finished there as well now?