Albrighton set to join wigan on loan.

[eastie]

How did he go from MOTM against Spurs in the cup massacre to not even being on the bench ?

With our ridiculously narrow side, surely him on the bench (at least) would be ideal. Especially with our only other wide player N'Zog still unavailable

He had a throat operation and wasnt available.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Right, so he is now i imagine ?

[ciggiesnbeer]

I want him to succeed. Home grown local lad who loves the club. Sadly I just dont think it is going to work out at Villa. Honestly I think Tonev is twice the player Albrighton is and Tonev looks more likely to improve.

Shame really

[olaftab]

Let's hope he plays well for them and hopefully ends up getting a transfer to them and a long term contract. If he does do well Whelan will sell him to Real for £30M!

[Toronto Villa]

He needs a consistent run of games and something from up above to keep him healthy. If he ends up there for a few months I'll be rooting for him. He's a good kid with a lot of bad luck so hopefully it will all work out well.

[Pete3206]

I want him to succeed. Home grown local lad who loves the club. Sadly I just dont think it is going to work out at Villa. Honestly I think Tonev is twice the player Albrighton is and Tonev looks more likely to improve.

Shame really

You see something in Tonev that I certainly don't. I hope you're right.

[Damo70]

Players don't tend to drop a level at his age and come back at the highest level successfully. Apart from Peter Crouch who DOL loaned to Norwich where he scored goals and came back with confidence restored. So then the genius flogged him. And replaced him with the goal machine Carlton Cole.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I want him to succeed. Home grown local lad who loves the club. Sadly I just dont think it is going to work out at Villa. Honestly I think Tonev is twice the player Albrighton is and Tonev looks more likely to improve.

Shame really

You see something in Tonev that I certainly don't. I hope you're right.

it is admittedly a hard case to make on his performances but what i see is energy, ability and willingness to take men on and the courage to shoot. I know all of these have been laughably inconsistent so far but I honestly get excited every time I see Tonev come on and I strongly believe he is going to explode into form soon. I could be utterly wrong about this of course, but Tonev strikes me as a player who could improve very quickly, Albrighton just doesnt.

Maybe its because marc has been around the club so long I have just put him in a box. I hope I am wrong and the lad becomes a superstar at Villa, it is just with great reluctance I have to admit I dont believe he will.

[OCD]

Tonev drove me nuts against Norwich when he was shooting at every opportunity. He only had one reckless shot on Saturday so that was better. His crossing was very poor but he played one or two intricate key passes. Someone said that he might be better playing behind Benteke and there might be something in that (it might even be why he was bought and become that playmaker we've been looking for).

[fredm]

Tonev made a break and  played the ball across the 6 yard box on saturday that was begging for someone to knock it in.  Unfortunately none of our other players were even in the penalty area.

[Clampy]

I thought Tonev showed signs on Saturday that in time he could be quite a good player for us. As with a lot of foreign imports though, he'll need time.

[supertom]

Tonev made a break and  played the ball across the 6 yard box on saturday that was begging for someone to knock it in.  Unfortunately none of our other players were even in the penalty area.

This happens quite often. No one in midfield really breaks into the box. Weimann isn't making enough runs in the box but he looks almost fearful in front of goal at the moment and lashes at every chance he gets. Our movement has been poor this season.

Tonev for me showed some promise, if anything else for having a bit of drive and confidence to just run with the ball. I'd also keep him playing wide because otherwise it's just another body in the center, where everyone just steps on each others toes. Tonev provided almost all our width on sat. The delivery needs to be more consistent, but we also need to get players showing the desire to break into the box too.

As for Alby, I honestly wouldn't be adverse to playing him on one wing, Tonev on the other and playing with width. 3 in CM. Benteke up top. Gabby and Weimann are ineffectual at the moment, and wasteful. But I don't think he's really in Lamberts long term plans. I think he'll go the way of Bannan etc. A loan will do him good just to get games under his belt, so if he is called upon, he's sharp and ready to go.

[TheTimVilla]

I would fine Tonev every time he shoots!

[supertom]

I would fine Tonev every time he shoots!

Unless he rifles one in the top corner.

[TheTimVilla]

Of the North Stand?