Ryan Bertrand

[Dave]

Pat Murphy mentioned on 5 Live that there is an option to buy him at the end of the loan and that Bertrand is open to the move.

[Toronto Villa]

top player. Another very solid game tonight

[dicedlam]

top player. Another very solid game tonight

Shows great composure on the ball.
Class.

[SoccerHQ]

Looked quality tonight, very impressed. Let's see how good he is defensively one on one against the best wide players in the league but I like his pace going forward.

[olaftab]

He is different class from our own left backs. Cool calm  and oh  yes a sense of positioning and marking.

[Smirker]

Get this twat signed permanently. Now.

[tomd2103]

Looks a quality player and looked head and shoulders above some of the others on show tonight.  We used to have players like that!!

[Toronto Villa]

He is different class from our own left backs. Cool calm  and oh  yes a sense of positioning and marking.

for me, signing someone like Bertrand represents the type of signing in the future for Lambert. He might not get more net cash to spend, but we will only need to buy 3 or 4 players every season as opposed to 10 with that money. Bertrand will cost 7m say, that net a Bennett or Luna leaving is a solid investment.

[curiousorange]

He's played two games for us and we look loads better. If there's any possibility of making this permanent, Villa would be very foolish not to pursue it.

[adrenachrome]

I agree with all the comments, and this raises an uncomfortable question:

Does anybody think Lowton, Bennett  and Luna will ever be as good? 

[Rudy65]

The difference between signing a player from Chelsea and one from the championship

[Olneythelonely]

Him, Guzan, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke are real quality players. We just need to add around them.

[London Villan]

A £10m champs league winner is a long way from the players we will sign in the next few years...

[N'Zimidy]

Him, Guzan, Vlaar, Delph and Benteke are real quality players. We just need to add around them.

I'd add in Gabby and on his day Weimann to that list. The core of our team with those 7 is really excellent. Just a shame we have to play liabilities like KEA and Sylla with them.

[supertom]

I agree with all the comments, and this raises an uncomfortable question:

Does anybody think Lowton, Bennett  and Luna will ever be as good? 

Not in a million years to be brutally honest. I just think they're what you get for a mill or so. The latter two aren't Prem quality and probably never will be. Lowton isn't bad on the ball but for a fullback he's poor defensively and lacks pace. He could be retrained as a midfielder but even so, he'd then lack the physical presence for such a role. I don't think he'll be playing top flight football in a couple of years either.

If we sign a better right back in the summer and get Bertrand on a permanent, our backline looks good.