Carlos Sanchez

[ciggiesnbeer]

Someone else mentioned (poster here?) that he plays like he loves it. Always seems to be enjoying himself. Its kind of stuck with me and I see that as well now. I really like him. He seems to be getting better and better.

[supertom]

He's getting fitter. He seems to last the pace a little more now.

[Clampy]

I think he's been quite good overall and he's getting better. It does takes time for some players to settle into a new country, especially him being South American. There was some clown on here a while back who said he was the worst player he'd ever seen in a Villa shirt and that was after about two games.

[martyn ellis]

So maybe we should give Lambert some credit - what he may lack in tactical nous he may be making up for in his ability to spot a decent player who doesn't cost the earth in the transfer market - Benteke, Okore, Sanchez, Westwood, to name three (not forgetting the crocked members, Vlaar, Kozak and so on). Yes there are also some on the list who haven't quite made it but I do think he can spot decent players who are under the radar.

[supertom]

So maybe we should give Lambert some credit - what he may lack in tactical nous he may be making up for in his ability to spot a decent player who doesn't cost the earth in the transfer market - Benteke, Okore, Sanchez, Westwood, to name three (not forgetting the crocked members, Vlaar, Kozak and so on). Yes there are also some on the list who haven't quite made it but I do think he can spot decent players who are under the radar.

I'm pretty sure at one time McLeish (about a year after he'd gone) claimed that Benteke was on our radar before Lambo took over.
That said having the guts to drop an 18 million pound forward and play the untried Tekker paid dividends. So I've got to give him credit there.

[nigel]

I think he's been quite good overall and he's getting better. It does takes time for some players to settle into a new country, especially him being South American. There was some clown on here a while back who said he was the worst player he'd ever seen in a Villa shirt and that was after about two games.

There's always someone.
Benteke is another example, some were writing him off as a one season wonder. The fact he was injured for the vast majority of his second season mean't nothing.

[Dave]

I'm pretty sure at one time McLeish (about a year after he'd gone) claimed that Benteke was on our radar before Lambo took over.

The conventional wisdom is that we were interested in Jelle Vossen (now at Middlesbrough). We went to watch him and thought that his strike partner looked much better so bought him instead.

[nigel]

I'm pretty sure at one time McLeish (about a year after he'd gone) claimed that Benteke was on our radar before Lambo took over.

The conventional wisdom is that we were interested in Jelle Vossen (now at Middlesbrough). We went to watch him and thought that his strike partner looked much better so bought him instead.

I heard that, too.
I still think we should have bought both

[supertom]

I'm pretty sure at one time McLeish (about a year after he'd gone) claimed that Benteke was on our radar before Lambo took over.

The conventional wisdom is that we were interested in Jelle Vossen (now at Middlesbrough). We went to watch him and thought that his strike partner looked much better so bought him instead.

It was later that year that scout left as well didn't he? Can't remember who it was.

[Mister E]

Someone else mentioned (poster here?) that he plays like he loves it. Always seems to be enjoying himself. Its kind of stuck with me and I see that as well now. I really like him. He seems to be getting better and better.

I think he is looking good and has the capacity to get a lot better, I think. My recent observation is that he does seem to want more time on the ball than is either available or helpful. he needs to distribute more quickly ... but I guess that will come.
We'll find out how good he is over the Xmas period when the games come think and fast, without Westwood.

[Ger Regan]

He should be the natural replacement for Westwood. I like him, but not as the more advanced midfielder.

[tomd2103]

He should be the natural replacement for Westwood. I like him, but not as the more advanced midfielder.

Agree.  When Westwood went off on Sunday, he just sat in front of the defence and looked ciomfortable in that position. 

[Ger Regan]

I noticed on a few occasions that he didn't really know what forward runs to make ahead of the ball. As you say he looked a lot better when he moved back.

[RussellC]

I noticed on a few occasions that he didn't really know what forward runs to make ahead of the ball. As you say he looked a lot better when he moved back.

That said, he's looked fairly decent on the few occasions he's found himself in advanced ares of the pitch in possession of the ball. I remember one of his very first contributions in his debut v Newcastle was a beautifully floated ball out to the wing.

It was also a lovely reverse pass he played into Benteke that lead to our first shot on target at Palace recently.

[Ron Manager]

Sanchez looks better each game he plays. Sometimes he looks very good indeed.