Joleon Lescott - GONE

[Surrey Villain]

Not sure how he will cope at yourselves personally.

At our place where attacking is frowned upon he excels because we're compact, organised and very rarely stretched so he is able to defend deep and defend well. From that point he is a good defender.

I look at the Villa backline and the way I think Sherwood will set you up and then raise questions about whether he is suitable. You're going to be more open, not as well organised and probably further up the pitch than we are. When Lescott is exposed you have a problem because his legs are going with his age - bloody Zamora out-sprinted him last season! Your new left-back looks a more attacking full back and that is going to leave Lescott exposed down the channels and at that point you will have problems. If Sherwood sets you up similar to ourselves then you have a good defender on your hands.

He's our highest earner and now 33 years of age - getting him off the books will appeal - especially when he has been replaced by a good defender who is younger than him.

True,but I thought you were signing Johnny Evans.

[Liam_Baggies]

True,but I thought you were signing Johnny Evans.

We have. A very good signing he is too.

Will fit the Pulis mould very well in my view.

Had Lescott been five years or more younger and a bit more mobile then I imagine we would have put up more of a fight to keep him.

[cdbearsfan]

Had he been five years younger, he'd be at a club better than either of us.

The stuff you put about him having lost his pace is a bit of a worry as it backs up what I thought based on the few times I saw him last year.

I suppose Sherwood thinks Richards will have enough pace to cover and that Joleon's experience and positioning will negate the effects of his diminishing speed.

[ozzjim]

Sorry but Evans is very poor, back in the mould of O'Shea, Brown etc. I would have been gutted if we had bought him. I don't think Lescott will be the saviour of our defence, but Evans is not the answer to yours.

[Toronto Villa]

Is Evans a good signing Liam because he'll be good at flick ons and running on to long throw ins?

[Liam_Baggies]

Had he been five years younger, he'd be at a club better than either of us.

The stuff you put about him having lost his pace is a bit of a worry as it backs up what I thought based on the few times I saw him last year.

I suppose Sherwood thinks Richards will have enough pace to cover and that Joleon's experience and positioning will negate the effects of his diminishing speed.

His biggest asset was his experience and leadership that he gave to the others - especially Chris Brunt who is relatively new to playing at full-back. Those qualities alone make him stand out. Unfortunately we saw at times towards the back end of last season where those legs were starting to fade away and uncharacteristic mistakes started appearing in his game. He played on Saturday at full-back however and was very good although the fact we were facing 9 men might have aided that.

I think he will be good for the likes of Kieren Clark and the lad Baker if he is still with yourselves. His art of defending will be good for them to learn from. I think Clark is a bit rash and sometimes reckless in his decision making - Lescott strikes me as the type of character who will guide somebody through that.

We played Tottenham last year and Dawson went flying into a tackle which he missed. Lescott had words with him during a break of play and it became noticeable throughout that game and as the season progressed that Dawson started jockeying more rather than going full-bloodied into tackle.

[Liam_Baggies]

Is Evans a good signing Liam because he'll be good at flick ons and running on to long throw ins?

Loffin. 

Good defender Jonny Evans - had a tough time recently with injuries which have knocked him back. He will suit what Pulis wants - an experienced, no-nonsense, tough defender in a tight, organised back four. He's also a much better footballer than anything else we have at the back but I don't think that's a trait we will utilise very well.

[ozzjim]

Seriously?? Tough? Not sure you and I have watched the same Evans. As a second centre half he is ok, but won't he end up as a full back in the Pulis centre half formation?

[ChicagoLion]

I get that Lescott is slow but Olson is a bloody donkey

[Liam_Baggies]

Seriously?? Tough? Not sure you and I have watched the same Evans. As a second centre half he is ok, but won't he end up as a full back in the Pulis centre half formation?

He's from Norn Iron.

We're all tough from there 

And yes, he will end up at full back no doubt 

I get that Lescott is slow but Olson is a bloody donkey

I agree with this too.

D'ya want him? 

[ChicagoLion]

Seriously?? Tough? Not sure you and I have watched the same Evans. As a second centre half he is ok, but won't he end up as a full back in the Pulis centre half formation?

He's from Norn Iron.

We're all tough from there 

And yes, he will end up at full back no doubt 

I get that Lescott is slow but Olson is a bloody donkey

I agree with this too.

D'ya want him? 

No Ta, we like our Vikings real, Melberg, Neilsen, Laursen types.
How do you like the Anti English Norn Iron Looney?

[peter w]

To be fair you don't go to The Albion after Man U if you are any good at this level. He may just do a job but that says more about Pulis and his anti-football approach than Evans. How long you going to give Pulis before you start thinking as a fan base (no sniggering at the back) that you want more for and from your team and club? Surely living to exist isn't anything to enjoy?

[brontebilly]

Not sure how he will cope at yourselves personally.

At our place where attacking is frowned upon he excels because we're compact, organised and very rarely stretched so he is able to defend deep and defend well. From that point he is a good defender.

I look at the Villa backline and the way I think Sherwood will set you up and then raise questions about whether he is suitable. You're going to be more open, not as well organised and probably further up the pitch than we are. When Lescott is exposed you have a problem because his legs are going with his age - bloody Zamora out-sprinted him last season! Your new left-back looks a more attacking full back and that is going to leave Lescott exposed down the channels and at that point you will have problems. If Sherwood sets you up similar to ourselves then you have a good defender on your hands.

He's our highest earner and now 33 years of age - getting him off the books will appeal - especially when he has been replaced by a good defender who is younger than him.

Exactly how I see it too, his legs are gone and if we defend high up the pitch he will struggle, especially with the gaps Amavi leaves.

Clark had a shocker against Sunderland and needs to cut out his dirty tackles but is 8 years younger.

We have just given two left sided centre halves new contracts, bringing in another one at 33 yrs of age on big wages is MON type thinking that got us in trouble.

Hope this signing doesn't happen. Victor Valdez though...

[KRS]

Surely if Lescott comes to Villa then he'd be second choice behind Clark and assist with advising/coaching our younger players to make them a more organised unit? Our inexperienced defensive unit could do with a wise head to organise and manage them correctly so I think (and hope) this is where Lescott will prove invaluable in addition to appearances in cup games.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We have just given two left sided centre halves new contracts, bringing in another one at 33 yrs of age on big wages is MON type thinking that got us in trouble.

Well let's see when the window finally closes, including loans, whether Sherwood has been strategic or scatter gun. Time will tell but if he does get it wrong he'll only have himself to blame. We currently have 5 centre forwards realistically fighting for one shirt so I'm not going to hold my breath.