Tiago Ilori (update 2017 - signs for Reading)

[robbo1874]

If we play him and Richards together will there be times they both join the attack?

I really really like okore so I hope this doesn't spell the beginning of the end for him

Would be happy for any of them to play right back, but despite initial reservations I think Richards has been great at centre half. Really impressed

I hope not, too.
I do think Sherwood likes Okore, though, so I can't see him going anywhere.
Maybe Tim sees a future partnership of Okore and Ilori

it won't spell the end for okore- he's the future. Given his injuries, I think this is a smart move, excellent cover for Okore when he's out and competition for him when they're all fit. First choice for me would be okore and Richards. You want a situation though where if we get injuries, any of the others are comfortable filling in.

[JD]

I wonder if Tim has signed him to play at right back? Heard he can play anywhere across the back line, so he may be our right back version of Amavi.

[mr underhill]

he must have promised him first team action otherwise I don't think he would have joined ; one of the reasons he didn't go to Sunderland was a fear of lack of sufficient opportunity.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Great signing with potential and if developed right another gem !! Liverpool really wasted his talents or at least didn't enhance them much and will undoubtedly be given opportunity at villa . played in the euro under 21 finals so many may remember him v England for example and he's also able to play left back . Basically he's an attacking and playmaking centre half something villa don't have . if I could compare him to a defender I would say David luiz but with a bit less razz ma taz . He likes to be forward and set up play and will join in attacks but probably not as flamboyant as David luiz. He's a solid defender who probably needs to be a bit more ready for the physicality side of the things but ball playing and football he's very good !!

David Luiz with less razz ma taz.  You do have a way of describing players!

when we signed Okore, Pat Nevin described him as making David Luiz look like an old fashioned centre half :-) not sure he has lived up to that billing, but I do rate him

[JJ-AV]

A cheap, promising young player, who probably won't play much - but if he does and impresses then we have an option to sign. While our promising young player, who's under a long-contract goes out and gets games and hopefully either earns a move away for a profit, or proves his worth and comes back to cement a place.

Good move all round.

[Steve67]

Hmmm, I wonder what Tim's plan is for Crespo?

I like the idea of Ilori lining up with Lescott and having Richards and Amavi as marauding full backs. Maybe Tim wants to go three at the back to push Amavi further up the pitch? Who knows!

[footyskillz]

Hmmm, I wonder what Tim's plan is for Crespo?

I like the idea of Ilori lining up with Lescott and having Richards and Amavi as marauding full backs. Maybe Tim wants to go three at the back to push Amavi further up the pitch? Who knows!

How about having Sanchez in there as the libero , sweeper or even his beloved westwoood!!
But in all seriousness I believe bringing llori in means there's adaptable and flexible ways villa can set up and play which develops the players and team we have. We obvs have the old guard Richards , senderos,lescott and Hutton - old as in prem experienced . we have Clark to add in there. Then we have crespo - the versatile squad member . now with llori, and okore have to ball playing forward thinking defenders. I think we have seen both Richards and Clark bring the ball out and carry move further forward. For sure I seen Clark do that several times after his error against Sunderland he wanted to make up and foray forwarded several times but the ball was played back to him. I was pleasantly surprised he being encouraged to do that.

So my thoughts are that against certain opposition , or at home certain defenders will be used or brought in. Depeden ing on system certainly that's my dream. I also feel llori will be used frequently as long as he does well  due to fact he's being offered for 6-9 mil depending on appearances so lets say a min of 20 appperances including cup starts the fee at 6 hopefully see the boy fufil his potential.
I just don't want either a Toby ableiweilder situation if ,I expect, llori shows the prem league what he's about. Sherwood is familiar with his play from his own overseeing of youth development at Spurs and was keen to bring him in .

Definitely anothe player we can be excited about I just hope Sherwood is my running it like a youth development squad so the additions of players like lescott and Richards along with Cole being at club give the winning nous in squad needed.

Raz ma tazz indeed he will venture forward but also a calm head on young shoulders is another way to see things. Varane , Ferdinand , carvalho and Lucio for those who know him can be as good as them!

[Matt Collins]

There's a YouTube video of ilori v PSG

Didn't look brilliant I have to say. Quite weak looking.

[mallo]

There's a YouTube video of ilori v PSG

Didn't look brilliant I have to say. Quite weak looking.

He's a bit slight which is why he could be an option against faster smaller forwards, or as others have said if he can play a bit then RB would be worth a try to balance us up a bit and keep teams pinned back a bit more. If he wants to ping it onto Traore as well I'm all for it!

[Toronto Villa]

There's a YouTube video of ilori v PSG

Didn't look brilliant I have to say. Quite weak looking.

But there's also a number of other videos on YouTube that makes him look very competent and tidy. Depends which you choose to watch and how much based on just a couple of minutes you choose to believe.

[mr underhill]

best way is to actually reserve judgement until people see him play for us

[onje_villa]

It does make you wonder about Crespo. If Bacuna is ahead of him as a full back then can't see him getting much game time.

[Matt Collins]

There's a YouTube video of ilori v PSG

Didn't look brilliant I have to say. Quite weak looking.

But there's also a number of other videos on YouTube that makes him look very competent and tidy. Depends which you choose to watch and how much based on just a couple of minutes you choose to believe.

Fair enough. I just picked the first one I saw. Need to see him in the flesh as per above. But I like the increased muscularity and speed of lescott and Richards, plus amavi. He looks a v different player

[Stirchley Villain]

It does make you wonder about Crespo. If Bacuna is ahead of him as a full back then can't see him getting much game time.

Is Bacuna ahead of him? Perhaps as Crespo's injured Bacuna was in.

[Matt Collins]

I really think people need to chill about crespo. He cost half a million pounds, was relegated last year and the previous year couldn't get into a serie b team.

If he's better than that suggests then great. But I think he's squad filler