Mile Jedinak - Released

[PaulWinch again]

Two weeks settling in with the squad and he'll be fine. He clearly needs a distributor to play next to him.

[Matt C]

He'll do fine for us I'm sure. It's the pointer that worries me.

[Matt Collins]

He'll do fine for us I'm sure. It's the pointer that worries me.

Perhaps. I do suspect we might see the pointer afforded less tolerance on the basis of not having a beard though.

[OzVilla]

He'll do fine for us I'm sure. It's the pointer that worries me.

Perhaps. I do suspect we might see the pointer afforded less tolerance on the basis of not having a beard though.

I doubt he could grow one.

[cheltenhamlion]

Westwood with a beard would be akin to me watching my 18 month old amble around the lounge in my shoes.

[Perthvillan]

Jedi had a good game bossing the midfield for Australia last night in WCQ against Iraq. I'm not sure if Iraq are as good as Forest though.

[passitsideways]

Jedi had a good game bossing the midfield for Australia last night in WCQ against Iraq. I'm not sure if Iraq are as good as Forest though.

Thought he was a bit off, to be honest - did fine defensively but didn't have much to do, and passing was poor. I think Palace fans warned us about the latter though, which makes it a little concerning that we don't have a midfielder who can move us forward consistently and accurately with passing - Westwood does it sometimes but his problems elsewhere are well-documented, and it doesn't sound like Tshibola or Gardner are of that type either.

[Ads]

Tshibola looks a good passer to me.

[Dante Lavelli]

Jedi had a good game bossing the midfield for Australia last night in WCQ against Iraq. I'm not sure if Iraq are as good as Forest though.

Thought he was a bit off, to be honest - did fine defensively but didn't have much to do, and passing was poor. I think Palace fans warned us about the latter though, which makes it a little concerning that we don't have a midfielder who can move us forward consistently and accurately with passing - Westwood does it sometimes but his problems elsewhere are well-documented, and it doesn't sound like Tshibola or Gardner are of that type either.

When Westwood first appeared his passing was pretty incisive (comparatively speaking).  Without the burden of being the team's muscle - something he is clearly not suited to - then this element of his game might improve.  It needs to because being the "Pirlo" is the closest thing he has to a unique selling point compared to the others midfielders.

[Matt Collins]

I do think it's a bit of a quandary. It may be that Jedi needs someone with the legs to get around the pitch alongside him AND someone with good passing skills

he may be more suited to playing in a three therefore

Or to a team that isn't going to have loads of the ball

I'm still a bit of a sceptic that he's quite the player many believe, but obviously he needs a bit of time to bed in

[PaulWinch again]

Jedi had a good game bossing the midfield for Australia last night in WCQ against Iraq. I'm not sure if Iraq are as good as Forest though.

Thought he was a bit off, to be honest - did fine defensively but didn't have much to do, and passing was poor. I think Palace fans warned us about the latter though, which makes it a little concerning that we don't have a midfielder who can move us forward consistently and accurately with passing - Westwood does it sometimes but his problems elsewhere are well-documented, and it doesn't sound like Tshibola or Gardner are of that type either.

When Westwood first appeared his passing was pretty incisive (comparatively speaking).  Without the burden of being the team's muscle - something he is clearly not suited to - then this element of his game might improve.  It needs to because being the "Pirlo" is the closest thing he has to a unique selling point compared to the others midfielders.

I agree, and I know it may not be popular, but I think if Westwood isn't responsible for being the midfield muscle I think he can do a job as a distributor.

[Tayls_7]

Jedi had a good game bossing the midfield for Australia last night in WCQ against Iraq. I'm not sure if Iraq are as good as Forest though.

Thought he was a bit off, to be honest - did fine defensively but didn't have much to do, and passing was poor. I think Palace fans warned us about the latter though, which makes it a little concerning that we don't have a midfielder who can move us forward consistently and accurately with passing - Westwood does it sometimes but his problems elsewhere are well-documented, and it doesn't sound like Tshibola or Gardner are of that type either.

When Westwood first appeared his passing was pretty incisive (comparatively speaking).  Without the burden of being the team's muscle - something he is clearly not suited to - then this element of his game might improve.  It needs to because being the "Pirlo" is the closest thing he has to a unique selling point compared to the others midfielders.

I agree, and I know it may not be popular, but I think if Westwood isn't responsible for being the midfield muscle I think he can do a job as a distributor.

If he becomes a good distributor do you think he'll get a cap?

[Hookeysmith]

clappy thing

[UK Redsox]

Will Westwood have to adjust his points to play the role of distributor and maybe provide the spark Villa need in midfield

[themossman]

I do think it's a bit of a quandary. It may be that Jedi needs someone with the legs to get around the pitch alongside him AND someone with good passing skills

he may be more suited to playing in a three therefore

Or to a team that isn't going to have loads of the ball

I'm still a bit of a sceptic that he's quite the player many believe, but obviously he needs a bit of time to bed in

I do share your tentative concerns. Leadership skills and fight well and are good, but if a central midfielder doesn't have good passing and lacks pace then in practical terms that doesn't leave much. I just think we need to see him in more games, too little to go on at this stage.