Douglas Luiz - Confirmed confirmed

[PeterWithe]

Playing Nakamba instead would mean losing the ball in the opposition press.

[itbrvilla]

I wonder of he had covid?

[dicedlam]

Too much of the midfield workload is being put on both Luiz and McGinn. Last night was a good example.
Grealish, Barkley and Trahore were not tracking back enough when losing possession.
Coming up against teams with baller's who play the game on the floor needs energy in the midfield which we are lacking with only having Luiz and McGinn in there. The game last night, along with the West Ham game was crying out for either Nakamba sitting deep with Luiz and McGinn in a more attacking role, or Luiz in the middle with Sanson and McGinn on either side of him.

I have said in another thread that I don't want to write Ross Barkley off just yet, but in games like last night, he was a luxury we could have done without.

[aj2k77]

Barkley and Traore in the same team is very hard when we are not on top, we tend to lose the battle.

[Brend'Watkins]

Will Man City be exercising their buy back clause for Douglas in the summer? Absolutely no chance.

[PaulWinch again]

Will Man City be exercising their buy back clause for Douglas in the summer? Absolutely no chance.

Hope not. He’s had a couple ropey games, but he’s been fantastic.

[villa for life]

I think Martinez, Targett, Konsa, Cash, Grealish and Watkins have been “fantastic.”

And the rest of the team, including Luiz, somewhere between ok to decent.

[exigo]

Too many times last night, Brighton simply strung four in a line across the middle, and had acres of space. Grealish, Traore and Barkley all too far up the pitch, and it pushed McGinn and Luiz too far back. There was a thirty yard space in the middle of the pitch and Brighton took advantage of it time and time again.
Teams have figured out where and how to line up against us in the middle. And we need to sort it out quick, or our season will fizzle out. Sanson has been brought for the job, can play anywhere in the middle and has looked good when he's come on. Get him in for Barkley.

Sadly, it seems that Smith won't drop Barkley, having told him that coming to Villa will get him to the Euros. I just hope the shot of the brains trust standing behind Smith giving him advice just before he brought Sanson on means that they're on it.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Martinez, Targett, Konsa, Cash, Grealish and Watkins have been “fantastic.”

And the rest of the team, including Luiz, somewhere between ok to decent.

All about opinions. But by and large I think Douglas has been great.

[Dave]

I think Martinez, Targett, Konsa, Cash, Grealish and Watkins have been “fantastic.”

And the rest of the team, including Luiz, somewhere between ok to decent.

All about opinions. But by and large I think Douglas has been great.

I reckon that his list is about right. But Luiz is also hamstrung a bit by being in a position and performing a role where it's hard to look great. You look bad, or you look fine.

And he rarely looks bad.

[Ian.]

What is odd with with Doug, when he was settling in and looking alright but also a bit temperamental, he had two efforts which were sublime. Now he’s looking superb most games, when he shoots it’s like we have George Boateng back in the side.

[eamonn]

Yep, the crap shots are a surprise given his pearlers last season.

[AV82EC]

Don't think Dougie can avoid a bit of criticism at the moment, another one woefully out of form and sloppy and lacking intensity in my view. He needs to up it if he keep getting selected. The one pass I'll give him and McGinn is having to carry Barkley and when you're up against the quality of Ndidi, Tielemans and Maddison its going to be a struggle if one of the team isn't performing.

[brontebilly]

Don't think Dougie can avoid a bit of criticism at the moment, another one woefully out of form and sloppy and lacking intensity in my view. He needs to up it if he keep getting selected. The one pass I'll give him and McGinn is having to carry Barkley and when you're up against the quality of Ndidi, Tielemans and Maddison its going to be a struggle if one of the team isn't performing.

He has lots all his positional sense as a holding midfielder. Absolutely shocking today, again.  Sold out his centre backs time and again. Hiding from getting the ball off the back too.

[Ads]

Thought he did ok, he's told to screen. The ridiculous booking where Barnes trips him, neutered him.