Douglas Luiz - Confirmed confirmed

[SamTheMouse]

He strikes me as the sort of player that, if we didn't already have him, Emery would be interested in signing.

[Drummond]

"I love Villa Park. I love this club. Great 3 points" - Douglas Luiz

[Clampy]

He was outstanding yesterday. I still don't know what his best position is but you can see why Arsenal were interested when he plays like that.

[paul_e]

He was outstanding yesterday. I still don't know what his best position is but you can see why Arsenal were interested when he plays like that.

For me it's the pirlo style quarterback role where he is the playmaker who sets the tempo and changes the point of the attack.

[Neil Hawkes]

He was outstanding yesterday. I still don't know what his best position is but you can see why Arsenal were interested when he plays like that.

For me it's the pirlo style quarterback role where he is the playmaker who sets the tempo and changes the point of the attack.

Sounds about right, he seems to guide the midfield set-up, while Mings guides the backline set-up.
They are always looking for each other during the pressing from the back and I noticed Dougie on a few occasions waving to the other midfielders, where to position themselves before the forward pass was made.

[martin o`who??]

Second best player on the pitch yesterday after Tyrone.

[Clampy]

Second best player on the pitch yesterday after Tyrone.

That was superb defending when he caught up with Solanke in the second half and got the block in.

[paul_e]

One thing I've not seen mentioned is how good the corner was for our 3rd. With someone like Mings to target near the front post there's really not a lot a team can do to defend that.

Amusingly the one before he'd completely miskicked and was clearly annoyed with the ball and pitch and the commentator started giving him shit, before immediately back tracking.

Stats wise he has 3 goals and 5 assists meaning about 1 goal involvement ever 3 games, which is very good and takes a lot of pressure away from the creative players in front of him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a couple more of each before the end of the season either.

[Risso]

Amusingly the one before he'd completely miskicked and was clearly annoyed with the ball and pitch and the commentator started giving him shit, before immediately back tracking.

He did the same away at Arsenal, took a crap one that didn't clear the Arsenal defender and luckily went out for another corner. Curled the second one straight in.

[paul_e]

I like that, it suggests he responds to mistakes by doing better rather than hiding.

[LeeB]

I thought he was just knackered with that fluffed corner. Obviously not!

[chrisw1]

I think he's an outstanding player.  He's perfect as one of two DM's but I also think he'd be excellent further forward.

He had a problem when expected to do all the heavy lifting as a lone DM under Smith and Gerrard , he just wasn't ready for that and I think we could all see it.  Surely our failure to get a proper DM sooner was one of our big mistakes?

[Risso]

I reckon it's an unsung genius Austin MacPhee rope-a-dope move. Send a deliberately shit effort to the edge of the box to make the defenders relax slightly, then curl the next one in right under the bar.

[paul_e]

I think he's an outstanding player.  He's perfect as one of two DM's but I also think he'd be excellent further forward.

He had a problem when expected to do all the heavy lifting as a lone DM under Smith and Gerrard , he just wasn't ready for that and I think we could all see it.  Surely our failure to get a proper DM sooner was one of our big mistakes?

I think almost everyone on here could see that we needed a proper DM, the argument was whether it was to replace Luiz or compliment him, as someone who firmly believed the latter I'm very pleased to see that's the way we've gone. That said I think having a manager who gives him a clearer role has helped as well. Under Gerrard (and probably Smith to be fair) losing Kamara would've been a much bigger blow, under Emery Kamara still adds a lot to the team but isn't essential.

[Risso]

I'll be honest, this break will probably do Kamara a bit of good. He was really poor in the three defeats on the spin, and probably needed a breather and a chance to get his head together again. With the team doing well without him, there's no need to rush him back if he's not quite ready.