Douglas Luiz - coming back?

[Ian.]

The concern is what happened to make his form drop off so severely before he left us, which appears not to have returned.
Having seen both versions of him, one the imperious commanding midfielder and the other flat forlorn almost disinterested.
I just hope we can get him back to somewhere near his best.

Everyone’s form dips at some point. Even the very best can have a wobble during a season. I don’t remember him ever looking disinterested though. I’ve always rated him, whether he was standing in for Kamara, but when he was given the freedom of the eight role, he was sensational for a long period of time.

[Dante Lavelli]

I haven’t got that far in Guillemot Balague’s book yet but didn’t he say that Villa were ok to let Luiz go as he’d reached a ceiling with us?

I don’t mind that, if true, as the ceiling was bloody high. 

[Dante Lavelli]

Haven’t been Douglas Luiz’s biggest fan but welcome him back as he should be highly motivated to play well enough to either want to stay with us or to put himself in the shop window as Juve done seem to want him.  We also need him to cover the shortfall. Also glad to see Ross Barkley back in training from Friday, another timely boost.

Barkley and Doug effectively auditioning for a contract this summer too.  They should be motivated.

[London Villan]

The book mentioned that the mental strain of the system and briefings became a bit of an issue.

[Somniloquism]

The concern is what happened to make his form drop off so severely before he left us, which appears not to have returned.
Having seen both versions of him, one the imperious commanding midfielder and the other flat forlorn almost disinterested.
I just hope we can get him back to somewhere near his best.

There are two possible answers to that one.

1: He, along with others were knackered AND Kamara got injured. Yes, we don't have Kamara again next to him but Bogarde and Onana means he isn't required to be the pure DM like in that second half. As for the other teams he was signed by managers who weren't Emery but also ones who were replaced early on so he suddenly wasn't in the new managers plans.

2: He started dating Alisha again in the December 2023.

[Olneythelonely]

I’d suggest number one could be true. The second is a bit Heat magazine.

[Dave]

Haven’t been Douglas Luiz’s biggest fan but welcome him back as he should be highly motivated to play well enough to either want to stay with us or to put himself in the shop window as Juve done seem to want him.  We also need him to cover the shortfall. Also glad to see Ross Barkley back in training from Friday, another timely boost.

Barkley and Doug effectively auditioning for a contract this summer too.  They should be motivated.

Do we definitely know this? Barkley himself seems to think he's here beyond the summer.

[brontebilly]

The book mentioned that the mental strain of the system and briefings became a bit of an issue.

Still played 53 games in his final season with us. 10 goals, 10 assists. Should complement Onana nicely. Also gives us the option of playing Tielemans further forward.

Thought bringing him back last summer was a no brainer so delighted he's returning now. Little concerned about his conditioning but he will be straight into it v Brentford. Wouldn't be surprised if he scored.

[eamonn]

Does anyone have a screen grab of Barkley correcting Villans about his contract? Pretty impressed he logs onto TBAR or VillaTalk, I guess we need to be more demanding in our way if we want him to sign-up to H&V.

[brontebilly]

Does anyone have a screen grab of Barkley correcting Villans about his contract? Pretty impressed he logs onto TBAR or VillaTalk, I guess we need to be more demanding in our way if we want him to sign-up to H&V.

Yep saw that, pity he didn't clarify how long his contract actually is and also his wages so we can all speculate how that fits within our FFP/PSR/SCR straightjacket. Hopefully he's at least on the bench Thursday night.

[Beard82]

Yeah if he could share the contract details of his teammates too that would be helpful to my spreadsheet.   Ross - if you are readng this - my PMs are open - you have my word ill only share top level analysis.

If it takes me a while to reply it will most likely be because Wills has been spamming me again.