Douglas Luiz - coming back?

[Dogtanian]

Bearing in mind the amount of noise on this a couple of days ago, it’s gone pretty quiet hasn’t it?

This happens with almost every transfer, there's loads of noise saying it's pretty much done and then everything goes quiet ahead of an announcement a few days later.

Yeah, it's no longer 'news' now, until the announcement.

[Dante Lavelli]

Will the Copa America impact timings?

[Drummond]

He looked crestfallen after the Olympiakos and celebrated our Champions League qualification with as much gusto as anyone. He has also repeatedly proclaimed his love of the club including in that Guardian interview this week. I see nothing to suggest he had stopped trying in anyway, his form just dipped a bit after a long season and the loss of his midfield partner.

If he has refused a contract then I guess that does explain the need to sell. I guess any new deal would take him up to or into his 30s. It is a short career and he might want a new experience.

Still surprised how many fans don't seem to consider it a right old kick in the knackers though, he is hard to replace.

Exactly.  Let's not go down the 'Jack was never that good really' route of rewriting history.

Nobody has ever said that about Greasy.

[cdbearsfan]

Will the Copa America impact timings?

USA played Brazil yesterday, neither has any more official games before the tournament. US fist game is Sunday 23rd (23rd/24th our time), Brazil first game is Monday 24th (25th our time).

I'd expect an announcement some time before the tournament starts.

[LeeS]

If its all sewn up then its just a case of waiting until the window opens. I expect to hear nothing more until the shirt stretching tomorrow.

[Clark W Griswold]

Will the Copa America impact timings?

USA played Brazil yesterday, neither has any more official games before the tournament. US fist game is Sunday 23rd (23rd/24th our time), Brazil first game is Monday 24th (25th our time).

I'd expect an announcement some time before the tournament starts.

Probably why it's gone quiet the last few days. I'd say this one will be confirmed next week, sounds like they're quite far along and will want to get it over the line before the tournament starts.

[Matt C]

I went to the USA vs Brazil game last night, got tickets a while back so my son could say he’s seen Brazil and Dougie is one of his Villa favorites, so…

Couple of obvious caveats - it’s an international friendly and we’re into Florida summertime here now so minimum 90% humidity. Combination of the two inevitably has an impact.

I was overly focused on him but McKennie was one of the standout players on the field and comfortably the amongst the best in what is admittedly, a pretty average US team at the moment. High energy, used the ball well, bit of physicality - if you were watching and looking to pick out players who might cut it in the Premier League he would definitely have been a pick. Doesn’t look like a holding midfielder to me but could be useful box-to-box  and perhaps if Emery is thinking of a change in style where we press more in some instances then he’s looking for more high energy options in the middle (hence Gallagher too). Wasn’t an earth shattering performance but could make some sense of how he might fit in.

I’ve still not broken the news about Luiz’s potential departure to my son. Knew we shouldn’t have got that Brazil shirt…

[OCD]

If its all sewn up then its just a case of waiting until the window opens. I expect to hear nothing more until the shirt stretching tomorrow.

You can sign players any time (Wolves and West Ham have both announced new signings yesterday and today). People get this mixed up with player registrations.

[Toronto Villa]

I went to the USA vs Brazil game last night, got tickets a while back so my son could say he’s seen Brazil and Dougie is one of his Villa favorites, so…

Couple of obvious caveats - it’s an international friendly and we’re into Florida summertime here now so minimum 90% humidity. Combination of the two inevitably has an impact.

I was overly focused on him but McKennie was one of the standout players on the field and comfortably the amongst the best in what is admittedly, a pretty average US team at the moment. High energy, used the ball well, bit of physicality - if you were watching and looking to pick out players who might cut it in the Premier League he would definitely have been a pick. Doesn’t look like a holding midfielder to me but could be useful box-to-box  and perhaps if Emery is thinking of a change in style where we press more in some instances then he’s looking for more high energy options in the middle (hence Gallagher too). Wasn’t an earth shattering performance but could make some sense of how he might fit in.

I’ve still not broken the news about Luiz’s potential departure to my son. Knew we shouldn’t have got that Brazil shirt…

Watched the whole game also Matt and completely agree. McKinnie's energy really surprised me. After a long season, to play at that intensity all game against a side that had much greater talent was very impressive. He's a very different player to Doug. If anyone is expecting to see silky skills and beautiful long range passing, well it's not going to happen. And maybe Emery buys someone else for that role. But in terms of box to box play, tracking back, joining the attack every so often (last night those opportunities were very limited), then McKinnie will give us that. He might not start every game, but that's not because he's not good enough. We will need to rotate and rest players next season.

[LeeS]

If its all sewn up then its just a case of waiting until the window opens. I expect to hear nothing more until the shirt stretching tomorrow.

You can sign players any time (Wolves and West Ham have both announced new signings yesterday and today). People get this mixed up with player registrations.

Ahh good info, thanks. Maybe its like one of those chain things where you buy a house and everyone has to sign on the same day.

[chrisw1]

I went to the USA vs Brazil game last night, got tickets a while back so my son could say he’s seen Brazil and Dougie is one of his Villa favorites, so…

Couple of obvious caveats - it’s an international friendly and we’re into Florida summertime here now so minimum 90% humidity. Combination of the two inevitably has an impact.

I was overly focused on him but McKennie was one of the standout players on the field and comfortably the amongst the best in what is admittedly, a pretty average US team at the moment. High energy, used the ball well, bit of physicality - if you were watching and looking to pick out players who might cut it in the Premier League he would definitely have been a pick. Doesn’t look like a holding midfielder to me but could be useful box-to-box  and perhaps if Emery is thinking of a change in style where we press more in some instances then he’s looking for more high energy options in the middle (hence Gallagher too). Wasn’t an earth shattering performance but could make some sense of how he might fit in.

I’ve still not broken the news about Luiz’s potential departure to my son. Knew we shouldn’t have got that Brazil shirt…

Watched the whole game also Matt and completely agree. McKinnie's energy really surprised me. After a long season, to play at that intensity all game against a side that had much greater talent was very impressive. He's a very different player to Doug. If anyone is expecting to see silky skills and beautiful long range passing, well it's not going to happen. And maybe Emery buys someone else for that role. But in terms of box to box play, tracking back, joining the attack every so often (last night those opportunities were very limited), then McKinnie will give us that. He might not start every game, but that's not because he's not good enough. We will need to rotate and rest players next season.

Good to hear.

I've also read this analysis too mind

I’ve watched 90 mins of McKennie ghosting. Taking up positions that hide from a pass and generally zonal marking his own players. It’s been a genuinely poor advert of a player.

[AV84]

My mate over in the states who knows a thing or two about football (played at a decent level) reckons McKennie is currently the best US player. The best US player under the stewardship of Emery might be even better. Having said that I seen some of his performances for Leeds, I was less than impressed.

I don't remember watching him at Leeds but several others have pointed out that in his brief spell there they went through 3 managers, so not 100% comparable to the situation he'd be in here. He could still be shit, who knows, but I'm not sure Leeds is the one to mark him by.

[john e]

I can’t/don’t believe Dougie is desperate to leave or even really wants to he loves it at Villa
Probably more to do with PSA or whatever it’s called now

[PaulWinch again]

I can’t/don’t believe Dougie is desperate to leave or even really wants to he loves it at Villa
Probably more to do with PSA or whatever it’s called now

Sounds like he’s rejected a contract offer.

[VillaTim]

Ohhh Weston McKennie
Ohhh Weston McKennie

ready made song. Donºt think Luiz ever managed a song.