Douglas Luiz - coming back?

[paul_e]

Not really. For 12 months of Unai’s time he was exceptional - as in one of the very best in the league. His form definitely dropped for 6 months, but he was covering a position that isn’t his best. Before that there were plenty of good times and he was key to our improvement.

Yep, before Emery came in there were flashes of brilliance but it needed better coaching and the right player alongside him to bring it out but even with that said he was with us for 5 seasons and was consistently improving all the time which is exactly what you'd want and expect of a guy who was 21 and had never played in England before.

In the same time we've gone from the 4th worst team in the league to the 4th best and he along with 2-3 others has been at the heart of that improvement and I find it really strange that so many people can't or won't see that.

[VillaTim]

shame he's gone but lets be truthful, half a season of good consistent football really.

Agreed. I think as he's Brazilian people get a bit carried away.
He had 12 months with Emery that were really good then it fell away again . Sounds like he wanted out so maybe that was a contributing factor. He was good but will quickly be forgotten. All the best though.

[PaulWinch again]

I repeat, yawn.

[Villatillidie25]

I’m definitely in the camp of, he’ll be a huge miss. I’ve always really rated him and think he was absolutely superb for 12 months when UE came in. Having said that, I think we’re in a better position to both cope and replace him so we will move on and survive but anything other than thinking it’s a real blow, seems off the mark to me.

[Meanwood Villa]

Have the signings the other way been confirmed?

[KevinGage]

Didn't somebody post recently that he's been sat on a new contract offer for months, but wanted out. PSR or not he would likely have always been going.

I'm not sure that's right.

He might not have jumped on the last renewal offer for a variety of reasons. He might have wanted parity (or better) than Phil and Lucas Digne , for example. Not totally unreasonable, considering he was more important to our progression and style of play than they were.

He might have wanted a lowish release clause, in the event that we did a Villa and followed up a very good season with a season of drift.

It's never the full story, true. But all the interviews given over the last six months or so indicate he relished the increased responsibility and leadership role he had in the side. Rather than a player ripping to get away at the first opportunity.

[Legion]

Good luck and best wishes to him. Wish he could have stayed with us as I really rate him.

[VillaTim]

Have the signings the other way been confirmed?

Nope.

[darren woolley]

Thanks for the memories Dougie.

[john2710]

His performances in the games after lockdown were key to our survival that season. As key as any player, including Grealish & Trez. After that he went back to being hit & miss for 18 months. But for 12 months, alongside Kamara he was exceptional.

We got him relatively cheap, he's served us well & now wants to try a new environment. I hope he does well, unless it's against us.

I expect Emery to bring in an upgrade.

[kippaxvilla2]

Didn't somebody post recently that he's been sat on a new contract offer for months, but wanted out. PSR or not he would likely have always been going.

I'm not sure that's right.

He might not have jumped on the last renewal offer for a variety of reasons. He might have wanted parity (or better) than Phil and Lucas Digne , for example. Not totally unreasonable, considering he was more important to our progression and style of play than they were.

He might have wanted a lowish release clause, in the event that we did a Villa and followed up a very good season with a season of drift.

It's never the full story, true. But all the interviews given over the last six months or so indicate he relished the increased responsibility and leadership role he had in the side. Rather than a player ripping to get away at the first opportunity.

Yes it was Vinnie Chase.

[eamonn]

I think Luiz may have gone irrespective of PSR, but the significance of the date indicates it was certainly  in our interests to sell before the end of the month. A few people on here were confident we didn't have to sell before July 1st but that looks well wide of the mark.

You have to also allow for our deal with Chelsea which was a net spend of say £18.5m

Maatsen can be amortised over 5 or 6 years. Luiz's proceeds can be booked all in one go for the financial year just ended (minus Citeh's sell-on).

[edgysatsuma89]

I think Luiz may have gone irrespective of PSR, but the significance of the date indicates it was certainly  in our interests to sell before the end of the month. A few people on here were confident we didn't have to sell before July 1st but that looks well wide of the mark.

I think some journos got a lot of criticism on here, but when there is that much smoke, most of the time there is some sort of fire.

[sid1964]

Best of luck to him unless we play them in the Champions League.

[Dogtanian]

Yeah, watch us go and get drawn against them now.