Leon Bailey (out on loan to AS Roma)

[Somniloquism]

Watch his run again for the 3rd goal tonight, could easily have gone offside - I guarantee Watkins would - but instead cleverly angled his run just enough to ensure he got in behind the defender.  Great game from Leon.

Old Watkins maybe, he as barely been offside these season, along with most of the team so they all seem to be able to angle their runs.

[supertom]

This is the Bailey we thought we'd get when he signed. The Emery factor is key but so is fitness. Not so many frustrating injuries now. I also think his buddy Diaby coming has been a big help.
6 goals and 3 assists this season in 13 appearances (and he's averaged maybe a 45mins in all those games).
Superb.
Seeing him deliver a performance like that away from home is also very pleasing.

[JUAN PABLO]

I remember when we got him and a few manure and Liverpool fans I knew , said they coudnt believe we had got him , that he was a brilliant player and they wish they had signed him.

I was thinking where is this player they raved about , I dont see it but was always hoping he would come good but wouldnt have been suprised If we sold him in summer.

Now he is looking like that player and the Diaby signing has really helped him too.

[Dante Lavelli]

Watch his run again for the 3rd goal tonight, could easily have gone offside - I guarantee Watkins would - but instead cleverly angled his run just enough to ensure he got in behind the defender.  Great game from Leon.

didn’t someone post stats on this the other day, Watkins is rarely off-side nowadays?

[Brazilian Villain]

Everything irie with him and SJM tonight.

[Exeter 77]

I may suggest to my Arsenal supporting mate (he's from Kent so sort of understandable) that his dog was named Bailey after the Villa number 31.

[usav]

Watch his run again for the 3rd goal tonight, could easily have gone offside - I guarantee Watkins would - but instead cleverly angled his run just enough to ensure he got in behind the defender.  Great game from Leon.

Old Watkins maybe, he as barely been offside these season, along with most of the team so they all seem to be able to angle their runs.

In the first half on Sunday he made three runs into offside positions that caused the play to break down or slow down - I commented on it in the match thread at the time. 

[usav]

Watch his run again for the 3rd goal tonight, could easily have gone offside - I guarantee Watkins would - but instead cleverly angled his run just enough to ensure he got in behind the defender.  Great game from Leon.

didn’t someone post stats on this the other day, Watkins is rarely off-side nowadays?

Being given offside is different from making a stupid run into an offside position that the midfielder sees and doesn't give you the ball.

[Clark W Griswold]

Bailey has been excellent this season really overall. If we’d only signed him in the summer we’d be drooling over him, it’s the fact that he had two largely underwhelming seasons beforehand that’s making us a bit more reserved and still looking to be totally convinced.

[wince]

He is on fire at the moment and every bit the player we hoped he would be

[Brazilian Villain]

That's his sixth goal of the season along with quite a few assists. Not a bad return for someone who isn't starting many of the games.

[VILLA MOLE]

He looks physically stronger, and very sharp

[Brazilian Villain]

Bailey has been excellent this season really overall. If we’d only signed him in the summer we’d be drooling over him, it’s the fact that he had two largely underwhelming seasons beforehand that’s making us a bit more reserved and still looking to be totally convinced.

That's a fair point.  Also, when he first arrived he seemed to make a habit of scoring a beauty, get us all excited, then go off injured 15 mins later.

[Matt C]

Transformed since he stopped pulling his socks up.

[Footy-Vill]

Watch his run again for the 3rd goal tonight, could easily have gone offside - I guarantee Watkins would - but instead cleverly angled his run just enough to ensure he got in behind the defender.  Great game from Leon.

didn’t someone post stats on this the other day, Watkins is rarely off-side nowadays?

Being given offside is different from making a stupid run into an offside position that the midfielder sees and doesn't give you the ball.

Of course it was I
-Watkins Offside 2 times this season.
Aston Villa have only been offside 8 times all season.
Only Man City 7 with less!