Leon Bailey (out on loan to AS Roma)

[Brend'Watkins]

It definitely feels to me that his go-to decision this season is a pass along the edge of the penalty box rather than having the confidence do try and do something himself, which the numbers show he definitely was trying last season. 

The big problem at the moment is his seeming inability to do anything as simple as control a ball. So many passes to him end up with a heavy touch which he loses, or he dwells too long, gets crowded out and loses it that way. At the moment he's playing like a 20 year old academy winger, finding life a bit tough in the big boy league. Whatever the reason, we need him to snap out of it, pronto.

Agree with Risso on this 100%.  Having said that, if that effort early in the second half had gone in, it might have seen the confidence flooding back.   As it stands, he needs to get back to basics and work hard, otherwise he should know by now his places is nowhere near guaranteed.

I think he clearly knows by now, he's one of the 'leadership group'. I think his problem sometimes is he knows it too well and it plays on his mind.

I do wonder if as someone mentioned earlier if it's an underlying injury issue, a hernia or something, but there's been a zip missing from his play all season.

He looks like his mind is somewhere else. As Risso stated, even the simple stuff is beyond him.  Emery is sticking by him for now but it wont last if he doesn't get back to where he once was. We're not quite carrying him yet but more of the same V Bournemouth will feel like it.

[Aldridge Villa]

It definitely feels to me that his go-to decision this season is a pass along the edge of the penalty box rather than having the confidence do try and do something himself, which the numbers show he definitely was trying last season. 

The big problem at the moment is his seeming inability to do anything as simple as control a ball. So many passes to him end up with a heavy touch which he loses, or he dwells too long, gets crowded out and loses it that way. At the moment he's playing like a 20 year old academy winger, finding life a bit tough in the big boy league. Whatever the reason, we need him to snap out of it, pronto.

Agree with Risso on this 100%.  Having said that, if that effort early in the second half had gone in, it might have seen the confidence flooding back.   As it stands, he needs to get back to basics and work hard, otherwise he should know by now his places is nowhere near guaranteed.

I think he clearly knows by now, he's one of the 'leadership group'. I think his problem sometimes is he knows it too well and it plays on his mind.

I do wonder if as someone mentioned earlier if it's an underlying injury issue, a hernia or something, but there's been a zip missing from his play all season.

Doubt a hernia would escape the attention of the medical staff. Slightly better last night than against Fulham but hardly a high bar in the first instance. Let’s hope he he gets going soon by hook or by crook.

[LeeB]

Yes but players are often playing with various niggles or strains through the season. He seemed to pull up before half time again, I just wonder if there's something holding him up that they thought they might be able to manage him through.

I mean if it is the case it's not working, get him fixed properly.

[jon collett]

Yes but players are often playing with various niggles or strains through the season. He seemed to pull up before half time again, I just wonder if there's something holding him up that they thought they might be able to manage him through.

I mean if it is the case it's not working, get him fixed properly.

Yes it was me that speculated about the hernia.

I wonder if this season Unai wants him to play to draw defenders out of position. There always seem to be two on Bailey.

He almost invariably gets taken off after doing a “job”

It’s the disappearance of the acceleration that’s the strange thing. I can’t remember him having it after Arsenal away.

[paul_e]

I think I said before but I'd be surprised if it's a hernia, that's not something that you'd generally try to 'run off'. I'd lean towards something painful but unlikely to get worse and not likely to need any treatment. Deep bruising/hematoma would be my guess, especially given he was wearing some heavy strapping for a while that seems to have gone now.

In somewhere like your upper thigh it can be 6-8 weeks for something like that to clear up fully which would fit with him going off against Leicester and missing Everton.

[VillaTim]

Looks like UE is trying to play him back into form, he's making runs that pull the opposition out of shape but his execution is way off . I expect he will start again Saturday and give it another go .

[eye digress]

It’s the disappearance of the acceleration that’s the strange thing. I can’t remember him having it after Arsenal away.

He looked fine in pre-season, scored a classic Bailey goal at Trnava, cutting in off the wing. And he looked his usual pacy, dangerous self against Bilbao, I felt. For me, the switch occurred since he missed that open goal against the Spammers.

[VillaTim]

It’s the disappearance of the acceleration that’s the strange thing. I can’t remember him having it after Arsenal away.

He looked fine in pre-season, scored a classic Bailey goal at Trnava, cutting in off the wing. And he looked his usual pacy, dangerous self against Bilbao, I felt. For me, the switch occurred since he missed that open goal against the Spammers.

Didn't the defender block that

[eye digress]

Nope.

[Clampy]

I didn't think he was too bad last night. Maybe tried a little too hard and the ref didn't give him much.

[VillaTim]

Nope.

oh i know the defender blocked off the goal by diving down lengthways and Bailey instead of chipping him went low and caught the post

[dcdavecollett]

Thought he took too many touches too often in the first half and was often caught in possession. Lovely ball into Morgan for his good chance, though.

He did a bit better after the break but it looks like an hour is all he can manage at the moment.

[Gareth]

I still think he did just fine vs Bologna, he was very isolated on the right side with Konsa being very deep and more of a 3rd centre back to allow Maatsen to continually bomb on down the left…Bailey had to either go at full back or cut back inside, he didn’t have much joy out of the full back (or referee) but when he cut back inside he contributed well…wouldn’t be surprised to see Cash back at right back on Saturday if we are managing players game time with Ned and Phologene on the right vs Palace

[Dante Lavelli]

Lacking confidence. We should give Jaden a few games and use Bailey from the bench.

If they don’t step up then I’d be trying to buy Dibling in the summer.

[Rigadon]

Lacking confidence. We should give Jaden a few games and use Bailey from the bench.

If they don’t step up then I’d be trying to buy Dibling in the summer.

Dibling has 'Spurs' written all over him.  Which is unfortunate.