The January New Manager Warchest Transfer Thread

[eamonn]

Is he Enda Stephens' cousin ?

[Brazilian Villain]

Is he Enda Stephens' cousin ?

Both Sheffield and Japan are known for the quality of their blades but I think that's as close as it gets. More likely to be related to Hendo.

[UK Redsox]

Vague link to a Japanese DM for Stuttgart called Endo.

Deal discussed but then the brake was put on

[paul_e]

Who is that young midfielder at Sunderland? Were being linked with him.

Name is Dan Neill.  Highly rated by them apparently. More of an attacking midfielder than a holding midfielder.

If you really want to know more. https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/villa-are-after-dan-neil.1569410/

Does seem an odd link given we're not exactly short of young quality midfielders.

Had a chat with my Brother-in-law (Sunderland season ticket holder) and he reckons Neill is a lot like Henderson was at the same age, likes to sit a bit deeper and pick passes but is good at finding space and making himself available. Needs to work on his defence a little though.

Scored a good goal in the pizza cup -

- he's the 24 and gets the opener.

[algy]

Who is that young midfielder at Sunderland? Were being linked with him.

Name is Dan Neill.  Highly rated by them apparently. More of an attacking midfielder than a holding midfielder.

If you really want to know more. https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/villa-are-after-dan-neil.1569410/

Does seem an odd link given we're not exactly short of young quality midfielders.

I guess, but if you're building a squad (as opposed to a first 11) then I could see how a Jordan Henderson-type player might complement JJ and Carney. You'd have plenty of opportunities to tweak that midfield depending on who you were playing.

[frank black]

Who is that young midfielder at Sunderland? Were being linked with him.

Name is Dan Neill.  Highly rated by them apparently. More of an attacking midfielder than a holding midfielder.

If you really want to know more. https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/villa-are-after-dan-neil.1569410/

Does seem an odd link given we're not exactly short of young quality midfielders.

I guess, but if you're building a squad (as opposed to a first 11) then I could see how a Jordan Henderson-type player might complement JJ and Carney. You'd have plenty of opportunities to tweak that midfield depending on who you were playing.

Agreed, plus if Carney is off in the summer it makes sense to replace him now if the opportunity arises. Hope he isn’t but I guess we don’t know

[achilles]

If I never see Luiz in a Villa shirt again I will be more than happy. Put a proper DM in that team and we win most games.

I agree. He has had long enough to be dominating games but just ambles through them. worst Brazilian midfielder ever (except for fred)

Nonsense.

Just look at the second goal, Fernandes is 5 yards behind Luiz but gets in front of him easily to score, Luiz just ambled and made no effort!
The pace of the PL is too much for him, he would be better to go abroad, as he is a good player.

[paul_e]

If I never see Luiz in a Villa shirt again I will be more than happy. Put a proper DM in that team and we win most games.

I agree. He has had long enough to be dominating games but just ambles through them. worst Brazilian midfielder ever (except for fred)

Nonsense.

Just look at the second goal, Fernandes is 5 yards behind Luiz but gets in front of him easily to score, Luiz just ambled and made no effort!
The pace of the PL is too much for him, he would be better to go abroad, as he is a good player.

OR he's not a natural DM and we need to find someone for that role to free Luiz up to play further forward where he's generally looked good whenever he's had the chance.

[achilles]

If I never see Luiz in a Villa shirt again I will be more than happy. Put a proper DM in that team and we win most games.

I agree. He has had long enough to be dominating games but just ambles through them. worst Brazilian midfielder ever (except for fred)

Nonsense.

Just look at the second goal, Fernandes is 5 yards behind Luiz but gets in front of him easily to score, Luiz just ambled and made no effort!
The pace of the PL is too much for him, he would be better to go abroad, as he is a good player.

OR he's not a natural DM and we need to find someone for that role to free Luiz up to play further forward where he's generally looked good whenever he's had the chance.

Whether you are a DM or not, as a midfield player you have to track runners from midfield that is one of your jobs and he didn't bother!

[paul_e]

If I never see Luiz in a Villa shirt again I will be more than happy. Put a proper DM in that team and we win most games.

I agree. He has had long enough to be dominating games but just ambles through them. worst Brazilian midfielder ever (except for fred)

Nonsense.

Just look at the second goal, Fernandes is 5 yards behind Luiz but gets in front of him easily to score, Luiz just ambled and made no effort!
The pace of the PL is too much for him, he would be better to go abroad, as he is a good player.

OR he's not a natural DM and we need to find someone for that role to free Luiz up to play further forward where he's generally looked good whenever he's had the chance.

Whether you are a DM or not, as a midfield player you have to track runners from midfield that is one of your jobs and he didn't bother!

and he tracks runners regularly and usually does a good job at it, picking 1 instance where someone got away from him just isn't remotely objective, particularly when it was a case of us losing possession in a bad area. A player who is naturally defensive and happy to sit in there as an insurance policy is better placed and more aware of the potential danger than someone who's natural instinct is to be finding space and making himself available to help move the team up the pitch, that's why it's a specialist position and none of our players are particularly good at it. Nakamba is the best but he relies of reacting to things rather than reading the game and being in the right place, which will hold him back from ever being a top 6 level player.

[Steve67]

One of the reasons we concede so many goals is because midfielders do not track their runners. All of them are responsible for this, including Luiz. He was asleep for the goal Paul, it’s fact but they are all poor at tracking back.

[Smithy]

If I never see Luiz in a Villa shirt again I will be more than happy. Put a proper DM in that team and we win most games.

I agree. He has had long enough to be dominating games but just ambles through them. worst Brazilian midfielder ever (except for fred)

Nonsense.

Just look at the second goal, Fernandes is 5 yards behind Luiz but gets in front of him easily to score, Luiz just ambled and made no effort!
The pace of the PL is too much for him, he would be better to go abroad, as he is a good player.

OR he's not a natural DM and we need to find someone for that role to free Luiz up to play further forward where he's generally looked good whenever he's had the chance.

Whether you are a DM or not, as a midfield player you have to track runners from midfield that is one of your jobs and he didn't bother!

It looked me like he thought, as I did at the time, that Mings SHOULD get there before Fred. You can even see him signal to Mings to come towards the ball to win it. Now, if Mings doesn't hesitate, I think he DOES get there first and Dougie is in place to pick up the pass or loose ball.

A truly defensive-minded midfielder probably 'assumes' the worst and thinks about 'what could go wrong here' and looks at who to mark, but I don't blame Dougie for that goal - it was a bad ball from Sanson, and Mings reacted poorly.  Could Dougie have done better? Yes, but of the three players involved, he's the least culpable in my opinion.

[Lastfootstamper]

From the first time of watching it again, there was never any chance of Mings getting to that ball first. None. He was miles away from it, having sensibly dropped deep to give himself more time once he (should have) received Sanson's pass.

[garyellis]

From the first time of watching it again, there was never any chance of Mings getting to that ball first. None. He was miles away from it, having sensibly dropped deep to give himself more time once he (should have) received Sanson's pass.

Roy Keane thought Mings should have done much better. None of the commentators/experts have mentioned Luiz. There were too many other things that should have or not happened to avoid that goal.

[LeeB]

Roy Keane is an arse though.