Leander Dendoncker

[coreyfeldman]

Is he the worst signing since Jermaine Jenas (insert any of the many other names)?

Bon jour to u

[chrisw1]

I've been very impressed with Dendonker.  Hands up I thought it was a pretty meh signing and he looks like he's running through treacle, but he gets there and does the job.  He now seems like a good addition to the squad. 

With that said, Kamara and Luiz have the makings of a superb partnership.

[chrisw1]

No one played badly today at all, but id agree that Beundia was slightly the weak link, gave the ball away too much and struggled to contain Dalit in the first half, still put in a shift though.

Strange.  Buendia was instrumental in how we played, shifting the shape between 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, which I understand is exactly what Emery used to do at Villareal, asymetrical with one winger playing deeper and cutting in.  He can get knocked off the ball, but mostly I thought he was pretty effective.

[Risso]

The key for them all now is to replicate the home form in away games. We played really well against Chelsea then followed it up by getting destroyed at Fulham. We were excellent against Brentford, then utterly woeful at Newcastle. I'd really like to see a big improvement this week away at Man U and Brighton.

[VILLA MOLE]

The key for them all now is to replicate the home form in away games. We played really well against Chelsea then followed it up by getting destroyed at Fulham. We were excellent against Brentford, then utterly woeful at Newcastle. I'd really like to see a big improvement this week away at Man U and Brighton.

Yep we need to show some consistency and some away form 

[Monty]

One of the crazier things about yesterday was how often Dendoncker actually found himself the furthest player forwards when we were pressing their defenders. A great example of the kind-of post-formations tactical mindset that Balagué and others were talking about.

[tomd2103]

No one played badly today at all, but id agree that Beundia was slightly the weak link, gave the ball away too much and struggled to contain Dalit in the first half, still put in a shift though.

Strange.  Buendia was instrumental in how we played, shifting the shape between 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, which I understand is exactly what Emery used to do at Villareal, asymetrical with one winger playing deeper and cutting in.  He can get knocked off the ball, but mostly I thought he was pretty effective.

He was a bit of a mixed bag yesterday, which he has been for most of his time with us when he has started games.  It was definitely more good than bad yesterday, but he did lose the ball far too easily at times and struggled a bit defensively. 

Some of his touches and passes were quality though and the ball he played through for Watkins with the outside of his foot late in the 2nd half was sublime.

[Brend'Watkins]

No one played badly today at all, but id agree that Beundia was slightly the weak link, gave the ball away too much and struggled to contain Dalit in the first half, still put in a shift though.

Strange.  Buendia was instrumental in how we played, shifting the shape between 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, which I understand is exactly what Emery used to do at Villareal, asymetrical with one winger playing deeper and cutting in.  He can get knocked off the ball, but mostly I thought he was pretty effective.

He was a bit of a mixed bag yesterday, which he has been for most of his time with us when he has started games.  It was definitely more good than bad yesterday, but he did lose the ball far too easily at times and struggled a bit defensively. 

Some of his touches and passes were quality though and the ball he played through for Watkins with the outside of his foot late in the 2nd half was sublime.

A mixed bag is about right.  Even so, his overall contribution was excellent and he seemed to improve as the game went on.

[ASHTONVILLA]

He is an OK squad player that brings some useful attributes to the table. He has suffered from not being the £50m Bissouma type player we expected, but for a cheap (if you can call >£10m cheap!) deadline day signing he has strengthed the squad and helped us not miss Kamara too much.

Thought he played well yesterday, and had generally had more good games than bad thus far. Pleasantly surprised with his passing too.

[brontebilly]

He's much better than what Nakamba can offer. Also a badly needed physical presence at set piece time. A decent signing at short notice, capable of playing in a 2 or 3. Bit of competition for Luiz and Kamara is no harm. Luiz is playing very well, best midfielder on park by a distance yesterday, but don't underestimate the influence of Dendocker on him.

[paul_e]

Dendoncker gives us a bit of an 'enforcer' in there. There were a few times yesterday where they were getting a bit aggressive and next chance he threw his weight around a bit and took back control of the midfield. I suspect Casemiro was desperate to go through a few players but was put off by our big man.

[Drummond]

He just gets stuck in, unsung hero for me.

[WassallVillain]

I like him. He is everything I expected him to be. Let’s face it we did need some height in that area and he brings that. He is a steady player who gives others the platform to perform. I can definitely see him cementing a role alongside Kamarra giving him as a more creative force bit of licence to roam and pushing Luiz  a little further forward as competition for McGinn.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't think he was "a mixed bag" at all. I thought he played really well.

[Risso]

I don't think he was "a mixed bag" at all. I thought he played really well.

I think they were talking about Buendia then. Unless that's who you meant as well.