Youri Tielemans

[OCD]

Dendoncker will have a part to play but his days are also numbered. If Emery continues with the trend of replacing squad fillers with genuine first team pedigree players, then we'll be bringing in someone that can rival Kamara. Personally, I would love the modern equivalent of Petrov. That type of player that dictates play...like Luiz does but from the 6 position, rather than the 8.

[London Villan]

I hope he comes good, but I can see the fans starting to get on his back if his form doesn't improve. That interview hasn't helped his cause.

[dave shelley]

Might be I'm missing the point a bit but, didn't Monchi state fairly recently that our transfer window wasn't all it should have been due in part to his late arrival into his position?  The fact that they relied on information on players garnered by others who would not normally have been first choice options.  Or words to that effect.  That being the case we can see why it's being suggested that our second string is as weak as it appears to be.  January may see a big shift.

[AV84]

I don't think Donk would be featuring at all if Buendia and Ramsey weren't injured. Diaby is out now and Bailey missed a few, so all in all, if everyone was fit, I don't think he'd be getting starts anyway, maybe a few subs.

Tielemans, I think, at least looks like he might eventually do something, and the fact he's only been starting in these very disjointed squads, does make it difficult to judge him completely.

I always assume Emery asks specific things off his players, and while it might not be obvious to us, if they're doing what he asks them to do, he'll keep playing them. I assume, for now anyway, Tielemans is doing what's asked of him.

[PaulTheVillan]

I think games like last night we missed Buendia

[OCD]

Dendoncker is the direct rival to Kamara in the team so I still see him getting chances.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Dendoncker is a player that is better out of possession, than in possession - good at closing people down (albeit not at lightning pace), blocking passing lanes, and covering for others that go forward.

It made sense to bring him in as cover when Stevie G was in charge.

Under Emery, we look to dominate possession and when, like last night, teams are compact and reluctant to press, we typically play through midfield and that requires players comfortable to receive the ball in tight spaces to invite pressure that frees up space. As he demonstrated against Everton, that is really not his game.

His opportunities now will be limited. Probably, he will be most useful in closing out games when we are leading. UTV

[SaddVillan]

I don't think Donk would be featuring at all if Buendia and Ramsey weren't injured. Diaby is out now and Bailey missed a few, so all in all, if everyone was fit, I don't think he'd be getting starts anyway, maybe a few subs.

Tielemans, I think, at least looks like he might eventually do something, and the fact he's only been starting in these very disjointed squads, does make it difficult to judge him completely.

I always assume Emery asks specific things off his players, and while it might not be obvious to us, if they're doing what he asks them to do, he'll keep playing them. I assume, for now anyway, Tielemans is doing what's asked of him.

Think back to Dougie's first season or so.

Fans were calling for him to be sent back to City.

I have faith that Unai will get Tielemans into form. The problem is, is that he's not going to be a first choice (Bouba and Dougie have that sewn up), so he's only going to get starts in UECL games - would also have been a starter in the Carabao Cup, but that's gone.

So his opportunities to find form  rhythm and a defined role are limited and he's effectively learning on the job AND is pitched in to games where 4-5 other players are trying to do the same - they don't fully understand where they should be and how to link together, which makes it difficult for all of them.

[Rigadon]

Dendoncker is a player that is better out of possession, than in possession - good at closing people down (albeit not at lightning pace), blocking passing lanes, and covering for others that go forward.

It made sense to bring him in as cover when Stevie G was in charge.

Under Emery, we look to dominate possession and when, like last night, teams are compact and reluctant to press, we typically play through midfield and that requires players comfortable to receive the ball in tight spaces to invite pressure that frees up space. As he demonstrated against Everton, that is really not his game.

His opportunities now will be limited. Probably, he will be most useful in closing out games when we are leading. UTV

Yep, bang on. 

[AV84]

I don't think Donk would be featuring at all if Buendia and Ramsey weren't injured. Diaby is out now and Bailey missed a few, so all in all, if everyone was fit, I don't think he'd be getting starts anyway, maybe a few subs.

Tielemans, I think, at least looks like he might eventually do something, and the fact he's only been starting in these very disjointed squads, does make it difficult to judge him completely.

I always assume Emery asks specific things off his players, and while it might not be obvious to us, if they're doing what he asks them to do, he'll keep playing them. I assume, for now anyway, Tielemans is doing what's asked of him.

Think back to Dougie's first season or so.

Fans were calling for him to be sent back to City.

I have faith that Unai will get Tielemans into form. The problem is, is that he's not going to be a first choice (Bouba and Dougie have that sewn up), so he's only going to get starts in UECL games - would also have been a starter in the Carabao Cup, but that's gone.

So his opportunities to find form  rhythm and a defined role are limited and he's effectively learning on the job AND is pitched in to games where 4-5 other players are trying to do the same - they don't fully understand where they should be and how to link together, which makes it difficult for all of them.

He hasn't looked spectacular in his substitute appearances in the league either, if we're being honest. I'm not saying we should bin him or anything, but like you say he's not going to be first choice, but ideally he should be pushing to be. Like Kamara might not play the Wolves game, so you'd like Tielemans to come in, put in a blinding performance, and make it less than 100% that Kamara walks straight back into the team.

Maybe he will, if that's what happens with the lineup on Sunday. Starting a game with the mostly well settled squad. Might see a different performance.

[Mister E]

Dendoncker is the direct rival to Kamara in the team so I still see him getting chances.

I hope Tim will soon be the obvious understudy to Kamara.

[brontebilly]

Dendoncker is the direct rival to Kamara in the team so I still see him getting chances.

I hope Tim will soon be the obvious understudy to Kamara.

His injury has come at an unfortunate time as he would have got plenty of minutes so far this season and we would have moved the Donk onto Everton.

[astonvilla82]

I haven't been over impressed with him but after giving much thought to it as he only arrived in the summer I am willing to let Emery sort him out

[Beard82]

Dendoncker is the direct rival to Kamara in the team so I still see him getting chances.

I hope Tim will soon be the obvious understudy to Kamara.

His injury has come at an unfortunate time as he would have got plenty of minutes so far this season and we would have moved the Donk onto Everton.

Was that an option?  Could we not have take it and played Chambers there?

[LeeB]

I don't think Donk would be featuring at all if Buendia and Ramsey weren't injured. Diaby is out now and Bailey missed a few, so all in all, if everyone was fit, I don't think he'd be getting starts anyway, maybe a few subs.

Tielemans, I think, at least looks like he might eventually do something, and the fact he's only been starting in these very disjointed squads, does make it difficult to judge him completely.

I always assume Emery asks specific things off his players, and while it might not be obvious to us, if they're doing what he asks them to do, he'll keep playing them. I assume, for now anyway, Tielemans is doing what's asked of him.

Think back to Dougie's first season or so.

Fans were calling for him to be sent back to City.

I have faith that Unai will get Tielemans into form. The problem is, is that he's not going to be a first choice (Bouba and Dougie have that sewn up), so he's only going to get starts in UECL games - would also have been a starter in the Carabao Cup, but that's gone.

So his opportunities to find form  rhythm and a defined role are limited and he's effectively learning on the job AND is pitched in to games where 4-5 other players are trying to do the same - they don't fully understand where they should be and how to link together, which makes it difficult for all of them.

We don't have to go back that far, only 12 months ago many including myself by the end would've been happy to have seen the back of a good number of our now stellar performers.

I've seen Tielemans run games immaculately before more than once, if he"s still got it in him then there's nobody better than his current manager to find it.