Youri Tielemans

[LukeJames]

Those first few games after he first joined when he looked like he could barely pass or get around the pitch are a distant memory. Utter class and I'm convinced he's the reason we were open to Luiz moving on.

[brontebilly]

Those first few games after he first joined when he looked like he could barely pass or get around the pitch are a distant memory. Utter class and I'm convinced he's the reason we were open to Luiz moving on.

You dont have to go far back on this thread to find where the tide turned for YT at Villa Park. As far into March last season, Risso was comparing him to Robert Pires with a walking frame, I thought he was another Coutinho with legs running in treacle. It was around the time Spurs spanked us at Villa Park. The general view then was that you couldnt play YT in a midfield two. Those goals he got v England seem to have been the trigger for improved performances, though I think he played up near Lukaku that night?

It's some turnaround to this season where he has ran our midfield nearly every game so far. He can get the ball out of his feet very quickly and that gives him an extra second on the ball. I thought the chance of him replacing Luiz influence on a weekly basis was remote but certainly proving me wrong! Maybe it's a similar turnaround to Petrov who struggled badly in his first season with us from memory.

[ChicagoLion]

He was brilliant against Citeh at home last season among other matches so did show his level.
Great that he is having a good run of consistency.

[Monty]

I always thought he was going to be good, but this good? This is mental.

[VillaTim]

Not sure why the surprise, his pedigree hasn't been hidden for years now

[Dante Lavelli]

Not sure why the surprise, his pedigree hasn't been hidden for years now

He was in a team that was relegated whereas his form now would make that almost impossible. The Emery factor is strong here.

[Risso]

He was as bad as everybody else the first half and for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Then for whatever reason, whether it was the subs or just waking up, he was back to his pivotal best.

[VillaTim]

Not sure why the surprise, his pedigree hasn't been hidden for years now

He was in a team that was relegated whereas his form now would make that almost impossible. The Emery factor is strong here.

He's also been playing in Belgium's best ever team for years and scored a winner in a cup final. His pedigree was never in doubt. The year they went down and won 4-2 at Villa Park he played our midfield off the park

[edgysatsuma89]

Not sure why the surprise, his pedigree hasn't been hidden for years now

He was in a team that was relegated whereas his form now would make that almost impossible. The Emery factor is strong here.

He's also been playing in Belgium's best ever team for years and scored a winner in a cup final. His pedigree was never in doubt. The year they went down and won 4-2 at Villa Park he played our midfield off the park

I'm pretty sure you have been one of the advocates of not buying from relegated teams.

[VillaTim]

Not sure why the surprise, his pedigree hasn't been hidden for years now

He was in a team that was relegated whereas his form now would make that almost impossible. The Emery factor is strong here.

He's also been playing in Belgium's best ever team for years and scored a winner in a cup final. His pedigree was never in doubt. The year they went down and won 4-2 at Villa Park he played our midfield off the park

I'm pretty sure you have been one of the advocates of not buying from relegated teams.

No. Always said just be wary. There's a colossal difference between what's on offer e.g. Jan Bednarek or Youri Tielemans.

[edgysatsuma89]

Not sure why the surprise, his pedigree hasn't been hidden for years now

He was in a team that was relegated whereas his form now would make that almost impossible. The Emery factor is strong here.

He's also been playing in Belgium's best ever team for years and scored a winner in a cup final. His pedigree was never in doubt. The year they went down and won 4-2 at Villa Park he played our midfield off the park

I'm pretty sure you have been one of the advocates of not buying from relegated teams.

No. Always said just be wary. There's a colossal difference between what's on offer e.g. Jan Bednarek or Youri Tielemans.

No, you have been very clear about it in the past.

[adrenachrome]

He was as bad as everybody else the first half and for the first 15 minutes of the second half. Then for whatever reason, whether it was the subs or just waking up, he was back to his pivotal best.

No doubt about it, or sine dubio as we used to say in the Latin.

[Drummond]

Those first few games after he first joined when he looked like he could barely pass or get around the pitch are a distant memory. Utter class and I'm convinced he's the reason we were open to Luiz moving on.

There's an interview with Vidagany and Monchi somewhere where they mention that is why we bought him, in advance, as Luiz would move on.

It took him a little while, as I think it does with a lot of players, to get into the groove with Emery's thinking. What is undoubted though, is that if those players have the ability and the attitude, then Emery et al will find it, develop it, and exploit it.

[chrisw1]

He's always had quality on the ball, but his work rate and tenacity have really impressed me.  He's snapping into 50:50s and winning them more often than not.

[darren woolley]

He's been brilliant for us I'm so pleased we signed him.