Donyell Malen

[Olneythelonely]

He’s not a centre forward. Definitely not one to be up front on his own.

[brontebilly]

He’s not a centre forward. Definitely not one to be up front on his own.

Id have to agree but didn't look comfortable on the right either. In saying all that, any guy looking to win a place in the team should be giving absolutely everything. He was caught on his heels constantly. Looks a dud.

[colin69]

I like Malen but he hasn’t looked great recently, although 10 mins here and there and then starting as a centre forward when he clearly isn’t one doesn’t help.

[Steve67]

Hasn’t been great when he starts either. Looks a bit moody too.

[pauliewalnuts]

Every time something didn’t work out for him last night - lost the ball, duff pass, whatever - his instant reaction was to stand there hands on hips rather than to track back or whatever the situation required.

I thought his body language looked awful, not that of a player fighting for a regular place in the team.

[eamonn]

He seems to have been bought in a "Well he can't be any more impotent than Jaden Philogene" rationale but based on Jaden's form at the time, the bar was pretty low.

[olaftab]

I am his fan but he was very disappointing last night.

[john e]

I like him but his form has collapsed like a lot of others

[paul_e]

He looked fed up and disinterested, if we want anything from him Emery needs to find a way to get him fired up and wanting to be involved because it was mostly going through the motions last night.

[Olneythelonely]

He was caught on his heels constantly.

This is by far his biggest issue. I don’t know whether it’s confidence, attitude or talent. I’d imagine being left out of the CL squad could have had a huge hit on the first two.

[SamTheMouse]

He was fine last season. The talent's there, but he currently looks like someone who really doesn't want to be at the club any more. And the really worrying thing is, he's far from the only one.

[SoccerHQ]

I like him but his form has collapsed like a lot of others

I think he's lost confidence a bit from hardly ever starting games.

He is still a regular in the Dutch squad but you have to think that would be a doubt if he continues not playing much and missing out on the World Cup would be devastating and sum up his move.

I think he'll go out on loan in January.

A year ago he was starting for Dortmund away to Real Madrid in CL. From just the first 30 seconds of this you can see what a fully confident Malen can do against top level defence:

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[Walmley_Villa]

The press reports that we would have moved him on to get other targets in the Summer won't have done his confidence or motivation any good.

[Dante Lavelli]

The press reports that we would have moved him on to get other targets in the Summer won't have done his confidence or motivation any good.

I didn't see that, was it widely speculated that he was for sale?

Regardless, the club are quoted as being honest with all players about whether they're for sale or not so you'd hope press speculation isn't a factor.

[Walmley_Villa]

The press reports that we would have moved him on to get other targets in the Summer won't have done his confidence or motivation any good.

I didn't see that, was it widely speculated that he was for sale?

From one of the Vlila reporters in the last couple of days