Donyell Malen

[brontebilly]

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.

Think Emery lost him then in all honesty.

[RamboandBruno]

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.

I agree and whilst Guessand was largely equally ineffective, he worked hard and tried imo.

[eamonn]

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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Wow, the first 60 seconds even. Look at his movement for his goal. Why the fuck can't we get the best out of new signings?!

[Grumpy]

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.

It was Collomoose or however the hell it’s spelled

[eamonn]

Does he do the fandango?

[john e]

I think Malen has looked pretty good and useful in more games than not
OK he was piss poor against Brentford but he wasn’t on his own

[N'ZMAV]

I think he's more of a right winger than a striker from early evidence - looks lost up front - then again, so do all of our players recently

[astonvilla82]

Not afraid to run at the opposition, thought he played well when he came on

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Said since his first game, he makes things happen. Still not sure what his best position is but he delivers.

[Smirker]

The Don 

[Somniloquism]

He does seem to have the knack of scoring across the keeper. The second one the keeper didn't even see it until it was nestling in the back of the net.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

He's clinical. Not something we've seen at Villa Park in some time. In fact, I'm struggling to think of a forward we've had who was so clinical apart from Asensio and he was a 10 not a forward.

[Percy McCarthy]

I think he's more of a right winger than a striker from early evidence - looks lost up front - then again, so do all of our players recently

The European football experts say he’s at his best in a front two.

[Mellin]

Said after his first he's world class in those situations...then he goes and does it again. I've never seen anyone as good off the shoulder at Villa. Need to find a way to get him in, keep him in, and work the space so this happens as often as possible.

[Smirker]

Not sure why he hasn't been starting tbh.

Hopefully keeps his place for the next game.

His technique is so crispy.

Typical Dutch striker of the ball.