Evann Guessand (on loan at Crystal Palace)

[N'ZMAV]

I’m struggling to remember a player at this level who is quite so chaotic on the ball.

he's like a cross between Charles N'Zogbia and Adama Traore - head down, and go - not quick, not good - scruffy

[frank black]

The ball is like a bar of soap to him.

[Dick Edwards]

On a positive note he appears disciplined, has defensive awareness and works hard, all attributes Unai will find attractive. Unfortunately, so far he adds little offensively - his crossing is poor, he has no real pace or tricks that enables him to beat defenders, and his decision making in and around the box isn't good. Fingers crossed he'll develop over time, or perhaps that's all that £30m gets you nowadays.

[TCFKAE2]

"...or perhaps that's all that £30m gets you nowadays." Think that sums it up.

[olaftab]

I am sure he’s Emile’s son🤔

[ChicagoLion]

There are quite a lot of players under £30 million that are a lot better than this bloke. It’s a dud.

[Percy McCarthy]

On a positive note he appears disciplined, has defensive awareness and works hard, all attributes Unai will find attractive. Unfortunately, so far he adds little offensively - his crossing is poor, he has no real pace or tricks that enables him to beat defenders, and his decision making in and around the box isn't good. Fingers crossed he'll develop over time, or perhaps that's all that £30m gets you nowadays.

£30m also gets you McGinn, Kamara, Tielemans, Martinez and Konsa.

[Clampy]

The manager picked him. He scored. We won.

Yes Drum’ thems the facts. As a player he is at this level, we’re talking lower championship level he was dreadful. Thank the lord the Afcon is starting soon.

The Afcon comment is a bit mean. It's not as if we're losing games with him playing. 

[brontebilly]

Emery likes that he is tactically disciplined. He actually tucks in well in the opposition box, big chance missed last night and same v Brighton he was close on a couple of occasions. So he does get into good positions. Tries hard too in contrast to Sancho. But all that aside, Guessand just doesn't have the technical ability to play for us. You can see Cash doesn't have much faith in him as he hesitates playing simple passes up the line. Put McGinn in the same position and there's no hesitation.

[john e]

seems a nice guy with a good work ethic and team spirit
But sadly that’s not enough, he’s one of those players where your heart sinks when you see his name in the starting lineup,

you can see he’s never going to be good enough no matter how long you give him, I sort of feel sorry for him as he is miles out of his league, but on the other hand I really want him to go to AFCON so I don’t have to watch him play for a bit

And that’s not a very nice thing to say, but it is true

[SaddVillan]

From The Athletic (not sure  I agree with the headline, but in Unai we trust).

UNAI EMERY’S FAITH IN EVANN GUESSAND IS BEGINNING TO PAY OFF

If ever a goal crystallised a player’s start to life at their new club, it was Evann Guessand’s effort on Thursday evening.

Basel captain Xherdan Shaqiri made a hash of his clearance following Matty Cash’s inswinging corner, with the ball bouncing to Guessand.

Facing away from goal, Guessand’s first touch was heavy but inadvertently towards his right foot. A swivel of the hips managed to change the ball’s direction, with a lunging right-footed hook, almost slide-tackle-like, finding the near corner.

Guessand ended up on the turf, with the entire episode rather ungainly — similar to his only other goal in an Aston Villa shirt against Go Ahead Eagles, where a block-cum-interception trickled into the net.

Unai Emery knows the importance of a top-eight finish in the Europa League, ensuring as few games as possible in the new year. The relative lack of jeopardy — an inherent construct within an eight fixture format that allows stronger teams a large margin for error — means Villa are often conservative in their energy output and play to the level of their opponents. Though they continued their recent exceptional form by winning 2-1, matches like Basel can prove grinding affairs.

Guessand’s goal and performance were emblematic of this. His strike was an act of endeavour and instinct, fighting for a loose ball in the box and impressively getting a shot away. It was scruffy, like the game itself, and, like his own game, lacking finesse, but ultimately proved effective.

The 24-year-old is a complex profile of player. Scouting figures at other English clubs tracked Guessand last season — most notably Crystal Palace.

While Palace expressed interest, fellow Premier League teams, including rivals of Villa, had question marks as to what type of attacker he was and, quite frankly, how good he was.

Villa had scouted Guessand closely at Nice, remarking on his uptick in form and change in positioning at the turn of the year. Although other clubs did not know what his best position was, Emery’s fondness for attacking versatility meant this was not as big an issue at Villa.

“In the attacking third, he can play right,” explained Emery to reporters. “He can play as a striker or on the left side. We have decided to play him as a right winger.”

Villa felt the financial package — worth up to £30million — would prove good value. However, no one knew for certain, or wished to predict, what Guessand’s ceiling might be. Staff scout players with Emery’s outstanding coaching abilities in mind, knowing he can cause a transformative change in a player’s development.

Guessand is 24, which is not old, but not exactly young either. He plays with a rawness of someone perhaps younger, keen to do well yet requiring refinement. And because of this, his unpredictability in possession and performing specific duties can cause exasperation.

A case in point came away to Brighton & Hove Albion last week. Villa were 2-0 down and Emery had noted Guessand was not following instructions without the ball.

Emery shuffled around his technical area, quietly simmering. He then watched on as Guessand was out of position again. The anger which had been bubbling inside came surging out.

In his rage, the Spaniard grabbed his coat tightly, removing it fleetingly from one shoulder before putting it back on. He screamed at his right-winger, making it clear — through imitation — that he was strolling around the pitch. The spleen could not have been more evident.

Truthfully, though, this seemed an isolated incident and not in keeping with the faith Emery has in Guessand. Despite no Premier League goals and a general untidiness to his work, his manager sees his potential.

Guessand has dovetailed between starts and coming off the bench in the league, but in Europe, he is the only Villa player to have started every match.

“He needs time, and he’s competing very well,” said Emery following the 4-3 victory at Brighton.“I’m so happy with him, and especially because we are trying to get in our structure his best position to help us with his qualities.”

Emery is a taskmaster yet demonstrates loyalty to those who are endeavouring to carry out his instructions. So even if Guessand has wayward decision-making and execution at times, Emery remains inclined to expose him to more minutes or, as he puts it, “more experiences.”

Guessand and Emery have held talks, with Villa’s manager explaining the necessity of adapting to his highly specific remit of a right-winger. Sporting director Roberto Olabe has also outlined this to those close to Guessand, acknowledging that his role was different at Nice and therefore has needed time to adjust.

With Villa experiencing an imbalance in the squad, with few wide players to call upon, Guessand has been utilised as a remedy.

Emery encourages his winger to take risks in possession and be direct. This was perhaps a by-product of Guessand losing more duels than any player on the pitch in the first half. It was telling that after Guessand unsuccessfully attempted to knock the ball around his opponent at one stage, Emery’s response was to applaud.

When Emery made a triple change just after the hour mark, Guessand stayed on, even though he had picked up a small niggle less than a week before. Jadon Sancho, more technically accomplished but not quite as energetic, instead made way, slapping a seat on the bench in frustration.

Guessand can frustrate, with a heavy first touch and, as shown soon after his goal, can be prone to overhitting crosses under little pressure. He also had the fewest touches of any outfielder to have completed the match. He will leave for AFCON after Sunday’s trip to West Ham, meaning Emery will need to develop additional solutions to his team’s right-sided problem.

Maybe for £30m, you would expect an attacker slightly closer to the finished product, but there can be no greater endorsement of a player’s potential than Emery and his coaching staff continuing to play him, having publicly and privately offered reassurance that he is on the right track.

They have a knack for refining attacking players and Guessand’s raw components — however raw they seem to be — do chime with what is needed to flourish in England.

[Clampy]

I think hes done ok, nothing  more. My heart doesn't sink when I see his name in the side, mainly because we've been on a good run amd he's been part of it. I can't remember what game it was (maybe Man City) but he came on for the last 10-15 minutes and really helped see the game out. I understand some of the criticisms and why but I think he's worth persevering with personally.

[Chip Butty 111]

Compared to what we have previously had out wide, Diaby and Bailey, this lad is awful. Goodness knows how he gets starts, Elliot is 10 times the player and is in the wilderness. This Alysson fella can't arrive soon enough, unfortunately Sancho and Guessand will be moved on.

[Monty]

Diaby who all too often was as effective in the final third as a tepid blancmange, and Bailey who was the definition of the girl with the curl i.e. good when good but when bad totally shit? We do have selective memories sometimes.

[papa lazarou]

If he's got a preferred position it certainly isn't wide right.