Pep doesn’t want a player like that in the role. Hence Gündy, Rodri, Jorginho etc. Don’t see us signing the new Nigel de Jong anytime soon
Interesting considering he loves Fernandinho in that CDM role.
Pep doesn’t want a player like that in the role. Hence Gündy, Rodri, Jorginho etc. Don’t see us signing the new Nigel de Jong anytime soon
Does he, though? I can't say I've seen him look particularly arsed or motivated for a long time now. Just my opinion, of course, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he was to leave this window.Gundogan deserves more credit.
He was Villas best player post lock down, that is not even a discussion. Took him a while to get up to speed with the prem, then he was very good. Can see this, for a few examples showing his strength, speed, quickness into tackles and into covering spaces.Whenever I watched him I thought not only he wasn't enough for us but that he wasn't good enough for Villa.
Some people have said he improved in the last games of the season but that is such a big risk. Huddersfield also looked good defensively 2 years ago, 3 months later they performed so bad the Derby County record was under threat.
Does he, though? I can't say I've seen him look particularly arsed or motivated for a long time now. Just my opinion, of course, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he was to leave this window.
Edit: For the record, I'm not saying Luiz is the right man either. I'd love Saúl or Aouar, though.
Maybe but we've seen him struggle in the PL for longer (and during a time the integrity of the league wasn't in question - ignoring VAR) than he has done well. Some of that may be down to youth, new country etc. but it's unknown at this point.
Zucullini looked decent in pre season too. I don't put much stock in that.
Luiz has talent and looks like he could become an allrounder type DM like Dinho was but it's far from certain and likely wouldn't happen for a few years yet at the needed consistency and with the buy back only going up a few mill next summer and this summer being so important - we must as least win back the PL - I'd be going for guaranteed quality, esp. in midfield.
Another year developing at Villa rather than being in and out of the team here (and probably sometimes not even on the bench) would probably be better for him in the long run.
Check the replies to this tweet as well. They're buzzing about it