Douglas Luiz

[Gabriel]

Genuine question because I haven't watched Villa much (at all), but would we be interested if he wasn't a former player with a buy back clause?

I'm just curious because I haven't seem him play much, not at all since the restart, but the consensus was he was underwhelming at Girona. I hadn't heard much about his time at Villa, so i'm wondering if he's truly good enough and would be an asset or we're just feeling a bit nostalgic (not exactly the word I'm looking for but bear with me). Of course it's not unnatural for a player to take a big leap and I do know Pep wanted to keep him but there were issues with the work permit.

Arguably no, but then we’re not necessarily looking for a starter in that position. Much like Ake, what we require from such players is greater mobility and solidity; we also need to ensure that the drop off from the starting player to replacement isn’t too great. Fernandinho, alas, can no longer perform to the required standard in midfield, so Luiz makes perfect sense at this juncture.

If you do get the opportunity to watch him more, you should focus on how he lays the ball off to colleagues, even whilst making tackles and challenges. He often puts the ball into space ahead of his teammate, which at first glance can look like a misplaced pass, as it can sometimes be close to an opponent, but when you watch more carefully you can see that it’s not a risk and that he’s actually putting the ball to where his colleague should already be. In that sense, he’s seeing the game way ahead of others on the pitch, and if he were surrounded by better players, the impact of that ability would be even greater.

During the times he has been with the club and played and trained, he has looked more than capable, which is presumably why we have a buy back in the first place, so for all those reasons it makes sense to bring him back now.

 

[billymumphrey]

Kalvin Phillips looks like a better prospect to be honest. Home Grown as well.

 

[Gabriel]

Guendiozi may be on the way out. Arteta is like Pep. He doesn't play that "talking back to the manager" game. You try that shit and you in the doghouse. No exceptions!

Would still leave two others, though, and Arteta has already confessed that Arsenal are operating within financial constraints, and those will be even more restrictive should they lose the Cup final to Chelsea.

Assuming they buy Stones from us, which will eat into their cash, then the only way I can see Luiz heading there would be in another loan deal.

 

[Gabriel]

Kalvin Phillips looks like a better prospect to be honest. Home Grown as well.

Ironically, one reason why Luiz ended up at Villa was because they failed to land Phillips last summer. Think he’ll stay with his boyhood team now they’re up, and it’ll certainly be interesting to see how referees view his ‘combativeness’ next season. Nine yellows and a red last season in a league which is often more brawn than brain.

 

[Dax777]

Would still leave two others, though, and Arteta has already confessed that Arsenal are operating within financial constraints, and those will be even more restrictive should they lose the Cup final to Chelsea.

Assuming they buy Stones from us, which will eat into their cash, then the only way I can see Luiz heading there would be in another loan deal.

I don't purport to know Arsenal's finances or Summer plans. I was just pointing out that it's possible Guendiozi won't be on the team. Which theoretically opens a spot.

 

[lightning Rodri]

 

[WallyA]

He seems very balanced in everything he does, not exceptional at anything, but very good at almost everything.

That said, I agree that I think Fernandinho stays one more year as DM/CM back up to let Douglas get consistent minutes.

After the year then we can move Fernandinho on and maybe even Gundogan: Who will be 30 by October, and nearly 31 when next season ends.

That would give us: Rodri, Luiz and Zinchenko as our 3 defensive minded-midfielders all very young.

I am hoping the Ake buy means he will played inverted LB, rotate with Mendy, and open up Zinchenko to play as a defensive midfielder for us, which is where his future lies; with Cancelo playing LB so well I wish Pep would just play Zinchenko where he belongs.

 

[Stoned Rose]

Kalvin Phillips looks like a better prospect to be honest. Home Grown as well.

Love this guy.

Hard as nails and excellent (albeit at a lower level) at the destroyer / breaker upper of play role. Always seems to have time and never see him "rushing in" to a tackle.

Going to be some player.

 

[OliMCFC]

He seems very balanced in everything he does, not exceptional at anything, but very good at almost everything.

That said, I agree that I think Fernandinho stays one more year as DM/CM back up to let Douglas get consistent minutes.

After the year then we can move Fernandinho on and maybe even Gundogan: Who will be 30 by October, and nearly 31 when next season ends.

That would give us: Rodri, Luiz and Zinchenko as our 3 defensive minded-midfielders all very young.

I am hoping the Ake buy means he will played inverted LB, rotate with Mendy, and open up Zinchenko to play as a defensive midfielder for us, which is where his future lies; with Cancelo playing LB so well I wish Pep would just play Zinchenko where he belongs.

With any luck Zinchenko's future belongs at another club. Do you really think in the 3 years we've had Zinchenko that we'd have tried him (for more than 10 minutes in a dead rubber CL game 3-0 up) as a defensive mid by now if he was good enough there? He's not even a DM. He's an attacking mid converted to a LB sitting inside.

 

[WallyA]

With any luck Zinchenko's future belongs at another club. Do you really think in the 3 years we've had Zinchenko that we'd have tried him (for more than 10 minutes in a dead rubber CL game 3-0 up) as a defensive mid by now if he was good enough there? He's not even a DM. He's an attacking mid converted to a LB sitting inside.

He's a DM for Ukraine, he isnt an attacking midfielder.

Just because we havent tried him there doesn't mean it's not his main position, he's been played LB because we have no choice, that's why he doesn't get to play in midfield as well.