Yoshida

I thought he was excellent today. Wont win everything in the air but very combatative and reads the game well. Very calm and composed, looks like he might be a class player for us.

I thought he was excellent today. Wont win everything in the air but very combatative and reads the game well. Very calm and composed, looks like he might be a class player for us.

Agree, although I thought he was good in air today as well.

Good first touch - he directs it meaningfully when clearing and reasonably quick. Looks good.

I was also impressed with the way he was willing to bring the ball forward himself if there wasn't a pass on and he had a bit of space.

Considering it was his first real start for us he looked very good, still needs tested against a decent front line though, next week will be a better test for him but very positive start

I enjoyed the bolloking he handed out in he first half.

Very solid and made Jose up hs game too.

Poo'd myself when he turned his ankle in the 2nd half. Is he better than Jos though?

Impressed. Early signs of a class cb!

Top drawer home debut, along with Ramirez. Seems we did something right in the transfer window. Gazza didn't look out of place either......oh, and to the Fonte bashers, I thought he had a very good game also.

Very pleased - cool, calm and collected - just what we need. Good defender.

Very impressed by him. Seemed to have a very good footballing brain reading the game etc brought the best out of Jose as well

Poo'd myself when he turned his ankle in the 2nd half. Is he better than Jos though?

Did he give any penalties away?

Was concerned when he raced through the midfield, cannot afford to get caught racing forward.

Thought he was bloody fantastic myself won loads in the air, calm and collected even under pressure, good passer, pretty quick basically an all round good defender. Quite frankly he made Jos look like an accident prone hoof donkey (and I say that as a fan of Jos)

He's better than jos, also a lot better than fonte! He looked good on the ball, picked a hoof out well and made some blinding tackles! Quality signing, no idea why he wasn't signed up and starting against city as he was one of the players to really show a difference between us and villa (who look like relegation material)

Excellent decision making I thought, knew when to play it knew when to stick it into touch.

Something I mentioned in the car driving I think Abonglahor was a bit surprised to see him still at his shoulder as he hoped to have been in space to spin an cross into the box.

Shout out to Fonte who also had a good game. His decision making has let him down on occassion but was solid enough today.

I was impressed by him today, I thought Fonte looked more assured alongside him, than he has recently with Hoover. I fully expected Fonte to be dropped in his favour, it looks a though Jos's injury may have done Fonte a favour.

Mom today imho

Did he give any penalties away?

No.

Really impressive full debut. Very composed, vocal, has great timing with his interceptions and tackles, excellent on the ball and has an eye for a pass. Not spectacular in the air, but more than enough for the Villa attack today. Plus like others have said, I thought Fonte raised his game today in response

Looked very composed, made our defense look easier on the eye straight away. Good pace, good touch, comfortable on either foot - dominant in the air as well, against 2 big strikers.

I lost count of the headers won by Bent & Benteke in our penalty box.

Yep, thought he looked excellent

I lost count of the headers won by Bent & Benteke in our penalty box.

Winning headers would be my only slight concern about him as he had a fine game. There were occasions where we appeared to let them have the headers when not in danger areas and then challenged for the second ball. Gazzaniga is well big enough to dominate his 6 yard box.

Just got to sign Yuto Nagatomo now and our LB woes will be solved....

Very impressed - Composed and effective and will only get better too.

Another great acquisition delivering...

Excellent performance and leadership. The whole defence looked ten times better than so far this season.

Excellent performance on debut. Dominant in the air, is quick, can use both feet. So comfortable playing out from the back. Looks like a leader. Quick word for Fonte who was very good as well.