Jaden Philogene

[Smithy]

What was interesting last night was how good he was defensively and tactically - not just in terms of effort and tracking back (which we saw in flashed before he left for Hull), but in holding his position to make it a back five when Bayern had the ball in our half and doing a good job keeping Davies at bay.  I'm sure they worked on that a lot in the lead up to the game, but it says a great deal that Unai trusted him with such an important role in such a big game.  That wasn't a typical winger's performance where most of your noticeable work happens in the attacking third, it was a really good tactical and disciplined performance.  He wasn't overawed, he more than held his own against some of the best players in the world.

And for the disallowed goal, how many players have the confidence to take the ball down in a packed box the way he did?

Onwards and upwards for young Jaden I think!  I look forward to seeing more of him as an attacking threat in future games.

[Nev]

One of the hallmarks of Emery's reign is his ability to make us eat humble pie. Be it substitutions, formations, line ups or tactics, when you think WTF? it all works out well.

I couldn't see a performance like that in Philogene, but he can. The lad was outstanding.

[astonvilla82]

Brother said Konsa was talking to the lad throughout the match, plaudits deserved for a cracking performance against top quality opposition

[London Villan]

It's not humble pie though. Saying he is poor, when he had a poor game is fine. Even the very best players had crap games.

Writing a kid off, before he has even played 10 games, is where it is wrong.

Same with Carlos  - Sunday he was poor and cost us the game. Last night he was immense!

[London Villan]

To add to this - seeing the confidence flood into him was amazing - he realised he could beat his player and then with the little step-overs in the box you could see he was enjoying himself.

[caster troy]

Philogene definitely contributed to the occasion, it was fantastic to see a player from the academy step up and compete at the highest level. I thought it was telling that Emery said after the game that it is good for us because his performance means we have another player to add to 'our way.' As though he had passed the audition and can now be trusted to contribute when needed.

[LeeB]

'Defensive winger' seems like an oxymoron but that kind of performance from Philogene gives Emery another weapon to use.

I reckon the shirt and that role his his now until McGinn is fit, which is a fantastic opportunity for him and is what happens when you grasp the opportunity given to you.

[Risso]

'Defensive winger' seems like an oxymoron but that kind of performance from Philogene gives Emery another weapon to use.

I reckon the shirt and that role his his now until McGinn is fit, which is a fantastic opportunity for him and is what happens when you grasp the opportunity given to you.

Either Bailey's not fully fit, in which case he needs time to recover, or he's just playing really badly, in which case he needs time out of the team until he pulls his finger out of his arse. I suspect and hope it's the former, but either way as you say, it's Jaden's shirt for the time being.

[Chris Smith]

'Defensive winger' seems like an oxymoron but that kind of performance from Philogene gives Emery another weapon to use.

I reckon the shirt and that role his his now until McGinn is fit, which is a fantastic opportunity for him and is what happens when you grasp the opportunity given to you.

Either Bailey's not fully fit, in which case he needs time to recover, or he's just playing really badly, in which case he needs time out of the team until he pulls his finger out of his arse. I suspect and hope it's the former, but either way as you say, it's Jaden's shirt for the time being.

Pretty sure it’s a fitness thing with Bailey. He was having a one to one session with a coach or physio during the warm up while all the others were doing their normal group routines and had a lot of strapping on his leg. They clearly took a bit of a gamble with him due to the importance of the game but I imagine he will be rested for Sunday.

As for Philogene, the boy became a man last night. Worked his socks off completely unphased by the occasion.

[Percy McCarthy]

Jaden looks like exactly what he is to me, a kid who had a really good season in the second tier. He might develop, hopefully he will, but he might not. It’s why when people would getting the ticker tape out for selling Diaby I thought it was massively premature. For all of his struggles Diaby contributed to 19 goals last year, if Philogene gets a third of that I’ll be surprised- and I don’t really blame him, he shouldn’t have been the replacement.

Well, we now know that Rogers was the replacement as he’s playing in the same position.

[LeeB]

Jaden looks like exactly what he is to me, a kid who had a really good season in the second tier. He might develop, hopefully he will, but he might not. It’s why when people would getting the ticker tape out for selling Diaby I thought it was massively premature. For all of his struggles Diaby contributed to 19 goals last year, if Philogene gets a third of that I’ll be surprised- and I don’t really blame him, he shouldn’t have been the replacement.

Well, we now know that Rogers was the replacement as he’s playing in the same position.

Yes we'd already replaced Diaby, selling him at that fee was an absolute no brainer, especially given how tight our margins are.

[Beard82]

Thought he did well yesterday - work very hard from start to finish.

[eamonn]

Shades of Fenton at Wembley '94 as someone said on another thread. Philo shouldn't end-up at Ewood though, it'd be a travesty.

[RichardBatchelor]

Defensively he was just outstanding last night!

[OCD]

What was interesting last night was how good he was defensively and tactically - not just in terms of effort and tracking back (which we saw in flashed before he left for Hull), but in holding his position to make it a back five when Bayern had the ball in our half and doing a good job keeping Davies at bay.  I'm sure they worked on that a lot in the lead up to the game, but it says a great deal that Unai trusted him with such an important role in such a big game.  That wasn't a typical winger's performance where most of your noticeable work happens in the attacking third, it was a really good tactical and disciplined performance.  He wasn't overawed, he more than held his own against some of the best players in the world.

I think it wasn't just his work going forward that impressed Emery at Hull last season, but his defensive work. I saw some stats a while back about how hard he works defensively, and it really stood out. I suspect Bailey's not feeling well atm but when I saw the team sheet last night I thought it was because of what he offers defensively. JPB and Ramsey either side are going to be a big help at the back.