[avstu™]

(IMG:http://www.avillafan.com/forum/style_avatars/Players/knight.png)

[BenAvfc]

Felt sorry for the lad. Not played to badly over Christmas yet looses his place automatically when Laursen is back - yes he perhaps is a better player, and our captain but I feel it is very unfair on Knight. A little like the Wayne Bridge situation at Chelsea.

[The Aston Villan]

Personally on the showing yesterday id bring back Knight thought laursen was more a hinderance than anything else won a few headers as normal but gave the ball away as usual got turned and made a reckless challenge that could have cost us

[Karl]

To me, you should play on form - ok knight will never be the greatest defender, and he hasnt exactly been welling excellantly - but he has been playing much better than our other defenders.

I dont rate Laursen, but he is our captain and he has to come back in the team, you need your captain out there for you, so why not drop Davies at least. Davies hasnt been doing it lately either.

I do feel sorry for him, but its O'Neil who picks the team, and we got 3 points again so who am i to complain.

[The Aston Villan]

Sorry Karl but Davies is the best we have andspends most times mopping up after Laursen why sacrifice Knight for him keep Knight and Davies together and give Barry Reo-Coker or Petrov the armband

[Karl]

I do agree Davies is our best defender (central anyway), but not one manager would drop the captain (shouldnt be captain in my view).

Thats why i suggested Davies, as a more realistic suggestion than anything! Because Knight has performed better than Davies whilst Laursen has been out in my opinion.

[The Aston Villan]

Laursen wouldnt be my captain either

[alanavfc]

being captain shouldnt garentee u a place in team anyway, if ur not playing better than the 2 lads ahead of u then u wait like all other players have to,

knight and davies have been doing well and giving laursen his place back straight away was a poor decision imo, it doesnt send out the right message either - play well and still be dropped like a stone when the first choice comes back, this might also be a factor holding shorey back knowing as soon as bouma is recovered his place will be warming the bench, players should play on merit and not simply because they have the armband.

[irish_villain]

Davies has been making as many errors as Laursen lately

[BenAvfc]

Exactly Alan. It does nothing for confidence, we wonder why Knight is shaky at times but it doesn't help him when he plays well, gets dropped and then gets thrown in at the deep end when he is needed, must be hard to accept that no matter how well you play you'll be dropped when another individual comes back - and you only play when you're the last resort.

For me, davies is our best centre half and a future England international, well capable of playing for England already - my opinion.

[soonerfan61]

Well, no matter what happens from here on out, Zat can hang his hat on two all-time highlight Villa goals against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Who predicted that when he first signed?

He is the perfect example of a MON signing: he's not the most talented or the most obvious, but MON didn't buy him to be the #1 cf, he brought him on for numbers. When he has been chosen for a big spot he plays his guts out and has his moments.

[The Aston Villan]

Bloody Hell Zat Knight is turning into a bloody good defender Zat keep it Up

[Karl]

Knight currently is our best defender on form. And has been since replacing Laursen.

[Leeds Villan]

I wouldnt go that far, if that was true he would of gotten into the england squad instead of luke young, imo hee our best defender atm.

But that doesnt mean Knight hasnt been on form, hes been quality lately and very solid at the back for us.

If he keeps it up then I dont see why Laursen should replace him.

[Karl]

When referring to him being our best defender on form, i was meaning Centre Backs. And as Luke Young plays in a different positions i wouldnt compare the two.