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Villa fans pour frustration on Bailey
January 02, 2025
One Aston Villa supporter described Jamaican winger Leon Bailey as "frustrating", while another called him a "joke", following the team's 2-2 draw with Brighton Hove and Albion in the English Premier League (EPL) on the weekend.
Bailey starred for Villa last season, scoring 10 goals and providing nine assists, as Aston Villa made it to Europe's top club competition, the UEFA Champions League for the first time since it was rebranded from being the European Cup in 1992.
Last season at this stage, after 16 games, Bailey had already netted five goals and contributed four assists. But after 16 matches this season, the Reggae Boy has only registered two assists and some Aston Villa fans are now giving him the cold shoulder.
Bailey, however, is not the only Villa player who is feeling the spectators' wrath as Ezri Konsa, who plays on the same flank, has come in for some rough criticism as well. The Villa spectators vented their feelings in the comments section of the Birmingham Live website, following the team's draw with Brighton.
According to one supporter, who goes by the name Chosen in 1957, the fans all know what the Jamaican baller is capable of, but thinks he is trying too hard.
"Bailey is so frustrating," he wrote. "We all know he's got the ability to beat players, but the end result is so poor and he's now trying to score from impossible positions.
"We've had the same problems all season with (Ezri) Konsa being asked to play at right back and it's such a negative tactic."
Utv, another Villa fan, continued that nothing is working for the Jamaican at this time and that his performance on the night was laughable.
"Bailey was a joke. Everything he tries fails," he stated
Another fan, Commenter Damo9, said the team's right side, where Bailey normally plays, has been problematic all season and needs improvement.
"We need to look at the right side as a whole. Bailey without Diaby (Mousa) pushing him (this season), he has not been anywhere near the player we've seen," he said of the French left winger who transferred to Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad.
Another fan who goes by the name Villaman is uneasy, believes Bailey has a place in the team but should be starting on the bench at this time.
"We were very, very average today. The manager has to change things and add some cutting edge up front. I'd rather have Mings (Tyrone) in the back (line) and have Bailey on the subs bench," he said.
Back in October, manager Unai Emery acknowledged that the 27-year-old is struggling for form, after Bailey started on the bench in Villa's 1-0 Champions League win over Bayern Munich.
Bailey came on for Jacob Ramsey after 27 minutes in that game but was subbed off again with half hour to play.
It was a similar situation when Villa drew 0-0 at home with Manchester United the following Sunday.
Emery admitted then that the player's confidence has slumped to an all-time low but that he was not 100 per cent fit and is having some problems.
"Leon Bailey is progressively getting better, but he is not fit completely 100 per cent.
"He is having some problems and injuries, not getting comfortable to play 90 minutes or feeling fit," the Spaniard told Birmingham World.
