OPINION
Barely a game goes by without Orjan Nyland getting a pummelling on social media from Aston Villa fans wondering why on earth their club signed him. Recruited from Germany in the summer, the 6ft 4in keeper has been a pale imitation of his predecessor Sam Johnstone, the former Manchester United loanee who made such a big impression at Villa Park before heading to West Brom in the summer. Johnstone manned the Albion goal on Friday night and, while both men let in two goals in the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns, the question marks are over the 6ft 4in man who has been in the Villa line-up for 19 of the team’s 21 league matches this season, a record bettered only by Jack Grealish, Alan Hutton and James Chester. It’s fair to say Nyland’s standing among fans is considerably lower than that trio and he took another battering after the team’s goals-against tally for the campaign increased to 32 on Friday night, the highest among the Championship’s top 15 placed sides.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below:
I was gutted. We were far superior. The confidence in midfield was great but oh dear, Hutton for the first and Nyland, well all season. He goes we go up
— Lorenzo StDubois (@simonpennysmith) December 7, 2018
God Nyland is dire. Inspires no confidence. Im impressed at how well chester and Axel play together when they don't appear to have ever talked to one another.
— Mr E (@Elliot_CB) December 7, 2018
Hopefully Heaton is lined up for January. Nyland a half decent shot stopper, but no presence in the area and flaps at crosses way too much. #AVFC
— John (@JohnRLeavy) December 7, 2018
Nyland gives me a heart attack every time he gets close to the ball he has zero confidence atm…no point continuously slating the lad, back him whilst hes keeper and hopefully Jan 1 we get a new one in – would be stupid to wait until later in Jan #avfc
— Onkar 'Kari' Singh (@1OnkarSingh) December 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/JkpilotJon/status/1071183878780526598
Abraham has also scored a bagful of goals lately. This isn't about one game with Nyland. This is about him looking dodgy in almost every game he plays in.
— Kevin Framp (@BigKev67) December 7, 2018
? % and Nyland MUST be replaced in Jan …
— ??? ?? (@Timotheues69) December 7, 2018
These people constantly making excuses for Nyland should be repeatedly slapped. He needs to be taken out the team immediately. It’s impossible to do any worse. It’s every single game. Even when he gets clean sheets there’s big mistakes. Roll on January. #avfc
— Liam (@liamtweetsavfc) December 7, 2018
Roll on January. Nyland is absolute pony.
— Liam (@liamtweetsavfc) December 7, 2018
Totally agree. As a Norwegian, i couldn't believe we wanted to sign Nyland. He was a decent talent back in 2012, but thats a long time ago. He was never good enough really. #avfc
— Chrsmo (@Chrsmo) December 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/Bezza_95/status/1071163806146015232