It’s been a busy summer for Aston Villa already, as Unai Emery’s vision for his squad continues to take shape with key new signings.
After a sensational season last year where we finished fourth in the Premier League and subsequently booked our place in the Champions League in the upcoming campaign, as well as making a run to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, the focus quickly switched to how we would build on it.
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Our PSR concerns were always in the background and influenced our planning this summer, but what has become apparent through some savvy deals and a targeted strategy, is that Emery has a very clear plan on how he wants his Villa team to look moving forward.
Ian Maatsen, Ross Barkley, Enzo Barrenechea, Samuel Iling-Junior, Lewis Dobbin, Kosta Nedeljkovic [signed in January], Cameron Archer have all been officially drafted in, and they’ll potentially be joined by Jaden Philogene and Amadou Onana soon.
Out have gone Douglas Luiz, Tim Iroegbunam, Omari Kellyman, Morgan Sanson, Philippe Coutinho [loan], Calum Chambers, Nicolo Zaniolo and Clement Lenglet [end of loans], and so we’re seeing quite the reshuffle and arguably even a rebuild to an extent this summer.
The common trends in almost every signing we’ve made thus far though are obvious, as Emery has looked to bring in talented young players in their early 20s for the most part, who he can develop and mould into key options that fit his style of play and structure.
Further, they all have technical ability and quality on the ball if we opt to play a possession-based style, while we’ve added physicality, athleticism and height to impose ourselves more effectively and move the ball around the pitch with more pace and intent.
Key weaknesses are being addressed and although there is still work to be done to ensure we have the necessary quality across the squad with the required depth to compete on multiple fronts, there is little doubt that Emery is stamping his mark on his Villa side now by constructing a group that is more versatile, adaptable and physical.
Our midfield has been the focus for the most part given the number of changes we’ve seen, and so when we look at our options with John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans, Barkley, Barrenechea and potentially Onana, that is a brilliant mix of energy, tenacity, composure, technical quality and presence that will allow us to match up with top midfields both domestically and in Europe.
It also arguably hints at a change in system and shape, as although we have the options and different dynamics to be flexible, could we see Emery utilise a 4-2-3-1 more often than not this season?
In Kamara and Onana we might have two defensive midfield stars capable of being disruptive and provide protection for the backline, and they’re complimented by the passing and progressive play of Tielemans, Barkley and McGinn.
With a midfield pivot sitting deep, it gives Emery the ability to play three out of Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey, Emiliano Buendia, Moussa Diaby and Leon Bailey at the same time behind Ollie Watkins, and there might be an ideal balance to that side to make us more impactful in both phases of the game.
It’s an exciting time for Villa as we wait to see if there are any further signings in this window to continue to strengthen the squad, but Emery is adapting, developing and improving his side all the time, and we could see quite a significant shift this season in terms of how we set up and play on a more consistent basis.
