The Talk Villa Newsletter: #7
Villa held at Ipswich as all eyes now turn to a Champions League reunion with Bayern...
At a certain point on Sunday afternoon, everything felt comfortingly familiar. Aston Villa conceded first at Ipswich Town, but proceeded to launch a stirring comeback to take the lead at Portman Road.
It was like re-watching my favourite episode of The Sopranos. I’ve seen it before, I know where it’s going, but it’s enjoyable every time. (It’s Pine Barrens, by the way).
On this occasion though, the script was ripped up and there was a less familiar outcome. Our hosts secured a share of the spoils after finding an equaliser in our 2-2 draw, with Unai Emery and the players having to settle for a point on the road.
The consensus after the game was that a draw was perhaps a fair result, but as focus quickly switches to Wednesday night, it’s crucial that we learn lessons from this encounter, as it wasn’t a typical Emery-inspired performance.
Five key talking points as Villa held to draw at Ipswich despite fightback
Porous Villa defence is a problem
While we've all enjoyed our thrilling comebacks and the memorable moments that they've delivered in recent weeks, we simply can't afford to continue to be so porous at the back and make our lives more difficult so consistently.
Villa continue to concede soft goals which often involve our own individual mistakes, and that is something that we must cut out.
We've not kept a Premier League clean sheet since our win at Arsenal in April last season. That was 11 games ago. In turn, it has to be rectified as we must become a harder team to break down if we want to compete at the top level.
Konsa at right-back, an ongoing conundrum
Emery defended utilising Ezri Konsa's versatility to play him at right-back after the game, as he pointed to our wins over Arsenal and Manchester City last season as examples of how effective that particular tactical solution can be.
He's certainly not wrong and it does have its strengths and benefits, but ultimately we're seeing it cause more problems rather than providing solutions over a bigger sample size in more recent times.
Aside from Konsa looking less comfortable and effective, we don't look as tight a defensive unit when we make that tweak. There is an obvious hesitancy to play Kosta Nedeljkovic given his inexperience, but with Matty Cash hopefully not too far away from a return from injury, it remains to be seen what the best solution is in a big week.
Diego Carlos form a concern
After his misplaced pass led to Wolves' opener last weekend, Carlos was all at sea for Ipswich's equaliser in the second half in this one.
Not only did the Brazilian centre-half play their attacker onside in the build up, but he was then beaten far too easily by Liam Delap in the box as he was spun around and lost his balance entirely as the Ipswich ace applied the finish.
While he can be a commanding and imposing figure in the heart of our defence, Carlos currently looks like the weak link at the back. If Emery is going to stick with him, he must raise his level, otherwise that vulnerability will linger until a change is made.
Draw highlights how Kamara return will be fundamental
The all-Belgian partnership of Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans has rightly earned plenty of praise so far this season, but at times, we're going to need a different look and alternative tactical solutions over the course of the season.
Villa lacked control in midfield as the game went on this weekend. In the first half, we were patient, probing and built sustained pressure. After the interval, even Ollie Watkins conceded that it became like a basketball match as we lost that element of control and ended up playing to Ipswich's strengths and preference.
At that stage, Kamara was the first player to come to mind. The Frenchman is a composed figure who can, not only dictate play from deep, but is a physical presence and midfield destroyer when it comes to snuffing out the opposition's threat and wrestling back control of the game. His return after the international break will be huge for us.
Watkins looking sharper and building momentum
One of the biggest positives over the last few games has been the improvement from Watkins. The Villa striker admitted last month that he was still struggling with knocks and wasn't 100 percent, and that was evident in his performances as he lacked his usual sharpness and clinical edge.
As he often does, once he finds that breakthrough, he goes on a run, and we're seeing him not only score goals more consistently now, but his overall play in leading the line for Villa is vastly improved.
He provided the assist for Rogers before heading home to put us ahead, and hopefully he can continue to maintain this level and show a ruthlessness about his play in front of goal as we go into a big week both in Europe and in the Premier League.
🎶 Champions League awaits for me…
On May 26, 1982, the film E.T. made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival, while Madness were atop the UK music charts with their classic, ‘House of Fun’.
Putting that absolutely pointless trip down memory lane aside along with my Sopranos reference earlier, it’s a date etched in the history of this glorious football club as we defeated Bayern Munich in the European Cup Final in Rotterdam.
How fitting it is then that the Bavarian giants are the first team to visit Villa Park on our return to the Champions League, and it undoubtedly promises to be a memorable night for all in attendance.
Villa made a remarkably positive and confident start to our European campaign with our win at Young Boys earlier this month, and while this will be a different level of opposition and difficulty, what a statement we could make with three points against one of the top sides in the competition.
Naturally, there is an element as a fan of just enjoying the occasion and soaking up every minute of this incredible journey we’re on. However, Emery and the players aren’t here just making memories, they want to win and win now. Let’s hope we prove ourselves at this level with a big performance on Wednesday night.
Other notable news
Injury updates…
Villa skipper John McGinn will remain sidelined by his hamstring injury for another two to three weeks, which is a bitter blow, not only now that we’re without his qualities and influence in the team, but also because he will miss some huge games.
It’s hoped that he makes a full and swift recovery, and that touted timeline proves to be accurate.
Elsewhere, there was better news as Villa will get a vital double boost after the international break, with Emery confirming the hope is that both Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara return to the fold.
Both have had lengthy injury layoffs and will need time and patience before they return to their best form, but given their importance to us, it will be pivotal to our chances of success this season to get them back.
Delight for Emi Buendia after scoring on return
"Really special night. To come back and play for this club, it's my fourth season here, I really love this football club so today, to have the captain's armband, to help the team with a goal and get through to the next round is an amazing feeling."
It was a brilliant night for Emiliano Buendia in our Carabao Cup win over Wycombe Wanderers last week, as he not only donned the captain’s armband, but got on the scoresheet to help us advance.
After a gruelling rehabilitation process having suffered a serious knee injury last year, it’s wonderful to see him back involved in itself, but with the creativity, technical quality and attacking flair that he can add to the team, he’ll be a fundamental option for Emery as the season progresses.
Emery continues to make Villa history
50 wins in his first 90 games at the helm, it has been a sensational run under Emery thus far, full of wonderful wins and memorable moments.
The upward trajectory on which Villa have travelled under the Basque coach has been a real joy, and he’s far from done yet.
While these landmarks and milestone achievements are great, the Villa boss simply has his sights firmly set on his next target, and it’s hoped that we see him register his next 50 wins in a similar timeframe on his way to leading us to further success.
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