Seeing as Villa are recently returned from the United States of America, it seems apt to add to the discussion around Villa’s squad for the 23/24 season through a thoroughly American lens.
Words by: Ivan McDouall
The concept of a depth chart was developed to consider the strength and ‘depth’ of rosters of American football and baseball teams. In essence ‘starting players’ in each position top the chart and are followed by secondary or back up players. The chart illustrates to coaching teams and the organisation as a whole where strengths and weaknesses may exist within that roster.
The same principle can be applied to Villa’s squad – especially given the context of Unai Emery’s comments about two players for each outfield position. There is also an opportunity to consider players in more than one position or establish what would be their primary position.
The depth chart as a concept will undoubtedly provoke some debate but here’s a stab from my point of view
Goalkeepers
| Emi Martinez |
| Robin Olsen |
| Filip Marschall |
Right Back
| Matty Cash |
| Ezri Konsa / Calum Chambers |
| Seb Revan (Deep Cover) |
Left Back
| Alex Moreno |
| Lucas Digne |
| Seb Revan (Deep Cover) |
Centre Back
| Pau Torres |
| Tyrone Mings |
| Ezri Konsa |
| Diego Carlos |
| Calum Chambers (Cover) |
| Boubacar Kamara (Deep Cover) |
| Leander Dendoncker (Deep Cover) |
Central Midfield
| Boubacar Kamara |
| Douglas Luiz |
| Youri Tielemans |
| Callum Chambers |
| Leander Dendoncker |
Attacking Midfield / Wide Midfielders
| John McGinn |
| Jacob Ramsey |
| Emi Buendia |
| Phil Coutinho |
Wide Players
| Moussa Diaby |
| Leon Bailey |
| Jayden Philogene-Bidace |
| Bertrand Traore |
Number 10
| Emi Buendia |
| Phil Coutinho |
| John McGinn |
Strikers
| Ollie Watkins |
| Cameron Archer |
| Jhon Duran |
Emery has talked about 25 players – and there are 27 listed here which suggests that if there are more incomings then they will be matched by departures. Today’s rumour mill has churned out Tyler Adams for example, and if he was to join one would assume Chambers then becomes surplus to requirements. The same could also be true already of Traore given Philogene’s pre-season.
Although there is a hope of more games Emery has never traditionally worked with a huge squad and the names here (unless anyone wants to correct me) includes the four homegrown players required by UEFA for the Conference League – Revan, Archer, Philogene-Bidace and Ramsey.
For me this gives weight to the idea that has been put forward by many Villa commentators that there isn’t much work to come in the transfer window.
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MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR: IVAN MCDOUALL
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