FIVE THINGS WE LEARNT FROM THE WORLD CUP BREAK

With Villa back in Premier League action in less than a week what have we learnt from the World Cup break?

One thing is for sure we can all head back to B6 on Boxing Day in a positive frame of mind as we anticipate the second half of a unique season

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WORLD CUP SUCCESS AS INSPIRATION

There is no doubt that success of Villa players at the World Cup can act as a wider inspiration for the first team group and beyond. Whilst the most attention and plaudits – rightly so – have gone the way of Emi Martinez, the involvement of Matty Cash for Poland into the knockout stages can also serve as inspiration for Villa players on the fringe of their nations’ plans to push on and be involved in the future. I heard John McGinn talk on Tuesday night about the disappointment within the group that more players were not over in Qatar, and he acknowledged that the first half of the season’s performances had played into that, and it was something that as a group they were keen to rectify. When Emi bowls back into B6 from Buenos Aires with a World Cup winners medal round his neck the club will hope to harness that emotive positivity into 2023.

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UNAI EMERY’S PLANNED FORMATION TAKES SHAPE

The World Cup break was always going to be positive for Villa in the sense that it would give the new Manager time with the bulk of the squad to build a plan for moving forward. Over the mid-season friendlies, the way Villa will look to set up was clear at least in terms of starting games – we saw at Brighton that Emery is not afraid to adapt mid game to secure a result. To my eyes we can expect a 4-4-2 when defending with a more fluid 4-2-3-1 when going forward. Kamara and Luiz seem to have their midfield places nailed down and both have looked fresh and progressive in the mid-season games. Defensively – at least until Diego Carlos returns – also looks largely set. The front players and third midfielder are more up for grabs at least with the current personnel. One thing is for sure that we won’t be bemoaning a lack of plan a la the Gerrard regime. Where the interest lies is how that plan works and how much it is tweaked to sustain results and momentum.

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SUPER JOHN MCGINN

Perhaps more a case of can we sure of what we have learned? McGinn has been prominent across the mid-season games and has retained the captaincy. He seems to have had more freedom to get forward – his goal in Dubai against Chelsea was evidence of this – and perform the sort if all action role we see for Scotland. But how sure can we be this points to a full involvement moving forward? The absence of Jacob Ramsey to injury and Dendoncker’s late return from Qatar probably left Villa short of other options. Also, let’s remember Tyrone Mings trailed round Australia wearing the captain’s armband in pre-season only to be stripped of it and benched for the opening day of the season. It will be interesting to see if McGinn starts on Boxing Day and the role he is asked to perform.

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THE FORWARD LINE

From a watching brief I would expect Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia to start against Liverpool next week. The make-up of the other two front players – for ease’s sake let’s say left wing and centre forward – requires some speculation. It was clear that Ollie Watkins’ finishing remains a concern – several times against Villareal he should have done better – and it would be unlikely if Emery doesn’t see that as a problem. To compound that Danny Ings’ two goals in the Brighton, win last time out shows he can be the finisher for Villa that we saw earlier in his career elsewhere. The question might be whether there is a place for Watkins on the left (I’m an advocate of this) although equally that makes picking Buendia harder especially against a team with Liverpool’s tempo. Once the transfer window opens this conversation may well change if additions come through the door although I suspect there will be a cautious approach to the window from the club.

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YOUNG LIONS RESET

It’s easy to forget that whilst first team players can benefit from the reset that comes with a change of management so can the club’s academy. There was clear evidence of this in Dubai as Arjan Raikhy re-emerged into the first team picture. Part of the Youth Cup win in 2021 Raikhy had a couple of rather uninspiring loans to Stockport and Grimsby – but has remained at Bodymoor this season and anchored the U21 side. He is a natural ball player but also one that gets a foot in and can break play up so it has been good to see him involved, especially as one could have assumed the moment had passed. Less surprising but equally pleasing was Kadan Young’s involvement in Dubai. I have written about the young winger on here before and I desperately hope that even with his tender years he sees some involvement and can build a pathway at the club.

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AUTHOR | IVAN MCDOUALL

Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ivan McDouall | UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog

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