Aston Villa: A starting XI without Amavi or Kodjia

By Josh Tonti | May 19, 2017

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 11 : Jonathan Kodjia of Aston Villa scores his second goal for Aston Villa during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Sheffield Wednesday at Villa Park on March 11, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images) /

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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: Mile Jedinak of Aston Villa talks to the press during a press conference at the club’s training ground at Bodymoor Heath on April 21, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images) /

Let’s assume we use Steve Bruce’s preferred 4-3-3.

In this scenario, Mile Jedinak most certainly anchors the midfield. The Aussie is the metronome that freely allows the latter two to attack and create incessantly…

Conor Hourihane is one of the first individuals in the team sheet week in and week out. Finding a proper position for the Ireland international is a must. Is it as a number eight? Is he a deep-lying playmaker? Is he possibly Villa’s best choice out at left wing? All valid questions.

The farthest forward central midfielder, Henri Lansbury, operates as a forward destroyer. The way Lansbury is deployed under Bruce is very similar to how Jurgen Klinsmann utilized Michael Bradley. An athletic, box-to-box midfielder deployed high on the pitch to cause havoc and cycle the ball out quickly.

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