Aston Villa battles Hull City in EFL Championship opener
By Josh Tonti
Aston Villa football is back! Steve Bruce gets first crack to upend his former employer, Hull City. Aston Villa is facing several injuries, but Hull saw their club ripped apart after a summer of relegation.
The grass is cut, the players are fit (mostly), and the season begins. Aston Villa face Hull City at home on Saturday, August 5 in their 2017/2018 EFL Championship opener.
Steve Bruce had the entire summer to work with his new squad; one that he made several changes to. In is Glenn Whelan, Ahmed Elmohamady, Chris Samba, Josh Onomah, Sam Johnstone, and captain John Terry. As expected, Villa trimmed their squad with several outs: Aaron Tshibola and Carles Gil departed on-loan. Jordan Veretout, Aly Cissokho, Carlos Sanchez, and Nathan Baker represented the permanent transfers.
Hull City had their own trying summer. A dismal performance in the Premier League last season meant relegation to the second division. In return, they lost several players. Tom Huddlestone, Eldin Jakupovic, Harry Maguire, Elmohamady (thanks), Andy Robertson and a few others.
More from Claret Villans
- Aston Villa dismiss Everton for first win of Premier League season
- Tyrone Mings injured in Aston Villa’s season-opening 5-1 defeat
- Aston Villa draw Hibernian or FC Luzern for Europa Conference League play-off
- Aston Villa sign winger Moussa Diaby from Bayer Leverkusen
- Aston Villa close in on deal to sign Pau Torres from Villareal
In return, Hull executives brought in experienced Russian manager Leonid Slutsky to lead the side.
Slutsky didn’t have a lot to work with so they worked quickly to bring in fresh faces. They signed ex-Liverpool defensive midfielder Kevin Stewart on a three-year deal. That working relationship allowed the sale of left back Andy Robertson to The Reds.
They worked the loan market creatively by adding more to the back line. In came Chelsea and Jamaica center back, Michael Hector. The 6’4″ center back played well in Germany’s Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. Moreover, they acquired highly-rated Chelsea right back Ola Aina on-loan, too.
From the Czech First League, Slutsky acquired defender Ondrej Mazuch from Sparta Prague. That is basically a whole new back line for The Tigers.
Aston Villa will have its hands full in the season opener, but should be the favorites at home. Despite injuries to: Mark Bunn, Ritchie De Laet, Mile Jedinak, Albert Adomah, Jack Grealish, and Jonathan Kodjia, Villa has more than enough quality to succeed from its “second unit.”
ASTON VILLA PROJECTED XI: Johnstone; Hutton, Chester, Terry(c), Taylor; Whelan, Lansbury; Elmohamady, Hourihane, Green; Hogan.
SUBSTITUTES: Steer, Samba, Bree, Amavi, Bacuna, Bjarnason, Agbonlahor.
Next: Predicting the Championship Table
I would be genuinely surprised if that’s not the exact 18 for Saturday’s match. There are a few position battles currently, namely: Bree/Hutton at right back, Hogan/Gabby at center forward, and Hourihane in the number ten role, but that should be the teamsheet.
Hull will provide a challenge, but Villa should create chances at-home against an unfamiliar opponent.
WHEN: Saturday, August 5, 2017 – 12:30PM Eastern Time
WHERE: Villa Park
PREDICTION: 2-0 Aston Villa (Hogan, Chester).