Several changes in the Aston Villa set-up are needed following the club’s disastrous 3-0 defeat in Cardiff. These three fixes will aid in Steve Bruce climbing the Championship ladder, and subsequently, save his job.
Steve Bruce owned up to defeat for the media. His comments, which can be found here, sound like a guy who knows he’s on the hot seat if results don’t follow. For a club that’s invested the amount Villa have invested, they need to be in the top-six at minimum.
The problem with Bruce is well-documented: it is the wide areas. Both fullback spots and wing positions leave a lot to be desired through two Championship matches.
Thankfully, Bruce has potential fixes for these ailments. It remains a question of “if” he decides to utilize change. For one, he’s better off actually using the players he transferred in during the January window. Birkir Bjarnason, Conor Hourihane, and James Bree remain rooted to the bench despite their competitors struggling.
1. Bench Alan Hutton, Start James Bree/Ritchie De Laet
The simplest of all changes and a basic like-for-like. Bench Alan Hutton. His renaissance at age-32 is ended, even if it was fun to talk about, even if he was quite good for 45 minutes against Hull City.
Hutton is arguably the fourth-best right fullback in the squad with all things being equal. Pick one of James Bree or Ritchie De Laet and start them instead. The attack from the right flank will increase considerably, as will possession, and probably the defense as well. 60% passing completion rates simply are not good enough. Hutton’s dispossessing runs into the box, abysmal crossing, and getting turned-around-defense have hampered the club for years.
2. Stop Playing Gabriel Agbonlahor As A Winger
Gabby Agbonlahor has always been a far better center-forward than winger. So, why now, at the age of 30, not being effective for years, is he starting at left of midfield now? This wouldn’t be an issue if Steve Bruce didn’t have options to choose from, many of which he signed.
Birkir Bjarnason is a lock-down flank defender which would benefit fullback Neil Taylor greatly. He’s left-footed and versatile as well, with a history of decent goal-returns. Moreover, Conor Hourihane is left-footed too. He’s far better in the middle of the park, but at left midfield he’s certainly proven capable as well in his Aston Villa appearances. André Green is out with a groin injury, but he too, is deserving of starts with his dribbling ability.
Pick any of them and reserve Gabby as a pace option from the bench with 20 minutes remaining. That’s where he’s at in his career, sadly.
3. Don’t Be Afraid To Change The System
Before the start of the year, there was a lot of talk around Aston Villa circles about Steve Bruce utilizing three at the back. Well, the club threw that through the window by selling left-footed Nathan Baker to a Championship rival.
They are now left with James Chester, John Terry, and Chris Samba with Tommy Elphick on his way out. Given the pace limitations within these permutations, obviously Terry and Samba can not partner each other pretty much ever, especially in a three-back system.
However, given the plethora of central midfield options, Bruce could switch to a more 4-3-3 shape. Having these good box-to-box transition midfielders (Lansbury, Onomah, Hourihane) is an utter waste when they’re being asked to play as a number ten, as Henri Lansbury is being asked to do.
Aston Villa have the wing options and two rock-solid defensive midfielders to go this route.
Next: Aston Villa set-up to fail in Cardiff
Here’s one lineup fix for Aston Villa in Tuesday’s Reading test:
4-3-3: Johnstone; Bree, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Whelan, Onomah/Lansbury, Hourihane/Lansbury; Adomah, Hogan, Bjarnason.