The starting XI for the match against Wigan Athletic saw 6 changes from the side that beat Hull City to open the season. Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash saw 9 change. Don’t expect this revolving door to stop.
Aston Villa have an extremely deep squad full of new signings that are expected to feature, as well as players with proven Championship experience from seasons past. Because of this, Steve Bruce will almost surely be tweaking his lineup card for many matches to come. This week’s new additions to the lineup included some familiar faces at Villa Park, but also saw the insertion of new signings John McGinn and Ørjan Nyland.
McGinn was fantastic all match, and seems to be one of the few pieces of the puzzle that will remain in place for the remainder of the season, but let’s take a look at the rest of the squad.
Goalkeepers
Locks: None
In the Mix: Ørjan Nyland, André Moreira and Mark Bunn
Nyland’s performance Saturday shouldn’t be enough to see him deposed just yet, but having an experienced keeper like Bunn on the bench behind him, as well as a young upstart in Moreira, the spot is almost certainly still up for grabs. One could argue that having consistency between the sticks is the most important aspect of a strong defense, and this will be a selection that Bruce and the staff should agree upon quickly.
Projection: I wouldn’t be surprised to see Moreira start against Yeovil Town, but I firmly expect that Villa stick with Nyland for the remainder of the season.
Defenders
Locks: James Chester (CB) and Alan Hutton (RB/LB)
In the Mix: Axel Tuanzebe (All), Tommy Elphick (CB), Mile Jedinak (CB), Neil Taylor (LB), Ritchie De Laet (RB/LB), James Bree (RB), Mitch Clark (All), and Micah Richards.
Chester is the team’s captain, and should start every league game. Alan Hutton is probably the most versatile player on the back line, and should also feature in every league game at one position or another. Match one against Hull saw the likes of Tommy Elphick and Neil Taylor on the back line, while match two featured Tuanzebe and Jedinak.
Nobody knows what’s going to happen here. Can Elphick be trusted to perform week in and week out? Tuanzebe should start, but where does he fit in? Is Jedinak even a centre back?
Projection: Assuming Villa goes with a back four, the regular* starting lineup will be Tuanzebe at RB, Chester and Elphick in the middle, with Hutton occupying the LB role. Elphick will have a shorter leash, so down be surprised if Tuanzebe starts centrally with Taylor at LB and Hutton on the right.
Midfielders
Locks: Ahmed Elmohamady (RM/RW), John McGinn (CM), Jack Grealish (CAM)
In the Mix: Glenn Whelan (CDM), Birkir Bjarnason (CDM), Connor Hourihane (CM), Henri Lansbury (CM), Albert Adomah (LM/LW), André Green (LM/LW), Callum O’Hare (CM/CAM)
As mentioned, after McGinn’s debut performance it seems almost inevitable that he will play every match from here on out. Elmo was very good in the match against Hull, and looked serviceable against Wigan. That should be enough to retain the starting role on the right side of midfield. I don’t need to tell you anything about “Super Jack”.
The thing with this midfield is that it’s deep, with no real standout players. This is going to be a true hot-hand (foot) approach to building the team, and an approach that will surely be lineup and matchup dependent.
Projection: Green will eventually stamp his place on the left by midseason, providing some semblance of continuity for Bruce’s men. The other centrally located midfield position will change match-to-match. Playing a strong offensive team on the road will lend itself to a lineup featuring Whelan (or even Jedinak), while a team that looks to press and get forward will most likely feature the more aggressive Bjarnason in the holding midfield role. A more out-and-out attacking lineup may see the likes of Hourihane starting alongside McGinn in something of a 4-4-1-1.
Strikers
Locks: Johnathan Kodjia
In the Mix: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy, Scott Hogan, and Keinan Davis
Despite how the season has opened for him, Kodjia is the guy up top. RHM needs some first team experience and player progression before he can be reasonably considered a threat to Jimmy Danger’s starting role. Hogan was okay last year, albeit inconsistent, and Keinan Davis has yet to return from injury.
Projection: Kodjia should hopefully return to form, and solidify his role as the main-man up top. However, if RHM or even André Green display the propensity to score goals on a regular basis, don’t be surprised to see Kodjia relegated to a 70th minute substitute role.
Projected usual Starting XI:
Nyland, Tuanzebe, Elphick, Chester, Hutton, Whelan, Green, McGinn, Grealish, El Mohamady, Kodjia
Even if a regular lineup doesn’t come to pass, what’s important is this team’s depth allows for the swapping of players regularly, and no matter who is on the pitch the team should be well off enough to be competitive in every game they play all year.