Aston Villa vs. Ipswich Town: Projected XI – August 16th, 2018
By Josh Tonti
A return to EFL Championship play awaits Saturday afternoon. Aston Villa travel to Portman Road in a match against Ipswich Town Football Club.
Can we make it 4 in a row?
That’s the question on supporters’ minds as Aston Villa hit the road this weekend. The claret and blues have looked less-than-convincing in three matches, but ultimately got the job done in all of them. With an incredibly forgiving opening slate of league matches, it remains imperative Steve Bruce & Co. pick-up maximum points often.
Saturday’s match probably comes too soon for Callum O’Hare, Scott Hogan and Keinan Davis. The former is back in training and should be available for the Carabao Cup in two weeks’ time. The latter pair’s conditions have not been updated from the club. Therefore, it’s looking likelier and likelier that Villa will upgrade the forward position before the loan window closes in August.
For Paul Hurst’s squad this weekend acts as vengeance. The Tractor Boys lost to Exeter City via penalties midweek. They’ll be looking to rebound after a tepid start to the season.
It is likely Ipswich will be anchored by an old Aston Villa face in defense.
Janoi Donacien spent three seasons in the Aston Villa academy without ever making a single first-team appearance. Now, the Saint Lucia-born defender, is in the Championship, on-loan from League One’s Accrington Stanley. He’s played the full 180 minutes through two league games: one at centre-back, the other at right fullback.
Projected Aston Villa XI (4-1-4-1): Nyland; Elmohamady, Chester (c), Tuanzebe, Hutton; Bjarnason; Adomah, Grealish, McGinn, Green; Kodjia.
Substitutes: Moreira, Jedinak, De Laet, Whelan, Hourihane, Lansbury, Hepburn-Murphy.
The team still looks a little light in attack, especially in the reserves, while injuries continue. After starting midweek, it looks like André Green and Albert Adomah will both start on the wing. Conversely, Ahmed Elmohamady could push to right wing, while Axel Tuanzebe shifts right and Mile Jedinak fills-in centrally.
The relationship between John McGinn and Jack Grealish is worth watching. McGinn had a tremendous Aston Villa debut last weekend, but he looked timid next to Jack. As time progresses both players will get more comfortable playing alongside one another, and, in theory, flourish together.
Next. Aston Villa: Mitch Clark Loaned To Port Vale. dark
WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 2018 @ 3:00 p.m. GMT / 10:00 a.m. EST
WHERE: Portman Road – Ipswich, Suffolk, England
T.V.: AVTV ($) for international subscribers
PREDICTION: 3-1 Aston Villa (Kodjia x2, Grealish).
On paper, this should be a comfortable victory for Villa. Ipswich are one of the weaker teams in the league, in all honesty. I expect Jonathan Kodjia to get on the scoreboard in some capacity.