It can often become too popular and too much of an easy option to overreact to a bad performance from the Aston Villa players. Following losses, particularly after matches that are even more emotionally charged than normal, it can almost become the popular thing to do for the Villans to get dogpiled on.
Over the whole of the season, however, Youri Tielemans has been excellent. Certainly his performance against Crystal Palace during the FA Cup semi-final was not a good one. He'd admit to that. On a weekly basis, however, through all competitions, outside of that match, he has been the best and most consistent player.
Serving as a true box-to-box midfielder, the Belgian has logged a number of miles on his legs. Even so, Tielemans manages to protect the backline and then provide good looks for his teammates further up the pitch.
Clubs need to have strong, stabilizing forces on their squad. Particularly from a midfield role, Tielemans has more than delivered what Unai Emery has asked of him.
Some may be enamored by the flash and flicks of other players on the wing or in attacking midfield roles, but a team needs someone who can be the engine on the field. For those who do need those more obvious moments of spectacular, Tielemans' long balls and assists could be a highlight reel themselves.
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Not only a passer, though, the Belgium international isn't shy to shoot from distance himself. Standing at 5'9, Tielemans also has a knack for scoring headers, as seen most recently against Fulham.
Most clubs spend a lot of their external scouting efforts looking for someone like Tielemans. To the credit and fortune of AVFC, he arrived at B6 on a free transfer. The midfielder has gone on, particularly this season, to be the most important and impactful player throughout the Villa lineup.