This is a very interesting formation to analyse, mostly because we have 3 left-backs who have played the majority of their time in that position. Also, two of them played in a different position at the beginning of the season. Mathew Lowton who is historically a right-back, actually had more game time on the left side of the defence then in his natural position! While Richardson started the season playing in midfield, he only cemented the left-back position under Sherwood. But in all of this we haven’t seen Cissokho play since the sacking of Lambert. It’s fair to say that the left-back position continues to be a problem at Aston Villa.
- Aly Cissokho played the most football in left-back, playing a total of 2222 minutes, making 26 appearances in the process and contributing to 7 clean sheets. Cissokho picked up 1 yellow card
- Kieran Richardson played a total of 1689 minutes of football, half of that time was playing in midfield. Richardson made a total of 26 appearances and contributed to 1 clean sheet when playing in defence. Richardson did make 1 assist and picked up 2 yellow cards and a red card
- Mathew Lowton played a total of 841 minutes making 12 appearances and contributed to 2 clean sheets. Lowton picked up 2 yellows.
According to the Whoscored statistics Cissokho was Villa’s highest rated left-back, getting a score of 6.78 landing him the 6th spot for best player. He made 1.9 tackles per game (5th best). Richardson had a score of 6.35 landing him 22nd position and Lowton got a score of 6.67 securing a 10th spot in the table, he was dribbled past an average of 1.1 per game (5th best).
1. Aly Cissokho
The stat’s don’t lie, Cissokho did play very well for Aston Villa. When he signed I think that many Villa fans believe that Villa have finally found the left-back that Aston Villa have been looking for all those years. Cissokho was definitely better in defence with his attacking support being rather poor at most times. Still he did contribute to 7 clean sheets and his injury set back definitely did affect his career at Aston Villa. It’s still not known if he will be staying at Aston Villa but I sure hope he does because I thought he had a quality first season at Aston Villa.
2. Mathew Lowton
Bit controversial perhaps, but for a player that often plays on the right. He played really well especially when Richardson and Cissokho were out injured. You could argue that the penalty he won against West Brom was a very key moment in Aston Villa’s season. He is a very versatile and I am upset that he has left the club. Like Richardson, he didn’t have any outstanding statistics but when called upon he did get the job done.
3. Kieran Richardson
If Richardson started playing with a top-knot earlier than he surely would’ve topped this list. All throughout the season I thought he struggled a bit. He wasn’t too solid in midfield and his defensive play wasn’t great. However I thought his season really did kickstart in the last month, I thought he was fantastic against Arsenal and one of the highlights of our poor FA Cup final showing. If Richardson can continue that form into the start of next season than I’d be content with him staying at Aston Villa. He is surely rated by Sherwood.
You have covered all the points well and are right to ignore Hutton’s horror show cameos.
Cissoko for me was the best at defending, which is the first duty of a FB. Richardson’s last month was outstanding, but he and the club know he can only do one hour, before his groin injury kicks in. It does not help the LB that Villa have the same problem in defending well at RB.
If I had to pick one out of those 3, it’d be Cissokho.
Like OLL, I like FBs who are proper defenders first and he’s the best of the 3 at defending.
It seems Sherwood doesn’t rate him though, probably because he’s not so good going forward, which is the modern way.
I think this is the single position that needs sorting more than any other, as we’ve looked abysmal at times down the left.
Mind you we’ve looked abysmal down the right too!
It’ll be interesting to see what happens here, because it’s the same old story.
We need to spend proper money for a decent left back to actually improve us.
£2-4 mill players aren’t going to cut it, imo.
Cissoko is best eft bk we’ve had in ages imo
Blimey, we agree on something 🙂
Lol 🙂
Cissokho should stay….need two full backs who DEFEND….thats how I see it anyway. Full backs who are good offensively are just a bonus, but shouldnt be judged on it. Cissokho is the best LB since Bouma IMO. And I dont recall him being to good going forward!
‘too good’…..Educated in Brum 🙂
Bouma was much better going forward. With Cissokho at left-back and Richards at right-back, we’d have two solid defenders, which would allow us to play with wingers/flair players out wide to whip crosses in. To be honest, the pair of them could probably do well at centre half! Okore is a beast too. I personally don’t rate Clarke – think he’s a liability, ball watches, gets dragged out of position, doesn’t mark his man tight enough. I’d suggest we need to buy another centre half. Or play Richards in the middle and buy a decent right back.
Good points about Clark, but he’s still one of the best we’ve got.
Plus he’s still young and can improve.
Richards apparently will be going in the middle, as part of the reason for him coming to us (it’s his own preferred position).
At first, I thought this odd, but it makes sense.
Bacuna plays RB and when he pushes up, Richards covers middle/right.
Or at least that’s how I see it.
Could start playing Sanchez to cover our fullbacks, but i don’t think Sherwood’s a fan of DM’s. Wasn’t at Tottenham either, but then maybe once he starts a season he’ll realize we have a very, very good one that can cover the defense.
Agreed, Sanchez could do that, but it’s asking a lot if you expect him to be an outlet from the defence too (as I do).
I’m thinking that Sherwood might possibly be looking at 3-5-2 as an option?
Or as I prefer to call it, 5-3-2.
But who does the equivalent role of Richards, on the left?
Clark?
Possibly, Baker maybe? You thinking Okore central?
It’s 5-3-2 defensively, 3-5-2 offensively. Seems suitable for Delph to be a Right Wingback. Cissokho isn’t much of a wingback though, more of a fullback straight up.
Could also be the reason he’s after Ogbonna who can play CB, LB and often plays LCB if he ever plays in a 3 man defense.
Bergovic doing the rounds this morning. Would be another quality signing following the capture of Micah Richards.
Begovic*
Try and spell it correctly first time….your spelling is shambolic 🙂
Soz. 🙂
Thannkks….thattss mucch batter…yur shewwing sygns oof immproovemant. Tryy hand gett itt write lyke i allwayys du 🙂
Is he a step up from Guzan though? Going solely on this past season, not at all. Overall yes, but this past season was arguably his worst, but then the same could be said for Guzan, who in all honesty didn’t do a hell of a lot wrong, but then fans turn on a player for one bad game and think every game he has is crap (see Sanchez).
So Ray Wilkins joins Villa as assistant. Good move IMO
Will you be having a “wankfest” over that news Langford?
Yes….I’m due one
ray wilkins just confirmed on sky going to villa
As a player!!!
For all those who have been moaning that Tim hasn’t got enough experience well the new guy more than makes up for that.
Could be a good move but we’ll see…
” The bells are ringing……” See – they do read this blog in the VP corridors of power! Begovic is the best goalkeeper in the EPL not playing for the top 4. We put him up during the discussions about our current keepers, towards the fag end of last season, but it was not known then that Stoke were ready to promote Buckland.
Less good news is the appointment of Ray Wilkins. A radio commentator summed him up during his playing days. “The ball is with Wilkins, who passes it square…I don’t really need to tell you that, do I?” Don’t tell me, he will be responsible for midfield creativity.
not to sure about this appointment it will raise our profile with the cockney press but whenever he has left a club there isn’t that much outpouring of grief and sorrow don’t know if hes disruptive or has favorites
Breaking news, Bill Pearson Kit man, now we are on the move.…
He was sacked at Fulham with McGrath not long ago. He’s got a lot of Personnal problems too. Not sure really will probably do a job not much more
Sacked at Chelsea and qpr too. Prob one step up from Keane
BAD NEWS REPORT
Besiktas have been unable to reach an agreement with the Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar according to LigTV. O FECK DOES THIS MEAN HE WILL BE COMING BACK.
i hope villa withdraw there contract offer. don’t know anything about ligtv but i hope there wrong.
He wanted to much as a signing on fee, greedy cart horse !
Why do we pay the difference anything to get shot of the useless lump
Had a SHITE day this news has just added to it FFS fuck him off