In August Aston Villa played 5 games, won 2, drew 1 and lost 2. But who stood out during the first month of football? I’ll make a short count down of who I think were the top 5 players of the month.
1. Jordan Amavi
So far, Amavi has been Aston Villa’s best signing in the transfer window by a mile. Amavi instantly stood out with his energy, pace and his willingness to join the attack. Amavi is the highest ranked Villa player on Whoscored statistics’s and there are reasons for that. Amavi has made 3.5 tackles a game, 3.3 interceptions and 3.5 clearances. On top of that Amavi also provided an assist this month. All in all, it looks as though Amavi has finally solved Aston Villa’s left-back crisis.
2. Scott Sinclair
Aston Villa’s top scorer so far has bagged himself the second spot in my top 5. Sinclair can’t stop scoring at this moment, in the past two games Sinclair has scored 5 goals. His performances has not been top notch I admit, but his spacial awareness is very good and he is always there where he needs to be. Which is why Sinclair has been able to score 5 goals so far. None of his goals will make a top 5 goals of the week, but they are resulting in points. Sinclair is also the only player in this top 5 that hasn’t played every single minute of Premier League football. Perhaps it’s time that he starts and finishes the game more.
3. Ciaran Clark
Clark has not quite reached the form of last season but he is slowly getting there. Clark has helped Villa keep one clean sheet which was in the game against Bournemouth in the first game of the season. But on top of that, Clark has made Whoscored top 5 centre-backs in the Premier League for the month. So it would be foolish to not include him in this list. Clark is tied for the most interceptions per game with 3.5 a game for Aston Villa. Clark has also produced the most clearances for Aston Villa so far with an average of 9.3 a game. On the down side, Clark has picked up the most yellow cards from any Villa players, with 3 yellow cards picked up already.
4. Micah Richards
Richards has done well to settle in his spot in the centre of defence. When Richards first arrived at the club I was a bit skeptical that he could play in the centre of defence. Nonetheless, Richards uses his experience to get the better off the opponents forwards. Richards is tied with Clark with the most interceptions for Villa (3.5 a game) and does well to cover the right side of the defence whenever Hutton/Bacuna are in advanced positions. What Richards has been really strong is with keeping the opposition off-side. He is the player that most frequently get’s opponents attacks offside.
5. Idrissa Gueye (Gana)
The man responsible for replacing Delph has done well so far. Whilst not necessarily being over spectacular, he has been solid in midfield. Gana has on of the best tackling stats in the Premier League, with an average of 4.3 tackles a game, making him the 6th best tackler in the Premier League. Outside of that I still expect more from Gana. I want to see him pushing up the player more, and running at defenders more. But in his defence, it has been his first month of English football and he will only get better.
AGREED MATE couldn’t believe what I was reading, mind you I’ve said from day one Tim’s a fan of his.like you say who’s going to be dropped???? basically who’s worse than shabby at present????
Well, well Giddy 22 minutes gone and Chelsea are two down, that will teach him to fall out with his team doctor.
Maybe she’s a VOODOO DOCTOR MATE????
Well she’s that part of the world mate, I’ve been reading about it and its still on going, she hasn’t gone back , think its unsettled the team.
On a different note anyone else think Bentekes jumped from the frying pan into the fire!
Most defiantly, the fowls he gave to day hasn’t helped his cause, the money them reds have spent and still cannot win.think he’s made a big mistake.
Scored a good goal tbf though. Look like the Utd arse licking media have a new player to wank over!
While it was a deflection that took it up for him, that’s what he needs from Pool players. He’ll get it from Coutinho but the rest of the squad have to chip in, literally chip in, and help get those kind of balls into him. He’ll score 20 goals for them if they do so.
True but Liverpool looked as bad as anything we’ve seen under Lamberk. Yet again they’ve courtinho Henderson and Sturbridge to come bk. Still can’t see them finishing top 4. As for Utd they were only marginally better both teams living on past glories and media love fests!
I agree I don’t see Pool getting top 4, never have. I think Chelsea will eventually get going and get 3rd, Arsenal 2nd, City 1st, United 4th. Seasons been unsurprising though, not surprised by Palace and Leicester’s quick start, nor City’s. Chelsea’s isn’t surprising either, typical Mourinho’s poor start after constantly playing the same players and they’re so dead already. Honestly the only surprise to me is how bad Stoke’s been. I figured they’d have the start Palace and Leicester had, and they’re sitting last.
Agree Adam about Clark he would be in top 5 performers I would go 1 amavi 2 sanchez 3 gana 4 sinclair and 5 Clark, Everybody is only focusing on that sunderland goal which was clearly sanchez fault, Clark had to react quickly and made the wrong decision but every single CB in the league makes mistakes and that was him trying to cover for sanchez mistake so it wasn’t and unforced error or anything just a moment when he had less than a second to make a decision which 80% of prem CBs would have probably done the same.
Richards comes in just after and has impressed me as I didn’t think he could cope at CB but he has done well, he just misses top 5 because he lunges in too often and misses which at RB won’t be too much of a problem but at CB like Clark found out that day it can be quickly punished but if he can cut that out of his game I think him and Clark could be a great partnership and with lescott I think both Richards and Clark will learn from wile also giving us option to go 3 at the back.
Interesting article – initially surprised at Clark’s stats but then you know what they say about statistics! Personally, I would have Sanchez in the top 5 rather than Clark but hard to argue with the other picks. Sanchez looks like he’s going to be our ‘marmite’ player – but then I love marmite!!
Sitting in a good pub in Devon; going to rain tomorrow afternoon so have to find somewhere to watch the game UTV.
Have a GOOD UN hitch get the scrumpy down YER MATE,dead rats in the barrel you can’t beat it adds to the taste.
Apparently Gil needs to score more according to Sherwood. Doesn’t he need to actually play to do that? Grealish too, but he always looks for the pass before actually trying to shoot, needs to be more selfish, has the ability to be.
Any ideas on what our lineup is likely to be tomorrow? Who’s injured at the moment?
Gana, Grealish and Traore are injury-doubts. Hoping to see Gil start, most likely Gabby will start, probably with Sinclair and have Ayew out wide again. I do wonder if we’ll go 3 at the back, and if so does Lescott start and Ilori start too? Meaning Clark’s dropped which I can’t see. So many different options so it’s hard to see who plays. Guzan, Richards, Amavi and Sinclair are probably the only absolute starters.