Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans after Goalless Hull Draw
With the transfer window finally closed, Unai Emery can get back to doing what he does best: coaching players and building a team on the pitch. The performances against Arsenal and Hull have offered encouragement, even if the rather important business of putting the ball in the net remains unresolved.
As Villa move on to commence their Champions League campaign, it’s time to find that all-important first win, or, failing that, at least get the first goal of the season. Despite the slow start, here are the latest Five Reasons to Be Cheerful as a Villan.
Happy Feet
Despite the disappointment of missing two gilt-edged chances and leaving two valuable points on the table, Villa earned a much-needed clean sheet ahead of their opening Champions League tie in Bruges. Zion Suzuki continued his steady start in a Villa shirt with some routine saves, but once again it was his distribution that really caught the eye.
Replacing Emi Martínez is no simple task: a World Cup winner, two-time Yashin Trophy winner and one of the defining players of the Emery era. Yet one positive from this season’s difficult start is that, while Suzuki is a very different goalkeeper to Martínez, there are encouraging signs that he can grow into the massive gloves left behind by his predecessor.
Déjà Vu
Villa are only the second team in top-flight history to fail to score in their opening three matches in consecutive seasons. Not exactly the sort of history anyone was hoping to make.
But if we’re relying on history, it’s also worth remembering that last season’s equally miserable start was followed by Villa’s most successful campaign in decades.
There are further parallels. Last season, the away trip to Bologna provided the first shoots of recovery. This time, a midweek trip to Bruges followed by Nottingham Forest at Villa Park offers Emery’s new-look side a similar opportunity to jump-start their season.
If history really is repeating itself, let’s hope it intends to keep going.
Keep The Faith
Villa are only the second team in top-flight history to fail to score in their opening three matches in consecutive seasons. Not exactly the sort of history anyone was hoping to make.
But if we’re relying on history, it’s also worth remembering that last season’s equally miserable start was followed by Villa’s most successful campaign in decades.
There are further parallels. Last season, the away trip to Bologna provided the first shoots of recovery. This time, a midweek trip to Bruges followed by Nottingham Forest at Villa Park offers Emery’s new-look side a similar opportunity to jump-start their season.
If history really is repeating itself, let’s hope it intends to keep going.
Man Like Zambi
Villa’s record signing is yet to feature, but his role in this new-look side could prove pivotal. Emery is carefully nurturing Johan Manzambi back to full fitness, no doubt aware of the impact the young midfielder can have on attacking phases currently lacking both punch and imagination.
Manzambi may feature in some capacity against Nottingham Forest, but even if that comes slightly too soon, his return isn’t far away. Villa have struggled to provide the link between midfield and attack since Morgan Rogers departed, and Manzambi was signed to help provide exactly that.
For a side still waiting for its first goal of the season, his return could hardly be better timed.
Patience, Grasshopper…
Making the mistake of checking social media could leave you believing that some of Villa’s summer signings are already enormous flops. Three league games apparently being more than enough evidence to pass definitive judgement on a footballer’s entire future.
Some of the new arrivals appear short of fitness, others confidence, and it’s unlikely every signing will ultimately be a success. But it’s far too early to pass judgement on Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolas Jackson or Zion Suzuki. While João Gomes remains suspended, and two of Villa’s main signings in Manzambi and Leon Goretzka haven’t kicked a ball yet for Villa.
Garnacho’s decline is well documented, MOMS remains sceptical on the signing, and Emery will surely have viewed him as a high-risk, high-reward signing. If he can get a tune out of the Argentine, Villa’s currently toothless counter-attacks could suddenly develop considerably more bite.
It may work spectacularly, it may not work at all. But perhaps we could give him more than three games to find out.
UTV
Follow Armen on Twitter/X here – @VillanArmen
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