Emery Must Fix Defensive Concerns for Run-in
After being 2-0 up and cruising against Brentford at Villa Park, a nine-minute capitulation saw Aston Villa let three points slip, as they handed fourth place and pole position for Champions’ League qualification to Spurs. Last season under Unai Emery, Villa had a penchant for clean sheets and were real pro’s when it came to seeing out games. This season, by contrast, they’ve been vulnerable to conceding goals in clusters and don’t seem to be a team built on sturdy defensive foundations.
Should we be concerned?
Emery to his credit, said Villa conceding three in nine minutes at the weekend was on him, and that he would analyse the game and fix the issue. The absence of Boubacar Kamara doesn’t help. Put him in front of the back four that started against Brentford, and it’s the difference of the same back four getting clean sheets against Manchester City and Arsenal within a matter of days.
Ultimately, the basis of a successful team is its defence, so it’s a concern that needs rectifying in the short-term to make sure a season of opportunity doesn’t end in unfulfilled ambition.
In the latest episode of the My Old Man Said podcast, we look at the issue in more depth and discuss its impact on the league and European campaign.
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