Villa haven’t had too much to cheer in recent years but things are looking up at last.
Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia celebrates scoring
Steve Bruce said it himself; Villa’s quantity over quality approach to recruitment has yielded rather mixed results so far this season with arguably only two players counting as an unqualified success.
But how slanted is the ratio of misses to hits?
9) Ritchie De Laet
The Belgian full-back managed the rather unusual feat of picking up two separate league medals last season despite making a grand total of 18 appearances for Premier League champions Leicester and Championship winners Middlesbrough.
That’s still a lot more than he’s made at Villa with a knee injury potentially keeping him out until the summer.
8) Aaron Tshibola
A young, energetic, tenacious defensive midfielder; exactly what Aston Villa need. So why Steve Bruce has pointedly refused to pick him, we’re not so sure. It took £5 million to prise him from Reading in the summer, per the Daily Mirror, but after a decent start to the season there looks to be a long way back to the first team fold.
7) Ross McCormack
£12 million (BBC) looked like good value for a player who had hit 66 goals in the last three seasons for two middling sides in Leeds and Fulham. Now, on the wrong side of 30 and having netted just three times in claret and blue, the investment isn’t looking quite as safe.
The Scottish international is still yet to prove that he can fit into Bruce’s system.
6) Tommy Elphick
Captaining underdogs Bournemouth to promotion in 2015, Elphick looked exactly the kind of no-nonsense dressing room presence Villa were sorely lacking during the debacle of last season.
Yet, while a considerable upgrade on Jolean Lescott, the 29-year-old is yet to repeat his Cherries form at Villa Park with his own goal against Newcastle United a particular low point.
5) Mile Jedinak
The signing of the Crystal Palace captain appeared to be one of the coups of the campaign initially. At 32 years of age, Jedinak had taken everything the second tier could throw at him, including a play-off final, and came through the other side fighting.
Yet, at 32 years of age, it’s quite clear that his best was some time ago. Bruce values Jedinak’s leadership and experience but his lack of mobility is proving quite the problem. Tshibola anyone?
4) Albert Adomah
As if it wasn’t short-sighted enough to completely freeze out former Barcelona starlet Adama Traore, who’s now tearing it up in the Premier League with Boro by the way, the decision to swap him for a player nine years his senior rather sums up Villa’s recruitment in recent seasons.
The experienced Championship veteran may have contributed four assists thus far, but the fact that they parted with their most dangerous attacking weapon to get him rather overshadows what would have looked an astute deal.
3) Pierluigi Gollini
It’s not been an easy year for the young Italian goalkeeper. Relegated in disarray with Hellas Verona in Serie A, the 21-year-old has hardly been eased into this most unforgiving of leagues, starting all 21 Championship fixtures so far.
And while his potential is clear to see, his inexperience has proved costly at times. Though, with only Mark Bunn and Jed Steer in reserve, Gollini would have to do something Karius-esque to find himself out of the XI.
2) James Chester
It’s fair to say the Welsh international didn’t exactly get a fair crack of the whip at West Brom. Shoved in at the deep end on his Baggies debut in an entirely unfamiliar full-back role against who else but Manchester City, Chester was barely seen again at the Hawthorns.
The 27-year-old former Manchester United youngster is benefitting from a regular stay in the centre of defence this term, however. If only they’d had him last season.
1) Jonathan Kodjia
The reaction to Kodjia’s move to Villa Park for a Championship record £15 million, per the BBC, after just one season with Bristol City no less, could best be described as outrage.
Yet, Kodjia’s seven strikes in 16 games, not to mention his sublime acrobatic winner against Fulham, surely a contender for goal of the season, means few are questioning the fee now. Oh, did we mention he was Championship Player of the Month in November?
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