Roberto Di Matteo left Aston Villa after guiding the Midlands side to just one Championship victory.
With Roberto Di Matteo now sacked as Aston Villa manager, we take a look at the three players who could benefit the most from the Italian manager’s dismissal.
Ross McCormack
McCormack played fairly regularly under Di Matteo, but the former Chelsea boss didn’t signal that he knew how to get the best out of the potent front man.
Di Matteo’s tendency to start with an unbalanced team, packed with strikers, seemed to limit McCormack’s effectiveness.
The Scotland international has only scored twice in his Villa career to date, but with a system more suited to getting the best out of him, he should find the back of the net far more regularly.
Gary Gardner
Gardner was another player who Di Matteo failed to get the best out of during his time at Villa.
The Claret and Blues’ central midfielders were often given too much to do, and Gardner struggled to make an impression.
Gardner has proven his quality at Championship level before, while on loan at Nottingham Forest, and it can be expected that his performance will be improved under a new manager.
Jed Steer
Steer has impressed at Championship level before, when on loan at Huddersfield Town, but he was overlooked by Di Matteo during his brief time at Villa Park.
Villa have stuck by Pierluigi Gollini so far this season, with Mark Bunn being kept as second choice.
Both Gollini and Bunn have their doubters in Villa’s fan base, and it could be that Steer receives more of an opportunity under a different boss – who is more trusting in youth.
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