Aston Villa come up against Bournemouth at home this weekend. This game serves as the Villa’s first home game of the season since their promotion from the Championship. Having lost 3 – 1 away to Tottenham on the opening day of the season. Villa will be having to make some subtle adjustments to their game style and team selection.
Game Style
The game style that Aston Villa take into this game will be a modified approach to the one they used against Tottenham. I don’t expect Villa to change their 4-1-4-1 formation, using Brazilian striker Wesley up top. Against Spurs, we saw Villa break on the counter at any opportune moment they got to safely do so. Only having seven shots at goal all game though will have been a slight worry.
In the first half, it was damaging, with Wesley holding up play, Trezeguet and El Ghazi using their blistering pace up and down the wings running the Spurs’ fullbacks ragged. The flair and burst of speed depleted quickly and lucky we were able to capitalise on it, taking a 1-0 lead into the break.
Come second half, that pace was lost, Spurs dominated the midfield with the influence of Grealish, Hourihane and goal scorer McGinn diminished. That came down to a gulf in class between the teams. However, this weekend both sides are evenly matched, with the new boys even tipped by many to finish the campaign above Bournemouth.
If Aston Villa stick to the game plan, they will find more opportunities to come by as well due to Bournemouth playing a very expansive style of football. The Villains’ defence will have to keep a watchful eye over the dangerous Callum Wilson, Josh King and Ryan Fraser. But if Bjorn Engles and Tyrone Mings do their job in the centre of the defence, expect the rest of the team to play more freely due to the less reliance expected of them at the back defending constantly like they did against Tottenham.
Team Selection
I am predicting Aston Villa to be taking a very similar starting eleven into this game as they did against Tottenham. Dean Smith seemed pleased with the output of his initial team last weekend. Personally, I would like to see Guilbert come in at right-back in the place of Elmomahady or even Targett to come in and debut instead of Neil Taylor.
Fullback spots have always been a worry for this club in recent years and it might prove to be the same dilemma this time around. Wesley will start again. He looked very raw last weekend and needs more time on the pitch to get used to his new surroundings.
The wingers did a splendid job so they’ll keep their spots too. The middle three were good even though I would love to see Douglas Luiz or Jota get more game time and even see the inclusion on Marvelous Nakamba for his debut later on.
Expect Keinan Davis to come on around the 70 + minute mark though to replace the tiring Wesley. James Chester, Kortney Hause and Jonathan Kodjia are the only injury concerns for Villa. We could see Eric Konsa come in as well as a late substitution if the club need any defensive reinforcements later on in the game.
What to do to win
Aston Villa must play their own style of football, not concede to playing the style of football their opposition wants them to play. Play the Villa way or not at all. The club did this against Spurs and that was pleasing from a fan’s perspective.
Bournemouth, as previously stated, play an open style of football and they do offer the opportunity for gaps to appear in their side especially down the wings. If Trezeguet and El Ghazi can capitalise on the moments to exploit those gaps then they will make the Cherries’ defence scramble.
Expect to see ‘Super’ Jack Grealish take the midfield reigns this week, bossing the middle of the park, getting resistance though from Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma. Grealish will also be wanting to atone for his own blunder that cost them a goal last weekend.
Prediction: 2 – 1 Aston Villa