Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor reacts
Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor reacts to Champions League ticket price increases on talkSPORT (Image: Screenshot: YouTube: talkSPORT)
Aston Villa legend Gabriel Agbonlahor has delivered a savage review of the club's wingers and 'predictable' play style ahead of the the Villan's clash with Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Speaking on TalkSport, Villa's all time Premier League top goalscorer had lots to say about the club's recent form and called out wingers Leon Bailey and Jaden Philogene in the process.
"We are too predictable," Agbonlahor said. "You know how we’re going to play."
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Jamaican international Bailey has been subject of discussing in past weeks due to the drastic drop off in form from last season. The winger bagged 14 goals and 14 assists in all competitions last season, cementing his place in the Villa side and fighting off competition from former wide man Moussa Diaby.
However, the 27-year-old is still yet to score so far this season, picking up just three assists since the campaign began.
"Leon Bailey will get the ball [and] he’ll cut inside," Agbonlahor continued.
"He doesn’t take anyone out on the outside. He hasn’t got the pace to beat someone. He’s been disappointing from his form from last season. He signed a new contract; he had Diaby pushing him who we sold in the summer.
"He looks like he’s lost a yard. He looks like he hasn’t got the confidence to take a player on. Last season he was flying past players and scoring screamers. This season his confidence is low and if his confidence is low, Philogene’s not a good enough player to come on for him at this level."
22-year-old Philogene re-signed for Unai Emery's side in the summer after a year in the Championship will Hull City where he was one of their brightest performers. He has come into the Villa squad as a backup the more senior attacking players, but has started three games this campaign and performed well when called upon.
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Still young, he will continue to develop but has not yet shown the output and consistency to be a key man for the Lions.
"I feel that Philogene is a young lad with talent, but I don’t think he’s ready yet to be that player that Aston Villa need to come on for Leon Bailey," Agbonlahor admitted honestly. "I’ve not seen Philogene beat a player yet in a Villa shirt. This might be harsh for a young player, but I’ve got to be truthful; maybe he can get better.
"We’re crying out for some more wingers in January... I don’t think we’ve got enough options on the wing."
Despite only conceding once in the Champions League this season, the 1-0 loss to Club Brugge being the only goal against, Villa have been open at the back in the Premier League, shipping 19 goals which is the most out of the clubs in the top half of the table.
Agbonlahor, who officially retired from football in March 2019, also urged Emery to change things in order to avoid letting in more goals.
"When you become predictable, you have to show something different and I’m hoping that’s what the manager will start to do because we are [predictable]," the 38-year-old pundit stressed.
"We can’t defend. We’re very open; Diego Carlos has been poor when he’s played. We’ve been unlucky with Ezri Konsa getting injured."
Villa let in another two goals in their most recent game against Crystal Palace on Saturday and, with Juventus coming to town on Wednesday evening, will need to re-tighten their defence if they want to turn their fortunes around in the run up to the Christmas period.
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