Aston Villa failed to get on the scoresheet yet again in the Premier League, being the only side who haven't put the ball in the back of the net this season after four games in the top-flight - and one glaring incident in their 0-0 draw against Everton on Saturday afternoon shows that Unai Emery simply hasn't been backed enough.
The Villans couldn't breach Everton's defence, with just one shot on target coming from Morgan Rogers midway through the first half, and there are worrying signs in the West Midlands. But it's an issue in other areas of the pitch which will undoubtedly be of massive concern for the Spanish boss going forward into the new campaign.
Report: Victor Lindelof Played in Central Midfield vs Everton
Victor Lindelof
Victor Lindelof
The report by The Athletic's Aston Villa correspondent, Jacob Tanswell, states that new signing Victor Lindelof was playing in central midfield towards the end of their clash at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Lindelof, who only arrived from United on transfer deadline day, is evidently a centre-back by trade, having made 284 appearances for United over an eight-year spell - but being thrust into the centre of the park to see out the draw against Everton has only highlighted the need for more support for Emery.
Villa remain in the bottom three, having failed to score in any of their four games so far this season, and they await their first win of the campaign, which could come next Sunday against Sunderland. Emery started Lamare Bogarde and Youri Tielemans in the centre on the banks of the River Mersey, though their central midfield options were limited on the bench, with Harvey Elliott being their best option, with the rest being made up of defenders and attackers.
Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana are all out of action with injuries, whilst Emiliano Buendia and John McGinn began the game out wide. Tielemans was subbed off for Evann Guessand at half-time, which led to McGinn going central. And, when Bogarde was substituted towards the end, that left Lindelof as the next-best option to come into the centre of the park.
Lindelof Introduction Shows Emery Hasn't Been Backed Enough
Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof in action
It's as clear a sign as any that Emery has been let down by Villa's owners, NSWE. Of course, they cannot attribute for injuries, but Lindelof - an injury-prone defender himself, who only featured in 16 games for a leaky United last season - should not be brought on for a side in Europe in midfield.
Jacob Ramsey and Leander Dendoncker being sold hasn't been the brightest idea, especially with PSR issues to contend with, but that is the nature of how Villa must do their dealings with the highest wage-to-turnover ratio in the division. A place in Europe already seems a long way off, having drawn against Newcastle United before being beaten by Brentford and Crystal Palace in the space of eight days.
Villa only signed Guessand, Lindelof, Marco Bizot and Elliott on permanent deals, whilst Jadon Sancho has joined on loan, but there are no out-and-out central midfielders on the incomings list and that would have helped Villa going forward.
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