Unai Emery responds to a lack of Aston Villa goals, Damian Vidagany explains transfer process, and Maccabi Tel Aviv selection
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery(Image: Getty Images)
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Two wins at Villa Park this week would do very nicely before the November international break.
Aston Villa, having won six of their last seven, lost 2–0 at Liverpool on Saturday night - a result that ended their strong run of form. The Reds, meanwhile, had lost six of their previous seven before hosting Unai Emery’s side.
The game could have looked very different had Morgan Rogers’ strike curled in off the post rather than bounced back out, or if Emi Martínez hadn’t made the costly mistake that gifted Mo Salah the opener.
Despite the defeat at the home of the reigning champions, Villa remain firmly in contention for the European spots after the first quarter of the season.
Emery: Lack of goals a collective issue
Only three points separate Villa from the top four, with fourth-placed Bournemouth visiting B6 on Sunday.
The Cherries lost 3–1 at Manchester City and have won only one of their five away matches so far this season.
For Villa, however, it increasingly feels as though they need to keep a clean sheet to have a realistic chance of winning, given their lack of threat in the final third.
Only the bottom two sides, Nottingham Forest and Wolves, have scored fewer goals than Villa, while even West Ham have found the net more often after the first ten games.
Ollie Watkins has scored just once in 14 matches this campaign, and Villa have managed to score more than twice in a game on only one occasion.
After the defeat at Liverpool, I asked Emery whether he was concerned about his side’s lack of goals so far this season.
“Of course we need goals, but we hit two posts today, Cash and Morgan Rogers were close to scoring,” he responded.
“The goals are coming through our work and structure. It is not individually. We need collectively to get comfortable, create chances to score.
“Today we didn’t score, but the way we are doing and reacting after our poor start is getting us balance.”
Vidagany explains transfer process
Villa may look to the January transfer market to strengthen their attacking options, though Emery already has considerable depth at his disposal.
Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott both arrived on loan on deadline day, following the signing of Guessand from Nice.
Emi Buendia has proven his value in the opening months of the campaign, while Morgan Rogers and John McGinn remain regular starters.
Ollie Watkins, however, faces little competition as an out-and-out number nine, with Donyell Malen showing that his best role is playing off a central striker.
Youri Tielemans is set to return soon - but will he provide the creative spark Villa need to start scoring more freely?
Speaking to BBC West Midlands, Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, was asked who has the final say on incomings during a transfer window.
“It is Unai. There is one important thing. I am an executive, but I am not picking up the players.
“The players are picked by Unai and the president of football operations, who was before Monchi and now it is Roberto Olabe.
“He is a great professional and a great addition to Aston Villa. He hasn’t been in the headlines because Real Sociedad wasn’t one of the big names, but he did a great job there.
“He built a team at Sociedad with Merino, Isak, Zubimendi. He had a special eye for the development of the players. This is very important.
“With the work of the scouting department and the president of football operations, they suggest to Unai a list of players, and Unai can add to the list. Unai has the say.
“The numbers is where I am involved with the budget we have from the owners. This is more or less the process.”
Selection dilemmas for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Before attention turns to a tricky home game against Bournemouth, Villa host Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League.
For me, it’s a must-win if the club hopes to finish in the top two of the league phase table.
Victories in the final three home games against Maccabi, BSC Young Boys, and Salzburg are essential, alongside strong results at FC Basel and Fenerbahce.
Some rotation is expected for Thursday night, with Ian Maatsen and Lamare Bogarde likely to return to the starting XI.
Tyrone Mings’ injury means Pau Torres should continue at centre-back, and it will be interesting to see if Emery opts for Victor Lindelof over Ezri Konsa.
In attack, Donyell Malen needs game time, while Jadon Sancho may also start. If Harvey Elliott doesn’t play from the off, questions about his role moving forward are likely to persist.
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