Diego Carlos starts, Mings and Chambers dilemma - Aston Villa strongest back line next season
Latest Aston Villa news via BirminghamLive analyses the goalkeeping and defence department ahead of the new season which begins in August
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Steven Gerrard is known for his high-octane, all-in and attacking style of play but the head coach loves nothing more than a clean sheet. “It’s the base and foundations of positive results,” he’s often said.
The head coach has really improved the spine of Villa’s squad during the first few weeks of the summer and, in goal and at the back, he’s signed Robin Olsen and Diego Carlos on permanent deals. Boubacar Kamara will also be imperative to Villa’s defence next term given he’ll be a shoo-in to start in that imperative No.6 position ahead of Villa’s two centre-backs.
Here, BirminghamLive goes through each of the positions at the back from goalkeeper, centre-halves and full-backs and addresses who’s in pole position for the starting shirt come the opening day of the 2022/23 campaign which will begin in two months’ time.
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In goal, Emi Martinez will be No.1 for his third season at Villa Park. The 29-year-old kept 11 clean sheets last term - four fewer than the season before - but still had a relatively solid campaign. Martinez is a pillar of strength both on and off the pitch and he’ll have Olsen and Viljami Sinisalo in reserve. Jed Steer is currently out long-term with an Achilles injury while FA Youth Cup-winning stopper Filip Marschall is likely to head out on loan again. Lovre Kalinic - who still has 12 months left on his current contract - is expected to be sold.
To right-back now and, again, regular starter Matty Cash will look to pick up from where he left off last season after being named supporters’ player of the year. Cash will be lining up against Martinez in Group C of this winter’s World Cup with the pair hopeful of a successful first three months prior to jetting off to Qatar. In terms of options at right-back, it’s understood that Kaine Kesler Hayden will step up to become a first-team player next season and should get some game time in the early rounds of the Carabao Cup. Kesler Hayden, who turns 20 in October, really impressed Gerrard and his staff in training sessions either side of his successful loan spells at Swindon and MK Dons. Frederic Guilbert, who enjoyed a successful loan spell in France last term, is another who's expected to depart permanently.
Moving into the heart of Villa’s defence and given the hype that surrounded the £26million deal to bring in Diego Carlos from Sevilla, then the Brazilian will look to come in and be first pick at centre-back. It’ll then be a shoot-out between Tyrone Mings and Calum Chambers , with the latter possibly edging it given his man-of-the-match display at the Etihad on the final day of last season. Ezri Konsa will take a little time to get up to speed and it’s likely he’ll initially be given game time across the Carabao Cup, while Kortney Hause also remains in reserve.
Over at left-back and it’s a formality that Lucas Digne will be Villa’s No.1 choice for the season ahead. The Frenchman has been excellent at both ends of the pitch since his £25million move from Everton in January. Villa will, though, look to add competition in this area given the £15million sale of Matt Targett this week. Calvin Bassey remains high on Villa’s shortlist, while Ashley Young is yet to confirm whether he’ll pen a new 12-month contract which has been offered to him by Gerrard and Villa. Ben Chrisene is another option at left-back with Gerrard a keen admirer of the 18-year-old.
What's YOUR strongest back line for next season? Let us know in the comments section below.
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