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John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings for the season so far as four shine but improvement needed
Aston Villa have lost their last four matches in all competitions for the first time under Unai Emery, but will spend the November international break in the top eight of the Champions League and one point of third in the Premier League top four.
There has been a drop off in performance levels from last season, but there is no panic at Bodymoor Heath because Emery's side have suffered nothing more than a blip in form. A home clash against 18th-placed Crystal Palace awaits Villa after the break.
Apart from league leaders Liverpool, none of the 'big six' have shown consistency so far this season, which puts Villa in a position to prove their credentials to finish in the top four or five once again this season despite their recent poor run of results.
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Here are BirminghamLive's Villa player ratings* after 17 games of the campaign...
Emi Martinez - 7.5
Martinez, the best goalkeeper in the world, must be held to the highest standards because those are the levels he expects himself to perform at week in, week out. He was faultless in the win over Bayern, but should have done more to prevent a few goals which Villa conceded in the league against Ipswich, Arsenal and Everton. It goes without saying that Martinez is an outstanding goalkeeper and will play a crucial role in any success Villa enjoy this season and beyond.
Joe Gauci - N/A
Gauci made his Villa debut earlier this season in the win at Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup. He was minutes away from keeping a clean sheet before Richard Kone scored in the 95th minute. He then started against Crystal Palace in the fourth round.
Matty Cash - 6.5
Cash has made six appearances so far this season and played a total of 428 minutes due to a hamstring and calf injuries. He was solid in the win over West Ham and performed well against Manchester United before the international break. The right-back is yet to feature in the Champions League.
Lamare Bogarde - N/A
Bogarde replaced Cash in the starting XI for two games against Leicester and Everton and impressed considering he hadn't made a single appearance in top-flight football before this season. The 21-year-old has rarely ever featured at right-back in his professional career, but Emery believes he can play in that position after being impressed by the Dutch youth international in that role when Villa's went up against Cardiff City in a friendly not long after the Spaniard joined the club.
Kosta Nedeljkovic - N/A
Nedeljkovic's impressive performances in pre-season were a big positive over the summer, but he hasn't featured in Villa's last eight league games and Bogarde was preferred by Emery to start while Cash was sidelined. Diego Carlos then returned to the fold in the victory over Wolves and Ezri Konsa played from right-back in the following two games against Ipswich and United too. Nedeljkovic hasn't featured in the matchday squad for the last four league matches.
Diego Carlos - 5.5
Carlos came close to leaving Villa in the summer as the club looked to make adjustments to their defensive options. He, like the rest of his teammates, were excellent against Bayern, but the Brazilian struggled particularly at Portman Road as Ipswich had some joy against Villa's high line. After a summer of uncertainty and some injury issues at the start of the campaign, it's important Carlos can refocus and once again, play an important role under Emery this season. He has come under criticism by Villa supporters, but he still featured in 27 matches for Villa in a season where they finished fourth.
Ezri Konsa - 7.5
Konsa has been one of Villa's most consistent performers since Emery's appointment nearly two years ago, but the Spaniard still wants more from him. He has been deployed at centre-back and right-back at the start of the season.
Pau Torres - 7.5
Torres is a crucial element of this Villa side and is one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the Premier League. He will continue to be one of the first names on the team sheet because of his qualities in possession, however Villa have missed Mings' qualities too from a defensive perspective.
Tyrone Mings - N/A
Mings has put in two very encouraging performances against Palace and Brugge. He should have been more alert before making a bizarre error to pick the ball up inside the box at the Jan Breydel Stadium, but Mings has otherwise impressed on his return to action.
Lucas Digne - 8
Digne has kept Maatsen out of the side despite many assuming that the 31-year-old would lose his place following the £37.5m signing of the Dutch international. Digne has returned to the France national team given his strong performances under Emery in the last year. He has continued to impress at the start of this season.
Ian Maatsen - 6.5
Maatsen has only started four games so far this season, both matches in the Carabao Cup as well as the Champions League ties against Bologna and Brugge. He has featured in nine of the 11 league games Villa have played and particularly impressed in the comeback against Wolves, when he played the full second half.
Amadou Onana - 7.5
Onana hit the ground running in claret and blue, scoring in each of Villa's first three away games in all competitions. The Belgian still has plenty to learn under Emery, but it has been an impressive start from Onana.
Youri Tielemans - 8.5
Tielemans has been immense for Villa so far this season and has filled the hole left behind by Douglas Luiz. It's fair to say that Villa haven't felt the loss of Luiz just yet and given Tielemans' strong start this term, maybe they won't at all.
Boubacar Kamara - N/A
Kamara has made six appearances since returning from injury in the win over Bologna. The holding midfielder performs his role at a very high level and has impressed in the small number of matches he has played in.
John McGinn - 6
McGinn admitted that Emery told him that he has to increase his performance levels after the October international break. The Scot picked up a hamstring injury in the win over Wolves in September, but wasn't playing particularly poorly before then. But everyone knows just how well McGinn can compete and Emery wants to see more from his skipper.
Ross Barkley - 7.5
Barkley helped Villa turn the games around against Everton and Wolves. He came on for Onana in both matches and took control, helping Emery's side dominate in the opponent's half and therefore create more goalscoring opportunities. Villa missed Barkley in recent weeks after losing four on the spin without him.
Jaden Philogene - 5.5
Philogene has struggled with injuries at the start of the season, which meant he couldn't prove a point to Emery from the off. He was outstanding in the win over Bayern and showed a different side to his game in that historic victory.
Jacob Ramsey - 6.5
Ramsey lacked conviction in his game before picking up an injury against Bayern. He has bags of talent, but it's key he stays fit as the season unfolds after suffering a hamstring problem in the defeat at Anfield on Saturday. Ramsey was excellent against Fulham and in the first half at Liverpool.
Emi Buendia - N/A
Buendia has only featured four times in the Premier League after coming off the bench in four different games, but for no longer than seven minutes. He started both Carabao Cup matches and scored in the win at Wycombe.
Leon Bailey - 5.5
Bailey stunned for Villa last season and played a crucial role in their success. He managed to stay fit and recorded 19 goal contributions in the league. Bailey has made three assists in 15 matches in all competitions, but is yet to score and will be looking to build some form after the international break.
Morgan Rogers - 8
Rogers was bound to start well this season considering the promise he showed last term and also the strong pre-season he had. He opened his account against Ipswich, before scoring against Fulham and Tottenham too. If he can get his final ball right more often than not, then he could be unplayable.
Jhon Duran - 8.5
Duran has been a sensation at the start of the season, scoring eight goals in the first 17 matches. Three of the four goals he has bagged in the league have been winning goals and no player in Premier League history has scored more winners from off the bench than the Colombian ace.
Ollie Watkins - 7.5
Watkins scored five goals in five games from the win over Everton to the victory at Fulham. He had a slow start to the campaign after dealing with an injury issue, but had been among the goals before Villa's poor recent form.
*More than 400 minutes played to receive a rating
