I was surprised by Unai Emery's decision in the summer - Aston Villa need two signings
Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock says he was left surprised by the decision made in the summer to replace the outgoing Douglas Luiz with Everton import Amadou Onana - and the pundit believes that Villa ought to make a couple of additions during this January transfer window.
Warnock, who made over 100 appearances for Villa between 2009 and 2012, has kept an eye on the fortunes of his former club from afar this term; they currently sit in eighth with nine wins from their 20 Premier League games, but they remain only four points off the top four places. Simultaneously, they are well placed to advance to the next round of the Champions League, too.
The summer window presented their own unique challenges; Villa were forced into a sale to comply with PSR, and Luiz - now at Serie A giants Juventus - was sacrificed in order to ensure the books were balanced. Villa brought in Onana for a club record fee and he has been regularly involved domestically and in Europe this season. For Warnock, though, he has shared his own reservations about the business conducted.
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"Inconsistency will be Unai Emery’s biggest frustration," Warnock told Spin Bet. "There have been games where they have been absolutely brilliant and then there has been other games where I have thought that is not the Villa team you are used to under Unai Emery. I have been surprised perhaps in the summer he didn’t buy another right back alongside Matty Cash just to be able to rotate a little bit more.
"Perhaps he thought Ezri Konsa was going to be that player he could rotate with. I’m surprised he hasn’t used Ian Maatsen more and given Lucas Digne a bit of a rest as well. Where Villa have struggled, is that midfield area. I don’t think Amadou Onana is the player everyone makes him out to be. He’s a big physical player but I don’t think he brings that same quality on the ball as Douglas Luiz has.
"Losing Douglas Luiz, he was able to control games in midfield. I think Youri Tielemans is a good player, but he is suited to playing higher up the pitch because athletically, I don’t think he can play that holding midfield position, I think he gets a little bit exposed in that position. With Kamara coming back into full fitness, once he has another few games, we are going to see him back to his best which is a huge bonus.
"Leon Bailey has not performed and been anywhere near the level he was at last season. Losing Diaby was a huge loss as well because he was bringing that pace and directness onto the pitch, and it was a good foil for Olly Watkins. I don’t think they realise the type of loss he will be.
"Unai Emery has also had the issue of Olly Watkins and Jhon Duran that he didn’t foresee where Duran has hit such great form and is probably frustrated that he is not starting and has put a lot of pressure on Watkins who may have thought he was the main man, and he’s suffered a little from that.
"He's obviously had a lot of changes at the back too, in the centre back positions. With Matty Cash being injured and Konsa stepping in with Diego Carlos coming into the back line and Tyrone Mings not getting that look in, so he’s frustrated as well. It’s been a bit of inconsistency as well."
With the January window now open, Warnock hopes to see his former side active and believes that Villa require another central midfield option to complement the existing personnel, as well as further cover across the back-line, pinpointing right-back beyond Matty Cash.
"They need to go into the market and a central midfielder who can control those games alongside Kamara," Warnock added. "Douglas Luiz isn’t getting a look in at Juventus so whether he comes back and would be happy I’m not so sure. I think Unai Emery put all of his eggs in one basket with Amadou Onana and spent a lot of money on him.
"I watched him a lot at Everton and thought he wasn’t the type of player Villa needed. I wonder if they need another defender whether that’s a right back or centre back for cover and that might strengthen them."
