OPINION
Steve Bruce has made a massive mistake by starting Mile Jedinak at centre-back for Aston Villa’s clash with Rotherham on Tuesday night.
Jedinak, 34, has been ever-present in the centre of Villa’s defence this season but the Australia international has been nowhere near good enough in that role and everyone can see that he should not be starting against the Yorkshire club.
Villa confirmed via their official Twitter account on Tuesday that despite Bruce making three changes, Jedinak is still set to partner James Chester in the heart of his defence.
Team news: Tonight's line-up to face @OfficialRUFC. Three changes from the weekend. #PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/UnKHlmCyH7
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 18, 2018
That team is almost perfect but just the fact that Jedinak starts – out of position – will undo a lot of good work and will probably see Villa concede at least one goal against Rotherham.
Even though Jedinak is naturally a midfielder, he has only completed around 70 per cent of passes in the Championship this season [WhoScored], when in comparison, his centre-back partner Chester has completed 87 per cent.
It is not like Bruce doesn’t have the options to replace Jedinak as well.
While he should never have let Tommy Elphick leave on loan last month, Axel Tuanzebe is a centre-back and rather than putting square pegs in round holes, wouldn’t it be better to play players in their natural roles?
Jedinak just doesn’t have the ability anymore to play in that position and Bruce could pay dearly for it against Rotherham.