OPINION
Aston Villa manager Dean Smith needs to ring in the changes for Saturday’s derby clash with West Bromwich Albion after Wednesday’s dismal showing against Brentford.
The Villans were well beaten by the Bees, and after that turgid display the Villa boss needs to be ruthless. Six changes should be enough to get the desired response from his players, and could end up leaving West Brom stunned.
Alan Hutton, Kortney Hause, Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane, Anwar El Ghazi and Albert Adomah all need to drop out, with Ahmed Elmohamady, Neil Taylor, Mile Jedinak, Birkir Bjarnason, Andre Green and Jonathan Kodjia replacing them.
Desperate times call from desperate measures and Wednesday’s performance was desperate in the extreme. Smith needs to ring the changes if he wants to get anything out of Saturday’s game.
Lovre Kalinic wasn’t at fault for the goal or the defeat against Brentford, he actually played pretty well. He must keep his place here. At full back, both Hutton and Hause disappointed immensely. Elmohamady and Taylor need to come in for them. Dean Smith told the Birmingham Mail that Taylor missed Wednesday’s game through illness, so hopefully he’ll be back here.
The two centre backs were one of the few players who didn’t fall well below par on Wednesday, and as such both Tommy Elphick and Tyrone Mings should continue on Saturday.
In holding midfield, Whelan did little to influence Wednesday’s game and should miss out as a consequence. Jedinak’s superior defensive nous will be important against the Baggies’ attacking talent. Hourihane was maybe the worst player on the pitch at Griffin Park – he must be dropped for Bjarnason. John McGinn deserves to keep his place, though.
Out wide, a drastic shake up is needed. Neither El Ghazi or Kodjia were up to much against the Bees, and so they should be replaced by the exciting Green and Kodjia. Further forward, Tammy Abraham is an absolute must-start at the tip of the Villa attack.
