Aston Villa’s new summer signings gives the club the opportunity to be flexible with their formation, according to Express and Star journalist Luke Hatfield.
Villa switched between a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1 last season with the latter the most used, as that was how Villa setup on 28 occasions in all competitions, with 4-3-3 used 12 times. Dean Smith also moved to a 4-5-1 and 4-1-4-1 on one occasion each.
Smith may have lost Jack Grealish to Manchester City, but he moved to strengthen his squad this summer with Leon Bailey, Ashley Young, Axel Tuanzebe, Danny Ings and Emi Buendia all arriving at Villa Park, and with this Hatfield believes it gives Villa the chance to be flexible with their formation.
The reporter told This Is Futbol: “Now it gives them opportunities to be flexible with their formation, you might see two up top with Ings and Watkins working together, you might see a 4-3-3 with Ings and Watkins on left, but either way Villa have loads of options going forward now.”
Dean Smith will be hoping that his new recruits can help his side have another good season in the Premier League.
Villa finished the 2020/21 term strongly with successive wins against Tottenham and Chelsea, but they have started the new campaign by taking just four points from a possible nine, despite facing two of the newly-promoted clubs and Newcastle United.