This is a possible starting lineup for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa team when they visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the Premier League.
We’re continuing to progress this season, as evidenced by our seven wins from our first ten league games and our subsequent victories in Europe after we lost our first game.
However, Emery is never satisfied with the progress we’ve made thus far and keeps pushing his players to reach new heights in order to maintain our remarkable run.
Despite their recent poor performance, Forest will be eager to escape the relegation zone and avoid being forced into an early fight at the wrong end of the standings, so it won’t be an easy match. However, with the team’s talent, self-assurance, and belief, it’s hoped we’ll take all three points and return home with another victory.
Emery discovered a winning formula and stuck with it in Villa’s victory over Luton Town last weekend. Villa has been reliable with their starting lineup in the Premier League.
To beat our next opponents, though, could the Villa manager notice something different now that we’re back on the road and feel he needs to make some adjustments?
Will Diego Carlos start in place of Villa in a defensive shuffle?
If injuries and fitness allow, there’s a good case to be made for Villa sticking with the same starting lineup. Why alter a successful team? It’s unlikely, though, that Emery lives by that philosophy given how much he studies and prepares to create a winning strategy, and he will likely field a team he believes has the best chance of winning the next game.
Consequently, Diego Carlos might start in place of Nicolo Zaniolo in the starting lineup because the Spanish tactician has been known to start three centre halves in some of his away games this season.
With Carlos partnering Pau Torres in the middle and Ezri Konsa moving to right-back, we would be able to switch to a back-three when in possession and develop from the back with that extra defensive structure and solidity.
As a result, John McGinn would move to the left side and Matty Cash would assume a more advanced role on the right side.
Emery has already chosen to use this same lineup on away trips to Burnley and Wolves this season. Perhaps he believes that it provides us with a better balance on the road to maintain tight defence and lay the groundwork for our attacking players to go out and win the game. It appears to be effective because those two trips netted four points.
The Villa manager’s choices will become clear over time, but Alex Moreno’s return to the bench following his resumption of group training this week may be a welcome boost.
Although Lucas Digne has performed admirably thus far in this campaign, it may be too early for the Spaniard. Nevertheless, we must rotate going forward and get Moreno back into the mix.
Jhon Duran’s inclusion in the substitution list will also be of interest because he missed a game last weekend due to a toe infection, and we could use that different dynamic up top in case it’s needed.
