• last year
A look at the new boys at Villa Park.

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Sports
Transcript
00:00 Charlie, in terms of Aston Villa, obviously we've mentioned an unbelievable season, one
00:05 of their best in the top flight for a number of years. In terms of their signings, who
00:11 came into the club and who's benefited them, whether that be over the last couple of summers
00:15 or in terms of improvement under Unai Emery, for example, obviously we've seen the likes
00:20 of John McGinn, not a new signing but he's almost playing like a new signing this season,
00:25 how fantastic he was. Who stands out in that area of players who have just been fantastic
00:33 for Villa and obviously quite a newer face at the club?
00:37 I think Leon Bailey in that argument of not new signing but feels like one could also
00:41 be in that conversation. In terms of actual new signings, I think the main man fee-wise,
00:48 £52m, the big marquee signing was Moussa Diaby, I don't think he's lived up to that
00:53 price tag. As much as he's got quite a few goals and assists this season, especially
00:57 in the Europa Conference League, I don't think he's quite been the player that Villa fans
01:01 were expecting. He's been quite inconsistent and in some matches his decision-making just
01:05 hasn't been good enough. A little bit like Bailey was actually when he first joined,
01:09 so maybe there's hope that Diaby can eventually settle and become that player that they want
01:13 him to be. But Paul Torres stepping into defence, just over £30m he was signed for and he's
01:19 been world-class from the moment he arrived really. It sometimes takes these players from
01:24 the likes of La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Liga, to come to the Premier League it takes
01:28 him a bit of time to adjust but you can just see his experience, the fact he's already
01:32 a European, continental player, just steps into that left-hand side of defence. It's
01:37 the way Unai Emery wants to play as well, having that centre-back who can drift out
01:40 to left-back if you need and pass out from the back. It's been so, so impressive. I know
01:44 he's had the odd shaky performance here and there and his positioning maybe showed a lot
01:49 to be desired against Brentford in particular as they unlocked Villa's defence with some
01:53 low crossing but I think in terms of that consistent force he can become that with a
01:58 bit more time and for the fee as well, £30m to get a world-class defender, you can't
02:03 exactly go wrong with that. An honourable mention goes to Morgan Rodgers who joined
02:07 in the winter. He's already got three goals and assists in 11 Premier League matches,
02:12 played a lot in the Conference League as well and has been that player who can either
02:16 drive through to centre with the ball using his physicality or can go out on the left.
02:20 He can probably play in that second striker role alongside Ollie Watkins as well. Just
02:24 £15m it will be altogether, £8m initially from Middlesbrough. A player who came through
02:29 at West Bromwich Albion and went to Manchester City. I think both of those clubs will now
02:33 be regretting the fact he's at Villa because he's looking like a potential England player
02:37 in the future. It wasn't for lack of Cole Palmer breaking through as well. I think we
02:40 could see Morgan Rodgers in an England shirt pretty soon because for Villa he's solved
02:44 a lot of problems, especially when Jacob Ramsey's been out. I think he's got a big future for
02:48 United Emirates too.

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