Ty Bracey Exclusive: Aston Villa need to find a way to use Emi Buendia and Philippe Coutinho together
We’re delighted to welcome Villa View host Ty Bracey as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Aston Villa have to get Philippe Coutinho and Emi Buendia to fit into the same system or the latter could grow frustrated feels Ty Bracey.
The Villans’ record signing from Norwich last summer has often been pushed to the bench since the surprise arrival of the Brazilian star from Barcelona, with the pair of number 10s rarely starting in the same line-up and often replacing each other in-game.
It was the same again for the win over Everton at Villa Park at the weekend (13 August) with the former Liverpool man starting, but came off for the Argentine after an hour who went on to score the winning goal, but Bracey feels the manager has to develop a way to get the best out of both “dangerous” talents at once.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News he said: “I don’t think either of them will move on. I think we need to find a way to make them work in the same system because they are both incredible talents. I think it’s really important that they both feature for us because they’re both very dangerous.
“They’re both very dangerous players, they’re very good in their creativity, and they’re most definitely worthy of a spot in that team.
“But we need to see consistency in form. I don’t think Coutinho has moved to Villa on a permanent with the intention of being on the bench, but I also don’t think that Buendia has either.
“So I’d like to think that we can find a system that works with both of them in. I think that’s really important that we get them both working in the same starting XI.
“Because if we can make that gel then I think we’re going to see some really good performances. I’d like to think it’s not one or the other in the starting XI but we very rarely see them feature in the same XI on match-day.
“So I would like to see them both working together in the team and it not go horribly wrong.”
On the prospect of the Argentine growing frustrated with a second-string role, he said: “Definitely, it’s going to be one of those things where he is going to want to shine leading up to the World Cup. It’s probably a dream of every footballer to play in the World Cup for their home country, so I think it will definitely be frustrating for him but not even just because of the international stage, because he’s good enough to play in the Premier League.
“He’s definitely good enough to play for Aston Villa, and you can see that amongst the fans. The fans also want to see him play, he’s a fan-favourite.
“I just think it’s really important that we get them both working together, I really do.”
Buendia has given his manager a decision ahead of the next game, but simply swapping him into the starting line-up and putting Coutinho on the bench doesn’t feel like a viable long-term strategy.
Neither player will be content with a substitute role for long considering the status that each had upon their arrivals, and as neither has actually flopped it is hard to justify one consistently being a replacement option.
The chopping and changing likely doesn’t aid them in their form either, and the best return on investment would undoubtedly be to have both playing close to 90 minutes week-in week-out.
In other Aston Villa news, the absence of Tyrone Mings in the first game of the season highlighted a need for greater leadership from the rest of the team.