Ty Bracey: Aston Villa need to pick players on form, Emi Buendia over Philippe Coutinho
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…
Emi Buendia may be better off the bench for Aston Villa but on form he deserves to be picked over Philippe Coutinho says Ty Bracey.
The Brazilian star hit the post in the goalless draw at Leeds on Sunday (2 October) but doesn’t have a goal or an assist at all this season, with his form emblematic of the struggles the club have had as a whole.
Bracey is still very pleased to have the former Barcelona player at the club but accepts that has Argentinian counterpart has shown more so far, and that Steven Gerrard needs to start picking players who are in the best form.
He exclusively told Villa News: “Every player has good games and bad games, and Coutinho on his good day is a substantial player to watch play football.
“I still feel we’re very fortunate to have him.
“However, when you have someone like Emi Buendia on the bench, raring to go…
“He is better off the bench I think, Buendia, he does well as an impact sub, but I think you’ve got to play your most in-form team, no matter who your mates are.
“I think it’s important that we choose players based on form, I really do.”
With Diego Carlos, Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne all out injured, Coutinho is the only one of the marquee signings that have been brought in since Gerrard arrived still standing.
At the moment he might be the least useful though, and his lack of output is all the more obvious when he is the only one with an obvious quality substitute for.
Buendia may not be overloading the stats sheet himself but if he is playing better and the manager’s former Liverpool teammate is still preferred it could lead to discontent in the squad, and certainly doesn’t incentivise the Brazilian to play better.
In other Aston Villa news, Alan Hutton is satisfied with the options available to plug the gaps in defence amid an injury crisis.