View: Aston Villa must build the attack around Leon Bailey
Aston Villa have been struggling all season when it comes to scoring goals, and that is the first issue that Unai Emery must solve to get them out of trouble.
So far this season Villa have managed just 16 goals in their 15 games in the Premier League, with nine of those coming since Steven Gerrard was sacked.
The team’s top goalscorer this season? Danny Ings, with five goals in 14 appearances, followed by Leon Bailey with three goals in and two assists in 14 appearances of his own.
The Jamaica international has been mightily impressive since joining Aston Villa, but those moments of brilliance have come in bursts rather than sustained periods of form.
Injuries haven’t helped him at all, but he seems to have been able to get over those issues this season and is now looking to fully adapt to life in England.
With Philippe Coutinho’s future at the club completely up in the air, with lots of chatter that he could even leave the club during the January transfer window, they are still looking for the next person to build the attack around.
Emi Buendia is a possible option, while Ings has shown his quality in front of goal since Emery’s arrival at the club.
However the Argentina international hasn’t really been able to hit the ground running since arriving at the club, and Ings is in his 30’s and only has 18 months remaining on his contract at the club with Ollie Watkins and Cameron Archer both at the club waiting in the wings.
Looking back at the history of all the players too, it’s clear that Bailey seems to be the best option for that.
During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, his form was sensational for years and that’s what convinced Aston Villa that he was one of the best options to replace Jack Grealish at Villa Park.
The year before joining he managed 15 goals and 11 assists in 40 appearances. That’s more than anyone not named Coutinho has managed in a season before in the attacking midfield positions.
At 25-years-old he is in the perfect phase of his career to step up and become the main man. He’s had that role before with Leverkusen and thrived in it, so we know it’s possible.
Give him the freedom to start in his favoured winger role and use his directness and pace to get the best out of those around him and the rest of the team.
Emery is the perfect manager to turn him into the player his ceiling could allow him to be, and now he must be given the platform to prove it.
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