Carla Ward should tinker her Aston Villa Women attack and drop Alisha Lehmann to the bench
The performances of Alisha Lehmann have been overshadowed by the heroics of her Aston Villa teammates this season, and it is time the attacker is taken out of the firing line against Everton.
Carla Ward’s attack has clicked into gear this season, thanks mainly to the summer additions of Rachel Daly and Kenza Dali, with the Villans scoring 23 goals from just 13 Women’s Super League games.
However, despite Villa’s attack looking fluent and destructive at times, Swiss international Lehmann has netted just the solitary goal and one assist in the league this season despite being a mainstay on the right wing in Ward’s attack.
When compared to her attacking counterparts, Lehmann’s goal contribution output isn’t anywhere near where it needs to be.
Summer loanee Kirsty Hanson has netted three goals and five assists from the left side of Villa’s front three, while Dali has already notched up six assists alone from midfield in the WSL.
Although Lehmann is undoubtedly one of Villa’s most important attackers, as proven after picking up Aston Villa Women’s Supporters’ Player of the Season last May, she hasn’t quite hit the heights supporters know are possible.
The problem for the 24-year-old is that she is struggling to get into goal-scoring positions. Having been deployed wide on the right wing all season long, she can sometimes drift through matches without making any telling contributions when compared to the impact of Hanson on the left flank.
Lehmann’s total of 18 shots in 20 appearances this term is well below the numbers of her fellow attackers, with Rachel Daly taking 67 shots, Dali notching up 33, and Hanson having a pop at goal on 28 occasions. [BBC Sport]
On top of this, the attacker has only managed to record a total of 0.13 Goals per 90, which is the lowest of any Aston Villa attacker all season.
With Ward’s side taking on direct rivals Everton on Sunday (5 March), Ward should look to tinker her front line and use Lehmann as an impact sub from the bench.
The likes of Laura Blindkilde Brown and Freya Gregory are waiting in the wings for the chance to shine in attack, and Ward must grant them this opportunity against the Toffees.
In other Aston Villa news, one of the club’s rising stars can end a barren academy run going back to Jack Grealish.