Matty Cash has much to prove at Aston Villa in pre-season, or Unai Emery could push for upgrades
Aston Villa will be undergoing much change this summer with players potentially leaving and Matty Cash will be looking to prove his worth to Unai Emery or run the risk of being upgraded.
The Villains have been incredibly busy in the transfer market already, completing impressive and statement signings of Youri Tielemans and Villarreal defender Pau Torres – players expected to add quality and improve on what Emery already possesses.
The Spanish coach will be seeking upgrades in all areas of the pitch this summer, and one position now short of options right now is at right-back following Ashley Young’s departure in May.
It certainly remained to be seen whether Young would have the required legs to compete at the top level again for Emery next season, with Aston Villa now preparing for European football after qualifying through their seventh-placed finish in the league.
Now after the confirmation of Young’s departure from the West Midlands, plans will now be made on how Emery will look to replace Young’s quality and influence, but one man who will be pushing to impress the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-German coach during pre-season will indeed be Cash.
Cash has proven a crucial commodity in the Aston Villa side in recent seasons after some mature, assured and dominant performances at right-back since his move from Nottingham Forest in 2020.
The latter stages of the 2022/23 campaign have been something of an unfortunate struggle for the Polish international, suffering from injuries and a lack of form in which the last few games of the campaign presented him with the opportunity to show Emery he should retain his spot as first choice Aston Villa right-back, especially with European football now on the horizon.
The former Nottingham Forest man had established himself as a key and prominent figure in the team before his injury, registering 24 Premier League appearances, averaging two tackles, one interception, 1.4 blocks and 0.5 crosses per game [WhoScored], he also ranks in the 82nd percentile of full-backs within Europe’s top five leagues for tackles per 90 [FBRef].
Arguably his best performance of the campaign, came in the Premier League on 18 March when Villa picked up three easy points against Bournemouth by a 3-0 scoreline.
The Pole was superb in that game, picking up the fifth-best score of any player to take the pitch at 7.6/10, also registering 10 out of 13 ground duels won, successfully completing 88% of his passes, completing three of his four dribbles and registering three clearances [SofaScore].
After his injury, Cash did provide some cause for concern, especially looking ahead to the post-Young era. The Polish international laboured Brighton on the final day where he was given a yellow card for a rash challenge and also given the worst average score of any Aston Villa player at 6.4/10 [SofaScore], only recording two tackles, one interception, losing possession of the ball nine times, failing to win any of his aerial duels and successfully completing just 77% of his passes and failed to deliver any key pass or telling cross in attack.
On his day, Cash is an exceptional performer but those consistencies in his game have become a rare sight of late which will have given Emery some major cause for concern as he looks to reshape his squad in the upcoming window.
It’s clear the West Midlands outfit are desperately short of quality options at right full-back, which leaves Emery with a dilemma to make. Does he seek a potential understudy to the Pole or does he go for a player who could provide an instant upgrade in performance levels and quality? The latter could well provide Cash with the kick up the backside he needs to raise his performances and again and consistency.
Aston Villa can no longer afford slouches and passengers in the squad next season, as they face a new territory in quick turnover of matches, playing Europa Conference League matches on Thursday football and then a few days later on Sunday.
Players like Cash need to prove to Emery that they can adapt to such high demands and if the Pole fails to raise his game and fitness levels during pre-season, the Aston Villa boss will not only push for an upgrade in the market, but a player possessing the capabilities to instantly usurp Cash in the first eleven.
In other Aston Villa news, big-name signings are now on the cards after a behind-the-scenes arrival at Villa Park