Aston Villa: ‘Anonymous’ Jhon Duran lets Unai Emery down with 0% display v West Ham
Unai Emery made the call to start two out-and-out strikers in the 1-1 Premier League draw between Aston Villa and West Ham but was let down by Jhon Duran’s performance.
Emery’s usual formation sees Ollie Watkins start as the main striker with a support player alongside him, typically Moussa Diaby or Youri Tielemans, and his experimental chance backfired immediately.
Duran has been subject to transfer interest from Chelsea in recent weeks, but if he continues to perform like that, the West London club may start to back off.
Birmingham Live journalist John Townley was speaking on the Claret & Blue Podcast [19 March] as he shared his view: “He was pretty anonymous. I like Duran, I think he’s going to have to be patient.
“I put it in my talking points after the game that kind of proves Emery that playing two strikers isn’t a plan.”
Jhon Duran flops in 0% Aston Villa performance v West Ham
As Emery decided to switch his tactics and lend Watkins more support up front, the expectation was on Duran to provide support for his partner as well as getting on the end of chances himself, but he was hooked after 45 minutes having made no impact.
Townley’s “anonymous” conclusion was supported by the fact the striker touched the ball just 13 times in 45 minutes displays how easy he was to mark out of the game, while just six passes completed shows his failure to link up with his strike partner. [Sofascore]
Those six passes completed came at a success rate of 75 per cent as he was sloppier than expected with the ball at his feet, also highlighted by his zero per cent dribble completion rate as he frequently lost the ball for Villa – losing possession on five occasions.
His success in duels was also a disappointment, winning just one of four attempted ground duels, drawing one foul, and the timing of his runs in behind also let his side down as he was caught offside when better timing may have handed them a chance on goal.
So much disappointment from just 45 minutes of football before Emery made the call to abandon his tactical change due to the anonymous forward will only come as further disappointment to the player who has failed to break into the team this season.
He must change something if he wants to succeed.
In other Aston Villa news, Emery could hand Cameron Archer a second chance.
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