Boubacar Kamara did something remarkable for Aston Villa despite draw against Newcastle
Boubacar Kamara has made headlines for all the right reasons for Aston Villa.
Aston Villa drew their opening Premier League game against Newcastle United following a lacklustre team performance.
The Magpies took two points from the home team, which wasn’t the only thing they’d taken last week. Indeed, Jacob Ramsey made his long-awaited transfer to Newcastle after climbing through the academy system at Villa Park.
Villa are determined to make the top five this season after a disappointing end to the last. Unai Emery will be unsatisfied with his side’s performance last week, but Kamara may have softened the blow.
Kamara completes thirteen progressive passes against Newcastle
Villa were unable to recover against Newcastle after an Ezri Konsa red card saw them down to 10 men from the 66th minute.
This prevented the Villans from advancing into the attacking third as much as they would have originally planned. However, Kamara was a shining light for the Villans during the confrontation.
According to FBref on 9 August, Kamara completed thirteen progressive passes against Newcastle. This was the most of any player in game week one of the Premier League this season.
He surpasses Morgan Gibbs-White and Lucas Paqueta in second, who have recorded 11 for their respective clubs. Kamara was the only Villa player to make the top 10, which will be something for Emery to consider.
Kamara’s sensational stat against Newcastle hints at a new role
Kamara completing thirteen progressive passes against Newcastle is unusual for him.
His profile as a defensive midfielder is known more for his strong tackling and positional awareness. Kamara thrives in volatile conditions and can win back possession due to his excellent game reading.
| Statistic | Percentile |
| Progressive passeses | 53rd |
| Progressive carries | 37th |
| Successful take-ons | 45th |
He is not a playmaker or meastro on the ball. The midfielder is usually ineffective when distributing the ball and initiating attacks once possession is won. Last season, he was in the 53rd percentile for progressive passes and 37th for progressive carries.
With the departure of Ramsey, Emery could be keen to trust Kamara with more attacking responsibilities. While how this could manifest on the pitch remains to be seen, his recent performance against Newcastle provides a strong insight.
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