‘I’ve noticed this about Aston Villa players after seeing them in London – it doesn’t look right’
Aston Villa’s poor start to the season is one of the biggest stories of the campaign.
Unai Emery is under pressure as manager, with his team without a win in the Premier League after five games until their 3-1 win over Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
Villa very narrowly missed out on Champions League football last season, but have looked nowhere near that level to start this season.
Some Villa players have been criticised for their attitude, with many fans already fed up with what they’ve seen on the pitch.
Les Ferdinand says ‘something doesn’t feel right’ at Aston Villa
Villa’s summer recruitment in the transfer market has been heavily criticised, with many feeling the right players weren’t bought or sold.
They look like a completely different team from last season, which has not gone unnoticed by many.
Speaking ahead of their game against Fulham on Sky Sports, Les Ferdinand gave his thoughts on the situation at Villa Park.
He said: “It looks like, at the moment, the players don’t look happy. I went to watch them play Brentford in the Carabao Cup, just to see what was going on.
“The body language on the pitch, from what they were last year, to where they are this year, something just doesn’t feel right.”
Ferdinand also singled out two players who have not performed and need to get back into form.
He added: “Ollie Watkins hasn’t been scoring, and there was the situation where he could have gone to Arsenal last year, the team he supported as a boy, that was blocked.
“Morgan Rogers has come into some stick from the fans, but those are the things you’ve got to get on with.”
Watkins and Rogers have both been singled out for criticism and many fans are wondering whether they both should have left during the summer.
However the duo both played a role in Villa’s victory over Fulham with Watkins finding the net and Rogers offering an assist for Emi Buendia’s effort.
Aston Villa should have cashed in on Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers
Watkins and Emery have had their differences since last season, and it clearly has affected his play, with his goal drought now up to nine games.
Rogers has also looked like a completely different player, following links of a £100 million transfer in the summer.
- Villa signed Watkins from Brentford for £28 million in 2020.
- Rogers joined from Middlesbrough for a fee potentially rising to £15 million
- The pair combined for 31 goals in the Premier League last season.
Villa may have missed their opportunity to sell their two assets at the highest price, and if the poor form continues, Watkins and Rogers may end up staying for the long haul.
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