The Guardian - Dean Smith could have a full complement to pick from for the first time and needs to make the most of a more versatile squad
The last time Emi Buendía and Emi Martínez tried to play a football match things veered into darkest Charlie Chaplin territory, so it would be reckless to make many predictions about what will happen when the Argentinian duo return to Aston Villa on Saturday. What can be said for sure is that Dean Smith hopes the players are passed fit in the morning after flying from Croatia, where they have been training for the past 10 days while in quarantine after an international assignment that concluded with their being bundled off a pitch by furious Brazilian health marshals. And if Martínez and Buendía are deemed to be available for selection against Everton, then Villa’s post-Jack Grealish era can truly begin.
Earning £100m from the sale of the club’s best player does not necessarily make a team richer. Villa’s plan for progressing despite the loss of their chief conductor involved growing more versatile by deepening their squad and widening Smith’s options. Last season it was quite easy to anticipate Villa’s selections and formation. Not so this term, when they have mixed things up in every match, with Smith even introducing a back three for the trip last weekend to Chelsea, where his team performed well despite losing 3-0. Continue reading...