Should we invest in Aston Villa?
Aston Villa were one of three teams who blanked in Gameweek 32. As a result the Villans have had a rest just ahead of the all important run-in. Aston Villa also have back-to-back Double Gameweeks in Gameweeks 36 and 37. We take a look at whether FPL managers should invest in Aston Villa and if so which players make the best picks.
With seven teams playing twice in Gameweek 33 and Villa blanking, FPL managers were happy to sell their Villa assets. However, Villa now have a nice run of fixtures which includes back-to-back Double Gameweeks should we now be prioritising bringing their assets in.
Fixtures
Villa have seven games left in the 2021/22 season. The two Double Gameweeks means that the Villa assets have the potential to play more minutes than many of the other players in the game. The fixtures leading up to the Double Gameweek also have potential for returns for the Villans.
Gameweek 35 opponents Norwich have conceded 63 goals this season, the second most in the League. Leicester, who Villa play in Gameweek 34, have conceded 48 goals tied seventh most across the Premier League. Meanwhile, Leicester have kept just five clean sheets and Norwich only six. This suggests plenty of potential for attacking returns from Villa assets.
Arguably, Villa’s Double Gameweek fixtures are some of the best, especially in Gameweek 37. They sit third on the fixture ticker for Gameweeks 36 and 37.
Best picks from Villa
Defensive options
Lucas Digne picking up a shoulder injury in Gameweek 32. As a result if FPL managers want to invest in the Villa defence they will likely be looking at Matty Cash or goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Cash has registered six attacking returns so far this season, only five defenders in the game have returned more than the Villa player. In addition of all the defenders only Chelsea’s Reece James has scored more goals than Cash’s three. Cash has also kept 11 clean sheets this season. Only defenders from the top five teams in the League have kept more than the Villa player. This suggests that Cash could be a great pick for the run in.
However, for FPL managers who already have a back five who they want to hold for the run-in, investing in the goalkeeper is a potential option. Martinez the most popular goalkeeper in the 2020/21 season, however his inflated price tag this season has been part of the reason that managers have looked elsewhere.
Martinez has kept nine clean sheets this season, only six goalkeepers have kept more. He has also registered 78 saves. Martinez is also in the top six goalkeepers for baseline bonus points, this suggests that if he keeps a clean sheet or gets a return he is likely to return additional bonus points.
Attacking options
There are a number of attractive attacking options in different price brackets and positions at Villa for FPL managers. For managers looking for a new forward Ollie Watkins could provide a good option. Watkins has had 57 attempts on goal this season, only five forwards have had more than this. Watkins’ eight goals is tied seventh amongst forwards more than the likes of Jimenez, Firmino and Lukaku. Watkins also has the added appeal of being on penalty duty for Villa.
In midfield FPL managers have a number of options available, however Philippe Coutinho and Jacob Ramsey are likely to be the most popular options.
Ramsey is the perfect budget enabler for the run in at just £4.8m. Ramsey has returned four double digit hauls over the course of the season, more than any other Villa player. His seven attacking returns is just one less than teammate Coutinho who costs an additional £2.4m.
With the exception of the forwards, Ramsey has the best expected goals (xG) tally for Villa across the season.
For FPL managers looking for a real differential pick from Villa John McGinn and and Emi Beundia lead the way for expected assists (xA).
Overall
Aston Villa have good fixtures as well as FPL assets who look like good options for the run-in. In the top 10k of FPL managers only Ramey and Coutinho are owned by more than 10% of the game.
This means that investing in Villa assets could be a good opportunity to invest in some differential picks with two Double Gameweeks and good fixtures. Investing in Matt Cash and one of the Villa midfield options would act as a real differential. Only 61 managers in the top 10k own both Ramsey and Cash.
Ahead of Gameweek 34 then looks like a good time to invest in Aston Villa.
Want to know more about what to expect from Gameweek 34? Check out our recent article.
