Aston Villa fans will agree that the three centre back system used in the 1st half against Newcastle United was an unmitigated disaster.
None of the defenders looked comfortable with or without the ball and Newcastle’s full-backs got down the side of the pitch time and again. I’m not quite sure how Villa were not more than one down at HT.
Change was needed if Villa were to salvage anything from the match and that change was in the formation. Aaron Tshibola came on for Nathan Baker and a 4-3-3 was adopted. I think there is more balance with 3 in the CM areas especially and Tshibola looked energetic and scored an equalizer that Villa ultimately deserved after producing a front-foot approach with 20/25 minutes to play.
This was a point earned after a poor 60 minutes in which Newcastle should have been out of sight. It was nice to have the shoe on the other foot for a change.
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Di Matteo needs to play this system on a more consistent basis if these draws are to turn into wins. Tshibola needs to start as he offered more than Westwood and Gardner have so far this year.
A special mention should go for Jonathan Kodjia who operated in an unfamiliar right-sided wing role and worked tremendously hard for the team, displaying great strength, pace and determination for the good of the team.
I’m sure he would much prefer to be up front and scoring goals but his selflessness is to be admired and I think all Villa fans would agree with me in saying that he has been among the most impressive of signings made this summer.
Jordan Amavi is another who has come back into the side in recent weeks and is beginning to look like his old-self after a horror 9-10 months out with injury
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