The 2022-23 season still promises so much for Aston Villa, as they could finish in the top half of the Premier League standings. Unai Emery would have likely preferred to bring extra reinforcements during the winter transfer window, but the signings of Alex Moreno and Jhou Duran do certainly cover potential troublesome areas of the field.
However, many fans have already began to speculate whether the goals could dry up in the second half of the season, with Danny Ings being allowed to leave the club.
Ings Departure A Risk
Aston Villa’s decision to allow Danny Ings to depart for West Ham in January raised eye-brows. Ings had been the club’s top scorer up until his departure, as the forward had netted seven goals in 21 games; two more than both Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins. Ings showed his quality in the first game of 2023, as he scored a late equaliser against Wolves to earn Villa a point at home to their local rivals.
However, experts believed that Ings didn’t suit the style of play that Emery was looking to implement at Villa Park, despite the regular goals that he would record. The Villa were well-compensated for the transfer, as they were able to re-coup £12 million to allow the Englishman to move to East London. But, the sports betting data would have shown that Villa would have stood a better chance of a strong finish this term by keeping hold of the former Southampton striker.
Duran’s Arrival Plays A Part
Villa was willing to allow Ings to depart after negotiations for Colombian striker Jhou Duran were already at an advanced staged. The striker arrival at Villa Park was announced just three days after the former striker’s move to West Ham was confirmed. But at just 19, there is an element of risk that comes with the addition of Duran.
Duran was previously named among the 60 best young players in the world by The Guardian in 2020, and he looked a bright talent after swapping his homeland for Chicago Fire in 2022. The Colombian played 27 times in the MLS last season for Fire, scoring an impressive eight goals. But, if the Villa are to have any hope of a top-half finish this term, then they will likely need the 19-year-old to contribute immediately in the second half of the season.
Pressure On Watkins
It could be argued that Villa doesn’t actually have an out-and-out striker in their squad for the second half of the season. But, Ollie Watkins is likely the closest player that they have to a goalscorer. The striker has already scored four goals in the Premier League this term, and has contributed four assists. However, there will be added pressure on Watkins in the second half of the season, as he will be the main focal point of the attack.
His best goal scoring campaign so far came in the 2020-21 season, as he needed 14 times in 37 games. Last term, he had a solid season once again with eleven goals in 35 games. But, he will likely need to eclipse both previous tallies to ensure Villa have a success final half to the season, given that only Leon Bailey, and Emiliano Buendia have chipped in with at least three goals so far this term.
