FPL

FPL team guides: Aston Villa – Best players, predicted line-up + more

Gameweek 1 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is drawing ever nearer and we’re profiling all 20 Premier League teams before the season starts.

The three newest additions to the Premier League, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Bournemouth, were all profiled in our Promoted series (articles that will be refreshed before the big kick-off), so we begin our team-by-team guides with Aston Villa.

It was a season of steady progress at Villa Park in 2021/22, with Aston Villa’s 14th-place finish not terrible given the loss of talisman and captain Jack Grealish (£7.0m) shortly before the campaign commenced, plus the change in management midway through.

With Steven Gerrard taking the reins in Gameweek 12, all of the team statistics featured here are from that point onwards.

LAST SEASON: ATTACK

MetricTotalRank v other Premier League teams
Goals387th=
Shots3359th
Shots in the box21610th
Shots on target1238th
Big chances4213th=
xG36.5512th

From Steven Gerrard’s arrival in Gameweek 12 onwards, Aston Villa ranked seventh overall for goals scored, with 38 in 27 matches.

The all-important underlying attacking statistics, meanwhile, paint the picture of a mid-table Premier League side, which feels okay given that the most expensive FPL option for Villa costs £7.5m.

LAST SEASON: DEFENCE

MetricTotalRank v other Premier League teams
Goals conceded348th
Clean sheets86th=
Shots conceded3175th=
Shots in the box conceded2046th=
Shots on target conceded995th=
Big chances conceded437th=
xGC37.358th

On inspection, Villa’s defence actually performed very well under Gerrard, suggesting their backline can offer value when the fixtures fall kindly in 2022/23.

The recent additions of defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara (£5.0m) and centre-half Diego Carlos (£5.0m) could potentially tighten them up further, too.

Gerrard often turned to Douglas Luiz (£5.0m) in the number six role last season, also experimenting with Calum Chambers (£4.5m) and Tim Iroegbunam (£4.5m), but French international Kamara feels like a significant upgrade, which could have a positive impact on Villa’s clean sheet potential.

OPENING FIXTURES

The best mid-price FPL forwards for 2022/23 5

In an appealing opening run, Aston Villa kick start the new season away to newly-promoted Bournemouth, then face Everton and Crystal Palace.

Beyond that, things stiffen up considerably.

In fact, Gerrard’s troops meet four of last season’s top eight between Gameweeks 4 and 7, which includes clashes against West Ham United, Arsenal, champions Manchester City and Leicester City.

However, Gameweek 8 looks like the ideal time to ‘hop on’ their assets, with fixtures against Southampton, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Brentford either side of Chelsea in Gameweek 11.

PREDICTED GAMEWEEK 1 LINE-UP

 

 1

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 1

Haaland Foden

1,792 Comments Post a Comment
  1. The Mighty Whites
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Thoughts?
    Meslier - Balcombe
    TAA - Cancelo - James - Trippier - N. Williams
    Salah - Luis Diaz - Rashford - Martinelli - Andreas
    Haaland - Jesus

    1. BrockLanders
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Looks good. Haaland a minutes risk though.

      1. No Professionals
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Minutes risk and the player most likely to go berserk this season

    2. Coast94
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Yep, looks good. Not sold on Martinelli, but limited choice in that range.

    3. Botman and Robben
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Lol, have the same team except keepers.

      1. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Great minds

    4. Sameobi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I know it’s a minor point, but if you’ve got Meslier, why isn’t your 4.0 enabling sub keeper also from Leeds? That way you’ve got (I think) Klaesen to step in immediately if there’s an injury

      1. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        I’ve got Greenwood as well, so being a Leeds fan I might want to bring in another player

        1. Sameobi
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Fair enough.

    5. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Someone else with Rashford. Nice. I have Dalot too, I suppose even his position may rotate with Wan B

      1. The Mighty Whites
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        I’m contemplating Dalot to be fair, seems a good shout

        1. jayzico
          • 13 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Certainly the most attacking option for that position

          1. Haa-lala-land
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Leicester full backs offer more at 4.5

    6. xHaTr
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I have a very similar team except I have Ederson and Neto insted of Meslier and Rashford

      I'm also considering Kane over Haaland as Kane is one of very few nailed on 90 minute premiums whilst Haaland is likely to have managed minutes throughout the season

  2. Coast94
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    I like the balance of this team. Feel like United assets are heavily underpriced?

    Meslier
    TAA, Cancelo, James, Dalot
    Salah, Diaz, Sancho, Neto
    Haaland, Jesus

    Klaesson, N Williams, Andreas, Archer

    1. teddy.
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Could be marvellous. Utd assets are underpriced for a reason though.

    2. jayzico
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      My worry is Dalot v WanB. I also have Dalot BTW

  3. Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Profiling each of the 20 teams in this depth is great but such a challenge given that you probably need to start this early to get them all done in time. Will the early ones like Villa here be updated if anything significant changes? Already the Bailey pick in first 11 looks a little doubtful.

  4. Sameobi
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Interesting breakdown, that. Villa are a puzzle.

    Coutinho is probably the closest they have to a talisman these days; I like Watkins, I love the idea of Bailey at 5M if he gets a run in the team and steers clear of injuries.

    Digne always lets me down despite underlying stats.

    A team for the watchlist, I reckon

  5. Nate(U)dog(ie)
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Busy day for PL teams. ManUtd v Villa, Brentford, Bournemouth, Brighton, Palace, Leicester (x2), Forest, Southampton, Spurs, West Ham and Wolves all playing today along with City at midnight, Chelsea v Arsenal at 1AM.

    1. Sameobi
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      And it’s the Cleator Cup in the Northern League: Ashington vs North Shields.

  6. No Professionals
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    Wow the pitch for the United villa game is a disgrace.

  7. teddy.
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 9 months ago

    I like Mings at 4.5

    1. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I think he’s pretty low down the list of 4.5s personally

    2. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      I’m my drafts for a long time but more because I couldn’t free the .5 for Cash/Digne

    3. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Digne & Cash look even better at 5.0. Essentially Gerrard's version of Robertson and TAA, not from a quality point view, but a systemic one.

      Cash almost scored as I typed this.

      1. Disputatious Dissident
        • 3 Years
        1 year, 9 months ago

        Kamara is the signing that unleashes them properly too.

  8. @persecuted_by_mods
      1 year, 9 months ago

      Fred clumsy, could have given a pen away

    • Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 9 months ago

      https://mobile.twitter.com/City_Xtra/status/1550736277603028992

      Brighton sources believe it's unlikely that City will match their valuation for Cucurella, and don't believe he's unsettled or unhappy and wants to move amid the speculation.

      Honestly I think given how close we are to the season starting and looking at how quickly (and early) City completed the Haaland and Phillips deals, I've been starting to doubt this was going to happen. Could be wrong of course but I think City tested the waters this week with a low bid and know there will be no budging and they'll move on.

      1. @persecuted_by_mods
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Yeah it does seem a strange one, it was definitely a low ball offer compared to how the market is, if Liverpool hadn't just got rid of mane I wonder whether city would be so confident in only have Cancelo and walker as fullbacks for the whole season with only Ake as back up? Unless there's a youth product or another signing waiting in the wings

          1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            That's the kicker, you'd think they'd really want someone in there given Zinchenko left but you get the feeling with Cucurella this may be like Grealish and Kane where it's a player he really wants as he thinks he's the perfect choice for his role so you'd wonder if they think it'll be too much this season will he want to hold off and go back again next time out. Look at what happened last season in the CL with Fernandinho playing RB, ended up costing them an important goal. But sometimes he seems to not mind having to find alternatives, given they had no striker for basically 2 seasons.

        • Paqueta Rice
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Walker looking good again

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Doesn't last the whole season these days though and that's with rotation and rest

              1. Paqueta Rice
                • 3 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                A 5m city defender might still be alright value if he gets the odd rotation. I still reckon they sign someone though, especially after Zinchenko leaving.

            • Stranger Mings
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              If city don’t sign anyone , will Walker be first choice ?

              1. Andy_Social
                • 11 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Could be until first wildcard

                1. Stranger Mings
                  • 3 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Really tempted to get Walker then over Dias to save 1m

              2. WVA
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Walker is first choice whatever when fit

                Walker Dias Laporte Cancelo

                1. Stranger Mings
                  • 3 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Thanks Walker could be a bargain then

                  1. Andy_Social
                    • 11 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    Careful, mind. If I start with him as my 3rd Cityzen, I can't go Kane > Haaland.

                    1. Stranger Mings
                      • 3 Years
                      1 year, 9 months ago

                      Oh I have only got hasland & Laporte so would be my Laporte replacement if Injured

                      1. Andy_Social
                        • 11 Years
                        1 year, 9 months ago

                        That would definitely work. Laporte is supposed to be a bit injured.

                  2. WVA
                    • 7 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    I'd rather Ederson if you can stretch

          2. WVA
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Phillips to vanish off the face of the earth? Forgot all about him.

            1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              I think he'll get decent gametime this season, provides them with a different option in midfield for a double-pivot to offset losing a bit of control by playing with a striker now, or (which I think is more likely) will allow Rodri to play more as a CM like Kante that will have more room to move about and try to win the ball higher up the pitch and attack more, he's already effectively been doing it for a while in certain games

        • No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Cash is fending Rashford off like he’s an 8 year old child

          1. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Haven't seen Rashford win a duel in over a year.

            1. No Professionals
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              He doesn’t go at him with any conviction

        • Paqueta Rice
          • 3 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Starting to think I should start with KDB instead of Haaland and make the move from Kane to Haaland if necessary gw2

        • Piggs Boson
          • 12 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          Really wish Maguire scored at that corner. Needs a good game to get the social media haters off his back.

          Hopefully 4 goals.

          1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            4 own goals?

          2. Haa-lala-land
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            When he did the cupping ears celebration to England fans after scoring Vs Albania though

        • FPL Virgin
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 7 Years
          1 year, 9 months ago

          How are the FFS writers going to cover 16 more teams between now and gameweek 1?

          1. @persecuted_by_mods
              1 year, 9 months ago

              13 whole days is ample time no?

            • Disputatious Dissident
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              By phoning in templated articles with little research. Simples

          2. JELLYFISH
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Villa are my team but I gotta be honest I don't fancy any of our players from a FPL perspective. The candidates:

            Bailey - I honestly don't think he will start, and will mainly plays cameos off the bench
            Digne/Cash - better picks elsewhere in the 5m def category
            Mings - better picks in the 4.5m and always got a mistake in him. If he starts badly then expect Chambers to come in (word is he and Carlos have looked good together in pre-season)
            Watkins - can't argue against his work effort but pre-season suggests its the same old Watkins that can't finish
            Ings - could be a shrewd pick if he starts, pre-season has been good
            Coutinho - hasn't wowed in pre-season, probably start off where he left off last season

            Watch out for:
            Archer - looked good in pre-season, the boy can finish, if he doesn't go out on loan could be a shrewd 4.5 fwd pick
            Olsen - again looked v solid in pre-season - he's currently my 4.0 keeper

            1. Disputatious Dissident
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Thing that annoys me is gerrard won't start his best player buendia alongside or instead of coutinho. He should be first name on the teamsheet and would be fpl gold

              1. JELLYFISH
                • 12 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Gerrard does sometimes play Coutinho and Buendia in behind Watkins/Ings, but agree Buendia's lack of appearances make him a turn off as a fpl prospect. He is a good impact player off the bench for us.....but he is better than that.

                1. Disputatious Dissident
                  • 3 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  He seemed to have given up on having both of them together and mentioned in a presser that they can't both fit iirc. Mental though buendia is class and performs better than coutinho when he plays.

              2. Piggs Boson
                • 12 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                He plays both Buendia and Coutinho in certain games. It's a tactical thing I think.

                It's stopping me going for Ings. I think he's quality.

                1. JELLYFISH
                  • 12 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  He's looked better than Watkins in pre-season

                  1. Piggs Boson
                    • 12 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    He's always looked better than Watkins to me, but I think managers like Watkins' pressing intensity.

                    1. Disputatious Dissident
                      • 3 Years
                      1 year, 9 months ago

                      Ings a much better player. Watkins a much better fit for the system.

            2. WVA
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Thanks, useful info

            3. Stranger Mings
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Can you see Olsen being no. 1 then?

              1. Paqueta Rice
                • 3 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Nope. Martinez is incredible, Olsen won’t play unless he is injured or it’s the cup

              2. JELLYFISH
                • 12 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                No, but decent cover for Martinez if he gets injured.

            4. FPL Brains
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 12 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Great info, thank you

            5. kroky
              • 13 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              What makes you think bailey won't start though ? He's quality when fit

          3. Emiliano Sala
            • 7 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Utd can’t attack well

            1. WVA
              • 7 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Rashford still rubbish

            2. Piggs Boson
              • 12 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Villa are a tough nut to crack. Their diamond makes controlling the midfield difficult. Forced wide.

          4. Paqueta Rice
            • 3 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Terrible pitch, someone is going to get injured

          5. R.C
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Which combo?

            1. Luis Diaz + Neco / Andreas / Dasilva (rotation)
            2. Rashford + Martinelli

          6. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            any decent links for the united game please?

            1. R.C
              • 6 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              MUTV

              1. mo 10 years on FFS? Join my…
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 14 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                any free links?

                1. Jock Grealish
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  I'm calling the cops

          7. R.C
            • 6 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Sancho goal
            Shaw assist

          8. Lingard’s Shin Guards
            • 5 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            sanchos gonna be a problem this season

            1. Nate(U)dog(ie)
              • 3 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              He's the only ManUtd asset I'd really consider if I had the funds. Realistically quite hard to find the space or funds for him. Unless I wanted to downgrade someone like Trippier to a 4m and I don't think that's worth the difference

              1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Yeah in a similar situation, would like sancho but not sure whether I can find the extra 1m

                Have rashy at the moment, but I'm hoping he'll have a good season too

            2. Jock Grealish
              • 2 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Based on a few friendlies? He was muck last season.

              1. Lingard’s Shin Guards
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                ten hag ball suits him. far better than ole's counter attacking and rangnick's shite

                1. Jock Grealish
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Maybe but want to see him in PL action first

          9. Piggs Boson
            • 12 Years
            1 year, 9 months ago

            Shaw is looking back to his best.

            Malacia did a Telles.

            1. @persecuted_by_mods
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Always performs best when he suddenly gets competition, opposite of Martial

              • WVA
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Haha not this again, fell for it last season!

              • Jock Grealish
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                1 assist ok

                1. Piggs Boson
                  • 12 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Not watching the game?

                  He's playing well.

                  1. Jock Grealish
                    • 2 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    And injury prone too

            2. Ninjaa
              • 13 Years
              1 year, 9 months ago

              Sancho for a 2 week gamble at 7.5m is a no brainer

              1. @persecuted_by_mods
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Oh it's a brainer

                • WVA
                  • 7 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Impossible to find the cash for him at that price

              2. FPL Brains
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • Has Moderation Rights
                • 12 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                I think, take Maguire out of this team and they look fairly comfortable.

                1. Jock Grealish
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  He's captain so won't be happening

                  1. FPL Brains
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • Has Moderation Rights
                    • 12 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    You can't be serious. There's enough club captains who aren't in the starting 11s

                    1. Jock Grealish
                      • 2 Years
                      1 year, 9 months ago

                      ETH might get him back to his old self

                      1. FPL Brains
                        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                        • Has Moderation Rights
                        • 12 Years
                        1 year, 9 months ago

                        Maybe

                2. Piggs Boson
                  • 12 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  He's looked good so far, 2nd game in a row. There's a top player in there.

              3. WVA
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                OMG Sancho essential

                1. Jock Grealish
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Nunez rinse repeat

              4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
                • 7 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                How many players do you have under 10% ownership? I’ve got Meslier (3.0%), Dalot (3.1%), Zinchenko (3.6%) Walker (5.4%), Mahrez (5.9%), Maddison (6.0%) and Martial (6.1%)

                All the rest are above 20% ownership

                1. Andy_Social
                  • 11 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Dalot
                  Doherty
                  Zinchenko
                  Lingard

                2. Disputatious Dissident
                  • 3 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Sterling maddison justin wilson ait nouri da silva

              5. Grande Tubarão
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Come on Utd lol

              6. Zimo
                • 5 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                Alisson and Martial
                Or
                Meslier and Diaz

              7. Paqueta Rice
                • 3 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                McGinn is one dirty footballer

                1. Jock Grealish
                  • 2 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Yellow card magnet

              8. Walter White (WW)
                • 2 Years
                1 year, 9 months ago

                I love Utd fans for only 1 reason, they are usually the most noisy bunch of fans during pre season but very calm & quiet during the season

                1. Stranger Mings
                  • 3 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Utd going to win the league - you heard it here first

                  1. Jock Grealish
                    • 2 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    And last.

                    1. Stranger Mings
                      • 3 Years
                      1 year, 9 months ago

                      Sorry just joking !! Think they will be 4/5th

                2. @persecuted_by_mods
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    I've never seen the calm and quiet part!

                  • Ady87
                    • 10 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    Well, this is just bollox isn’t it?

                  • Grande Tubarão
                    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                    • 2 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    Less and less of them all the time. They’re a dying breed

                3. Piggs Boson
                  • 12 Years
                  1 year, 9 months ago

                  Didn't know Ramsay had that much pace. Wow.

                  1. Jock Grealish
                    • 2 Years
                    1 year, 9 months ago

                    He's a fine talent

                  2. @persecuted_by_mods
                      1 year, 9 months ago

                      Quality player, still not an fpl option for me though compared to a Neto