VILLA PARK - When Aston Villa closed the January transfer window with five international players of pedigree coming into the squad, we Villans were excited to see what manager Unai Emery would do with his new toys.
Fine. Sunday's fourth round FA cup victory, 2-1, over a Totenham side slagged by injury, wasn't the "big game" that you were thinking of when you clicked on this article. But it was a super Sunday for proper football fans from Birmingham, England, and world-wide. Villa have been grinding out their domestic season, sitting 8th in both the Champion's League and the English Premier League and as they have now progressed further in the FA Cup than in recent memory. Still, their performance seems underwhelming, probably a result of having to compete on these three fronts. Clearly their upstart squad from 2023-24 is suffering from S.S.S.
Sudden Success Syndrome occurs when a sports side suddenly elevates its play to a great degree, surprising opponenets and rocketing to unknown heights. When adding the Champion's League games to the schedule, suddenly your players get leggy. Fatigue ultimately brings them down. Injuries begin creeping in and piling up as their sudden success becomes a lodestone. So when Villa sold Jhon Duran, their stunning young stud striker, to the Saudi pro league for $60-80 million (depending on what currency you're using), the January transfer window provided a welcome vaccine for S.S.S. Injected into the lineup like a world beating anti-biotic were Andres Garcia and Marco Asensio (Spain), Axel Disasi (France), Donyell Malen (Ned.), and the cherry on top, Marcus Rashford (England). All of whom bring the potential of cutting edge class to a Villa squad that had been running on fumes. For those of you who don't understand the nature of these signings, adding Rashford is a bit like adding a Tom Brady not yet past his prime to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Villa scored in the first minute of play when Morgan Rogers burned rubber through the heart of the Spurs' midfield and played in Jacob Ramsey from the left who knuckled one right at and through Spurs' keeper Antonin Kinsky. That was super, but what was more fun was how Villa's new blood performed. Malen started up top for Ollie Watkins and Garcia started at right back for Matty Cash, both of whom have suffered from over-use and injury. Both were bright, Malen showing hustle and quickness and good decisions on the ball, and Garcia keeping the likes of Son Heung-Min and Mathys Tell quiet consistently while also showing guile going forward.
The build-up to the second goal was buttery. Villa nicked the ball under pressure, delicately, from Bogarde to McGinn to Tielemans near the midfield stripe. Tielemans found Malen in space going at the center of the retreating back line. Malen dished to Bailey 12 yards out on the right and peeled a c-run around him to get the ball down low. Malen then fizzed it across goal where Spurs defenders could do naught but leave the ball sitting for a Morgan Rogers toe-poke.
There was a moment where Spurs managed to tighten up the middle, mostly because they brought on Yves Bissouma, who was on the bench for the first half God only knows why. But the life Spurs showed was fleeting. The introduction of Rashford in the #9 role and Ascensio in the #10 raised the temperature inside Villa Park and you could feel it even across the Atlantic through an ESPN feed. Both played well, Ascensio probably better with Rashford showing a bit of rust. Even so, Villa now have attacking options all over the front line and midfield, each of whom can play multiple roles, which should give opponents a lot to prepare for. With all of this potential, Leon Bailey played like his pants were on fire for the first time this season. The Incredible Scottish Bum of John McGinn played in his best position, in the right side holding midfield where on an inside half-turn he's always keen to pick out a pass to set somebody free. And with Konsa off early, Lamare Bogarde played nicely and quietly on the right side center half. Spurs got one back in the first minute of stoppage where Kulusevski whipped one across from the right outside the box that Tel one touched in on the outside of his right boot, but it was far too little and way too late. No telling who Villa will get in Round 5 of the FA Cup, but they have a clear path to winning their first trophy since the invention of bubble gum. No telling who their opponent will be in the knockout stages of the Champions' League either, but the chances of advancing are decent. Upcoming in the Prem are three home games against Ipswich, Liverpool (circle this one) and Chelsea where the Villa could start stacking points. Malen and Garcia, both of whom were left out of the Champion's Leage squad, but both of whom Villa have under contract, played well and look part of the future going forward. Rashford, on loan from Man U, and Ascensio, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, have a lot to play for, with success at Villa likely to give their already storied careers yet more chapters ahead.
Imagine the Steelers getting five all-pro players right before the play-offs. That's kind of what it is like right now for the Claret and Blue. The Villa are playing for this year. And while nothing is a given, this sure was a super Sunday in Birmingham!
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