As Aston Villa did their best to unravel the Go Ahead Eagles defense in search of an equalizer in the Europa League, one player in particular remained conspicuously unused.
Villa signed attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott on transfer deadline day from Liverpool. The deal contains an obligation to buy clause, which at the time seemed to be met so easily by a number of performances that it amounted to a permanent signing.
Elliott squeezed in Villa’s first goal of the season but has barely played since. Manager Unai Emery has selected Evann Guessand, John McGinn and Donyell Malen in the position where Elliott should play and the 22-year-old has been on the outside looking in.
Even with Villa playing poorly and showing weaknesses that seem to suit his strengths, Elliott must be incredibly patient at his new club. Emery has also said this, citing the specific nature of his tactical structure as something the player must learn.
Emery’s comments about Elliott ranged from candid to harsh. Other signings have taken a long time to crack Villa’s first team, but this flawed team is creatively lacking and Elliott hasn’t had much of a chance to showcase the qualities that made him an attractive signing in the first place.
Jacob Tanswell van The Athletics reports that Villa’s backroom staff are impressed with Elliott despite a lack of meaningful game time.
“He can take criticism and channel it appropriately,” Tanswell writes.
“Elliott has impressed the Villa staff with his attitude and commitment, which reflects the meticulous professional standards of the Emery coaching staff.
“The clash is mainly on the stylistic side and acclimatizing to Villa’s methods. He is not the first signing to struggle with this initially, especially as a midfielder.”
Why isn’t Harvey Elliott playing?
Tanswell acknowledges Elliott and Villa have work to do to come together at a tactical level. He notes that players in Elliott’s position are crucial in Villa’s setup as they like to attack through the middle.
In a team built to exploit his position, Elliott is expected to be steeped in the minute details behind Emery’s structured attacking approach.
Yet it is a frustrating scenario for many Villa supporters.
Elliott was rightly identified as a talented, energetic and astute attacking addition to the squad, offering not only the promise of an immediate antidote to Villa’s problems against solid defensive teams, but also an element of rawness and unpredictability.
These can be positive and effective traits, but methodical managers don’t always want to let their wild card players do their own thing, especially when they’re still young.
Elliott has played 167 minutes in all competitions for Villa so far. With the exception of the Carabao Cup tie against Brentford, he has yet to play more than 45 minutes in a match.
#Liverpool #loanee #Harvey #Elliott #wins #fans #Aston #Villa #isnt #playing