Birkir Bjaranason says he was played out of position during Aston Villa spell

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Aston Villa midfielder Birkir Bjarnason says that he was played out of position during the first part of his time at Villa Park, which stopped fans seeing the best of him.

The Icelandic 31-year-old was signed by Steve Bruce in 2017 and stayed in the West Midlands until last summer but feels the now Newcastle boss didn’t use him right.

Speaking to Under a Gas Lit Lamp, he said: “At Villa at least, I enjoyed the holding role more – I’m a midfielder, not a winger. In the beginning, I played, in my opinion, a lot out of the role or position that I am – which is a bit of a shame. When I finally was moved centrally, I felt better, and that I could show my quality more.”

TBR’s View – Bjarnason’s words offer a glimpse into Bruce’s muddled thinking at Villa

Steve Bruce had a tough job at Villa but made it tougher with muddled thinking, a poor transfer policy and a failure to implement a clear style of play.

Misusing a player you’ve signed in such a way either suggests that he wasn’t scouted and researched thoroughly enough or that Bruce lacked the tactical nous to use him effectively.