Three things Aston Villa fans learnt from defeat to West Ham

Add as preferred source on Google

There is just over a week to go until the start of the 2018-19 Championship season and Aston Villa still have a lot to sort.

The future of Steve Bruce is now secure, as reported by BBC Sport, but the experienced boss has work to do before travelling to play Hull City on the opening weekend.

In the latest pre-season friendly against West Ham on Wednesday evening, Aston Villa were defeated comfortably following goals from Michail Antonio, Marko Arnautovic and Robert Snodgrass – with Andre Green netting a late consolation.

Here is three things Villa fans can take from the defeat.

Andre Green needs to be the main man

Things did not go Aston Villa’s way during the defeat to West Ham but one major positive came in the form of substitute Andre Green, who replaced Jack Grealish in the second half and proved to be a thorn in the side of the Hammers defence.

The 20-year-old laid down a marker with a fierce strike that whistled into the top corner of the net and there is a void in the attack to fill following the sale of Lewis Grabban to Nottingham Forest – and they do not need to dip into the market to get him.

With one goal in five appearances for Villa’s first-team last season, the 2018-19 campaign can be the platform for Green to build upon after suffering from injury issues last term that limited his playing opportunities.

Snodgrass deal looks dead

Robert Snodgrass was handed a lifeline by Aston Villa last season after being deemed surplus to requirements by former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, with the Scotland international impressing during his time at Villa Park.

Speculation of a permanent switch has gone on for months but any chance of that happening now certainly looks to be dead in the water, with Football.London reporting the 30-year-old has impressed Manuel Pellegrini in training – and has reaped the rewards as a result, playing a pivotal role in the Hammers’ pre-season campaign thus far.

Scoring the third goal against Villa on Wednesday could therefore prove to be the final nail in the coffin for any slim hope fans had left of bringing Snodgrass back to the second-tier before the window closes.

“Listen, it’s great first and foremost to come back and see them, but I’m a West Ham player. I’ve loved my time here when I’ve been involved and playing, but obviously last year I went out and played games and bonded with the Aston Villa fans, staff and players and everyone around the city, so I appreciate them for that.”

– Snodgrass discusses playing against his former team-mates.

Kodjia should be offloaded

The Ivory Coast international endured a turbulent campaign last year, spending a large chunk sidelined through injury and then struggling for form upon his return – with Jonathan Kodjia failing to score in each of his last ten Championship appearances.

In his debut campaign, Kodjia scored 19 goals for Villa and hit the ground running but his performances since, including in the defeat to West Ham, suggest that he has declined significantly following his long-term injury.

Villa would be taking a risk if they enter the season relying on the 28-year-old and, with finances very limited, selling Kodjia should certainly be considered.