Fabian Delph is the latest Villa player to reach 10 appearances this season. So likewise with Ron Vlaar and El Ahmadi, I’ve decided to review the young midfielders performance’s this year by looking at his stats and giving a personal reflection on why this is Delph’s best season to date at Aston Villa. Delph has appeared in 10 games and has played 870 minutes of football, the most of any midfielder. He has gone on to score 1 goal in the League Cup and has received 4 yellow cards (3 league, 1 cup).
I’ll be using ‘Whoscored’ to analysis Delph’s stats. Delph currently maintains an average score of 7.48, this is the 15th best score in the Premier League and 8th best midfield score. Delph is also Villa’s best player according to ‘Whoscored’. He is only beaten by the top midfielders in the League and the nearest midfielder is Lucas (7.54) and behind him, Mile Jedinak who has a score of 7.45.
Delph is a strong tackler, he has committed the second most tackles in Villa (3.7 per game) and he also has a low foul rate (1.3 per game). In defence Delph quickly impresses, he currently has the second most interception rate (2.3) and is only beaten by Baker. The young midfielder has also blocked the most shots from midfield (2). In attack Delph is the most fouled Aston Villa player (3.1) and is currently the Premier League’s third most fouled player (only behind to Sessegnon and Januzaj). This gives Aston Villa a good opportunity to score from set pieces. Additionally, Delph is very good at dribbling he has the highest successful dribbles stat (2.9 per game) in Aston Villa and also has the highest average passes stat (48 per game).
As a midfielder Delph has struggled to be creative, he is yet to make an assist and has only produced 7 key passes (8th best at Villa). Opposition players tend to have an easy time dribbling past Delph (has been dribbled past an average of 1.2 times per game [3rd highest at Villa]). But one of the biggest issues with Delph may possibly be his discipline, as he has accumulated the highest amount of yellow cards (4) at Villa.
Overall, I’ve been impressed with Delph so far this season. I’m not surprised he is the 8th best midfielder in the Premier League right now because he has offered a lot to the team, especially defensively. I also admire that he is very vocal on the pitch, he commands his area well and often helps out left-back Luna. I’m also under the impression that he is loyal to Villa and plays his heart out every game, this I appreciate a lot in a footballer. The only thing I seek from Delph is to try to create more from midfield. I want to see him in more advanced positions. Additionally, I’d love to see Delph get his first League goal for Aston Villa sooner, rather than later.
You can see the pro in Delf the guy is a worker on the pitch, his tackles are strong to say the least, said in previous post going to get a red card soon, why covering other players mistakes and keen to win, only one fault not a creative enough player yet, he will one day soon, he’s the only one I would say worth keeping for the future, them stat’s are to me bang on to what that player is all about , one for the Villa to keep and not surprised at your findings Adam2231.
Discipline is an issue for him, but it has been throughout his entire career so that may take a while to improve.
But your right, creativity is the next step for Delph and it’s sometimes amazing how stats really do break down a player and give you vital information
I think Delph has been hampered not only by injuries but also managers, because the funny thing is when he was at Leeds he was a creative goal scoring midfielder, obviously that was in league 1 but weather it be league 1 or the prem the goal is in the same place, the fact is he is played too deep, very rarely will you see him in a shooting position and when he does do one of his great dribbles up the field fans complain that he doesn’t make that final ball, well i ask you to look at who is supporting him! Probably 1 player at the most 2, our whole team should move forward with him but it just doesn’t happen leaving him with 1 option for a pass that is normally sniffed out by the opposition, if we get better players to play with Delph in midfield like a proper DM and AM then i believe we will truly see the best of Delph.UTV
Kerryvillan, its what I’m getting at good midfield protentinal player, but he needs others to work with him, up till now I don’t see another midfield helper of his abilities, time will tell.
Why does delph have to create more. Why can he not be a defensive midfield. I would put money on it that if he was told to just focus on winning the ball back and pass back or to some space he would find himself creating more without realising it. Not every player on the pitch has to create and score. He could actualy be a vital defensive midfielder we have craved for so long. The reason we want to see him score and create is because he is very flairy and can take a man on no problem. Id like to see delph sat back more, winning the ball back and getting villa out of potential goal threat before it makes its way to the defence. Let bacuna and el ahamdi push up the pitch and focus of creating.
I must admit I am still not a big Delph fan, but I am cuffed to bits he’s found some form this season. Hopefully he can stay fit, push on, and prove me wrong.
I recently read online not only Luna, but Bennett as well will be out for the West Ham game this weekend. Now I fancy Lambert to play Baker at LB again, but is there an argument to be made for Delph to fill in at LB given his ability to be a better attacking threat? Something we desperately missed when Luna came off last weekend.
Marvin only problem with that is Delph is our best midfielder..
I would play Clark LB and we all pray he suddenly becomes great there..
Would def play Sylla in the middle along side Delph..
A bit of perspective is always nice.
Sam Allardyce:
What have you made of Aston Villa’s start to the season?
SA: “I think they’ve had a very difficult start so I think the points they’ve gained was a bonus for them, particularly winning at Arsenal away. I think Paul will probably be a bit disappointed recently with the points that he’s gained from the teams they’ve played and he has our problem of failing to secure enough points at home. It looks like it’s the case for a few teams at the moment, Swansea have only won one in ten at home and Sunderland, before beating Newcastle, have struggled to win at home. There’s quite a few teams in the Barclays Premier League who are suffering similarly to ourselves and finding it difficult to get the points at home so it shows that tactically teams are setting out a defensive wall and it becomes very difficult to find open spaces that can be exploited. Away teams are picking up results that way and it’s a difficult scenario for us to contend with and make sure it doesn’t happen to us anymore.”
UTV
So why don’t we just play on the counter attack at home. The amount of possession teams have against us at vp Shoukd be perfect for us to counter attack them. Also every team wev played at vp has had a go at us and not sat back so no excuses.
Lol we do play counter at home mate but we dont play through midfield well enough to execute it. Thats why we resort to hoof ball.
Both are equally bad tactics when playing at home.
Look at mourinhos home record at all of his clubs. Regardless of players/money hes had and regardless of the opposition NEVER plays that way at home. Its no cooincedence mate trust me.
So how come we play well enough in midfield to execute it away ?
That’s exactly the question I ask myself everyday mate, it’s just plain bizarre
Delph has had the unhappy position of being a close second to my least favourite Villa player ever – Ireland. Sylla or El Ahmadi should be helping Westwood. Push Bacuna forward to the wing and somebody put Lowton back on that pitch!
I agree with this entirely mate. Hes not anywhere near my least favorite player though.
Oh dear, Abonglahor out of the game tomorrow, that’s put the cat amongst the pigeons, now what’s he going to do,.
Dosnt Matter he rarely scores anyway though his pace is useful on the counter.
Doesn’t really matter bill we cant score anyway with or without gabby were crap in the mail today talk of extending lamberk contract I say no no no no no no way get rid same bullshit tomorrow mark my words
Just like that muppet Lerner to extend his contract.
Villa1996.. who would you want us to get in?
Jurgen klopp lion heart but that fantasy in realty de matteo with david platt as assistance
Its OK , Ian Taylor said not to panic till May,