One of the names to emerge for Aston Villa this season is academy star, Lamare Bogarde.
When the new Premier League season began, the feeling was that Aston Villa and Unai Emery were short in certain areas and central defence/right-back was one of those.
Tyrone Mings has been out of action for over a year, so it’s unfair to rely upon him as he makes his way back, with the England international now back in training.
Then there were reports that Aston Villa wanted to sell Diego Carlos, but nothing materialised and he stayed put, starting his first game of the season against Wolves in September – and making a glaring error.
There was also talk of Villa wanting to sign Lutsharel Geertruida, but he moved from Feyenoord to RB Leipzig instead towards the end of the window.
A bit like Bogarde, he can operate at right-back, as well as centre-back and is versatile to play in numerous roles.
You could argue that the Midlands side failing to land their targets, for one reason or another, has pushed Bogarde further up the pecking order in B6 and helped him earn more game time under Emery.
So much so that the 20-year-old was handed his first start away at Leicester City in August and it was a huge moment for the player.
Lamare Bogarde convincing Unai Emery in Aston Villa training and pre-season
It has been reported by The Athletic that Bogarde’s decision-making on the ball and building up under pressure was key to convincing Emery, even though he arrived late for the team’s pre-season tour of the United States.
The report further details how the Villa academy product had a ‘high level of courage in possession’, as he demonstrated in the tour matches, with his ability to also step into midfield also playing a part.
Remember, the young Dutchman has played several of his matches at right-back, despite hardly ever playing that role when coming up through the ranks.
He did start at the heart of the defence when Villa beat Wycombe in the League Cup in September, when he partnered fellow academy star, Sil Swinkels.
It is reported that Emery has ‘an eye on developing Bogarde at right-back’ and how his ‘reliable decision-making in possession and experience as a central defender would enable Villa to build in a back three with the ball’.
All in all, these seem to be exciting times ahead for the player.
Pressure on Matty Cash at Aston Villa
The bonafide right-back at the club is Matty Cash, but you sense he is under pressure and needs to start putting in consistent performances.
Cash returned from injury against Manchester United before the international break, but in recent times, he has found Ezri Konsa, not only playing at right-back but performing better than him.
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And now, whilst he has been away, Bogarde is coming through, with Serbian youngster Kosta Nedeljkovic also coming up.
Cash’s levels need to rise, or else, the Villa fans might not be the only ones whoo want him replaced.
