Aston Villa have undertaken a mesmerising rise over the past year, with the sacking of Steven Gerrard leading to the Unai Emery era. Here is a look back at the line-up a year ago today.
Villa a year ago were a stark contract from today. No European football and languishing just above the relegation places.
Following the arrival of Unai Emery, as we know well, fortunes changed quite drastically.
A seventh place finish secured Conference League football and now we find ourselves fifth heading into the international break.
Here is a look back at the Aston Villa line up one year ago today…
Aston Villa XI – 10th October 2022
A year ago today saw Villa face Nottingham Forest away from home. The two sides were well matched and ended up drawing the match 1-1.
But how did Villa’s XI look?
In goal, nothing has changed as Emi Martinez started something unlikely to change anytime soon.
Matty Cash was the right-back along with the now departed Ashley Young who was left-back.
The two centre-halves were Tyrone Mings and the improved Ezri Konsa.
John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey started in central midfield, a different role to where they currently feature.
But the one consistent in midfield was Douglas Luiz.
Philippe Coutinho and Emi Buendia started on either flank, with both not currently in the team. Coutinho is in Qatar while Buendia recovers from his injury problems.
Ollie Watkins was the striker, something only changed by his elevated performances.
XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.
