ASTON VILLA are set to compete in the Europa League this season having finished 6th in 2024/25.
While their fans will be disappointed to have missed out on Champions League football on goal difference, the Villains’ participation in the continent’s secondary competition should be a point of focus for Dream Team managers.
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The Europa League was a source of substantial points last season and given Tottenham and Manchester United reached the final despite glaring issues, Thursday nights could be very profitable for Unai Emery’s troops.
With that in mind, let’s analyse Villa’s top performers, smart selection and potential flops.
Top Performers
Morgan Rogers (£5.5m) was an absolute revelation last season.
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Having been a bit-part player the campaign before, the silky 22-year-old established himself as one Emery’s favourites and racked up 318 points via 14 goals and 16 assists.
A triple century of points last time out means he’s earned a high price tag – only four midfielders cost more ahead of Gameweek 1 – but he’s worthy of such a lofty status.
Rogers ranked fourth in his position last season and not far behind was Youri Tielemans (£5m) in tenth.
The underrated Belgium international ranked second for bonus points, made plenty of tackles, and chipped in with 15 goal involvements – he’s a real all-rounder.
Transfer speculation can’t be ignored but if Ollie Watkins (£5.5m) remains in claret and blue come the end of the summer then he will once again be a strong option in the world of Dream Team.
His minutes were a concern at times last season but at the end of the day he was one of just four strikers to achieve 300+ points – only Mohamed Salah (£7.5m), Erling Haaland (£7.5m) and Alexander Isak (£6.5m) boasted greater tallies.
17 goals and 15 assists represented an excellent return and the England forward could do some serious damage against certain Europa League opponents if given the opportunity.
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Smart Selections
Ezri Konsa (£4m) isn’t one of those defenders who rivals midfielders for goal involvements but he’s been a proven performer for a few years now.
Rarely rested or rotated, the England international collects his fair share of bonus points (ranked fifth among defenders last season) and regularly contributes to clean sheets (14 in 2024/25).
Konsa amassed 221 points last season, just four fewer than Marc Cucurella (£4.5m) who is currently the second-most popular defender in the game!
Matty Cash (£3.5m) was very much back in favour towards the end of last season and if he continues as first-choice right-back this term he might be a shrewd selection.
The Polish 27-year-old’s disciplinary record is a slight concern but he has attacking instincts and it really does feel like there’s potential value to be had backing Villa regulars this season.
Potential Flops
John McGinn (£4m) is a very fine footballer, as the Villa Park faithful will tell you, but it’s probably fair to say there are better options in his price range.
The Scottish midfielder averaged just 3.7 points-per-game last season, an underwhelming rate for a player who certainly was viable back in 2023/24.
Similarly, Leon Bailey (£3.5m) may have been a popular Dream Team option once upon a time (deservedly so) but it feels as if he’s regressed to a bit-part player at Villa Park.
The Jamaican winger may have to seek a challenge elsewhere if he’s to become a man of interest again.
Lastly, gaffers could easily come unstuck targeting Villa’s left-back this season.
Lucas Digne notched 200 points last campaign via seven assists and he was perhaps unlucky not to register more as he created 18 big chances, the most among all defenders.
The problem is that the Frenchman was forced to share his minutes with Ian Maatsen as the season progressed.
Healthy competition for places is a positive for Emery but Dream Team bosses dislike unpredictable starting line-ups.
It may be that a clear pecking order emerges once the action is underway but if Digne and Maatsen split duties then both will have limited appeal in Dream Team.
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