Statistics Overview
©IMAGO
Aston Villa’s recent 1-1 draw against newly-promoted Sunderland was the team’s fifth consecutive match without a victory in this season’s Premier League. This disappointing outcome followed draws against Newcastle and Everton, as well as losses to Brentford and Crystal Palace, leaving the Birmingham club positioned 18th in the league standings. While there’s been no outcry for Unai Emery’s dismissal yet, it appears changes within the club hierarchy are imminent.
Reported by The Athletic, Villa’s Director of Football, Monchi, is likely to leave his post after about two years at the club. While no specific timeline for his departure has been disclosed, it’s clear that both he and Emery have concluded that both on-field results and off-field operations haven’t lived up to expectations. This raises the question: How has Villa performed in player acquisitions and on the pitch under Monchi’s leadership?
Has Monchi Enhanced Aston Villa’s Squad?
Evaluating the success of a director of football often centers on the quality of the club’s squad. In Villa’s case, this assessment is complex. The total market value of Villa’s squad currently stands at €547 million, ranking ninth in the Premier League. However, since Monchi’s arrival, the increase in squad value has only been around €64 million. Alarmingly, 12 other clubs have experienced a more substantial rise in market value during this interval, with teams like Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham significantly outperforming Villa in this regard since Monchi took over.
Villa’s Financial Activity Under Monchi
The limited growth in the squad’s market value could largely be attributed to Villa’s transfer market activity. In terms of spending, Villa ranks 13th among English clubs with €356.2 million spent on new signings since Monchi’s arrival. This figure is not particularly impressive, as it falls behind clubs like West Ham (€433 million), Bournemouth (€403 million), and Wolves (€358 million). Furthermore, Villa’s net spend, calculated as transfer outlay minus profits, is a modest €10.7 million, positioning them 23rd in the Premier League’s spending ranks, below teams like Stoke City and Charlton Athletic.
The rationale behind Villa’s restrained spending may be linked to their hefty wage bill. According to The BBC, the club’s financial results in 2024 reveal that wages consumed 91% of their total revenue. In comparison, Tottenham’s wage bill was only 45%, while Manchester United and Arsenal were around 51%. This suggests that Villa has prioritized high wages for current players over investing in new talent, a strategy that, despite its drawbacks, may be somewhat justified by recent performances.
Aston Villa’s On-Field Progress Under Monchi
Having considered the financial metrics, it’s time to evaluate Villa’s actual performances on the pitch, where there’s some positive news for Monchi. Despite possessing the ninth most valuable squad in the Premier League and a net spend akin to many Championship teams over the last two seasons, Villa has accumulated 315 points from 213 matches since Monchi’s arrival in 2023. This return ranks them eighth in the league during this time, just shy of Newcastle and ahead of teams like Brighton and West Ham.
While this may not seem overly exciting for Villa fans, it’s notable that the club remains competitive with teams like Tottenham (336 points) and Manchester United (351), despite a significantly lower financial input and squad valuation. Whether this success is attributed to Emery’s managerial acumen or the quality of the squad he has at his disposal is up for debate, but given the quality of the players and the limited transfer spending, it’s evident that both Emery and Monchi have managed to keep Villa in contention for a top-half finish over the past two seasons, even if the current campaign hasn’t started favorably.
