One To Watch: Jonathan Kodjia

The second city derby is just days away and the excitement around the town is certainly increasing. I am seeing more and more blue scarves out and that is not just because the temperature is dropping as winter is approaching. The atmosphere definitely indicates that there is a build up and this is only going to increase considering how much is at stake for the game. It is the bragging rights that will last for months for whichever team can claim victory.

Steve Bruce’s major fall from grace has also added heat to the occassion, not that it needed any, as he has recently become the new Aston Villa manager despite being one of the best managers the blue side of the city has ever had. But sometimes we make bad decisions in life and here’s hoping that we can show him who really is the best team in Birmingham.

So this week, I have had the misfortune to try and analyse Villa’s season in order to come up with their stand out player. I must tell you all, and I am sure this will not come as a shock, but the player to watch this week will be a Villa defender. Despite their defence being the best players in terms of helping the Blues’ out, I have to look at who is their best player individually and despite their attack not being world beaters; they’re the best that this Villa side have to offer.

No doubt Rudy Gestede will cause us problems if he is anywhere near the pitch as he seems to always get his head to a hit and hope cross. I did see him play for Blackburn several times not just against us, but against other sides and he has got quality but he needs the service and he also needs to be off of the bench. Therefore this week, I have decided that Villa’s best player will be Jonathan Kodjia.

He is one of those players that will press high because he has the speed and stamina to put defences under pressure. Most defenders aren’t the most competent on the ball and therefore panic under pressure and this tactic will certainly be used against us. So we have to be calm on the ball and long balls may become a feature of the game as safety is paramount. Jonathan is a great finisher of the ball and often hits it low and hard into the corner. Therefore I hope Tom will be in goal as he is a better shot stopper than Adam and I think better aerially too so he can prevent quite a few crosses from reaching their intended target.

He is a handful due to his pace and therefore we cannot let him run at our back four. He needs to be slowed down and then that allows our midfield to track back with any runners and cut off any balls that Kodjia is trying to make. Overall, it is a derby so anything can happen and it is usually won by how many players don’t lose their heads but Kodjia is certainly their biggest threat and someone that we need to watch.