Aston Villa full-backs offer Dream Team managers extra attacking verve at affordable prices | The Sun

September 26, 2023

SO far this season, the average Premier League game features just over three goals.

That's a notable increase compared to the overall average (2.65) since the top flight was re-imagined in 1992.

With more managers embracing open-ended games and the new directive around time management resulting in long stoppage-time periods, clean sheets are proving ever more elusive.

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Consequently, there's plenty to be said for Dream Team managers selecting defenders who provide an additional attacking threat rather than those who primarily earn points through clean sheets.

Take Aston Villa's full-backs as an example.

Unai Emery's side have conceded ten league goals this campaign, only the bottom five sides have shipped more at this stage, and they also allowed Legia Warsaw to score three in their first Europa Conference League group game.

The Villains' high line means they are vulnerable at the back.

And yet Matty Cash (£2.8m) and Lucas Digne (£2.5m) are both among the top five defenders in Dream Team at the time of writing because of what they offer in attack.

The Poland international essentially plays as an auxiliary winger most of the time, as evidenced by the fact he's produced seven shots on target already this season.

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For comparison, Willy Boly (£2m) is the only other defender to have registered more than three.

Two of Cash's shots on target have resulted in goals and he can count himself unlucky not to have at least one more to his name, such has been his advanced threat across the first five and a half Gameweeks.

As for Digne, he's provided three assists (plus a goal of his own), a tally only matched by Kieran Trippier (£5.4m) and Pervis Estupinan (£3.4m) among defenders.

Alex Moreno (£2.5m) finished last season as Villa's first-choice left-back but the Spaniard's injury left the door open for his understudy at the start of this campaign and the Frenchman has largely impressed.

In form reminiscent of early Everton days, Digne has exhibited his crossing ability in the final third at any given opportunity.

In fact, Pedro Neto (£3.2m) and Trippier are the only players to have registered more accurate crosses at this juncture.

No player has enacted more interceptions than the 30-year-old full-back, a statistic that has helped him claim five bonus points – a decent haul for a defender.

It should be noted that Cash and Digne have contributed to two clean sheets but when minus points for goals conceded are factored in, it's clear that the pair's attacking attributes are reason they've thrived in Dream Team to date.

And they've offered plentiful returns at affordable prices too.

Both are currently available for under £3m, which represents excellent value considering they've combined for 77 points.

Aston Villa full-backs offer Dream Team managers extra attacking verve at affordable prices | The Sun

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