Player Focus: Gana Offering Villa a Resilience Teammates Cannot Match

When Idrissa Gana signed for Aston Villa last summer, it's fair to say he didn't exactly endear himself to the fans following his comments upon arrival in the Midlands. “The most important thing was to come to England to improve and aim for a big club later.” The Senegal international was brought in as Fabian Delph’s replacement, to an extent at least, but Gana’s words did little to encourage the supporters following the departure of the former Villa favourite. 

Fast forward to the present day and there’s reason to suggest that Gana is one of very few players to deserve any recognition whatsoever in what has been a wholeheartedly disappointing season for Villa, to put it lightly. Just three wins all season have left the club rooted to the foot of the table, eight points from safety with 10 games to play. While there is a slim chance - if that - of Villa clambering out of the relegation zone by May, most feel the club is preparing for life in the Championship. 

The players appear to have given up, with the performers at Remi Garde’s disposal failing to have the desired effect in every section of the pitch. Of course, some have shown their ability to the watching world, with Jordan Amavi - prior to a season-ending knee injury - Jordan Ayew and Gana showcasing why they are all worthy of continuing to ply their trade among England’s best next season. 

Amavi was considered one of the brightest left-backs in the league before sustaining a season-ending injury on international duty, while Ayew has gone some way to vindicating the £8m Villa spent to secure his services from Lorient. The jury, though, is perhaps still out on Gana. After an excellent final campaign for Lille, for whom he gained a WhoScored rating of 7.41, big things were expected of the midfielder when he moved to Villa Park. 

However, many supporters remain on the fence over Gana. He certainly splits opinions. Some feel he’s lived up to expectations, while others have been underwhelmed by the summer arrival, with an inability to successfully retain possession a gripe. Yet, as relegation looms, Gana is perhaps showing just why the Villans sought his signature early in the summer transfer window. A WhoScored rating of 7.33 is behind only Amavi (7.48) of all Villa players in the Premier League this term. 

Indeed, Gana’s defensive contribution can’t be called into question. Only the hugely impressive N’Golo Kante (222) has made more tackles and interceptions combined in the Premier League this season than Gana (215). Only twice has the 10 tackles he produced in a single top-flight match at home to Everton on Tuesday night been bettered this campaign, with the Senegalese midfielder exerting his midfield dominance at times this season. 

The primary critique of his game, though, is that positionally Gana requires improvement, particularly if he is to cut it in the Premier League. While he has made just five fewer tackles (106) than Kante (111) this season, more often than not the Villa midfielder is covering for his own lack of positional sense. Carrying out such a crucial role in the team means the player in question must perform the duty to the highest standard, both physically and mentally. 

With Gana at times being caught out of position in such a key area, this often heaps further pressure on the Villa defence and with the lack of solidity already hindering their survival chances, it’s at such a detriment to the club. On the flip side, however, in a better team this would be unlikely to be exploited so regularly, with teammates better in tune with his movements able to help cover the space he leaves when he goes in pursuit of the ball. 

Furthermore, while his distribution has been a source of criticism from some quarters of the Villa fanbase, it’s perhaps unjust. Gana is playing more passes per game (56.2) than any other player at the club, while his pass success rate (85.1%) is one of the better returns for Garde’s side. Granted, he is not one to play a defence splitting pass, but ball retention is vital, particularly for a team that is vying to beat the drop. His gung-ho approach to tackling perhaps lets him down in this regard then, often commendably winning possession only to have a rush of blood and give it staight back to the opposition.

There is reason to believe that Gana is a midfielder who deserves to be playing higher up in the league and despite his critics, his performances suggests he is still capable of forging a career in England’s top tier. As the weeks countdown towards Villa’s inevitable relegation, Gana’s recent form suggests he warrants a place in the midfield of a Premier League side.

Do you think Idrissa Gana warrants a move to a Premier League team should Aston Villa drop into the Championship? Let us know in the comments below