Aston Villa players power rankings: October’s winners and losers

Aston Villa fans have given their player ratings throughout October and our power rankings have identified a surprise Player of the Month.

Villa hit form with wins against Feyenoord in the Europa League and Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City in the Premier League, and your Villa player ratings reflected a much improved month on the pitch.

Assembling October’s AVF Power Rankings was a rather more pleasant experience than their September equivalent because Villa, suddenly, are back to mostly being pretty good.

The process is simple: each month, we’ll be taking an average of your post-match player ratings (scored out of 10) for the matches played in that month and ranking the players based upon those averages.

Here’s October.

1 | Marco Bizot (8.2)

Our official Aston Villa Player of the Month is, er, Marco Bizot. Now, while Bizot’s performance against Feyenoord was quite magnificent, averaging his ratings over a single match exposes a flaw in the system I was hoping might take longer to uncover. We’ll deal with that at the end of the season.

2 | Ezri Konsa (7.9)

There’s no such caveat when it comes to Ezri Konsa, who’s been fantastic all month and not just for Villa. England have a serious centre-back on their hands and I’d be pairing him with Marc Guéhi at next summer’s World Cup without hesitation.

3 | Lucas Digne (7.3)

Lucas Digne is one of a handful of Villa players who took a while to get the joints oiled early in the season. Because of his age, the conclusion drawn by some supporters erred towards the fatalistic. The Villa left-back produced a mighty October.

4 | Boubacar Kamara (7.1)

Midfielder Boubacar Kamara has been reliably excellent throughout the month, like he is in every other month because he’s just reliably excellent all the time.

5 | Matty Cash (7.0)

Another month, another round of applause for right-back Matty Cash. The Poland international scored another goal and kept some of the Premier League’s best wingers quiet and has barely put a foot wrong yet again. Bravo, Mateusz.

=6 | John McGinn (6.8)

Villa’s captain John McGinn was also in the goals and led by example in some must-win matches against very challenging opposition. Villa simply aren’t the same team without him, which gives Unai Emery some puzzles to solve in the weeks to come.

=6 | Morgan Rogers (6.8)

It’s been a difficult season for Morgan Rogers but some top performances for England seemed to boost his confidence and he gradually returned to form for Villa too. A brilliant goal at Spurs was followed by a more recognisable display against Man City last weekend.

8 | Pau Torres (6.6)

Villa’s Spanish centre-back was drafted in when Tyrone Mings was injured and has been doing us proud alongside Konsa. Pau Torres is in some of the most complete form of his Villa career and it’s showing in the team’s tactics.

9 | Lamare Bogarde (6.4)

Lamare Bogarde wouldn’t be named in the team if Villa had every player available but he’s been called upon several times this season and looks better and better every time he takes to the field. Let’s forget versatility – Bogarde is a midfielder.

=10 | Donyell Malen (6.3)

Two cracking goals from Donyell Malen going into the October international break capped a very decent performance, notably with striker Ollie Watkins on the pitch at the same time. His best role doesn’t fit perfectly in this Villa team but this is a player who can contribute.

=10 | Emi Buendía (6.3)

Emi Buendía has made his presence felt. He’s scoring goals and working his socks off. His attitude is absolutely spotless and he deserves every bit of our respect for fighting back after he appeared destined to leave. Here’s hoping his injury isn’t too serious.

=10 | Emiliano Martínez (6.3)

Losing to Go Ahead Eagles didn’t do anyone any favours but conceding two goals probably knocked a point off Villa’s goalkeeper this month. Across the whole piece, I think he’s been in very good nick indeed.

=10 | Harvey Elliott (6.3)

The Harvey Elliott situation is increasingly difficult to read and he’ll miss at least the first match of November, in which Villa will face his parent club.

=14 | Amadou Onana (6.2)

Of all the players who featured for Villa in October, Amadou Onana might be the one with the biggest difference between his lowest and highest match ratings. He was incredible against Manchester City. More please.

=14 | Ross Barkley (6.2)

Midfielder Ross Barkley is back on the teamsheet and showing his experience and abilities in substitute appearances when Villa have needed him most – a welcome return and by no means a timid one.

16 | Jadon Sancho (6.1)

For all the back and forth on Jadon Sancho in the media this week, he’s barely back from illness after a disrupted pre-season and is showing positive signs when he’s on the pitch. I don’t feel ready to call this loan either way.

17 | Ollie Watkins (5.8)

Perhaps Villa’s most out of form player, Ollie Watkins hasn’t yet rediscovered the sharpness that’s returned to most of his teammates. But Watkins being Watkins, he’s giving everything for his teammates and having a big impact without scoring. He’ll be back.

=18 | Ian Maatsen (5.5)

Ian Maatsen has dug deep off the bench on a couple of occasions to help Villa hold on to leads this month but lost his man and played him onside for the second Go Ahead Eagles goal on a night that damaged his prospects of unseating Digne.

=18 | Evann Guessand (5.5)

It’s clear that there are aspects of Evann Guessand’s game and appetite that Emery likes a lot and I do too. It’s also clear that he’s not the finished article, and is vulnerable to competition for places when Villa are at full strength.

20 | Victor Lindelöf (4.5)

If you played against Go Ahead Eagles and very little otherwise…

21 | Tyrone Mings (4.0)

…your player ratings have suffered.

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