Aston Villa's new-look attack has something we've been missing for years

One of the things I enjoyed most about Aston Villa's 6-0 victory over Fenerbahçe was watching the attacking players combine, because there was a pace and directness about the team that I don't think we've consistently had during the last few seasons. It's probably not something Villa have possessed since the Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young days.

We have been fortunate to watch some outstanding attacking football under Unai Emery, and Villa have found plenty of different ways to beat opponents during his time at the club, but I have regularly felt that we lacked genuine speed in certain areas of the pitch. There have been occasions where we have looked a little predictable in possession, particularly against teams who are happy to defend in numbers, and I think the changes made during the summer have given us some really exciting possibilities.

The front four against Fenerbahçe was particularly interesting, with Ibrahim Mbaye starting on the left, John McGinn operating from the right and Johan Manzambi playing behind Nicolas Jackson. It wasn't quite the arrangement I had anticipated before the game, but the balance of those players and the different qualities they possess made Villa a really difficult team to defend against.

Mbaye was one of the players I was most excited to watch, particularly after enjoying his cameo against Brentford, and he started the Fenerbahçe game brilliantly. There is a rawness to his game at times, which is completely understandable, but his ability to carry the ball at speed and force defenders to retreat gives Villa something we have been crying out for.

It's not simply about what he does when he has possession, either, because the threat of his pace changes the way opponents defend. When somebody can run at defenders like that, it creates space elsewhere on the pitch and allows other attacking players to find positions that might not otherwise be available.

I was impressed by his work without the ball as well, and he put in a tremendous shift defensively, which is important when you consider the responsibilities Emery places on his wide players. It was hardly surprising to see him struggling with cramp towards the end given how much running he had done.

Manzambi was another player who demonstrated why there is so much excitement about his potential, and it was brilliant to see him score his first goal at Villa Park. There was a fortunate deflection involved, but he earned that opportunity by getting himself into the right position, and the skill he showed to win the penalty was another reminder of the technical quality he possesses.

I thought he was excellent at finding little pockets of space between the lines, particularly when Mbaye was occupying defenders on the outside, and there were moments where his movement made him extremely difficult to pick up.

What I particularly enjoyed was the way the attacking players rotated throughout the game, because there was a period in the first half where Manzambi moved towards the left before coming closer to Jackson, almost operating as a second striker in a way that reminded me of how Moussa Diaby was sometimes used at Villa.

There is so much flexibility within that group, with Manzambi capable of playing in different attacking positions, McGinn able to operate across the three roles behind the striker and Mbaye offering similar versatility. Jackson can also drift into wider areas or drop deeper, which means defenders are constantly having to adjust to different players appearing in different spaces.

I think that unpredictability could become one of Villa's biggest strengths as these players develop an understanding of one another, because we now have the ability to hurt opponents through individual skill and speed as well as the more structured possession football that has been such an important part of Emery's approach.

There was a really nice balance to the team against Fenerbahçe, with Villa happy to move the ball patiently when required but also capable of accelerating through the gears when an opportunity appeared. We weren't simply relying on moments of individual brilliance, either, because the movement of the attacking players was creating opportunities for one another.

I know some supporters might think I am being a little harsh on Emi Buendía when I say that the front four who started against Fenerbahçe would be my preferred combination at the moment, particularly given how much football he has played and the contributions he has made already this season.

However, when I look at those four players collectively and consider the different things they offer, I think there is a really exciting balance there that could become increasingly effective as the season progresses.

That doesn't mean Buendía won't have an important role to play, because different games will require different approaches and Emery has shown throughout his time at Villa that he is prepared to adjust his selections depending on the opposition.

What is particularly encouraging is the quality of the options available beyond the starting eleven, with Alyyson continuing to impress whenever he comes onto the pitch.

I thought he was excellent again against Fenerbahçe, driving at defenders and providing the assist for Tammy Abraham, and the prospect of introducing somebody with his pace, power and trickery against opponents who have already spent an hour trying to deal with Villa's starting attackers is something I find really appealing.

Alejandro Garnacho is another option, while we haven't even seen Brian Madjo feature in the Premier League yet this season. There is a lot of attacking talent within this squad, and some of those players are still at a relatively early stage of their development.

That is perhaps the most encouraging aspect of what we watched against Fenerbahçe, because for all the upheaval of the summer and the departures of some hugely important players, Villa have assembled an attacking group that offers different qualities to what we had previously.

I don't think we should pretend that everything will work perfectly every week, because there will be opponents who make life much more difficult than Fenerbahçe managed, and young players will inevitably have periods where their performances fluctuate.

But I came away from Villa Park feeling incredibly excited about what this team could become, particularly because the attacking players are already showing signs of developing an understanding that should only improve with time.

We have had some excellent attacking units under Emery, but I think this group has the potential to offer something genuinely different, and watching Villa attack with that combination of pace, movement and technical quality was one of the most enjoyable aspects of a brilliant Champions League evening.