Aston Villa's player of the year awards are coming soon, should a former winner be picking up the gong again?
Would Matty Cash be your Aston Villa player of the season?
If Matty Cash isn’t on the pitch for Villa, and thankfully this season his availability has been strong, then you notice.
We noticed him for the wrong reasons on Sunday, his mistake leading to the Burnley equaliser that pegged Villa back instantly, but generally that was a blip in a strong season for Matty.
They say that players become better when they aren’t playing, in fans’ minds. Thank God (Paul McGrath) that we haven’t had to put that theory to the test too many times this season, as Cash is literally a one-off in this Villa squad. A trusted right-back.
Andrés García has been injured, or not fancied, Konsa and Lindelöf aren’t natural there and Lamare Bogarde is a midfielder doing a solid job there when required. None of them offer what Cash does both moving backwards and attacking.
At times in his Villa career, Cash’s defensive nous has been questioned, but he has grown into a fine defender under Unai Emery, often curbing his attacking instincts for the team. The Polish international has actually been one of the main losers in Boubacar Kamara getting ruled out for the season. Villa’s structure has been tweaked and none of Villa’s other central midfielders offer the defensive savviness of Kamara. This has meant that once again, Cash is curbed.
Before Kamara’s injury, Cash had 3 Premier League goals, including the winner against Manchester City at Villa Park and the opener against Arsenal at the same stadium. Elite opposition brought out the finer side of Cash’s attacking armoury.
He’s still popped up with a few assists too. Although futile, his left-foot delivery for Buendía for his Spurs goal at Villa Park was a peach. I always get a sense of joy when Cash pulls out his left-foot delivery, because we have actually scored a few goals from it over the years.
This is a player that has grown with Emery and the club, improved every year and, for me, this has been his finest season in claret and blue, and in my opinion, he should be taking home the player of the year for the second time…
In a season that feels like it has been curtailed from the highest heights league-wise due to injury, Cash has performed with a level of consistency whilst managing the feat others haven’t — availability and durability.
For even if Cash needs a rest, the limited options in his role means he can’t take one, the drop-off without him is great and he has risen to that task.
Who are the other contenders? Konsa is consistent but suffered a dip around the time he got frustrated at Wolves. Rogers was sensational in the middle part but hasn’t ended or nor did he start the season well. McGinn missed a chunk of the season and his European numbers don’t quite translate in the Premier League, although I expect he will win the award.
My vote will be going to “the Polish Cafu”.
In an ideal world, a non-PSR/SCR world Villa would have another right-back of a similar level to compete with him, but as we know that ideal world doesn’t exist for us and that luxury has been sacrificed in the make-up of Villa’s squad.
I would hazard a guess this may change this summer, but there is no need to replace Cash, just to give him help. You want your full-backs reliable and robust; Matty is both those things.
I wager he would get Unai Emery’s vote for player of the season too. Unai knows Cash’s value, pardon the pun.
Up The Villa.