Matty Cash polarises the fanbase as to how far his ability can stretch to stay in line with Unai Emery’s desire to keep improving Aston Villa.
Unfairly in most cases, he serves as a lightning rod for criticism after bad results. In a squad enriched with European pedigree, Cash is one of the more unfashionable players, less flashy, more functional.
But functionality is what Emery wants from his right-back. They are the defensively-minded full-back, adept at tucking in to form a back three and defending in one-v-one duels. Attacking adventure tends to come from the opposite side, where Lucas Digne is positioned in high areas and has thrived.
Cash should not be viewed through the same prism as Digne. His attacking output is naturally lesser — he has five fewer assists (three) than Digne since the start of last season (eight) in all competitions — but his malleability in adjusting his position depending on how Emery wants to build play is greater.
For example, note the contrasting positions of Cash below. This is when Emery initially wanted his right-back more advanced…
And when he prefers Cash as a third centre-back…
Emery is approaching a stage of his tenure where a judgement will be made every transfer window as to whether the players he inherited, such as Cash, can elevate their game to match Villa’s growing expectations.
The evidence from Emery’s two years in charge demonstrates that Cash, 27, is well-liked by the coaching staff and has been trusted — in part because of profit and sustainability rules (PSR), admittedly — to remain Villa’s senior right-back option for the previous four windows.
Though in much different and less ambitious times, it has not been overlooked that Cash was voted Villa supporters’ player of the year for the 2021-22 campaign. It was won through consistency.
Since deciding against renewing Ashley Young’s rolling deal in 2023, Villa’s recruitment staff have been confident heading into the two previous seasons that Cash could keep pace with Emery’s increasing demands.
This summer, 18-year-old Kosta Nedeljkovic was integrated into the squad after signing from Serbia’s Crvena Zvezda in January.
Despite calls from supporters on the outside for Nedeljkovic to start more games, the internal view is that he is a project player and requires further learning to understand Emery’s remit. This was underlined in August when Cash was injured and Lamare Bogarde — having played the position once in 112 appearances across youth level and on loan — made his Premier League debut against Leicester City at right-back, ahead of Nedeljkovic.
This, of course, is not the ideal scenario for Villa, which senior figures at the club accept. Right-back was an area they hoped to address and talks were held with the representatives of Feyenoord’s Lutsharel Geertruida. By this stage, however, Villa had reached their financial limit for complying with PSR and Geertruida headed to RB Leipzig instead.
Interestingly, Geertruida is a more conservative, less freewheeling type of full-back, capable of deputising in central defence. Villa’s interest not only indicated the style of player Emery wants in the role but served as a sign of the times, with centre-backs moonlighting in wider areas.
This is largely for defensive purposes — more height, solidity and guarding against transitions — with width coming from the winger in front. Except in the case of Leon Bailey, who is toiling to recapture last season’s form, there is a case for an archetypal right-back, like Cash, to operate as one.
Villa’s productivity down their right side is the joint lowest in the Premier League this season, alongside Nottingham Forest (31 per cent). For context, Arsenal have generated the highest number, with 44 per cent of attacks coming from that flank.
In stark contrast, Villa attack down the middle more than any other side (32 per cent). The reason for this? Villa are profoundly middle-centric under Emery, operating with two central midfielders and two No 10s in possession, tasked with playing through the lines.
Secondly, Cash has featured in only six Premier League games, with either Bogarde or Ezri Konsa filling in. Neither are comfortable combining in wide areas and instead look to pass safely and inside the pitch, where there are more options.
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola observed Emery’s teams “always play like this” following October’s 1-1 draw at Villa Park. The build-up structure is well-known and is a common thread throughout all of the sides he has coached. A key feature of Emery’s system is how high and wide he stations his left back, causing the left winger to become a No 10. As a result, several of Villa’s in-possession patterns (38 per cent of attacks come down the side) and crossing situations are provided by the left-back.
Still, having increased output from the right would help shift deep-sitting opposition defences, which Emery admitted was the “next step” for his players in January.
Cash has featured in only 43 per cent of game time this season yet has made 10 passes into the final third; Pau Torres (12) is the only Villa defender to have made more. More broadly, the Poland international ranks in the top 11 per cent of full-backs from Europe’s top five leagues for carries in the final third per 90 minutes (2.22). That’s impressive, considering his more restrictive role from an attacking standpoint.
“I like being high up the pitch,” said Cash last season. “That is what I want to do: keep putting the ball on Ollie’s (Watkins) head and create and score goals. But as long as I am playing, I don’t care.”
Cash’s injury record is becoming a drawback, however. He has suffered two calf injuries in 2024, ruling him out for a month each while two hamstring issues in the same timeframe have stymied his rhythm as well as Emery’s plans to use two traditional full-backs.
“Last year, we played very strongly and successfully with Diego Carlos and Konsa (at right-back),” said Emery in a press conference in August. “But this year, we are not starting in the same structure tactically. Konsa is feeling comfortable playing at centre-back and at the moment we are with two full-backs — Cash and Kosta [Nedeljkovic] — and I prefer to keep each one in his position.”
Cash’s injury issues have altered those plans with Konsa — among the Premier League’s most consistent central defenders — being parachuted in once more at right-back. Konsa confessed he hoped not to play there too often and though Emery was keen to point out Villa’s best performances last season came with him at right-back, he looks increasingly uncomfortable.
On the ball in high areas, Konsa has made uncharacteristic errors, including a miscued pass that led to Ipswich Town’s equaliser in September. More recently, the 27-year-old was caught up-field attempting to overlap Bailey against Liverpool, resulting in Villa being caught on the break.
Consequently, there is a growing argument to suggest Villa should decide only to mend the roof (i.e. the right-back position) when the sun is shining and not in the winter months when Konsa’s game is being impacted. The lack of right-back depth is an issue, but it should not be to the detriment of another position. Taking Konsa out of central defence would do that.
Cash needs to stay injury-free, giving Villa the type of balance and progression that would solve some of the problems they have lately experienced. Circumstances show his importance should not be underestimated.
(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
