Aston Villa is known for their European Cup triumphs in the early 80s, in addition to their loyal fanbase and iconic stadium.
While their history serves them well, some of Villas modern-day activities have not placed them within the best light.
In 2012, they suffered a £ 53.9 million loss and were eventually relegated four years later, ending a 24-year stay in the top flight.
2016 was a low point for the Birmingham club, as they had to battle it out in the EFL Championship.
However, Chinese investor Tony Xia saw this as the perfect time to purchase the club and be the catalyst for its revival.
From this point, Aston Villa’s fortunes changed for the better due to their new owners investment off the pitch and local lad and academy product, Jack Grealish.
Aston Villa’s academy has produced players who have gone on to have lengthy and successful careers.
Gary Cahill at Chelsea, Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Gareth Barry at Manchester City have all accumulated 1396 Premier League appearances, and Jack Grealish was the next player to join this list.
England’s second division was the perfect development platform for Grealish’s growth in terms of his understanding of the game.
Within Villa’s two-year stay in the Championship, Grealish’s potential started to become a fact, as he captained his hometown side to promotion back into the topflight through the playoffs.
In the Premier League, Grealish continued to showcase his talent, which attracted the attention of a heavy hitter at the top of the table.
During the summer of 2021, Grealish left for Manchester City for a record-breaking fee of 100 million pounds.
While the blue side of Manchester has added a piece to their jigsaw, Aston Villa has subsequently lost one; this is not to suggest that The Villans did not spend the money wisely or continue to be successful.
With the likes of Danny Ings and Emi Buendía, the boys from Birmingham are still a competitive outfit.
With this being said, having a player like Jack Grealish creates a sense of relatability to a fanbase due to his local roots, and with his departure, a void was created.
Fast-forward to the start of the 2021/22 season and this void may finally be filled by the rise of Jacob Ramsey.
The young attacking midfielder has captured the heart of Villa fans; the rapid change of manager may have knocked a young player off course, but this is not the case as newly appointed manager Steven Gerrard has propelled Ramsey to new heights.
With this season being Ramsey’s breakout year, the U21 England international still has facets of his game that need improvement, but the talent is clear to see.
In this tactical analysis and Jacob Ramseys scout report, I will be discussing the Aston Villa Academy graduates offensive strengths, in addition to noticeable weaknesses.
Lastly, I will evaluate and project Ramseys future.
Jacob Ramsey Position History
So far this season, Ramsey has featured in quite a few attacking positions under both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard.
His managers have used him on the front line as a right-winger and as a number ten behind the striker, but most of his minutes have come when he has played as a number eight in a midfield three.
Dean Smith, at times, opted for a 3-5-2 to accommodate both Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins.
Within this system, Ramsey played as a left-sided central midfield alongside Douglas Luiz and John McGinn.
Within Steven Gerrards vision, the formation transitioned from a three-man defence to a four, with a 4-3-3.
Ramsey kept his position within the side; on the left of a midfield trident.
From this deep position, Ramsey can utilise all his skills and add real value to this Aston Villa attack.
Jacob Ramsey Heat Map & Positions
Jacob Ramsey Offensive Abilities
The U21 England international is assertive; this aspect of Jacob Ramseys style of play can be observed in various forms.
At first glance, Ramsey’s most valuable asset is his ball-carrying ability over long distances.
The young midfielder uses his powerful





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