Luna landing will turn heat on Bennett
I think they call it the commentators curse.
Within hours of writing about Aston Villas eight-month search for that mythical beast a clean sheet they managed to stop a team from scoring for the first time in 2013. They then did it again on Sunday. Okay, Walsall and Shamrock Rovers may not be Chelsea or Manchester United, but its a start.
It seems that, after the chopping and changing of formations and personnel last season, Villa fans can expect more stability in the back line this term. Should Jores Okore live up to his Champions League billing, the defence will almost pick itself. But there remains one question mark left-back.
Joe Bennetts first season in a Villa shirt was a turbulent one. While fellow Football League alumni Matt Lowton and Ashley Westwood relished their new surroundings, Bennett tended to look overawed against the Premier Leagues roll call of international wingers (this graphic shows how Manchester United targeted him at Old Trafford).
After an unhappy spell as a wing-back, his confidence improved when he returned to a more orthodox position and the team started to pick up crucial victories. But while Lowton remains a shoo-in at right-back, Bennetts place on the other flank is far from secure.
Flexibility plays well with managers like Lambert and Bakers clear love of defending may see him leap ahead of Bennett and Luna
The acquisition of Antonio Luna from Sevilla is intended to put pressure on the former Middlesbrough man. Lambert admitted he views healthy competition as a way of raising the bar and the pair may well see some mutual benefits. But its also a clear message to Bennett that, should he retain his starting place at Arsenal on August 17, theres always someone waiting to pinch it from him should he not live up to expectations.
It might be, however, that neither Bennett nor Luna get the nod at the Emirates. Should Okore be fully fit (and he returned from his hamstring injury in the Dublin friendly on Sunday), he will surely start alongside captain Ron Vlaar at centre-back. And that could free up Nathan Baker to slot in at left-back.
An old-school defender in many ways, Bakers admirable determination and resultant battle scars suggests he is best used at centre-half. But he may find his chances more limited after the arrival of Okore thats what strengthening a squad is all about.
However, flexibility plays well with managers like Lambert and Bakers clear love of defending may see him leap ahead of Bennett and Luna, more traditional up-and-down full-backs, when Villa need to soak up pressure. Ciaran Clark is another who can be shifted across to do a purely defensive job at full-back.
So it comes down to who has caught the teachers eye during the first weeks of term. The occasionally erratic boy in his second year, the new Spanish student or the one with the scars above his eyes who loves getting stuck in. Well find out when the bell goes at the Emirates.
