Unai Emery becomes distracted by transfers and it undoubtedly affects Aston Villa’s performances at the start of every season – but here’s why they can be an effective counter-attacking side, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE

The skeleton of the North Stand at Villa Park was an apt background to Unai Emery’s grand rebuilding project at Aston Villa.

Villa hope their stadium will be in working order from next season but Emery does not have that much time to get his team firing on all cylinders again.

Put a line through the 4-0 opening day thrashing at Brighton. The Ollie Watkins saga overshadowed that match and Villa were almost beaten before they had started.

The good news for Villa is that we can see the framework of their new plan. The bad news? Zero points and zero goals from their opening two games and a trip to Hull, who have six points from six, on Saturday.

August blues

Across his spells at Arsenal and Aston Villa, Emery has lost nine of his 17 matches in the opening month of the season. For a manager who has had such success at Villa Park and who did a reasonable job in north London, that is an astonishing record.

Emery believes the transfer window should close before the season starts and made the point again in his programme notes. If it did, it would be much better for Emery’s state of mind. So meticulous in his coaching and preparation, Emery becomes distracted by transfers and it undoubtedly affects the performance of his team.

Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson made their Villa debuts against Arsenal and there could be more debutants at Hull. Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis should have their moves made official on Tuesday while Leon Goretzka could also feature.

At least the window closing should allow Emery to take a breath. But at some point, he will surely realise he cannot simply write off the first month of the season.

What is the plan?

Strange to say this about a team who have still to register a shot on target this season, but Villa have the makings of an effective counter-attacking side this term.

Suzuki has an excellent kicking range with either foot. The Japanese had shaky moments under the high ball and with one shot from distance on Monday but if Villa can iron out those kinks, they will have a highly effective attacking weapon.

One pinpoint delivery sent George Hemmings scurrying towards the byline and Suzuki was also able to find his full-backs with angled passes.

When he gains match sharpness and starts to understand his team-mates, Jackson will test defences. Given Arsenal’s back line is clearly the best in the league, he should have more joy in forthcoming games.

When Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi start to fit into the team alongside Jackson, Villa will have pace. Now it is for Emery to work out how best to use it.

Fitness doubts

Villa’s business is exciting on paper but dig a little deeper and there are some concerns. Manzambi was signed for nearly £60m – but with a knee problem. While it was not enough for Villa to pull out of the deal (and it is understood Newcastle were also happy to proceed) it is always a risk to sign injured players.

It does not seem as though we will see Manzambi this side of the international break, either. ‘We must be careful with him, admitted Emery.

‘He had an injury and we want his comeback to be clear and strong, with no risk. Progressively, he is working individually and is starting collectively with the group this week.’

It is a similar issue with Goretzka, who Emery hoped could be involved against Arsenal but was not fit enough to start. ‘He needs more sessions on the training ground to get his fitness and the level we want. He is good and hopefully on Saturday after three days of training, he should be ready.’

It sounds as though including him would be a risk, though. In the Premier League, players at half-speed will quickly be exposed – even if they are Champions League winners.

Quiet deadline day

Tammy Abraham’s decision to stay at Villa Park rather than accept a loan move to Ipswich may have irked Emery, as it stopped him adding another forward to support Jackson and Brian Madjo, who is currently injured.

With Villa’s business largely done, the focus on Tuesday will be to find a club for Leon Bailey, who is surplus to requirements but is among the club’s higher earners.

Bailey has already rejected the chance to move to Hull and if, like Abraham, he stays, it is hard to imagine him featuring much in the months ahead.