Former Aston Villa boss takes aim at the player who is 'not at the standard' of new signing - Birmingham Live

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Tim Sherwood believes Aston Villa had Emi Martinez to thank for their point at Everton last weekend - and has claimed Unai Emery's side looked toothless in attack because the Spaniard started with his best players on the bench.

Villa drew 0-0 in their first visit to the Hill Dickinson Stadium, a result that extended their goalless streak to five Premier League matches.

Sherwood, who managed Villa for seven months in 2015 and took them to an FA Cup final, was speaking about his former club's barren run.

And he suggested that at Everton Emery should have started one of their deadline day loan signings instead of Emi Buendia.

"When you look at a team, you think they have the personnel to go out and do it," he told Sky Sports.

"Ollie Watkins, he's a proven scorer in the in the Premier League, Morgan Rogers who set the league alight last season and the season before.

"[Youri] Tielemans in midfield, normally a good passer, progressive [plays] forward, looks to find people early, he was out there today.

"Buendia for me is not at the standard of [Jadon] Sancho or Harvey Elliott, who was sitting on the bench.

"So when I look at, I think he had better players on the bench than he did on the pitch. Now they did come on eventually, but it's really hard to get into the rhythm of the game.

"They were very solid. They looked solid but without Emi Martinez, they get beat three or four. I mean, he saved them many, many times.

"So, yeah, they stuck at it, there was a good discipline about them, but they got outplayed.

"The possession was pretty similar but they're not creating anything and they look blunt when they go forward.

"They look like they're not going to be able to open up the Everton defence."

Sherwood was more positive about Martinez, who returned in goal after missing the loss to Crystal Palace amid speculation about his future.

"This, this man's a superstar," he said.

"When I saw Man United were going to sign him, I said 'Thank goodness Man United are actually making a signing where everyone could recognise them as a Man United signing'.

"When we heard he was going, we thought he was only going to go to one place and good news for Villa fans is that they appreciate him.

"They know he wanted to leave the football club. He's got two years left of his of his contract after this season.

"It's a good job he stayed, he's worth 12-15 points a season for any team that he goes to. Absolutely superb."