English Premier League preview: Aston Villa
Oustide of the traditional ‘Big Four’ of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, no team has performed as consistently well in the English Premier League as Aston Villa having finished in the top six for the past three seasons. Despite almost breaking through to the top four places and gaining entry to the lucrative UEFA Champions League on a number of occasions, Villa have yet to burst through the glass ceiling.
Before joining the Birmingham club in 2006 manager Martin O’Neill had enjoyed huge success with Scottish Premier League giants Celtic, leading the Hoops to three league titles and three Scottish Cup wins as well as the 2003 UEFA Cup final in his five years with the club. To some extent, O’Neill had continued that success at Villa.
Instant impact
When he joined the club in the summer of 2006, Villa had finished the previous season in 16th place, perilously close to the relegation zone having won just ten matches all season. He made an immediate impact as Villa did not lose any of their first nine games in the 2006-07 season. A mid-season slump saw them finish in 11th place although this was a vast improvement on the previous campaign. O’Neill made further progress in the 2007-08 season as Villa finished sixth and qualified for European competition. Villa equalled that placing for the next two seasons as they struggled to make any further progress under O’Neill.
Villa have a strong squad of players at their disposal, though O’Neill has been keen to strengthen. However, he appears unable to make any purchases until some of his players have moved on. Midfielder James Milner has been at the centre of a transfer saga over a long-delayed move to Manchester City. Reports have suggested that City are offering a package which includes the transfer of Stephen Ireland in the opposite direction. Should such a deal take place, O’Neill will find himself with one of the brightest talents in the EPL.
Ready to do dirty work
Ireland is the type of player who will do whatever it takes to defeat his opponents. He is a ball-winner, a central midfielder who will do all the dirty work so he can pass to more attacking players. He would be an excellent capture for O’Neill and would be a strong partner for Nigel Reo-Coker in the middle of the park.
Perhaps Aston Villa’s biggest threats come in the forms of wide men Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing, both capable of scoring as well as delivering dangerous crosses towards towering striker John Carew.
Flying wingers
Since joining Villa in 2007, Young has flourished under O’Neill and has become one of England’s best young players. In his first season with the club he made 17 assists, the second-highest in the league behind Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, and was named in the Premier League Team of the Year. He has gone on to win seven caps for England. After joining Villa last summer, Downing has played 38 games for the club and hit the back of the net twice.
Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is also an important player for Villa and should he stay fit, could prove crucial to the club’s hopes of Champions League qualification. The forward found the goal 16 times in 41 games across all competitions last season and with Young and Downing providing capable support, can improve on that tally this season.
Despite having a good squad, Villa do not look likely to make any progress on their good last few seasons as much sterner competition stands in the way of them grabbing that elusive Champions League qualification spot.
Prediction: Sixth
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