Premier League preview: Aston Villa
This time last year, the Premier League soothsayers were predicting imminent doom, or at least a season of mid-table mediocrity, if Aston Villa didn’t act quickly and reinforce their almost paper-thin squad.
Eventually boss Martin O’Neill did, and new defensive arrivals appeared in the forms of Stephen Warnock, James Collins and the excellent Richard Dunne just before the closure of the transfer window. Twelve months on Villa were falling into the same trap, and a failure to provide O’Neill with the same funds has seen the Northern Irishman walk out just five days before the start of the new season.
It is a devastating blow for Villa, and with Neil MacDonald appointed in temporary charge until a replacement is found – the second league game against Newcastle has reportedly been targeted – Villa owner Randy Lerner will now face a huge task in appointing someone who can carry on from O’Neill’s good work. With no-one added to the squad, four fringe players released and with the ongoing battle to keep James Milner at the club looking likely to end in defeat any time soon, that task will be easier said than done.
Villa were the nearly-men of last season. Liverpool’s implosion gave another team the chance to break into a coveted top four, and while at times the Villains looked the best equipped to achieve that aim, they ultimately fell short of eventual fourth-placed finishers Spurs.
The season can’t be labelled a failure though. Two Wembley appearances – at the Carling Cup final against Manchester United and the FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea – gave the supporters some good days out, and made up for the early Europa League exit at the hands of Rapid Vienna, who they tantalisingly face again at the same stage of the same competition this time around.
In defence they are strong. The 7-1 hammering at Stamford Bridge in March aside, Villa had one of the best back lines in the Premier League last season.
They won at Old Trafford and Anfield, and beat Chelsea at Villa Park. In head-to-head clashes with the bigger sides they can certainly hold their own, and prior to O’Neill’s departure it was possible to see them doing the same this season, but they are liable to slip up against lesser opposition. They started 2009/10 with a home defeat to Wigan, and lost home and away to Blackburn Rovers, the team against whom they played one of the best matches of last season – a 6-4 victory in the League Cup semi-final.
Quite why Lerner was reluctant to help O’Neill make new additions to the squad only he knows, and while the new boss will have a wealth of talent available to him – this promises to be a pivotal season for England hopefuls Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor if they stay – they could do with some quality help.
John Carew has been in excellent form during pre-season, just as he was at the tail end of the last campaign, and the Norwegian looks set to keep Emile Heskey on the sidelines again, while Stewart Downing had a quiet first season at Villa Park and will be desperate to improve this time around.
Improving is something that Villa are going to struggle to do though, especially without O’Neill.
He and Milner were the two most impressive aspects of Villa last season. Now without both, those who remain will find it tough to get anywhere near the top four this time around.
That mid-table prediction could be coming true, albeit 12 months late.
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