Aston Villa – what can we expect this season?

Article by Ed Hewings

Coming into this season, you would have found most Villa fans optimistic about the upcoming campaign.

Given the struggles that the club went through last season that culminated on safety from relegation only being confirmed the week before the end of the season, you may have thought that Villa fans were slightly delirious with predictions of a top-10 finish.

However, this optimism is not unfounded. Since their ignominious exit from the League Cup at the Semi Final stage to Bradford, Villa have lost 6 of their 15 premier league games to the end of the season, scoring 27 goals in the process, including a 6-1 demolition of Sunderland.

This was built upon a settled starting 11, something which had not really been in place in the first few months under Paul Lambert, as his youth policy at the start of the campaign led to great inconsistency and bore no fruit.

The purchases of Benteke, Westwood and Lowton at the start of last season gave all Villa fans rose tinted glasses when it came to judging Lambert’s signings over the close season, and so they await the blossoming of such players as Aleksandar Tonev, Nicklas Helenius and Leandro Bacuna. In Jores Okore, cruelly taken when he was beginning to show signs of being the latest in the line of Aston Villa No.5s to attain legend status (McGrath, Nicholls, Laursen), we’ve seen a quick, strong ball-playing centre half, built like a heavy weight boxer – unfortunately, next season is when he will have his greatest impact.

At the end of last season, Paul Lambert’s men played a high-tempo physical game, playing primarily on the counter attack wherever possible, but also adept at dismantling teams at home where required (QPR and Sunderland being prime examples). This has been transferred to this season, however the team seem to be struggling at home.

Away performances have been exceptional, including a 3-1 defeat of Arsenal, a 1-0 win over Norwich, and a cruel defeat at the hands of Chelsea. Home performances have been indifferent, with the counter-attacking victory over Manchester City being the only highlight for season ticket holders so far.

Villa struggle when it is upon them to create the initiative and take the game to the opposition. This is something Paul Lambert will have to address quickly, as one cannot expect that they will get through the season on away performances and the occasional home victory without grumblings of disquiet amongst the fans.

Aston Villa look a better proposition this season, with the continued good form of Christian Benteke and the settled team around him, along with improved squad options compared to last year, one can easily see them heading for a good distance from the relegation zone, pushing up towards mid-table mediocrity. The stumbling block which will stop Villa heading for the Top-10 will be their home form – perhaps Fabian Delph will take it upon himself to become the man to unlock defences at home with his passing and probing, or perhaps Charles N’Zogbia (re-designated as number 36 over the summer) will make a sparkling return to the team, or perhaps Paul Lambert will go out and find an unknown gem of a No.10, such is his style.

One thing is for sure, it will be exciting for Villa this season.

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