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Club Focus - Aston Villa - 2010/11 Season Preview
The American actor Tom Hanks is perhaps Aston Villa’s most famous follower, his liking for Villa coming from his approval of the uniqueness of the clubs name. This summer has resulted in Villa being unique in another way – they are currently the only team to have added no new faces. Fans will hope that manager Martin O’Neill signs before the start of the season in an effort to improve on three successive 6th place finishes.
Last season
The most recent of those league positions came in a season that will be difficult to emulate – a second unsuccessful but enthralling run at the coveted 4th place, along with two trips to Wembley, culminated in a season that cemented Villa’s position as one of the more equipped clubs in the league. Much of the same would be very welcome but Villa are currently on the edge of a cliff – fans' opinion is divided. On the way hand, stagnation and a further top six finish would be seen as an excellent effort given the truly enormous squads of their closest rivals, Manchester City and Tottenham. However, for others, patience with O’Neill is dwindling and his fifth season in charge of the Birmingham based club could be his most important – upon O’Neill’s arrival, the three seasons Villa have just enjoyed would not have been entertained in the dreams of most realists. But now, with expectations at an all time high with the emergence of a quick and young squad, O’Neill has to temper the hopes of Villa’s fans with the stark truth that club owner Randy Lerner cannot subsidise a transfer spree in the same way that those around Villa can. Frugality and grit will be the order of the day for Villa this season.
The squad
On paper, Aston Villa’s immediate squad have ample talent to challenge for 4th spot – the arguably best defence last season will be much the same come August 14 – Luke Young, Habib Beye, Curtis Davies, four back up players with varying degrees of importance, are all at risk of moving on but barring injuries, their loss should come at no great price providing the remuneration for these players services is spent on incoming talent. The interminably prolonged saga involving James Milner looks set to be protracted till the end of the window with differences of opinion abound – on the way hand, his importance last season cannot be undermined and his loss would be damning for Villa’s immediate progress. However, in a fiscal business sense, the sale of Milner for £20M + is fantastic given that said transfer fee is highly inflated and will not appear ever again given the status of Milner’s contract.
The Manager
Manager O’Neill has made it evident that he is loathe to lose Milner and whilst he has voiced his opinion on this matter, he has been typical mooted regarding potential dealings elsewhere. Aiden McGeady is the only player that O’Neill has given any intimation to being scouted. McGeady would fit the O’Neill template of having experience of playing in and around England before, John Carew being the only player to break the mould in this sense. One criticism of O’Neill is in his insistence to play a 4-4-2 the majority of the time. The pace of the Villa side lends itself to a more width-centric formation so that may be something to be tinkered upon in the coming campaign.
Anchorman
Regardless of formation, O’Neill clearly relies upon his captain Stiliyan Petrov to pull the strings in the centre of midfield – prior to the 2008/09 season, Petrov was frequently lambasted by fans for being off the pace too often but in his dynamic, defensive midfield role, he has brought a stability to the Villa midfield that was only provided otherwise by the frankly poorer version of Petrov – Nigel Reo Coker. It’s telling that James Milner, the most talked about potential exit this summer, would be behind Petrov (and Ashley Young, who provides most of Villa’s attacking force) in many fans ‘must not leave’ list.
Playmaker
As mentioned prior, Ashley Young is Villa’s most expressive player and although he occasionally shows too much temerity towards referees, a direct consequence of his poor balance (or ease in falling over, depending on personal preference), he is vital to the Villa cause. A less influential than the previous season campaign still reaped 13 assists and nine goals. If Villa were to begin the season without him, it may be enough to stunt their chances of any success.
Hot Prospects
Whilst Young and Petrov will be expected to deliver this coming season, Villa have a new breed of players coming through the system and fortunately for those particular men, they are under the control of one of the more friendly managers when concerning the home-grown talents of clubs. Nathan Delfouneso is already gaining a reputation for England’s under-21’s but a right winger called Marc Albrighton may be ready to make the leap to first team football just as quickly as his striking counterpart Delfouneso. The 20-year-old has appeared in the majority of Villa’s pre-season friendlies in the last two years and was used sparingly last season. However, with his talent now undeniable, and the merits of Stewart Downing as a right sided midfielder (presuming Ashley Young reverts back to his preferred left-side) still under question, Albrighton could have the change to sneak forth this season.
2010/11 prediction
Whilst nothing as of yet suggests Villa will be able to do anything better than last season, the added experience that Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Fabian Delph (when fit) et al will have gained from last season will be invaluable. The one big detractor is still the size of Villa’s squad. Should O’Neill’s penchant for playing the same team for much of the season and in the process self inflicted tiredness upon his players, change, Villa may be able to cope with a small squad but this really is the season for Villa’s young English players to arrive on the big stage.
A Different League’s prediction: 6th
See the full list of OLBG's free Football Tips here.
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