Aston Villa - fan's 2008/09 Premier League preview
Wednesday, 06 Aug 2008 15:39
Aston Villa - fan's 2008/09 Premier League preview and predictions
A supporter's views and expectations for the 2008/09 season.
Last season
Premier League: 6th - P 38 W 16 D 12 L 10 GF 71 GA 51 GD +20 PTS 60
FA Cup: Third Round - lost 2-0 to Manchester United
League Cup: Third round - lost 1-0 to Leicester City
The manager
The bulk of Aston Villa fans fully respect the job that Martin O'Neill has done at the club, turning them around from a team flailing in mid-table to one that was on track for a Champions League qualifying position until the final stages of last season.
However, Villa were fortunate to suffer very few injuries last season with the smallest squad in the league and O'Neill's failure to tackle the problem this summer has left many fans concerned and scratching their heads. O'Neill's handling of the Gareth Barry saga has been seen positively among many fans.
Chances of managerial change?
O'Neill is widely respected by the club's chairman, Randy Lerner, and the two have put a long-term plan together to help the club continue to push forwards. It is highly unlikely to change unless another club move in for the Northern Irishman's services.
The players
Exits
The loss of defender Olof Mellberg to Juventus is a big blow to Villa, who are already suffering with a chronic shortage of first-choice defenders. Although a centre-back by trade, Mellberg spent all of last season as a makeshift right-back, a position O'Neill still needs to address this season. Elsewhere, as much as O'Neill would have loved to make the loan signing of Scott Carson permanent, the goalkeeping position has now seen change with the arrivals of both the American Brad's - Friedel and Guzan - and thus will cause no problems at all.
New arrivals
The permanent signing of Curtis Davies from West Brom is a positive move for Villa, as the England under-21 international started to show his potential at Villa Park towards the end of last season until an injury cut his season short. His partnership with Martin Laursen will be important if Villa want to carry on improving.
Steve Sidwell was initially seen to be the replacement for Gareth Barry, but with the Barry saga ongoing the two may yet end up playing together. Villa failed to score too many from the centre of midfield last season and Sidwell has the ability to get himself into the box and score goals. He is a different sort of player to what Villa had last season and will prove a useful squad addition.
Bringing in Friedel from Blackburn was a great piece of business to help along the younger Guzan and make life easier for him in a new country. Also he has proved one of the top keepers in the league over the last few seasons and will definitely do a solid job for at least one season at Villa Park.
Needs
Realistically Villa are still six or seven players light on having a squad capable of challenging in both the league and in Europe. They still have no recognised right-back and with left-back Wilfred Bouma recently injuring himself and being declared out until Christmas, they now have no left-back.
Curtis Davies' swift return from surgery will help boost the defence but they are still one centre-back light also. Ahead of that, a right midfielder would be a useful acquisition, as well as a striker.
Villa have been linked with a host of names over the summer to fill these voids. If Barry's on-off move to Liverpool does transpire then Steve Finnan could move the other way as part of the deal. Ruben de la Red would be a great signing from Real Madrid while Anton Ferdinand could be fruitful if O'Neill chooses to continue his 'buying English' policy.
Most of Villa's good attacking play revolves around Ashley Young and he would prove a major loss should he get injured, so some cover here could go down well also.
The fanbase
The doom and gloom that circled Villa Park ahead of the arrival of O'Neill has been replaced within two years at the club. The fans are now optimistic that the club is going places and the right man is in place to do it.
However, the fans realise the squad is too thin and some major signings to complement the new breed coming through and exciting attacking players currently on show will help continue to keep fans flocking to the ground.
Chairman Randy Lerner has shown nothing but support and has quietly let the manager get on with his job - something which should be applauded in today's climate, where chairmen and owners find it difficult to keep their opinions and demands to themselves. He has brought a much-needed cash injection to the club and has played a pivotal role in the club's change in direction.
Prediction for 2008/09
Although many fans will be hoping to improve on last season, I think Villa will find it hard to simply repeat the feat.
Other clubs under-achieved last season, while a lot of things - such as a low number of injuries - helped the club to a solid league position.
With a European run an added bonus this season, a lot will depend on how many new faces can be added to the club's worryingly thin squad before the end of the transfer window. If O'Neill does bring in some new blood then European success is not out of the question, while realistically Villa will settle for the same again this season, with perhaps a cup final thrown in for good measure.
Craig Kemp