Season Preview - Aston Villa

Manager – Alex Mcleish

Stadium – Villa Park 42,789

2010/2011 – 9^th

Villa started the 2010/2011 season surrounded by controversy, with manager Martin O’Neill, on the back of three consecutive 6th place finishes, resigning just days before their opener against West Ham. Reserve team manager Kevin McDonald was placed in temporary charge, winning the game 3-0. Shortly after the game, James Milner completed his big money move to Man City, and with that came a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of newly promoted Newcastle United in only the second game of the season. Former Liverpool and Lyon manager Gerard Houllier was appointed in late September, promptly securing a 2-1 win at Wolves, thanks to a late Emile Heskey header. A steady, inconsistent run started, with Villa losing 2-1 at St Andrews in the Carling Cup quarter finals to compound the misery at Villa Park. Come New Year’s Day, Villa sat in 16^th place, one point off the drop zone, in what was fast becoming one of the tightest relegation battles in years. With the January transfer window open, Villa knew that new faces were needed to warn off any threat of relegation, and to the fans delight, Randy Lerner delivered. On the 18^th January, Darren Bent became the clubs record signing in a £24 million move. Villas form failed to improve with the club only striding clear of the drop with a few games left. To make matters worse, Houllier was forced to abandon his role as Manager due to health concerns, with Gary McAllister taking over and securing wins over Arsenal and Liverpool in the last two games of the season to achieve a respectable finish of 9^th.

Highlights of 2010/2011 – Signing of Darren Bent, Emergence of Marc Albrighton, Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan.
Lowlights of 2010/2011 – Inconsistent form throughout the season. Failure to progress in domestic cup competitions.

What to expect in 2011/2012.

With Gerard Houllier’s departure confirmed weeks after the season ended, Villa fans sensed a renewed level of hope. However, after rejecting Mark Hughes in connection to the vacant manager’s job, and Roberto Martinez’s snub, Randy Lerner made the controversial decision to appoint Birmingham City manager Alex Mcleish. Needless to say this left Villa fans angry to say the least, not only had he just got his side relegated, he was seen to play boring, negative football whilst in charge of their bitter rivals. The dissolving level of hope surrounding Villa Park was compounded with the sales of star players Brad Friedel to Tottenham, Ashley Young to Manchester United, and Stewart Downing to Liverpool. With Shay Given the only player to arrive at Villa and various players released at the end of last season, Villa do not look in good shape for the upcoming campaign.

Signings –

Shay Given, Manchester City – £3.5million

Stephen Ireland, Newcastle United – Loan return

Other potential transfer targets –

Charles N’Zogbia, Wigan - £10-14million

Scott Parker, West Ham - £6million/Loan

Alan Hutton, Tottenham Hotspur - £5million

Aiden McGeady, Spartak Moscow - £14million

Thomas Hitzlesperger, West Ham - Free

Departures –

Ashley Young, Man Utd - £16million

Stewart Downing, Liverpool - £20million

Brad Friedel, Tottenham Hotspur - Free

Kyle Walker, Tottenham Hotspur – Loan return

Michael Bradley, Borussia Monchengladbach

John Carew – Released

Nigel Reo-Coker – Released

Robert Pires – Released

Moustapha Salifou – Released

Other potential departures –

Emile Heskey, Leicester City - £2million
Carlos Cuellar, Rangers - £3million

Andreas Weimann – Loan

Daniel Johnson – Loan

Gary Gardner – Loan

Possible Starting XI –

4-4-1-1

Given

Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock

Albrighton, Petrov, Makoun, Agbonlahor

Ireland

Bent

If N’Zogbia and Parker sign

4-3-3

Given

Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock

Petrov, Parker, Makoun

Albrighton, Bent, N’Zogbia

Alternative

4-3-3

Given

Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock

Petrov, Parker, Bannan

Agbonlahor, Bent, N’zogbia

Formation Change

4-4-2

Given

Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock

Albrighton, Petrov, Makoun, N’Zogbia

Agbonlahor, Bent.

Prediction

12^th place finish

With transfer funds at a minimum despite the sale of Young and Downing, Alex Mcleish has already stated he will only be making one more signing, expected to be Charles N’Zogbia from Wigan. With Villa’s squad already depleted through sales and the release of up to 10 players, the side will be over reliant on youth, once more. Mcleish is being trusted to rejuvenate players such as Stephen Warnock, Stephen Ireland and Gabby Agbonlahor, in an attempt to have a successful season. With no real ambition shown by Randy Lerner, I expect the midlands club to struggle again this coming season, and be involved in another relegation battle. If the new campaign proves as tight as last season, then Villa could find them-selves fighting for their premier league status.