Have Villa now found the Champions League formula?
Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa overcame a poor Hull side in a convincing 3-0 victory this weekend. It spelt tears for Phil Brown’s Hull early on when talismanic midfielder Jimmy Bullard was forced off with what looks to be another serious knee injury. Villa, consequently, never really needed to get out first gear and the result was a formality after Richard Dunne scored Villa’s first.
Full back Luke Young has since expressed his views on Villa’s chances of Champions League football this year, claiming the squad are stronger than the side who last year came close to breaking the top four. The defender, who signed for Martin O’Neill’s side in the summer of 2008, stated “when the team is winning and doing well, I am not sure the manager likes to change it too much. But sometimes it is circumstances that have made it happen at times and we are stronger this season to go all the way. Hopefully you won’t see a tail end like last season and we’ll be strong all the way through.” Villa fans will be encouraged by Young’s comments, hoping they can build upon the lessons learnt last season and go one step further. However, I’m not so sure.
Now don’t get me wrong, Villa are a very good side and Martin O’Neill is a great manager, but I don’t see why they have a better chance at Champions League football this year. O’Neill’s side currently lie in 5th place in the Premier League table, one place and one point better off than at this time last year, yet Saturday’s 3-0 triumph was just a second win in eight games for Villa. The summer departure of long-serving midfielder Gareth Barry is one that has been widely documented and although his role is currently being filled by the excellent James Milner, I’m not so sure that the squad has the strength that some of Villa’s rivals do. O’Neill once again splashed the cash in the summer, bringing Leeds star Fabian Delph, Manchester City’s Richard Dunne and Middlesbrough’s Stewart Downing amongst others to Villa Park in a spree totalling over £30 million, yet I don’t believe these additions to match those of Spurs or Manchester City.
Along with Liverpool (and maybe Arsenal), it is safe to say that Harry Redknapp’s Spurs and Mark Hughes’ Man City are Villa’s main rivals for the fourth Champions League spot. Martin O’Neill’s men recently played Harry Redknapp’s side in a fixture that ended 1-1 at Villa Park, yet even the biggest of Villa fans will admit that they were comprehensively outplayed by Spurs and Redknapp will rightly feel aggrieved to have not taken all three points. Villa undoubtedly have class, having beaten both Liverpool and Chelsea this season, however it is times like this, coupled with unconvincing away performances against sides such as Burnley and Wolves that cause me to be uncertain about where Villa will finish this season.
Liverpool, despite their poor start to the season, will get better, this is a given. Tottenham have begun the season in great form and although they suffered a set-back yesterday, I can still see them being a huge threat and Manchester City’s millions and glamorous names speak for themselves. Of all the sides tipped to break the top four, I would like to see it be O’Neill’s Villa, but I don’t see how they are better equipped than last season and they now have more serious competition to contend with. I hope I am made to eat my words.
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They are the least fancied of the contenders, but no European football makes a big difference. Their squad was shattered by February last season.
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No European football helps them and their squad but not as much as it could considering Man City and Spurs don’t have Europe to worry about either
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I think the big key to Villa’s chances has to be their form now with Downing in the starting XI. Out all season so far until the last few matches (including Tottenham), they’ve come alive offensively so far in the two games he’s started. If this continues, it’s a good sign. Villa’s big issue has been putting up goals. The Spurs have a very leaky defense, surrendering the most goals in the top 10. Rednapp needs to address this in January or I believe they’ll fall to Europa spots. Man City I still think needs time for there chemistry to set, but are a sleeping dragon right now. Another big question that needs to be asked is what’s Arsenal’s injury woes going to nean to the top 4 chase. It’s exciting this year, so much parody.
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