Aston Villa’s new look
With the English Premier League kicking off this weekend, it’s time to get you all backing my favourite club – Aston Villa!
After a hugely disappointing season for the Villans they decided drastic action needed to be taken. Randy Lerner, Villa’s chairman, sacked manager Alex McLeish and brought in Paul Lambert two weeks later. Along with a new manager came a few new players and even a new kit sponsor. It’s a new start and clean slate for Villa.
In preseason Aston Villa have looked revitalised, they are controlling games, attacking well and scoring goals – something that the fans seldom saw last season. The arrival of Lambert is equally as important to this change as the departure of McLeish was. Lambert’s footballing ideals differ massively from McLeish’s dull and negative tactics. Aston Villa are not a club that traditionally win trophies but have always prided themselves on their positive and enjoyable style of play. Lambert has brought that back and the fans really are responding in such a positive manner.
The contrast to last season and this is already visibly phenomenal. Having learned the news that their club captain, Stiliyan Petrov, was diagnosed with leukemia last season was a massive blow not only on the pitch but also off. Now, every game Villa’s fans burst into applause on the 19th minute out of respect for their captain. Shirt sales this season at the club also show that “Petrov 19” has been the most popular acquisition among fans. There is a real rallying collectiveness about Aston Villa this season.
Aston Villa in recent years appeared to have found consistency and had an impressive stint of finishing 6th three seasons in a row between 2007-2010 but gradual sales of star players saw their position in the league compromised. They will think that they are in with a fighting chance in this coming season to climb their way back up the table. In the past ten years Villa have finished 16th a surprising three times but after each disappointing season came a strong mid-table finish. The Villans are once again at a Genesis-like stage and have to rebuild with Paul Lambert at the helm. He will be hoping to emulate his recent success with Norwich in The Midlands. Aston Villa are priced at 6/4 to finish in the top 10 with BetVictor and are looking good value for it – the return of Darren Bent and his goals are always welcomed along with a young, strong midfield and dangerous, pacey wingers who also appear to have re-found form.
Lambert will be hoping to build and will have a vision for the club and the direction in which he wishes to take it. Aston Villa face West Ham, Everton, Newcastle, Swansea and then Southampton in their opening games and these fixtures will help them gain momentum and confidence. Villa could have 11 points after their first five games which will certainly boost morale in the camp and give them focus to strive once again for a strong finish. The fans support along with a good manager and motivated players will be Villa’s driving forces in the upcoming season. The only way is up for the Villans.