Aston Villa half season review

This isn’t an article I wanted to write, and the following piece does not make for pleasant reading. Its been the worst season in my 25 years as a supporter. Aston Villa is an old darling of English football, a founder of the football league, one of the most successful clubs in British football and has provided the English national team with over 70 players. It has a beautiful ground and a truly inspiring set of supporters but all this is counting for nothing at the moment due to the club being run into the ground by Randy Lerner and the board over the past five years.

The club is rotten from top to bottom and there really is no hope for the club in its current form. The players, even though they may not have the quality, aren’t even showing the desire and determination to avoid being embarrassed week in week out. The manager still hasn’t won a game and Villa have become a laughing stock.

Here is my review of the season so far….

Player of the season so far

Jordan Amavi would have taken this award if he hadn’t got injured, but after a slow start, Jordan Ayew has become the most impressive player for Villa. He has given 100% for the team in the past few months, scored goals and will surely be poached by a Premier League team next season. If only every player cared as much as Ayew.

Worst player of the season so far

Where to start? I could list at least 10 players and could give this award to Kieran Richardson very easily. However, looking purely at regular first team starters, I have been most disappointed with Joleon Lescott. Signed in the summer from West Brom after a brilliant season, Villa fans looked to him to steady the Villa defence and continue his renaissance as a very good Premier League defender. The move hasn’t gone to plan, Lescott has shown his age this term, and has looked constantly shaky, last week’s performance against Sunderland epitomises his season so far.

Where Villa will finish at the end of the season?

Bottom of the league unfortunately. Everyone at the club and Tim Sherwood has played their part in Villa’s demise, but with the current management team unable to make any kind of impact means Villa are doomed this season.

Who do Villa need to sign in January?

From a fans point of view, it will be interesting to see whether the board want to throw money at the situation and hope they can get out of this mess. With only 8 points on the board, and with other relegation rivals always picking up points, Villa won’t win at least 10 games out of the next 18 so I think its better to start to build for the future. Could Villa sign the likes of Sam Byram (Leeds), Jordan Rhodes (Blackburn) and Jeff Hendrick (Derby)? This would build a foundation for next season, as its bound to be a hugely turbulent summer at the club.

A team rating out of 10

Zero. No desire, no strategy, no game plan, no idea, no hope. Doomed.

I said it wouldn’t be a pleasant read. For the rest of this season, travel to as many games as possible, because who knows when Villa will be back in the Premier League again. UTV.