Aston Villa have a lot to do if they are to achieve their aim of promotion in their second straight Championship season.
It’s fair to say Aston Villa have endured an underwhelming start to the season. But don’t fret, the only way is up.
Squad strength
Villa owner Tony Xia has devoted a large portion of his hefty bank balance to ensuring Steve Bruce has one of the strongest squads in the Championship on paper, even if the results are yet to follow on a consistent basis.
In Jonathan Kodjia, Scott Hogan, Henri Lansbury, Mile Jedinak, Conor Hourihane and James Chester, Villa have a fearsome spine blessed with proven second tier talent who thrived at their former clubs to earn big money moves to Villa Park.
Though only Kodjia (below) and Jedinak have truly lived up to expectations so far, you get the feeling that the best is yet to come.
Back Bruce
A number of Aston Villa supporters were calling for Steve Bruce’s head after a disastrous start to the new season that has one of the promotion favourites closer to the bottom of the table than the top.
Yet, while Bruce’s tactics may appear a little outdated at times, experience counts for a lot at Championship level – see Neil Warnock and Mick McCarthy, the league’s two oldest gaffers, sitting first and second with unfancied Cardiff City and Ipswich Town.
Bruce was earned promotion to the Premier League on four occasions, twice each with Birmingham and Hull and most recently via the play-offs in 2016. The genial Geordie knows what he’s doing – even if some fans may disagree.
The kids are alright
John Terry and Mile Jedinak may be two of the first names on Bruce’s team-sheet but the experienced duo have been joined by an array of talented and exciting youngsters in recent weeks.
19-year-old attacking pair Keinan Davis and Andre Green (above) inspired Villa’s only league win of the season so far, the latter scoring his first career goal with a sublime curling finish in that 4-2 thrashing of Norwich City, and deserve more opportunities.
Versatile full-back Mitchell Clark looks a solid deputy on either side of the defence, forward Callum O’Hare shone in pre-season and Easah Suliman played every game as England’s Under-19s won the European Championships this summer.
The future’s bright.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
