Looking ahead to the new season, I think we agree that we have a tough 3 opening games, but I think we should divide the season into 3. This will better determine what we might achieve. The first of the three is a block of 12 matches that will see new players bedding into the squad and at the same time the team picking up from where they left off in May, with some great play and plenty of goals and an improving defence.
I fancy we will have 12 points by the time we play Everton (for comparison from thos matches last season we would have got 3 points) and that the Everton match will see us start a winning run of 4 games against teams who are bottom half of the table. As for the openers, Villa players need to take confidence that whilst we lost to Liverpool in the equivalent fixture last season, we beat them at Anfield 3:1, so they are there to be beaten. Newcastle are in turmoil and Everton will struggle early on (typical of Martinez teams) especially if they lose Baines and Fellaini. We may of lost at home last season but we matched them blow for blow at Goodison and I fancy us to beat them at home this time around. That would give us 24 points from 12 matches and you never know we might turn a top of the table match into a draw! Just imagine if we repeated this aggregate for the next blocks of 12 and 14 games.
Here is my analysis of how matches might play out compared to last season. When you consider the equivalent match last season, the state of play with those teams in the transfer window so far and Villa continuing and hopefully building on the performances from March to May last season, these are not unreasonable forecasts. What do you think?
Date H/A Team 12/13 Result Prediction 13/14
17th Aug A Arsenal Lost 2:1 Lose
21st Aug A Chelsea Lost 8:0 Lose
24th Aug H Liverpool Lost 2:1 Win
14th Sept H Newcastle Lost 2:1 Win
21st Sept A Norwich Won 2:1 Win
28th Sept H Man City Lost 1:0 Lose
5th Oct A Hull Promoted Win
19th Oct H Spurs Lost 4:0 Lose
26th Oct H Everton Lost 3:1 Win
2nd Nov A West Ham Lost 1:0 Win
9th Nov H Cardiff Promoted Win
23rd Nov A WBA Draw 2:2 Win
Can’t wait for the season to get started. UTV
I love your positivity my friend. Avfc will surprise a hell of a lot of people this season. We began this longterm vision due to the constant nitpicking of fans for something better. The club wasn’t listening to the fans but after years of pushing and prodding they have listened. We are on a path that will see he club move back to where it belongs. Some villa fans may want things to happen faster but we need to stay the course we’re on. I believe Lambert will stay with us beyond his 3yr deal. I also believe he will take us to the championship aswell. It will take upwards of 5-8yrs, maybe even 10yrs but our club has put the building blocks in place to become a top club again. I know this is hard for Villa fans to hear atm and especially after the last few years but we have the tools to achieve it. It will take great patience and courage on everyone’s part to get it right. We set ourselves on a path to greatness again when we came together and showed everyon connected with our club that we still had power. We also showed people like those twtas in the media that we deserved better than managers like McLoser mcleish. We deserved better and we are finally getting it now. We used on average 6-8 homegrown academy players all year. How many Premier Lge clubs can boast a record like that in it’s 22? year history to date. Most clubs buy their way out of trouble but we hae a manager who stood by youth and its paying off. Yes this year will hae its ups and downs but yea on year we will begin to see th longterm strategy pay dividends. Our under 19’s won the next Gen Series aswellvwhich shows that we have op talent coming through the ranks. Personally I am looking forward to the next fe years. We will win trophies as long as we stay the course we’re on.. Laters dude.. Up the VILLA!!!
Btw. By championship? I mean the premier lge title and not the old div2..haha! come on VILLA
My God, from now on i will call you Saint Michael as your post is almost eclesiastical lol. But I do agree with much of what you say. Villa are showing the way. A lot of clubs will open their eyes to the young and hungry approach meaning that agents will lose some of their influence and football finances will be improved. And Villa showed the way. Meanwhile, we get back to winning football matches.
Love your optimism, but I think there will be a few more draws in there than that!! Having said that I think we will come away with a point from the Emirates!
Thinking 15-17 points is more likely but loving the optimism
24 points from 12 games is champions league form and I don’t think were at that stage yet, anywhere between 15-20 points would be fantastic let’s keep our feet on the ground any improvement on last years 15th will keep me happy. Utv
i am thinking no further than arsenal first game, and thou we lost 2,1 and arsenal had loads of possession we had loads of chances on the break and our nativity helped arsenal. lost that game late on but first games are lotteries and we av a fair chance of catching them cold
thats were iam putting my hard earned
It would be great to get to 40 points with 8-10 games remaining. We can then have a real push for a Euro spot. I’m predicting to finish between 8th and 12th. UTV
Hope not mate Europes a poison chalice look what happened to Newcastle they couldn’t cope. Unless its CL if course but zilch chance of that.
Newcastle couldn’t cope, you’re right, however they lost Krul to injury, Coloccini to injury, Ben Arfa to injury, Hadaira to injury, then they lost Ba, Cisse couldn’t cope, he wastes so many chances, their new French expedition was a failure as the players they bought weren’t good enough even after they went out of Europe. Also Pardew was extremely questionable, not just how bad their new players played. A lot went wrong with Newcastle other than just Europe being in their way.
Fair point Andrew but like ourselves they didn’t have strength in depth to see them through the injuries. That’s my worry we have no strength in depth and a few injuries could see us in trouble. If we had to play Europa games with a small squad it’s going to screw up our league position IMO
You should be one happy puppy today it looks like PL don’t rate Vlaar either (according to the Mail) and is going with Okore and Baker and that makes perfect sense with one being left footed and the the either right,
That’s the best news iv heard all summer. Looks like lambert and the media are at last discovering what a liability vlaar is. I could of told lambert that after the Southampton away game but no one listens to me and slags me of for being right saying I’m negative. IMO he should start with Okore and baker, try and get rid of vlaar as he was happy to leave if we went down and get another centre half as cover. Also he needs firs team football with World Cup coming up. He’s not good enough for us and never will me.
Your trying to get me chewing my nails again lads, sorry love the thought of 24 points not going to happen, Ive set myself up for mid table this season and bigger days after that, love a good cup run and the odd unexpected result with the big boys, but what do i know sfa. utv
I’m looking forward to seeing how well we play against some big boys, roll on tomorrow and then the really big boys…
I’m not trying to suggest that we are Champions League contenders. it’s just when you look at the fixtures equivalent to last season, and if we are playing the promoted teams, these are games we should expect to win. Add to that the form we reached in the final 12 weeks of the season and how that has improved further in pre season, and the fact that we improved in defence in the second half of last season and have made an excellent signing in Okore, so defence should be even stronger. And we should definitely be winning the games against mid and bottom table teams.
Personally I think how we start the first three games and what results we get are really important.Defeat at all three could be deflating for our young lions.On the other hand results at all three and you never know their confidence could soar through the roof and we could be on for a mega season.Goodluck to the lads lets hope they do us proud this season…UTV
friendlies which av been played sofar av been just that. but malaga will test villa, top team last year, finished high in league and did well in champions league so i expect a very tough game and a good indication of were we are, 🙂
I can’t see the lads getting deflated.. after the hammerings by Chelsea Spurs and Wigan with 15 conceded and none scored.. we then got humiliated in the cups by Bradford over two legs and Milwall.. also surrounded by home defeats to saints and Newcastle..
YET STILL the boys picked themselves up and went on a great run to avoid relegation..
That group of players has something about them.. IF Benteke carries on his progress he will be shit hot next year…
Georginio Wijnaldum
A few links to the dutch lads today.. looks a player…!
A great run against the very lowest teams in the Prem.
Let’s not forget that.
I’m all in for this optimism though 🙂
Low or high. Three points is three points mate.. And once you take out the top 8 everyone’s in a relegation battle IMO.
But that’s the point, we were playing mid and bottom of the table teams from March to May and our defence improved and we were winning. We repeat this in the first 12 games and we have 18 points. Beat Liverpool (and we did them 3:1 last season) = 21 points and Everton will be hot and cold as they get used to Martinez, so we could get to 24 points. I know if only football was played out on paper. But we could, we just could. UTV
Thing is with getting in to Europe were more likely to keep Benteke and other players that may be lured elsewhere, you also have the pull to sign better quality players the chance to make more money for the club and a chance to improve our reputation around the world and also improve the experience of our squad, Yes it is a drain on resources I.e players but is manageable, and having a full summer to sign adequate players is something I would trust Lambert to do. I personally would be buzzing if we got in to Europa league. Not to mention in 2014-2015 season the winner qualifies for champions league perfect insentive to make it more competitive and worth it.
Agree to a point Adam but could you seriously see us winning it when teams like Liverpool and spurs will be killing themselves to win it if its their only chance if CL. Both those teams (especially) spuds are miles ahead of us and will be for the foreseeable future. Benteke will want CL football only Europa football will not be enough.
Sorry Streetly but to many if buts and maybes lets just see out it pans out and I think we all going to be pleasantly surprised this season don’t know why but I can feel it in me water.
I agree Adam but money talks, if we do even that, larger money making clubs will move in on us, we have to match wages to keep the wolves at bay, it will be a hard struggle.but if other clubs fall into problems and cannot pay player’s money we stand a chance, Aston Villa is changing the system by buying cheap and shopping over sea and giving the game back to the fans. In Villa I trust. 🙂