Aston Villa visit champions Manchester United’s Old Trafford tomorrow hoping to confirm their Premier League status for next season.
The Villans are just six points away from the relegation zone but are expected to survive, despite not being expected to pick up any points against top of the table United.
Terrible
Aston Villa have had a terrible season under former-Birmingham boss Alex McLeish.
Villa have struggled for form of any kind this season and I think most Villa fans will be glad to see the back of this season.
Questionable
The appointment of Alex McLeish as their boss has to be questioned. Not only is he a former-Birmingham boss, his team had been relegated just a few months prior to his appointment. His appointment also cost Villa a small fortune.
McLeish’s spell at the club can’t exactly be called a success. I have no doubt that Villa will survive this season in the Premier League but I think most Aston Villa fans would expect far better than being involved in a fight for survival.
Money
Aston Villa have became a selling club in the last few years. The sales of wingers Stewart Downing and Ashley Young last summer was symptomatic of the way the club has been run my chairman Randy Lerner in the last year.
Villa’s American owner is trying to cut costs at the club and that has meant the Villa team being stripped of their top assets. Lerner has pumped money into the club but he is now trying to make the club profitable.
Unfortunately a good team and profits very rarely go together in football. One example of good financial management in the Premier League is Newcastle United. However the Magpies are a rarity in today’s harsh financial times.
Youngsters
The sale of their best players means that Alex McLeish has had to rely on youngsters from the clubs academy. The likes of Nathan Baker, Andreas Weimann and Eric Lichaj have made regular appearances for the first team in recent months.
They are just a few of the youngsters that have been given their chance in the Villans first team this season. With the injuries and squad losses Villa have had to use their youngsters. Some of them may just go on to become regular first team players in years to come.
Future
Villa aren’t in the best shape at moment but their young players have been a shining beacon of hope for them this season. If they keep pushing on like they have done this season then the future could be bright for Villa.
Strengthen
However Alex McLeish needs to heavily strengthen his squad if he is even going to get Villa back into the top ten of the Premier League. Just two years ago under Martin O’Neill Villa were competing for a place in the Champions League and regular qualifiers for Europe.
Aston Villa will have to be very clever in the transfer market this summer if the club is going to progress next season. Villa are a big club but the club no longer has the financial resources to compete for a place in the top six.
It’s going to be tough for Aston Villa to progress next season but the young players coming through the ranks will give Villa fans real hope that their team can enjoy a better campaign next season.
I do however have my doubts about whether Alex McLeish is the right man to help turn the club around and I don’t think he will be the long-term solution to Villa’s problems.
Is Alex McLeish the right man to turn around Villa’s fortunes?
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