Last year, Aston Villa were the underdog story of the Premier League and finished fourth in the standings. However, this year, the Villans have not felt like the same team. Sure, they’re coming off two consecutive wins over Brentford and Southampton and are only two points off their final position from last season, but there was talk coming into the season that Aston Villa might have a chance to contend for more than just a Champions League place.
These last two league wins are coming after a seven game winless run which is eerily similar to what Manchester City have been going through lately. What’s happened to the lovable team from the Midlands? Is this just a bump on the road?
Key Absences Not Ideal
While it may not be an extensive injury list for Aston Villa, that list includes some key contributors for what Aston Villa likes to do. Jacob Ramsey, while close to returning, has been out for a while. He has only made one league appearance for Aston Villa. Contrast that to how he had made 22 league starts for Aston Villa last season. While Ramsey may not exactly light up the score sheet, he eats up minutes and can cause problems for opposing defenders with his tenacity and speed.
Another significant blow to the Aston Villa midfield has been the absence of Leon Bailey. The bright and plucky Jamaican international has been a staple of the midfield for Unai Emry. Bailey is a strong, yet versatile midfielder who can hold up play and deliver a killer ball into the attacking third while also having a great eye for goal. He finished last season with ten goals and nine assists. In his fourteen total appearances, he has only had two assists, but Bailey’s impact on this Aston Villa side is undoubtable.
Champion’s League Fatigue?
With their great finish to last season, Aston Villa have had to add a full Champions League schedule to what is already a congested season for Aston Villa. Villa started their Champion’s League campaign well, but have fallen off since a loss to Club Brugge. Currently, Aston Villa sit at ninth in the Champions League league phase table.
While Aston Villa are doing admirably in their first Champion’s League appearance since the 1992 rebrand, it cannot be helpful to add more games to what is an already packed schedule. With extra games and less time for players to rest, there’s more chance for that form to mess up any momentum that is in the league. A prime example of this is Aston Villa going on a seven game winless run that was snapped by a win over Brentford. Substitution patterns and lineup changes can add extra wrinkles to the multitude of decisions for Unai Emery.
This isn’t Emery’s first rodeo in the Champion’s League. However, each squad presents its own unique challenges. It must be extremely difficult, but there are no sympathy pats in a Premier League season.
There are many nuances to how a team’s season goes in the Premier League, but it can be even more brutal when adding European competitors into the mix. Injuries and being in a competitive league adds insult to injury. Perhaps Aston Villa will improve their fortunes and show that last season’s rewards were well earned.