With the 2015/16 English Premier League season a matter of weeks away, Richard Jolly provides his thoughts on each of the 20 teams and predicts their final league finish. Here he looks at Aston Villa.
After the heady days of his bright start, Tim Sherwood has been given a crash course in the difficulties of managing Villa. Owner Randy Lerner has again failed to sell the club. The 4-0 FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal was an unpleasant reminder of the gulf that separates them from the best. The summer transfer market has illustrated that his premier players can be tempted elsewhere. Sherwood needs a new spine to his side after Fabian Delph performed a U-turn to join Manchester City, Liverpool plucked Christian Benteke from Villa’s grasp and their best defender, Ron Vlaar, left on a free transfer. At least Sherwood was able to replace him similarly cheaply in Micah Richards while Jordan Amavi is the new £10 million (Dh57.2m) left-back. But while Villa have a surfeit of attacking midfielders and wingers, with Jack Grealish the most exciting, Benteke leaves a huge hole to fill in a side short of regular scorers. Much rests on Jordan Ayew, who has been bought, and prospective signings Rudy Gestede and Emmanuel Adebayor. Sherwood’s more enterprising brand of football has helped win over the supporters but the next process, which is vital if Villa are to avoid a sixth successive relegation battle, is to win in front of them more often. Their total of 20 home league victories in the last four seasons is dismal.
Key Man: Micah Richards – The England international has a career to rebuild after three injury-hit years. A switch back to centre-back, where he played in his younger days for Manchester City, is another test.
Pivotal Signing: Idrissa Gueye – The £9 million midfielder is Villa's biggest signing for four years. He arrives with the added pressure of replacing both Tom Cleverley and Delph.
Crucial Factor: Goals. Villa averaged under one a game in Paul Lambert's reign and mustered a mere 12 in 25 league matches before his sacking last season. Sherwood made them more prolific but, with Benteke's future uncertain, the risk is that Villa stop scoring again.
Prediction: 17
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