Ante-post

English Premier League – Top 6 Finish
£20 Aston Villa @ 5.1 Betfair Exchange

Aston Villa were 5/4 for a top 6 finish not much more than a week ago.
1 away defeat later and their price has gone out to 4/1. This is a massive knee jerk reaction and an over reaction in my book.
Granted it will have come as a shock to many that the team lacked a striker and 6 of the starters from the Europa League final were missing, having exited the club or having one foot our the door.
But it wasn’t so much of a shock to Villa fans – at least not all of us. We’ve seen early season issues before with the transfer window disruption affecting the on field performances.
But a closer look at the squad and for me, I think there’s a decent chance of Villa maintaining at least a semblance of last season’s form.
Gomez, was in a relegated side granted, but he’s numbers were decent and he looked good preseason. One shocker can be forgiven. Kamara is top top class and was missing for the last half of last season, he is like a new signing. Add to the fact that the midfield could be seeing Leon Goretzka joining very soon and the departure of Youri Tielemans might not be as impactful as could have been.
Of the forwards Morgan Rogers is world class and will certainly be hard to replace but at the same time he was inconsistent and Villa have brought in 20 year old Johan Manzambi who already looks a very good player and could progress to anything. Then there’s Brian Madjo up front – whether or not Villa swap Watkins for someone else and downgrade, there’s still going to be this 17 year old giant, who already looks a scary proposition for defenders waiting in the wings.
Losing Konsa is a blow for sure – but Villa do now have the funds to go and get someone else in at centre back.
Martinez leaving would also be a big blow, but again they’ve already brought in Zion Suzuki who is regarded as one of the best and most promising young goalkeepers in world football.
So in short from the outside it looks like the team has been disassembled and torn apart, but to Emery and those at the club who have had these transfer targets since long before this window, its just part of an overhaul that was always planned.