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Aston Villa's Premier League fate seems all but sealed if they lose to Southampton, says Jeff Stelling
Earlier this week Dean Saunders described Saturday's Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Southampton as one of Villa's biggest games ever and I don't think that's an exaggeration when you look at their results across the season.
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Comments (10)
Simon H (Aston Villa fan) says...
Jeff, While I agree that Villa need to buy some experienced players you also need to do some homework in regards to injured players. At the moment the following are injured Bent (taken off against Bradford and missed Xmas period), Albrighton, Westwood, Vlarr, Dunne, Petrov and Gardner. Also take in to account that over the last few months Agbonlahor, Ireland and nZogbia have been out injured then that is a majority of the experience players in the squad. Only Newcastle have more 1st team players out injured at the moment.
Posted 09:20 11th January 2013
Richard Gatehouse (Aston Villa fan) says...
Couldnt agree more ! Season ticket holder for 15 years and this is the worst team I've seen down villa park in that time.
Posted 23:33 10th January 2013
Anthony King (Aston Villa fan) says...
"I don't buy the explanation that Villa are struggling because they have a whole raft of players on the treatment table" - then you haven''t watched much of Villa this season. We lack in all the areas there are injuries, especially at the back hence the 21 goals we've conceded in the last six. This Villa team with the leadership of Dunne, Vlaar and Petrov wouldn't be in anything like the trouble they are in now that's for sure..
Posted 23:17 10th January 2013
Tim Bridges (Aston Villa fan) says...
Really! Villa could lose against Southampton and stay above relegation places. We are in for tough season with young players and new manager but long way to go. Could be much worse could be rock bottom of league 1!
Posted 20:19 10th January 2013
Callum Ellis! (Aston Villa fan) says...
I agree with what you have said Jeff... Simple as it gets. Lerner has to spend a HUGE sum of money to keep us up... Im talking £50million plus in a transfer window that is hard to get players in. Rumours on Villas site that there is NO money to spend! haha, Villa are as good as down.... Lerner out!! Sick of excuses. The bloke hasnt got a clue how to run a football club
Posted 18:17 10th January 2013
Alan Joyce (Aston Villa fan) says...
If you watched any Villa matches last season you would know why Hutton and Warnock are as far away from the club as possible. It's funny, pundits all over the country are quick to criticise Lambert and his reluctance to revert back to the more senior squad players, but when England play and underperform the very same pundits are calling for the old guard to be replaced by the kids to 'build for the future'. Granted England can't get relegated, but I also don't believe Villa's premier league survival hinges on this weekend's match against Southampton. Villa are the kind of team this year who will lose to Reading one week and beat Man City the next. It's a sign that the club is in transition. Whilst this has seemingly been the message the club has been feeding to the fans each year since Martin O'Neill's departure, stability with the same manager and keeping faith with the kids rather than panic buying surely has to be the right way forward.
Posted 16:56 10th January 2013
Paul Kellas (Aston Villa fan) says...
Absolutely word perfect on the Villa situation Geoff - unfortunately!
Posted 16:31 10th January 2013
Jason Darmon (Everton fan) says...
looks like aston villa, reading and qpr are going down then, everton for champions league!
Posted 16:06 10th January 2013
Alex Gregory (Aston Villa fan) says...
It's a valid point, if we loose to Southampton at the weekend we will go two points behind with only 16 games to play, no team in the history of football has ever overturned such a massive deficit.
Posted 15:19 10th January 2013
Herman Herman (Aston Villa fan) says...
While I do understand the comments that are made here I don't see a loss automaticlly meaning relegation for Villa. In reality QPR and Reading will be relegated so it is that 3rd spot all teams are trying to avoid. If we get some defensive players in or back from injury I think we will pick up more points than those around us. But it is going to be between us, Wigan, Southampton and Sunderland but don't rule Newcastle out of it just yet. Interesting few months ahead. Let's hope we are still in the EPL come August!
Posted 14:31 10th January 2013