It has been a welcome return of Premier League football at Villa Park this season, but Aston Villa will be hoping that they can continue to play their football in the top flight again next season. Much of the summer business that was done before the start of the campaign was geared towards achieving survival in the Premier League, and they haven’t been cut adrift so the Villa will be hoping that they can pick up vital points between now and the end of the season.
Grealish’s Form
Jack Grealish has been instrumental so far this season, and any hope that the club have of keeping hold of him will likely centre around Villa staying in the Premier League next season. In the short-term, his main objective will be steering his boyhood club away from the relegation places. If the captain was to get injured at any point this season, then it would immediately damage their hopes of staying up. It could damage them that severely that it could be the final nail in the coffin.
Everything good that the Villa creates in the final third involves Grealish, and that is highlighted by his returns this season. He has scored seven goals and made five assists this season, and he could easily have played his way into England contention for the summer. If the Villa are to stay up, then Grealish will have a massive impact.
Goalscorer
The signing of Wesley didn’t work out as much as many had hoped, but his injury will mean that there is a void left in the central striker position. The Villa doesn’t have an embarrassment of riches in that department. The club made a move for Oliver Giroud in the winter transfer window, but Frank Lampard knocked back the offer and admitted that he would be staying at the club.
The Villa instead moved for Mbwana Samatta. He joined the club from Genk, and became the first player to sign for a Premier League club from Tanzania. He has proven pedigree in front of goal, and had scored seven goals in 20 games for Genk this season. The step-up into the Premier League is a significant one, but any hope the Villa have of staying up will hinge on their ability to put the ball in the back of the net.
Defensive Solidity
All good teams are built on a strong backline, and many believed that Villa would have had the defensive unit to be safe this season. However, only Norwich City have conceded more than the 45 conceded by the Villa this season. Dean Smith has allied these fears by changing the system, with Villa now playing three at the back. The signing of Pepe Reina will also ensure that the Villa are stronger at the back, but the number of goals they are conceding will need to stop in order for the Midlands giants to stay up this season.
