What a difference a few weeks make. At the start of the season, Aston Villa looked set to have a poor one. Despite making it to the playoffs last season, the Villains started the campaign poorly, and enthusiasm amongst the fans and seemingly the players was at an all-time low.
Bruce just wasn’t having the magical effect that a manager needs to be able to produce, and so it looked set to end in disaster.
Villa, though, decided to make a decision and move Bruce on – and boy are they better for it.
Fast forward a few weeks and they’re now enjoying a three-game league winning run, and they’re beginning to look like the team that impressed so much last season.
A title challenge could be a step too far this year, but another promotion push? That’s already in their reach, and with the might of Dean Smith behind them, anything is possible.
It won’t be easy for them, but a promotion push is well within the realms of possibility for Aston Villa this season – and that’s a far cry from what looked likely under Bruce.
Whilst Aston Villa’s recent run is short, the quality on display is evident. They haven’t just won games, they’ve done so with poise and class, and they’ve already performed far better than Villa fans had seen in the preceding months leading into Steve Bruce’s departure. Their big win against Derby was a real statement of intent, whilst their recent tie against Birmingham proved that they’re up to any challenge. It’s early days, of course, but the signs so far are good.
The quality of the players on display at Aston Villa, and the fact that many of them have finally found their feet this season, also bodes well. Tammy Abraham is the obvious choice, but that only tells part of the story. With his six goals this term, it’s clear that Villa have a forward capable of leading the charge back to the Premier League, but in the like of Axel Tuanzebe, they’ve got a defender capable of holding the fort at the back, and he’s just one example. That’s without considering Jack Grealish, too, who on his day is undeniably one of the best players in the Championship.
Add to that the quality of the management at the club, with Dean Smith and even John Terry having plenty to offer, and Aston Villa could have the perfect concoction of skills to be able to get where they want to be.
You also can’t underestimate the importance of the new life that has been breathed into Villa Park. Smith has been a breath of fresh air, and he’s really brought back the enthusiasm at Villa. Without that positivty, nothing is really achievable, and with players not fighting for the manager and the badge, pursuits will often end in failure. However, when a squad is united and aiming for the same goal, wonderful things can happen.
It won’t be easy for them, but a promotion push is well within the realms of possibility for Aston Villa this season – and that’s a far cry from what looked likely under Bruce.
Thoughts?
