As the question says what would be acceptable, I have voted 9 - 12th, as a club like Villa should not be finishing any lower than that. However, in terms of what I expect, I will be pleased and surprised if we stay up. We have a very weak squad and we needed solid performers, not unproven and inexperienced players. I would have been really happy with this transfer policy if we still had the likes of Young and Downing because, like many, I am absolutely fed up with bloated wages and egos in the game. I really, really hope I'm wrong and that we've signed some Ian Taylors and will be comfortable, but it just feels so wrong that we are reduced to the point of accepting survival, abetter style of football and mid table a few years in the future as enough. I can reluctantly accept in the ebb and flow of football that we've slipped behind Spurs and Everton, but how we have been allowed to drop well below Fulham, Stoke and West Brom is mystifying and utterly disheartening. As I say, I hope I'm wrong and if anyone wants to resurrect this post in March to tell me i was just a miserable git, I will be as delighted as the majority who appear to have more faith than me.
