Villa predictions for 2012/13 (fans & media)

[Concrete John]

I'd be surprised if we finished bottom half.  We'll play an attacking game to get the best out of Bent, so as long as the defence isn't awful that should be enough for 10th at least, IMO.

After that I think we need a great season out of one or more of Gabby, N'Zogbia or Ireland to propel us anything past 8th.

[serbentoflight]

Premier League 9th - and top midlands side - Some great 3-0 wins  and a couple of stonking 4-5 defeats.
FA Cup - 4th (losing to someone we should beat hands down)
League Cup - Quarters.

A decent, 'rebuilding' year.

[willywombat]

I fully expect a slow start and the reappearance of Gregnash and Villafirst et al before we turn things around and charge up the table to a respectable 8th place finish and a decent FA Cup run

[dicedlam]

9th and above the baggies by 15 points!

[citizenDJ]

I think we'll finish somewhere around 10th, and that would represent a pretty good season in my view, establishing a new core group of players along the way and leaving us well-placed for next summer to, once more, add a few quality signings.

But mostly, I think we won't be shit to watch every week and that will also make me happy.

[N'ZMAV]

Anywhere in the top ten will be a bonus. Some things will improve right away, like our defending from set-plays, as it can't be as bad, surely? But, a lot of people are expecting big things quite soon. I think we'll be in for a '5-year-plan' sort of thing...

[supertom]

We need 2-3 more players in key positions to have enough depth and quality. Initially I thought we could finish top 8, but the injuries to Gabby and Dunne just drive home the point that we don't have enough cover if first teamers are out. Taking that in mind I'll take a top 10 right now.

Depending on who else comes in, injuries etc, we'll finish 8th-12th I reckon. Probably 10th if I'm gonna be specific.
We'll see but there's 3 weeks left to get in some more players. Goals will be a problem so another forward is needed.

[pedro25]

9th, but we'll overtake Everton and Newcastle the following season.

[Matt C]

Somewhere between 8th-12th depending on who else we sign, injuries and luck but it will be infinitely more entertaining and pleasurable to watch.

[luke25]

Give it a go in every match (including cups) and i'll happily take 10th.

[Matt Collins]

About 10th for me too, but with plenty of positive signs. Last year's top 4 plus Chelsea, Liverpool and probably Newcastle should all finish top seven.

I think we may get off to a slowish start tho. I have a very strong feeling we'll lose v west Ham for example, with a defence trying to find it's feet, and the bannan / KEA partnership being out muscled - I think that's the last weekend of Ramadam!

[Mortimer's Bear]

Top ten, nothing spectacular but a new brand of attacking football and I'll be happy.

I really hope we improve our home form, was an absolute embarrassment last term.

[Hookeysmith]

Euro football at the end of it by whichever way it comes

\Just nice to have the feeling that whoever / wherever we play we will try to win the game - we might get beat, we might even get gubbed (Norwich last season conceded 3 or more goals in a game 7 times - FFS one of them was us!) but just to have that feeling that the team will try to win

This was the thing that sapped the life blood out of me last eyar

[Matt Collins]

I think an expectation of euro football is precisely the sort of over optimism that Stuart James is talking about in his article. Doesn't that mean a top 6 finish or winning a cup?

That would be fantastic but surely the upper limit of what might be possible?

[Rob92]

I agree what was said about us actually trying to win games. Man City at home for example, we're always likely to lose but I'd rather go for it and lose 3-1 than play like mice and lose 1-0. I don't expect us to win every game and I know there are games we're highly unlikely to win, but the manner of some of our defeats last season was an absolute disgrace.

Also, I'd argue that Europe should always be the aim for a club like us, but obviously we have to be realistic and know that it's not likely this season. Within the next 3-5 years it should be the aim for us to be there or there abouts when it comes to EL qualification.