Champions League Contention

[Footy-Vill]

20/21 is wrong mate. We weren't 4th after 16 games, we were 11th.

But we were.
4th on 29pts after 16 matches played.
Finished the season on 55pts and 11th

[Footy-Vill]

Asked if his players can deal with heightened title talk surrounding Villa, Emery replied: “Yes, it is better for us. We are there because we deserve it. They are going to speak more about us. It is still going to be the same message I am sending them, sending you [the media] and to the supporters. We have to be excited, we have to be motivated. We are now in third but there are still seven teams who are bigger contenders than us to be in the top seven. If we are getting to the 30th or 32nd game of the season, in the same position, I can send another message.”

[Smirker]

20/21 is wrong mate. We weren't 4th after 16 games, we were 11th.

But we were.
4th on 29pts after 16 matches played.
Finished the season on 55pts and 11th

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Aston_Villa_F.C._season

You can see our position after each match day here.

https://www.football365.com/premier-league/table

20th January 2021 was the date we'd played 16 games.

[Risso]

20/21 is wrong mate. We weren't 4th after 16 games, we were 11th.

But we were.
4th on 29pts after 16 matches played.
Finished the season on 55pts and 11th

Really don't know what you're looking at there Footy, we only had 26 points after 16 games, and as Smirker says we were 11th.

[tomd2103]

As boring as it sounds, just one game at a time for me.

We are posting on an 'internet forum'; we don't have to worry about what people think if it doesn't happen. Why not let yourself dream a little?

It's not the case of what other people think, I couldn't care less. I just prefer taking each game as it comes.

I'm the same, I'm not letting myself get too carried away at the moment.  I've seen us be in two proper title races over the years (89/90 and 92/93) and it wasn't really until the end of January where it felt like we were really proper challengers.

The four remaining fixtures this year are pretty favourable so we could well go into 2024 top of the league.   

[OCD]

Presently 4/5 odds on to finish top 4.

71 points has been 4th last two seasons. 22 games to get another 36 points. Still think it's a tall ask. Really hope likes of Moreno and Ramsey can give us a boost over the next number of weeks. Bailey and Tielemans have picked it up a lot.

We currently have a Points per Game (PPG) of 2.11, I think it is. To get 22 points from 36 games is 1.6 points per game. Emery's been averaged 2 points per game since he became manager.

[OCD]

As boring as it sounds, just one game at a time for me.

We are posting on an 'internet forum'; we don't have to worry about what people think if it doesn't happen. Why not let yourself dream a little?

It's not the case of what other people think, I couldn't care less. I just prefer taking each game as it comes.

I'm the same, I'm not letting myself get too carried away at the moment.  I've seen us be in two proper title races over the years (89/90 and 92/93) and it wasn't really until the end of January where it felt like we were really proper challengers.

The four remaining fixtures this year are pretty favourable so we could well go into 2024 top of the league.   

Our away form is what stops me from getting carried away. That needs to improve if we want to give it a real go. Let's see how we do at Brentford and United, those will be good tests to see whether we can or not. United are a mess and a Emery tactics masterclass might be on there but we've always struggled at Brentford.

[Risso]

Agreed OCD, even Emery mentioned this week that our away form needs to improve.

[tomd2103]

Agreed OCD, even Emery mentioned this week that our away form needs to improve.

I just think we need to tighten up.in the tougher away games and have the ability to scrap out wins even when we aren't playing well. 

If I was an opposition manager, I'd be telling the players to get about us at every opportunity as there are a few in the side who aren't comfortable when it comes to that kind of game.  When you look at the great top flight sides over the years, they all have had that steely core of players who could mix it when the going got tough.  I think that is the mindset we need to develop away from home when we are up against it a bit.

[Footy-Vill]

I'm getting Leicester City season  winning vibes.
I know that was a terrible season for ourselves but the teams up the other end were a season when it was there for the taking.

Could it be happening again?

[Monty]

I'm getting Leicester City season  winning vibes.
I know that was a terrible season for ourselves but the teams up the other end were a season when it was there for the taking.

Could it be happening again?

We can but dream.

[Smirker]

I'm getting Leicester City season  winning vibes.
I know that was a terrible season for ourselves but the teams up the other end were a season when it was there for the taking.

Could it be happening again?

For me it feels like the playoff season where we just kept hitting every target on that winning run and got to where we wanted to be.

I wouldn't compare us to Leicester because the 7 time champions winning their 8th is not the same as a small club winning their first. Obviously both incredible achievements considering how the game is now but I've always felt we had the potential to be at the top again. I don't think you cna say the same for Leicester.

[Footy-Vill]

I'm getting Leicester City season  winning vibes.
I know that was a terrible season for ourselves but the teams up the other end were a season when it was there for the taking.

Could it be happening again?

For me it feels like the playoff season where we just kept hitting every target on that winning run and got to where we wanted to be.

I wouldn't compare us to Leicester because the 7 time champions winning their 8th is not the same as a small club winning their first. Obviously both incredible achievements considering how the game is now but I've always felt we had the potential to be at the top again. I don't think you cna say the same for Leicester.

That is an excellent point. Just considering there's an opportunity rather than a complete comparison as clubs.

However, I believe there was a space left by Leicester's exit from the Premier League, given they had been challenging for a top-four spot in recent seasons.
And were unlucky not to place fourth or higher a couple of times.
It eventually took its toll, they became stale, and fell.

Our structure, on the other hand, is all about the upward trajectory, long-term consistency and winning and staying at the top table.

[Footy-Vill]

Aston Villa have earned 35+ points after 16 games of a top-flight campaign for the fifth time (counting 3pts per win all-time)

1898-99 - Champions
1899-00 - Champions
1910-11 - 2nd
1980-81 - Champions

[DrGonzo]

Definitely in contention for top 4.  I'm too Villa to consider the league as realistic prospect, we need to become a better team away from home.  Although the result away at Bournemouth is beginning to look better by the game.  3 wins and a draw out of that run of games is beyond my wildest expectations, never would have thought we could beat both City and Arsenal in one week.  Heady times, indeed.

UTV