Hopes & expectations for 2024/25 Season

[Brazilian Villain]

I fancy Arsenal to win the league next year as well.

[ChicagoLion]

My fear is that we are not as good as with the Kamara Luiz Midfield. So I am not sure we can hit the level of the 2023 team. We have a deeper squad but without a better RB, CB and back up centre forward we will find the League a lot tougher.
The first 2 games could have a huge impact on our PL season. Win them both and we are challenging the Top 3 again. Momentum is everything.

[Paul.S]

I think we’ve got better quality on the bench now but need another couple of potential first teamers to have a chance of replicating last season.
A centre half and a wide forward with pace have to be the targets now. It’ll cost but if we want to progress then we’ll have to fork out for them.

[kippaxvilla2]

I was full of hopes and expectations until the US tour took place.

[ozzjim]

7th, last 24, QF, Final.

Sign a really top quality 10 and a mobile, aerially strong centre half, push for 4th again.

[eamonn]

I was full of hopes and expectations until the US tour took place.

Now, now, don't be like that.

[Bad English]

I can only hope that we are always demanding, imposing our style, in our way, with the fans, achieving like we were doing last season with respect and improving some things.

[Dogtanian]

I do think that the US tour really has highlighted the centre-back issue.

We went there with two centre-backs, plus two young prospects. We then lost one of them half way through the second game, leaving us with just one.

Yes, we have Konsa coming back, Mings at some point too. But if we could splash the cash and bring in a centre back who strengthens the first 11, that would be massive.

[Brend'Watkins]

I would be disappointed with anything less than 4th.  We need to kick on and will do so if we can stay relatively injury free. Getting into the knock out of the CL would be a big bonus and should be our aim.

[eamonn]

I can only hope that we are always demanding, imposing our style, in our way, with the fans, achieving like we were doing last season with respect and improving some things.

Unai, you're so boring. Change the record. Start being funny and get us losing all the time.

[Skerra]

Unless we sign a couple of top notch players, I think anything 7th or upwards would be an achievement. Can’t see us getting too far in the CL as last season we struggled a bit in the 3rd tier competition so think CL will be a step too far. If we’re really serious about winning a trophy, the easiest one is the League Cup. The FA Cup, Probably go out in the 4th round as we usually don’t take that too seriously.
Let’s wait and see but, so far, I’m not that encouraged by our signings and don’t think they strengthen us to any degree.

[Beard82]

My hope is that we can secure Champions League football, I think that would be an even greater achievement than last season.

Most likely I think we will finish 6-7th.  I think our starting lineup as it stands is weaker than last year's and we're asking a lot of young new signings and those returning from injury.   Hopefully, it is a step back to build more solid foundations, rather than the peak of our achievements. 

But with Unai, there's always hope and he has exceeded every expectation set of him to date. 

[Hookeysmith]

I was full of hopes and expectations until the US tour took place.

This is the Villa curse

1996 - 4th in league, playing great football, Semi final FA cup and trounced the favourites Leeds in LC final.

Thought we were one maybe two players away from challenging for the league and could not wait for 96/97 season to start.

We buy Curcic to be the #10 to really compliment the group.

Little leaves, Curcic went mental, Doug brings in Collymore and the momentum was lost - never been so deflated.

Now we and some of the media have an expectation on us - we crumble like a cheap suit.

Really hope this time is different. It was not the losses but more the way we sort of did not give a toss and some of tyhe defensive play was criminal.

[chrisw1]

Securing a second season of CL football would do me.  It's about firmly establishing ourselves as one of the elite teams, beginning to close the financial gap, continuing to build the squad, retaining our best players and attracting quality additions.

A trophy would be nice, but I think the best route to that is staying at the top table.

Expectation - 7/8th.  I think our starting 11 / first sub is weaker without Luiz, Diaby and with Kamara injured.  We're still far too reliant on Ollie.

edit - so pretty much as per Beards thoughts.

[Risso]

I hope for:

League: top 4 again
Champions League: Get past the first group phase
FA Cup: semi finals at least please
League Cup: just at least take it semi seriously

Expectations - genuinely don't know. I think we absolutely have to get another top class forward in, but it's gone a bit quiet on that front.