Where will Villa finish 2025/26

[Dave]

Boring set of BBC bastards.  Not sure why they all seem so certain that Chelsea are so certain of a top 4 finish either, us, Spurs or Newcastle could easily finish above them.

It's probably because they were last season's top four and they've all massively strengthened, while the teams immediately behind them haven't.

[cdbearsfan]

I've been screenshotting VillaTim posts and sending them to Joe Hart as punishment. That'll teach him.

[PeterWithesShin]

I reckon most of us would have those 4 as the most likely top 4. Hopefully at least one of them implodes this season.

[PaulWinch again]

Yup I’d say they’re all massively likely.

[Somniloquism]

Boring set of BBC bastards.  Not sure why they all seem so certain that Chelsea are so certain of a top 4 finish either, us, Spurs or Newcastle could easily finish above them.

It's probably because they were last season's top four and they've all massively strengthened, while the teams immediately behind them haven't.

Yep. I do have to state thatv unliike in other years, I can't see those not being the top four. Maybe Arteta has shown one too many lightbulbs and his player brains have collapsed, maybe it turns out Maresca is shit in the second season at a club, maybe the charges do come out and Citeh are punished. But without something massively out of the blue, you can't see anything else. Just the actual order of the four.

[Demitri_C]

8th to 10th me thinks

My thoughts too

[Somniloquism]

8th to 10th me thinks

Out of interest, the top 4 are set in stone but which other 3-5 teams are finishing above us in the league?

[SoccerHQ]

Last season I went for 7th.

This season I go for.....7th.

It is hard to see us finishing below that as we still retain some very good players. Our midfield unit is comfortably top 6 level and we need to keep them all fit.

Watkins looking sharp in pre season, hopefully Rogers goes back central and interested how we set up wide.

Our main weakness is obviously the right side of the defence but surely with 40m coming in we can make at least one signing now in that area.

Also think Emi will be more focused than last year in a World Cup season.

Can't see all of Man. United, Spurs, Brighton and Newcastle finishing above us if people are predicting 10th or 11th. We didn't collapse last year despite all the extra european games so don't really see it happening this year.

We will though be a fair way off top 4 so think from March the avenue to CL becomes all on the Europa league which will be interesting to watch how we cope with that expectation.

[PeterWithesShin]

Assuming they are top 4 and England get the 5th place then the race for 5th is interesting to think who is the most likely to get it.

Us and Newcastle are the most likely but they have CL and no striker currently, we know our potential issues. Forest I reckon will be mis table so that leaves whether Spurs or ManU get their shit together or will someone else emerge from the pack.

For me the 5th place is currently the most interesting debate, and not just because it includes us. Top 4 is probably set and I couldn't give a shit which of them wins it or finishes 2/3/4. Bottom 3 likely to be the 3 that came up. So that leaves 5th and the other European place(s) in the league as an actual race.

[Demitri_C]

8th to 10th me thinks

Out of interest, the top 4 are set in stone but which other 3-5 teams are finishing above us in the league?

I have it like this
1. Liverpool
2 City
3 Chelsea
4 Arsenal
5. Manure (no europe and i expect them to sign a keeper which massively  improves them)
6. Spurs
7. Newcastle
8 Villa

[PeterWithesShin]

Phil McNulty

[IFWaters]

I do love a stat. The top 4 being the same as the top 4 the season before has happened 4 times in the last 20 years, and in the same order hasn't happened at all.

Put another way, there's an 80% chance it won't be the same. So I'm going for us to break into the top 4 again. Spurs and Man Utd to be better than last year but still works in progress, Newcastle to struggle to cover all their games.

No CL this year and I think we will see more of a cup team alternating with league team as the earlier stages will be easier. We have a stable, experienced team and 1 or 2 loans can fill gaps.

1 of last year's top 4 will fuck it up and I think we will pick them off.

[Brazilian Villain]

For me the 5th place is currently the most interesting debate, and not just because it includes us. Top 4 is probably set and I couldn't give a shit which of them wins it or finishes 2/3/4.

That's why I went for 5th. Hopefully Newcastle will struggle with having Champs League, and I couldn't see anyone else that will definitely finish above us. Obviously avoiding major injuries will be a factor too.

[andyh]

I don’t see how Newcastle ‘will struggle’ with CL games, but we won’t with our EL games ?
The same pressure is on both teams to play the same number of group games.

[PeterWithesShin]

I don’t see how Newcastle ‘will struggle’ with CL games, but we won’t with our EL games ?
The same pressure is on both teams to play the same number of group games.

In theory they'll be unable to rotate as much as they'll be playing stronger opponents, while we can field out U15s against the Dog n Duck from Luxembourg, And they currently have no striker.