Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa have been drawn to play West Ham United in the FA Cup third round at Villa Park.
The tie will take place between 9-13 January.
David Michael
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesCast your mind back a few weeks: Aston Villa were sitting in the top four, leading the Champions League table, and the only time some fans mentioned profit and sustainability rules (PSR) was to try and defend the club’s outrageous Champions League ticket prices.
Now, PSR is seemingly being used online to explain everything—from conceding injury-time equalisers to blown leads against relegation candidates and repeated defensive calamities.
Conceding goals in transition from their own corners - what’s that got to do with PSR? That’s pure Keystone Cops territory, and that’s before we even get to Tyrone Mings’ costly lapse in Bruges.
And, suddenly, we’re hearing about missing Douglas Luiz and Moussa Diaby, two victims of PSR. Let’s not be revisionist —both players had indifferent endings to last season. Luiz was replaced with Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley, while Diaby - admittedly not adequately replaced - was struggling for form and reduced to being a bit-part player not befitting his hefty price tag.
Villa have spent heavily in recent seasons, investing £87m in the last transfer window alone on Onana and Ian Maatsen. While PSR limited Villa’s ability to recruit a right-back in the summer, and impeded them from fast-tracking a title challenge this term, it is not responsible for their recent drop-off in form.
Despite starting well with a strengthened squad, Villa’s overall performance levels have been underwhelming this season. Without improvement, a downturn was always on the cards.
In the Premier League, Villa have not beaten any notable teams this season - but they did not need to. Holding on to strong positions in games against Bournemouth, Ipswich, and Crystal Palace would have been enough to keep them in the top four.
There seems to be a worrying trend among players after recently signing new contracts. Who has not dipped in form? Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, Leon Bailey, and Morgan Rogers are all guilty. Meanwhile, the manager’s repeated public claims that Villa are not a top-seven team seem to have become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Ultimately, Villa’s recent slump falls squarely on the shoulders of both the manager and his players, even if it has been hard for some supporters to acknowledge that.
Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external
Image source, Getty ImagesChief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.
Samuel: What an absolutely bizarre and terrible change of fortunes for Aston Villa. First, what do you put Villa's malaise down to? And secondly, do you think that we have the players to get out of it?
Phil: Few things at work here, in my opinion. Villa perhaps have the same problem Newcastle United had last season, in that a Champions League campaign exerts extra physical and mental stresses on their squad, which has led to a drop in form.
Also, Villa were so good and so consistent last season that a dip was inevitable - but remember they are still only four points off the top four despite this run of eight games without a win.
Unai Emery may also have a point when he says Villa are no longer a surprise package any more - teams are ready for them.
But I certainly think they have the manager in Emery to get them out of the current malaise.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Freddie: Most well-rounded performance of the year. Completely dominating one of last year's Champions League qualifying teams shows how far we have come. I'm still not 100% convinced by Sanchez, but that was much better from him and the defence all-round. Champions League here we come?
Josh: There's a real buy-in with Maresca and that kind of commitment to the process will only make the group stronger, for sure. Hopefully they just enjoy it and take it one game at a time. Interesting how all of the noise around our squad size has gone mute. I'll be intrigued to see if fixture congestion and fatigue changes the approach of clubs with hiring decisions.
Chris: While a good overall performance, Cole Palmer still looks leggy and unsure in front of goal. Strong passing showed the team to be well-drilled, but again we lacked a killer instinct. They could have easily conceded three goals themselves and this inconsistency at the back has all too often let them down. They were lucky with Villa.
Les: What a team. We are truly developing into a major threat to the so-called big two or three. In Cole Palmer we have a Rolls Royce player, extremely gifted in all the football arts. But we are more than a one-man team now, positive contributions come from far and wide. It is so good, as a supporter, to be part of this Maresca revolution.
Villa fans
Paul: Terrible. These are mistakes that would be corrected on a primary school pitch. This is more than just a blip in form now. The confidence is sapping away. Emery earns his keep in the next three or four matches, otherwise this season is a write off.
Duncan: Plan A worked for a while. We don't have a plan B or C. We are very predictable, as a number of opposition managers have said. Perhaps try three at the back for a change, with two wing-backs. Morgan Rogers needs a rest but Emery seems too scared to drop him. Are we worried or is this our level and prior to this we were big overachievers?
Cassie: The truth hurts... and the truth is Villa are a mediocre team. We don't have the quality in depth. We are a mid-table team. Unai Emery needs to buy a striker in January. If he, for whatever reason, sticks with Ollie Watkins, we will be lucky to finish in the top 10.
Tony: Eight matches without a win is a stark reality and clearly points to the need to shake things up. The two home matches this week are critical for our confidence in the rest of this season.
Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Sunday's four Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.
If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.
And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.
Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa are already contending with a run of poor form, as they face the challenge of combining Champions League demands with their domestic programme.
Their first campaign in Europe's top club competition since 1983 has been a success so far, but it is understandable that, at this stage of the season, they are struggling to balance that with the rigours of the most competitive domestic league in football.
Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez had a rare bad day, losing the ball in his own area and giving away a indirect free-kick eight yards out after a mix-up with defender Pau Torres.
The World Cup-winner then injured his hand when dealing with a mistake in a challenge with Nicolas Jackson.
That only adds to Unai Emery's woes, as he looks to turn around the club's fortunes.
Robin Olsen, who came on for Martinez, could now get a run in the team - and has big shoes to fill - if the two-time world goalkeeper of the year is out for any length of time.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa captain John McGinn has been speaking to Sky Sports after the away defeat: "We went behind from a goal that will be painful for us to watch back. We didn't capitalise on our chances to equalise. We are in a tough moment as a group so it is important for us to stick together, don't let what we have built break, take responsibility, take the criticism that will probably come our way and look to Wednesday."
"We have still got an opportunity to do something really special this season. We have a game on Wednesday and then on Saturday, so we have to turn it around quickly."
On whether being in the Champions League is affecting their form: "I'm not sure it can be an excuse because we had a more difficult turnaround last season.
"The Conference League games - Thursday to Sunday - are much more difficult to recover from. It is an easy excuse, but not one we want to use.
"We know we are good enough to compete and get results like this. We need to get back to the levels we have reached over the last few seasons."
