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2013/14 EPL season preview: Aston Villa

Christian Benteke and Aston Villa in better times.
Expert
14th August, 2013
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Paul Lambert’s young Villa side will certainly be too good to go down – but will they have enough to break into the top ten for the first time in three years?

What happened last season
Defeats to West Ham United and Everton at the start of the season set the tone for a troubled campaign, which saw the Midlands side flirt dangerously close to relegation.

A terrible Christmas period saw Villa concede 15 goals without reply in three games – including an 8-0 drubbing by Chelsea, their worst league defeat in the club’s history.

Throw in the humiliation of losing to League Two side Bradford City in the League Cup semi-finals and Championship outfit Millwall in the FA Cup fourth round, and the 2012/13 campaign would have been a total write-off were it not for a promising finish, which eventually steered the side five points clear of the drop zone for a 15th place finish.

Villa conceded a whopping 69 goals last season – their worst in over a quarter of a century.

That said, American goalkeeper Brad Guzan was without a doubt the club’s best player after striker Christian Benteke – which says it all, really.

Benteke was the saving grace of an otherwise underwhelming campaign, the towering Belgian forward arriving on the cheap from Genk to notch 19 goals in an eye-catching first season in the Premier League.

What happened in the off-season
Most importantly, Benteke withdrew a written transfer request that he issued in early July and signed a new four-year contract at Villa to end speculation surrounding his career.

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Throw in the fact that, for the first time since 2009, the club will start the new season with the same man in charge as the previous campaign, and Villa have enjoyed uncharacteristic stability during the break.

Given Paul Lambert’s side were serious relegation candidates at the start of the year, his continuation at the helm underlines chairman Randy Lerner’s faith in the young Scottish manager and his regeneration project at Villa Park.

Since replacing the much-maligned Alex McLeish ahead of the previous campaign, Lambert has won over the fans at Villa with his clear intention of changing the philosophy at the club by giving youth a chance and encouraging attacking football.

Little seems to have changed, with Lambert eschewing big-name expensive signings in favour of a cluster of young and promising (albeit largely unknown) rising stars.

Ask most football fans and they wouldn’t have heard of the likes of Jores Okore, Antonio Luna, Leandro Bacuna, Alexandar Tonev, Nicklas Helenius and Jed Steer – all of whom are aged 23 or under and largely unproven.

Lambert has also cleared out the older, highly paid players from his squad – the likes of Richard Dunne and Jean Makoun.

Benteke was not the only player to commit his future to the club over the off-season, with Guzan putting pen to paper on a new four-year contract along with a cluster of other first team regulars.

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But the mystery surrounding the club’s record signing Darren Bent continues, with Lambert further ostracising the £24m (AUS$41m) man by forcing him to train with the reserves.

While a buyer may be hard to find, expect the former England international to be shipped out on loan before the window closes.

Why Villa fans should be excited about the 2013/14 season
Villa remain one of the best counter-attacking sides in the league thanks to their pace and distribution.

Besides the brilliant Benteke, forwards Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann scored 16 goals between them last term, while young midfielders Ashley Westwood and Fabian Delph started to form a blossoming partnership in the middle of the park.

Matthew Lowton, an exciting right back with England potential, excelled last year, despite the team’s terrible defensive record.

Captain Ron Vlaar has admitted his back-line needs to do better and, with World Cup places up for grabs, the Dutchman will be determined to improve his partnership with Ireland’s Ciaran Clark in the centre of defence.

New boy Okore could well be one to watch. The 20-year-old Danish international centre-back turned down a chance to join Chelsea before signing for £4m (AUS$6.8) from Nordsjaelland and is known for his pace and aggression.

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What’s more, Spanish left-back Luna should step in for the struggling Joe Bennett so – fingers crossed – Villa should not ship as many goals as they did last year.

While attacking midfielder Bacuna hardly set the world on fire for Groningen in the Dutch Eredivise, lumbering Danish striker Nicklas Helenius could well make a solid impact from the bench.

Standing 6ft 5in tall, the 22-year-old scored two headed goals in his first two pre-season games for Villa – and should Benteke get injured, Helenius may prove to be an able replacement.

The main man that can carry Villa’s 2013/14 hopes
It’s that man Benteke, who pretty much singlehandedly kept Villa in the Premier League last season with his 19 goals and four assists.

Already before Christmas last term, Lambert admitted he had “ran out of things to say about the guy” such were his commanding performances.

The GIF below is a goal scored by Benteke during Villa’s 3-2 win over Malaga last week, with the collision leaving 6’1″ Malaga captain Weligton with a broken collarbone.

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The 22-year-old Belgian international was heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur but decided – perhaps wisely – that at least another full season at Villa would be best, especially in a World Cup year.

At the fulcrum of Villa’s attack, Benteke scored or created 49 percent of the club’s League goals last year.

Reminiscent of a young Didier Drogba, Benteke is powerful in the air, possesses both pace and wonderful physical strength, and his hold-up play is rapidly improving.

Fans will hope a hat-trick against Crewe Alexandra in pre-season shows this is one player who will not be suffering from ‘second season syndrome’.

Verdict
A very tough start – with away games at Arsenal and Chelsea ahead of the first home game of the season against Liverpool, all in the first eight days – means Villa could well find themselves struggling from the outset.

But provided Benteke stays fit, the midfield creates more (with Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland actually deciding to show up) and the defence learns from last season’s horror show, Villa fans should at least be spared another relegation fight.

A lot depends on the fitness and form of star man Benteke – who could score even more goals were Villa to use their wide-man more cunningly (no team produced fewer crosses in the Premier League last year – an indictment to a side boasting such aerial strength up front).

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Last season’s late flourish and the off-season stability should serve Villa well – and as long as they improve their poor home record (just five wins last year) Lambert’s young side should be pressing for mid-table.

But lose Benteke to injury or the mid-season vultures and things could be critical. Unless, of course, Helenius is this year’s Benteke.

Paul Lambert's Aston Villa will be expected to build on their 2012/13 campaign.

Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa will be expected to build on their 2012/13 campaign.

Christian Benteke has signed a new four-year deal at Aston Villa.

Christian Benteke has signed a new four-year deal at Aston Villa.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

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