Club guide: Aston Villa
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Your support makes all the difference.Title: 250-1 Relegation: 40-1 Sack Race: n/a
Transfers
IN
None
total spent: £0m
OUT
N Shorey (West Brom, £1.5m), M Harewood (Blackpool, free), S O’Halloran (Coventry, free), W Bouma, A Marshall (both released)
total made: £1.5m
Player to watch
Gabriel Agbonlahor. Ignored all year by Fabio Capello, the striker has much to prove. His pace and goalscoring can still be huge assets.
Squad worries
As Martin O’Neill found, the need to balance the books means losing players like James Milner and finding cheaper replacements. Not easily done.
Manager speak
Kevin MacDonald has stepped up from reserve-team duty as caretaker after O’Neill resigned over the lack of transfer funds.
Story of the summer
Not great. O’Neill’s disappearing act earlier this week has left most Villa fans feeling lost. MacDonald knows some of the younger players from the reserves, so all may not be lost.
Last season 6th
Two good cup runs but not enough points or goals at home.
This season 8th
Maintaining morale and top-six place are tricky for new gaffer.
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