When Steven Gerrard agreed to leave Rangers for Aston Villa last November, it was a decision made with the intention of eventually re-establishing the West Midlands outfit as a club who can challenge for European football every season.
However, while Villa have occasionally shown promise under the guidance of the England legend, they ultimately ended last season in 14th position in the Premier League standings, an underwhelming end to Gerrard's opening seven months in charge.
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Despite having only won 10 of his 28 matches in charge, Gerrard will be provided with the time and patience required to give Villa the best chance possible of gatecrashing the top seven, something which is far from agiven due to the improvements made at West Ham United and Newcastle United.
Nevertheless, further foundations have been laid by Gerrard and the club's owners, with statements being made in the transfer market and by Gerrard's decision-making behind the scenes.
Ahead of their fourth consecutive season back in the top flight, Sports Mole takes a look to their upcoming campaign.
FIXTURES
Villa have been handed an opening fixture away at Bournemouth, the second successive year that they have faced a newly-promoted side on their travels having suffered defeat against Watford at the start of last season.
After a favourable start, Villa then face West Ham United, Arsenal and Manchester City in consecutive fixtures, with a Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest taking place on October 8.
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At the turn of the year after the World Cup, Villa have a triple-header with Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers, while the reverse fixture with champions Man City at the Etihad Stadium comes in February.
In their concluding 10 games, Villa face trips to Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, with a home encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion representing their final fixture of the season.
> Click here to see all of Aston Villa's 2022-23 fixtures
SUMMER SIGNINGS
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In
Philippe Coutinho (£17m, Barcelona)
Boubacar Kamara (free, Marseille)
Diego Carlos (£26m, Sevilla)
Robin Olsen (£3m, Roma)
Ludwig Augustinsson (loan, Sevilla)
Out
Matt Targett (£15m, Newcastle United)
Conor Hourihane (free, Derby County)
Indiana Vassilev (loan, Inter Miami)
Finley Thorndike (free, Birmingham City)
Lovre Kalinic (free, Hajduk Split)
Trezeguet (£3.6m, Trabzonspor)
Finn Azaz (loan, Plymouth Argyle)
Louie Barry (loan, MK Dons)
Wesley (loan, Levante)
Total spent to date: £46m
Total received to date: £18.6m
Net transfer balance: -£27.4m
SQUAD
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Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Robin Olsen, Jed Steer
Defenders: Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers, Kortney Hause, Lucas Digne, Ludwig Augustinsson, Ashley Young, Matty Cash,
Midfielders: Douglas Luiz, Boubacar Kamara, Marvelous Nakamba, John McGinn, Jacob Ramsey, Morgan Sanson, Carney Chukwuemeka,
Forwards: Leon Bailey, Philippe Coutinho, Emiliano Buendia, Bertrand Traore, Ollie Watkins, Danny Ings, Cameron Archer
STRONGEST XI
STAR PLAYER - Philippe Coutinho
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Securing a loan deal for Philippe Coutinho was a coup in itself, but eventually signing the Brazilian playmaker on a permanent deal from Barcelona was another.
There will be those who will feel justified when doubting whether the 30-year-old can recapture the form of his Liverpool days after a stop-start few years at Camp Nou and the Allianz Arena with Bayern Munich.
However, Coutinho chipped in with five goals and three assists during the second half of last season, hitting the ground running and remaining fit when things could have transpired far differently.
Villa have numerous key men in various areas of the pitch, but Coutinho sprinkles the stardust on this team. If he can double his number of goals and assists, as well as avoid any significant injuries, then Villa should be looking at a top-half finish.
MANAGER - Steven Gerrard
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When presented with the chance of leaving a successful Rangers side to return South of the border, Gerrard would have recognised that he was taking somewhat of a risk.
On the flip side, he would have also appreciated that it was an opportunity that he could not turn down, and it leaves the Englishman arguably facing the most important year of his managerial career.
Although numerous factors have to be taken into consideration, a win-rate of 35.7% is below what would have been expected from Gerrard at this stage, particularly having been given the chance to sign Lucas Digne and Coutinho in January.
With other high-profile names following that duo to Villa Park, Gerrard now has a squad capable of challenging for the European places at his disposal, resulting in expectations levels inevitably rising in the West Midlands.
LAST SEASON - 14th
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While Villa ultimately finished in 14th position during the last campaign, their season can be split into two parts, with the change in the dugout coming at the beginning of November.
Dean Smith was removed from his position on the back of just three wins being recorded from the opening 11 fixtures, a period which also included seven defeats.
To Smith's credit, each of the victories came during the opening six games, but a five-match losing streak led to Gerrard being installed as his replacement in time for the meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on November 20.
Gerrard started with success against the Seagulls and Crystal Palace, eventually extending his opening stint to 12 points from a possible 18, but Villa posted just six wins after the turn of the year.
Three of those victories - against Brighton, Southampton and Leeds - came in succession, but they were followed by four defeats in a row, further highlighting how Villa have become a streaky side since the change in leadership.
Wins over Burnley and Norwich City came either side of five-game and four-game winless runs to end the season, but Villa still finished in ninth spot in the form table from the games under Gerrard.
PREDICTION
There have been times in recent years when clubs have challenged the established top six in the standings, some teams being more successful than others.
However, given the summer transfer business at the bigger clubs, breaking up the status quo may prove to be too difficult during the 2022-23 campaign.
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Even West Ham United, who finished in seventh spot last season, look stronger, and the general consensus is that teams in the same bracket as Villa may have to be content with a season of improvement over a notable achievement.
That is not to say, however, that the likes of Diego Carlos and Boubacar Kamara should not prove to be difference makers in this team. Gerrard and the Villa hierarchy deserve praise for identifying their priority targets and moving for them swiftly to prevent any rivals from seizing the initiative.
Strengthening the core of his team was imperative and providing that the flair players can continue to perform at the other end of the pitch, we can see Villa edging out the likes of Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers to finish in ninth spot.
VERDICT: 9th
Darren Plant
