Aston Villa have had a great calendar year and will be looking to build on that in 2024. With that being said, here are five things Villa fans will wish for this Christmas.
It has been nothing short of a superb year for Aston Villa which has seen them go from strength to strength.
Coming into the year, to even suggest that Unai Emery would take his side into a title charge would be laughable.
Now it is reality and a Champions League finish this campaign feels like a truly realistic goal. With that being said, what goals will fans have for the rest of the season?
Given that it is Christmas, let’s take a look at what some fans will wish for, for the rest of the season and the calendar year.
1. Emi Martinez to go injury/suspension-free
No matter what, the drop-off from starter to backup in Villa’s squad is biggest in the goalkeeper position right now. If Emi Martinez is to get injured or be suspended, fans won’t be happy to see Robin Olsen take his spot.
There is no disrespect to Olsen, he is an international goalkeeper who will do a job. With that being said, Martinez is one of the best in the world both at making saves and playing with the ball at his feet.
Villa fans have to wish that the Argentine doesn’t get injured if they want their great form to continue in 2024.
2. Aston Villa sign an attacking option
With Cameron Archer leaving in the summer, Villa never brought in another striker over the summer. This left Ollie Watkins as the only senior striker at the club for at least half a season. Although Jhon Duran has good potential, he provides no guarantees.
Over the summer and in recent months, Villa have been linked to Nico Williams who is said to have a release clause of £44m. This would be an ideal signing to provide great attacking depth to the Villa squad this season.
If Watkins were to get injured, Villa would struggle and as a result, an attacking signing could be necessary.
3. Moussa Diaby to refind his best form
The record signing, Moussa Diaby started the season in terrific form and was receiving praise from plenty of people.
In recent weeks he hasn’t been as good as he once was and this has seen him often dropped from the starting XI in recent weeks.
Coming into the new year, the Frenchman and Villa fans will wish that he can rediscover the form he had in his start to live in B6.
4. Leon Bailey to maintain his form from recent weeks
In recent weeks, Leon Bailey has stepped up where Diaby had slowed down. He is the best player in the league right now in terms of minutes per goal involvement.
According to his Fbref, he has 1.45 goals and assists per 90 this season. This registers higher than Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Heung Min Son.
Although he almost definitely can’t keep this form up for the rest of the reason it would be great and fans can wish to see him come close.
5. Aston Villa to get Champions League
Given the form that the Villans have shown this season and where they sit in the table, Champions League qualification is a real possibility.
It must be said that Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Newcastle United also going for it so it won’t be easy.
Villa just need to maintain their great form, particularly at home, and they’ll be well in the hunt for a top-four finish this campaign. This will arguably be the biggest wish for Villa fans moving forward.
