You know your luck is well and truly out when three starting players Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia and Boubacar Kamara all suffer season-ending injuries in one campaign.
As Aston Villa fans know too well, this isn’t the first time this has happened. When the team came up under Dean Smith, the same bad luck cursed the club.
At that time, it was starting goalkeeper Tom Heaton, promotion-winning keeper Jed Steer and big-money summer signing, Wesley.
They all suffered ACL injuries by the New Year, which forced the club to dip into the January market to sign new players and we ended up surviving relegation by the skin of our teeth.
Well, it has been much worse this time around, but it seems as though that isn’t acknowledged by certain pundits on Sky Sports.
On Super Sunday, following Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Luton Town, the panel discussed the race for the top four, which is between Aston Villa, Tottenham and Erik ten Hag’s side.
The one point Curtis Davies seemingly put on the table that might go against Unai Emery’s side is Europe, which is fair enough. We are the only ones who will have that heavy fixture list to deal with in these coming months.
But the rubbish he spouted was about what happens if one of Aston Villa’s ‘bigger players’ were to suffer an injury and how the club would deal with that is complete nonsense, as he told Sky Sports.
Well, somebody needs to bang his head on the wall and put forward the names of Emiliano Buenda, Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, Jhon Duran, Ezri Konsa and Diego Carlos.
All of these players are currently on the sidelines, not forgetting that both Alex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey missed half a season, whilst Pau Torres just returned after two months out.
Pundits can have their opinions on whether Villa will finish in the Champions League places or not, by all means, say that the team won’t, but at least do your research and understand the club’s situation because some of the rubbish being spouted beggars belief.
The race for Champions League football
“I think with Aston Villa and their European aspects, that’s going to play a big part,” said Davies about the race for the top four.
“Aston Villa are also, squad depth, you question if they were to lose one of their bigger players how do they replace that player?
“Tottenham have been a bit hit and miss. I think the pair of them are vulnerable, it’s just about what Manchester United do. They have had a good run now, but it’s about them continuing that. We have seen their fixture list, other than Manchester City, you fancy them to win the rest of those games, if you don’t win those games, then it’s going to take it right to the wire.”
Massive win against Fulham
On top of the injuries, the team’s form also hit a massive roadblock in recent weeks, with three home defeats on the bounce.
That has been unheard of under Emery, but the 2-1 win at Fulham on Saturday was huge and morale-boosting for the team.
Now it’s a case of going on a run again and winning games at home again, starting with the visit of Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
Forest beat us in the reverse fixture when Steve Cooper was in charge, but they are still equally dangerous and they will fancy their chances under Nuno Espírito Santo.
