Aston Villa are at a crossroads this season. It has been widely accepted that they are no longer a threat to breaking into the the top four. Instead, they have resembled a mid-table team at best. The scrap for relegation is heating up, and the teams involved are rising to the challenge, picking up points wherever possible. Villa meanwhile, are slipping further down the table, and it is not inconceivable that they could be dragged into a relegation scrap, considering the fact that they are hovering a mere five points above the drop zone at present.
Relegation, for a team of Aston Villa's standard over the last few seasons, is simply not acceptable. Due to the sense of need for a new beginning at Villa Park, and the arrival of new management, fans conceded that it might be a slow season with a view to building a new team for the long run. However, at this stage, fans are growing restless with the McLeish regime. Apparently, there is no strict game plan. The team look a shambles, and this is reflected by the run of poor results.
Even on Saturday against Chelsea, it was a half-hearted effort. Chelsea eased into a two goal advantage. A momentary rally by the Villans to draw level on the 80th minute was quickly quashed by Roberto Di Matteo's charges, waking up to restore their two-goal cushion. The fashion in which Chelsea cranked it up to swat the home side's challenge aside was alarming. This Villa team were a far cry from the confident side that raided Stamford Bridge for three points over the Christmas period. They lacked heart and passion, and unless something is changed soon, Alex McLeish is going to suffer the same fate in the league as last season, as he oversaw Birmingham City finishing in 18th position.
Villa's run-in is a tricky one, the stand-out game being a daunting trip to Old Trafford to take on title chasing Man Utd. However, if there was ever a time to go to Anfield with an air of optimism, it is now. Kenny Dalglish, like countryman McLeish, is under massive pressure from his own fans as results are getting worse week by week. Liverpool, due to their tame effort at Newcastle last week, have slipped below rivals Everton. Over the last six matches, only Wolves have picked up less points than the Mersey-side outfit, and although Villa themselves are struggling, it has to be viewed as a genuine opportunity to pick up a point to help stave off relegation.
It would be a mistake to get rid of McLeish at this stage of the season, as this would plunge the team into further disarray. The loss of captain Stilliyan Petrov is already enough of a blow. A new captaincy followed by a new management would take time to get accustomed to; time which Aston Villa can ill-afford at this moment in time. With an array of injuries, the Villans are plugging the stops in what is a sinking ship at this moment in time, and looking at it objectively, anything other than relegation must be viewed as a success turning into the final furlong of this tumultuous season.
