Financial austerity under James Milton leaves Premier League club Aston Villa exposed and at risk
Aston Villa's Rocky Start to the Season
Aston Villa, the four-time Europa League champions, are off to a challenging start in the Premier League this season. After a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United in their opener, the team suffered a 1-0 loss at Brentford and a 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace.
The centre-back Ezri Konsa was sent off in the opening match against Newcastle and later encountered England manager Thomas Tuchel outside the dressing room, who reportedly laughed at him. Konsa was suspended for Villa's second fixture at Brentford and sat next to Tuchel during the game, but they did not exchange words.
The mood at Aston Villa has been far from positive, with the deadline-day signings of Victor Lindelof, Harvey Elliott, and Jadon Sancho failing to lift spirits. Despite the arrival of Sancho, there is no explicit information about other players signed by Aston Villa this summer or about Guessand's position on the Premier League's most expensive transfer list.
One bright spot for the team is the performance of homegrown star Jacob Ramsey, who was sold to Newcastle for £40m to balance the club's finances. The young winger has been a consistent performer for Villa, and his absence will be felt.
In the first half against Newcastle, Magpies winger Anthony Gordon had five attempts while Villa failed to have a single shot. The team's lacklustre performance continued in the match against Crystal Palace, with Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring a 21st-minute penalty for Palace, putting them in a commanding position at Villa Park.
However, the team is not without hope. Unai Emery, a four-time winner of the Europa League, will not be taking that competition lightly, with Villa being clear trophy favourites at 13-2. The team is also expected to win their home game against Andorra in their upcoming World Cup qualifier.
Aston Villa finished seventh, fourth, and sixth in the last three seasons under Emery and lost narrowly to Paris Saint-Germain in last term's Champions League quarter-final. Despite their current struggles, they are still considered a formidable opponent, with odds of 19-10 for victory in their upcoming game against Everton.
However, the team's chances of finishing in the top four have drifted from 4-1 to 14-1, and they are 6-5, from 100-30, to end up in the bottom half. The squad is not as strong and deep as Emery would have liked, according to Konsa.
There are some positives to take from the team's performances so far, with youngster Bradley Burrowes, a 17-year-old player, coming on as a substitute against Crystal Palace last weekend. Forward Evann Guessand also arrived at Aston Villa for an initial fee of £26m, ranking him 49th on the Transfermarkt website's list of this summer's most expensive Premier League signings.
Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers, linked with most of the Premier League title contenders, remains at Aston Villa Park. The team's fortunes may turn around soon, and with the talent they have on their roster, they are certainly capable of mounting a comeback.
England football team is also preparing for a World Cup qualifier against Andorra at Villa Park, and Noni Madueke is expected to have a good opportunity to score several international goals. The team will be hoping to build on their strong performances in recent years and bring home another trophy.
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