Aston Villa: Double relegation legitimate concern for Premier League’s bottom club
After another heavy defeat, double relegation is a real concern for Aston Villa.
Since the Premier League was formed in 1992, only six teams have avoided relegation in any season: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. One of those seven — Aston Villa — not only face relegation this season, but also next.
Such is the nature of Villa’s fall from grace that without dramatic changes, there’s no reason to believe their team is capable of staying afloat in the unpredictable Championship.
Villa has been a walkover all season long, with their latest heavy defeat coming at home to Chelsea. As is so often the case, the team goes a goal down and then falls apart. This was their seventh straight defeat and 22nd on the season. This Villa team isn’t much better than the Derby County side that tallied just 11 points in 2007-08. Sunderland managed just 15 in 2005-06.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were relegated from the Premier League in May 2012, and were condemned to League One just 12 months later.
Villa could be en route for a similar story, but this one would be more shocking. Villa has a proud history, a loyal fan base and a rich history in the Premier League.
Their lack of spending and connection to the fans is worrying to see. This was once a team that would rarely finish outside of the top half of the league table. Now, they are in disarray with an arrow pointing firmly downwards.
A goal difference of minus-40 is a sorry sight, but there’s no guarantee it will get any better in the Championship. The common assumption for relegated teams — particularly those with large followings — is for an immediate return to the big leagues after just one year. But pulling off a bounce back campaign a la Newcastle United isn’t as easy as one would assume. Far from it.
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Bolton, Fulham, Birmingham, Blackburn and Leeds — once all a staple of the Premier League, were relegated and are yet to return. Bolton are almost certainly going to get relegated to League One this season and Fulham are just a point above the bottom three.
Many Championship teams could hold their own in the Premier League. Last year’s winners Bournemouth are all but safe, just two points off the target of 40 points. Watford, too, are close to safety. Norwich City are the only one of the three promoted teams who could drop back down.
We’ve seen a number of teams such as Stoke City, Southampton and Leicester City return to the Premier League and establish themselves in the league — all three teams currently sit in the top-eight and Leicester have a shot to win the league.
Of last year’s three teams relegated from the Premier League, two have the chance to return. Burnley are top of the Championship; Hull City are in the playoff spots at fourth. But both teams were in better shape than Villa currently are.
Queens Park Rangers — who finished last season bottom of the EPL with 30 points — sit 11th in the Championship. QPR earned 14 more points than Villa currently have.
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Something drastic has to happen this summer for Villa to have any hope of returning to the Premier League immediately. For now, there’s a greater chance of them being hit with relegation again.