Aston Villa: A Claret and Blue Year in Review of 2017

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BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Referee Scott Duncan talks to Mile Jedinak and James Chester of Aston Villa and Joseph Mendes of Reading during the Sky Bet Championship match between Aston Villa and Reading at Villa Park on April 15, 2017 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) /

1. Worst Defeat: Aston Villa 1-3 Reading; 15th of April, 2017

In retrospect, there was not a bone-crushing, defining defeat for Aston Villa in 2017. Moreso just a myriad of bad, avoidable losses from typical Villa self-implosion. The worst loss, at least on impact, was a home defeat to Reading in mid-April.

Steve Bruce and Jonathan Kodjia led Villa to four successive victories and a draw with Burton Albion. The club was on the outside looking in for the playoff zone, but it was definitely doable with five matches remaining.

Joseph Mendes’ double at Villa Park sunk all promotion talk as Villa finished 13th on goal differential. At least the club was able to secure a 1-0 victory over Blues as the season ended.

2. Wasted transfer sums, other awful business continued under Xia

Owner Tony Xia’s 2017 was far better than 2016 in terms of transfer business, but not by much. Steve Bruce and company brought in Conor Hourihane (good), Neil Taylor (ok), John Terry (great) as well as working the loan market for: Sam Johnstone (good, twice), Robert Snodgrass (good), Josh Onomah (good).

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However, wasted transfers continued: Scott Hogan (£10 million too much), Birkir Bjarnason (doesn’t play), James Bree (plays with the reserves), Henri Lansbury (mix of high wages, injury woes, and not starting). Moreover, Glenn Whelan was brought-in during the summer. Of late, he’s been a major problem for the club, but continues to keep Bruce’s trust in central midfield.

However, it wasn’t the incoming business that was most damning, but the outgoing business. The club inexplicably sold Nathan Baker, a good center back and the only left-footed central defender, to Bristol City – who now sit in second-place in the Championship. Furthermore, Aston Villa shipped-out the following:

LW/AM – Jordan Ayew, swapped to Swansea City for Neil Taylor + ~£5 million. Ayew was one of Villa’s best performers in the Premier League and easily one of the best overall attackers in the Championship.

LB – Jordan Amavi, loaned to Marseille with an “obligation to buy.” Received a call-up to the French National Team. Everything I need to write on the subject. Amavi has 15 Ligue 1 appearances since the summer move, collecting four assists. All at the age of 23.

CM/DM – Jordan Veretout, sold to Fiorentina for €7 million. He has four goals and one assist in 1,597 minutes of Serie A action. Now 24, Veretout was one of the world’s brightest prospects three years ago. Villa pushed him out following relegation and settled for the aging Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak in defensive midfield.

Moreover, club executives failed to find permanent homes for Aaron Tshibola, Tommy Elphick, Ross McCormack and Gary Gardner – all of whom are unwanted by Steve Bruce.

3. Scoring goals a massive, massive issue

A common theme among floundering clubs, scoring goals was a huge problem for Aston Villa in 2017.

Aston Villa scored three or more goals in 2017 just four times in fifty total matches. One of which was against lower-league Wigan Athletic in the Carabao Cup. Two other times against Burton Albion (September, currently 21st in EFL Championship) and Barnsley (September, currently 20th in EFL Championship).

That is a truly awful return and speaks volumes about the wasted talent utilized at the club. There are three strikers who cost £10 million or more.

Here’s to 2018 being far better, but let’s be honest it probably won’t be because this is Aston Villa and Aston Villa can’t have nice things.

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