Arguably Aston Villa’s second-greatest player asset, James Chester has taken a stance that would see him remain in the Claret and Blue for at least one more season.
According to an article published in The IrishExaminer, James Chester has expressed his desire to remain in Birmingham in lieu of a move to Stoke City. Given the club’s heartbreaking defeat in the playoff final, tumultuous summer, and rocky financial situation this can only mean one thing: James Chester believes that this Aston Villa team has a better chance of returning to the Premier League than does Stoke City.
Here are the reasons why Chester betting on this squad is correct.
Aston Villa Are Trending Up (believe it or not).
Three years ago at this time, Tim Sherwood was preparing his Aston Villa squad for a PL campaign that seemed mildly optimistic, given the clubs minor successes at the end of the previous season. Lots of new signings and another season in the top flight, what could go wrong…?
Now that you’ve thought about that awful low point again, trending UP seems accurate doesn’t it? The mediocrity in the first Championship season could’ve been chalked up to a number of things: managerial changes/relegation heartbreak/adjustment to more games etc. However, the second campaign was a marketed improvement that saw stability, class, and a legitimate push to get back to the Premier League. Should the trend continue there is no reason to believe that last season’s dream shouldn’t become this season’s reality.
Promotion Following Relegation Is Not High Percentage
Recently relegated teams (Villa, Norwich, Sunderland, Boro, Hull, and QPR) have had difficulty navigating the slog of Championship games, and the added setbacks of having less money to spend. Newcastle and Burnley have been exceptions to the idea (getting promoted right away following relegation), rather than the standard. Does it seem more likely that a team would get promoted immediately following relegation, due to things like higher player quality and larger parachute payments? Of course, but that isn’t always the case, nor is it the standard.
Continuity
Experiencing adversity with a group of people creates bonds that cannot possibly be known to anyone that has not shared in said experience. This is no longer the fragmented team of individuals that were relegated from the PL seasons ago; this is a group that wants to stick together in their quest to get back to the Promised Land. This bond, coupled with the experienced lineup of players accustomed to the rigors of a Championship flight campaign will lead to success.
Last but not least…
With Chester, Villa Have More Fight
Chester has been an absolute rock at the back for the club not only with his play, but leadership as well. I have no doubt that he will be called upon to wear the armband in every match he plays in this season. I’ll listen to arguments for Hutton or Jedinak, but the reality is that they may not play game in and game out. Chester will be out there every single match, giving his absolute all until the final whistle.
It is not possible for me to suggest that James Chester’s presence in the Aston Villa starting lineup would lead directly to promotion but one thing I can guarantee is that with him; the fight is on.