Things are certainly looking increasingly frustrating. Following what has been an unceremonious exit from the Carabao Cup to Brentford following penalties, there are increasingly more and more Villa supporters of the ship of panic that they view to be drowning in B6.
The third-round departure comes despite Harvey Elliott having scored the opening goal and breaking the Villa streak without having put one in the back of the net.
The dressing room must have mixed emotions of frustration and questions as to why things are not working out so far. A lot of speculation believes that the summer activity has adversely affected the club. While others go a step further and claim that something more detrimental has occurred at Bodymoor.
Even if something interpersonal has occurred, and it needs to be noted that there is not any evidence of this, the play itself would still not be explained. Villa often have their fair share of possession. They manage to get the ball forward enough that one would think that a goal-scoring opportunity would come.
Yet, there is often a lack of clinicalness, both in terms of movement and the final pass. Then, of course, it has only been Elliott so far who has managed to guide a ball past a keeper so far. Eventually something has to give. It will be up to Unai Emery to figure out the combination to turn things around.
Likely source for Aston Villa
It was hoped that following the international break, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers would be able to carry some of the momentum that was witnessed while playing for England back to England.
While the Villa newcomers could end up proving to be the force that ends up reinvigorating the attack, more likely than not, it will be up to the two more senior Villans to find a way to get out of this slump.