A step in the right direction for Aston Villa

I have never known a 0-0 home draw bring such an applause at the end of the game, but it shows where Villa have been since the start of the season. With results going against Villa at the weekend, the task of staying in the Premier League got harder. After Sunday’s game Villa are still 5 points adrift of safety, but it feels like the man now in charge could save Villa from relegation. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but its a massive improvement of what Villa fans have witnessed over the past few months.

Remi Garde has created a very good first impression amongst fans, pundits and journalists. His team selection against Manchester City was met with cheers in the stadium as well as on social media and his humility in his media interviews has already started to win plaudits.

The team selection and formation was very close to what the majority of fans have been wanting for the past 8 weeks. It’s certainly logical to play a three man midfield, with Carlos Sanchez at the base to protect, which then allows Villa’s more creative midfielders some freedom. Also having Jordan Amavi at left back over Kieran Richardson is a no-brainer. Remi Garde had three days with the Villa squad and was able muster up a team/formation capable of stifling Manchester City. The team were organised, showed desire for 90mins and also looked like a team that could cause other teams problems in future fixtures. But in the previous 10 weeks, Villa had become the whipping boys of the Premier League.

Looking back at how Villa find themselves bottom of the league, Tim Sherwood’s stubbornness to not play his best players has cost Villa dearly. The only time Villa won a Premier League game this season is when the 4 players purchased from Ligue 1 started. He put politics ahead of football. The fans knew Villa had signed some talented players from abroad, so it was frustrating to see them barely play. If Sherwood played his best team in a logical formation, its likely he would still be employed as Villa manager today. And less said about Kevin McDonald’s selection against Tottenham last week, the better.

There is still a long way to go, and the league this year looks tougher than ever with the likes of Watford and Norwich already picking up lots of points. Villa have a battle on their hands to stave of relegation, but with Garde in charge and the January transfer window around the corner, maybe Villa will pull off a great escape.

I have one question, where is Adama Traore?