Express & Star

Half-season review: More demanded from Aston Villa

Villa have arrived at the final weekend of 2017 sitting outside of the Championship play-off positions.

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Getting back into the top six will be the minimum expected of Steve Bruce and his team.

How has the manager performed?

It’s been a rollercoaster and that is putting it lightly. Bruce came under serious pressure after Villa won just one of their first seven league games.

From mid-September until the end of November they were one of the division’s most in-form teams, but a five-game winless run has now again soured the mood.

Who’s been the star player?

Albert Adomah has been in brilliant goal-scoring form, stepping in to fill the breach left by Villa’s injury-hit striking department.

The winger was not even in the team at the start of the campaign but now has 11 league goals to his name.

Teenager Keinan Davis has, meanwhile, been nothing short of a revelation and has quickly become a key player since making his senior debut back in August.

Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone is another who has impressed, while John Terry was delivering everything Bruce had hoped and more before breaking a foot at the start of November.

Who must do better?

There are a few candidates but Scott Hogan definitely tops the list.

True, the 25-year-old’s progress has been hampered by a number of injuries.

But unlike several others in the squad, Hogan has also failed to grasp his opportunities when they have arrived.

Villa would have expected far more on their £12million outlay than one goal in 30 league appearances.

Of all Bruce’s signings, only Birkir Bjarnason has made less of an impact.

What’s been happening in the boardroom?

Owner Tony Xia has been vocal as usual on Twitter and in November conducted his first in-depth interview for a long time with the club’s official media channels.

Both he and chief executive Keith Wyness have talked extensively about their future vision for the club, but it is the present which needs sorting out first.

What must be done next?

January is going to be a key month for Villa. They need to keep pace at the top of the division and bolster a forward department decimated by injuries.

Concerns over Financial Fair Play mean Bruce must focus on the loan market and finding the right player to fill the void will likely define the season.

Overall assessment

It’s been frustrating. Villa have looked a more than handy unit on several occasions and a month ago looked well placed to challenge the top two.

They’ve lost their way of late but with John Terry almost ready to return there are still grounds for optimism. Patience will be required in the short term but that is never in great supply at a club where the demands are understandably so high.

Grade: C