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Down but not out: Can Villa do the unthinkable?

Down but not out: Can Villa do the unthinkable? Aston Villa need a miracle. Stranger things have happened but Villa almost look destined for relegation down to the Championship this season. The on-going Randy Lerner situation is an unwelcome distraction for all associated with the club and Remi Garde has led his side to just one Premier League victory since arriving at Villa Park in early November.

Having said that, miracles often come in unlikely packages. With Villa glued to the bottom, nine points from safety and staring into the abyss, it’s hard to think of many positives, however there are signs of life at Villa Park. Garde’s men are unbeaten in three matches and an FA Cup victory over Wycombe on Tuesday will only help to restore confidence further.

It must be incredibly frustrating to be an Aston Villa supporter. Just six years ago, Villa were fighting against England’s elite for a place in the Champions League – they ended up finishing sixth. In the same season, Villa reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and were runners up in the League Cup final as they lost 2-1 to Manchester United.

If nothing else, it’s terribly sad to see just how quickly the club has declined. Villa are one of England’s most successful sides, a club steeped in rich history that dates all the way back to 1874. From the First Division title in 1894 to European Cup final victory over Bayern Munich in 1982, this is a club that has been at the top of English football for quite some time.

There’s no doubt that Villa are in serious trouble but the situation isn’t unsalvageable just yet. Yes, there are plenty of issues at Villa Park – mainly the lack of drive, ambition and organisation at the top level – but if Garde can inspire his troops for the remainder of the campaign, Villa are capable of performing the ‘Great Escape’ and could avoid the drop.

So, what do Villa need to do in order to produce the unthinkable? For starters, Garde has to learn his best side quickly. The Frenchman has been chopping and changing the team – something that he simply cannot afford to do. Unfortunately, Villa don’t have either time or resources on their side and Garde will just have to cope with the tools at his disposal.

Secondly, momentum will be crucial. If Villa can pick up a decent win against Wycombe, it could give them a boost. A cup run is always nice and while the FA Cup isn’t exactly Villa’s number one priority right now, it might be exactly what they need to build momentum. Also, they’ve lost just two of their last six league games – which isn’t exactly a terrible run.

Thirdly and unfortunately this is out of their control, Villa need a bit of luck. To survive in the Premier League, you need luck. Villa haven’t helped themselves at times this season but luck has certainly been against them on more than one occasion. If they are to stand any chance of survival, Villa will need Lady Luck to smile down on them in the coming months.

It’s a tough ask but Villa must believe they can do this. If there’s any doubt, they will go down. It is now down to the current squad, Remi Garde and the fans to save Villa’s season. They may be nine points from safety but Villa have shown signs of a recent improvement and if they continue in the same vein, fans could be in for a thrilling end to the campaign.