Club guide: Aston Villa

Title: 250-1 Relegation: 40-1 Sack Race: n/a

Transfers

IN

None

total spent: £0m

OUT

N Shorey (West Brom, £1.5m), M Harewood (Blackpool, free), S O’Halloran (Coventry, free), W Bouma, A Marshall (both released)

total made: £1.5m

Player to watch

Gabriel Agbonlahor. Ignored all year by Fabio Capello, the striker has much to prove. His pace and goalscoring can still be huge assets.

Squad worries

As Martin O’Neill found, the need to balance the books means losing players like James Milner and finding cheaper replacements. Not easily done.

Manager speak

Kevin MacDonald has stepped up from reserve-team duty as caretaker after O’Neill resigned over the lack of transfer funds.

Story of the summer

Not great. O’Neill’s disappearing act earlier this week has left most Villa fans feeling lost. MacDonald knows some of the younger players from the reserves, so all may not be lost.

Last season 6th

Two good cup runs but not enough points or goals at home.

This season 8th

Maintaining morale and top-six place are tricky for new gaffer.