Aston Villa: 10 Realistic Goals for the 2012-13 Season

It has been a poor season at Villa Park.

This year has been marred by protests running against the leadership of manager Alex McLeish. These started due to the obvious link "Big Eck" has to rivals Birmingham City.

The protests have continued throughout the season, the worries about past jobs have now been replaced by concerns over the football Villa have been playing.

The Villains have only managed to take seven victories from 33 matches so far and lie in a disappointing 15th place.

Despite only having 35 points at the moment, Villa's Premier League survival was all but secured as QPR and Blackburn both lost at the weekend.

Of course Villa could still face the drop, but with a six-point buffer between them and the relegation zone and matches against Bolton and out-of-form Sunderland to come, safety should be secured soon.

Then sights should be firmly set on how Villa can improve their situation next season. The fans will simply not accept three seasons of miserable football.

Here are 10 realistic goals that Aston Villa should be looking to take next season.

What do you think the club should be looking to do to improve their fortunes next season? Comment below.

Sack Alex Mcleish

It was always going to be a gamble when Randy Lerner appointed Alex McLeish last summer.

A year later, it is clear the gamble has failed.

The Scots over-reliance on defensive tactics have resulted in the club drawing far too many games.

Barring a spectacular reversal of fortunes, the Villa fans will never take to Mcleish or the style of football he promotes. It is time for the club to move on.

While last year's advances for Roberto Martinez were rebuffed, if Wigan were relegated, the Spaniard may again become available.

A better option may be former West Ham and Charlton boss Alan Curbishley.

While he is not the flashiest name out there, he has a proven track record of entering a club and steadying the ship.

He could be just what Villa need at this stage.

Keep the Squad Intact over the Summer

After having to sell Ashley Young and Stewart Downing last summer, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Alex Mcleish.

Not that Mcleish's failings should be hidden by this, but if a new manager comes in, he should be given the squad as it stands without having to sell players on.

While in every transfer window it is of course natural that some players will move on, Villa need to keep this to a minimum unless adequate replacements are available.

Emile Heskey's contract is coming to an end this summer, and he should be allowed to move on.

However, the club should be looking to extend the contract of Carlos Cuellar.

The Spaniard gives much-needed depth and versatility to the team, and he shouldn't be allowed to leave.

Bring in a Goal-Scoring Midfielder

So far this season, Aston Villa have only managed to score 35 goals. That's less than QPR, Bolton and Blackburn, who all sit behind the Villains in the table.

Providing better service to the strikers is one way of improving this. The club should also be looking to find a player who can contribute goals from midfield.

Aside from bringing in a new face, young midfielder Gary Gardner could be given more playing time for Villa.

While he has only been involved in 12 first-team games for Villa, if his form in the youth team is anything to go by, he could be exactly what the team is looking for.

In the European under 19 NextGen Series, Gardner finished as the top English goalscorer with five goals. That included a hat trick against Ajax.

Bring in Some Variation Up Front

Currently, Aston Villa's strike force is looking very one-dimensional.

In Darren Bent, Gabby Agbonlahor and Nathan Delfouneso, the club have three very quick strikers who have the ability to get in behind defences.

The problem that Villa have had this season is that Bent and Agbonlahor have too often been stranded up front on their own with no one to play balls that they can run onto.

With Emile Heskey looking likely to leave the club this summer, the club will lose the only striker who may have had the ability to fulfill this role.

To date, Kevin Davies has not been offered a new contract at Bolton. Of course, that could change between now and the end of the season, but if it doesn't, then Villa should take a serious look at the veteran.

At 34 years old, Davies would only be a short-term option, but on a free transfer he could be a great signing.

Make It to a Cup Semifinal

With the club in its current situation, success in the league, even to the level of two seasons ago, is not a realistic aim.

Therefore, Villa should be looking at the domestic cup competitions for success.

If the club is given a favourable draw in the League Cup, it should not be seen as an opportunity to rest the bigger names.

It should be an opportunity to take a big win and bring that momentum into their next match.

Reach 40 Points by April 2013

Aston Villa are a club who shouldn't still be worried about relegation with only five games remaining.

While it would be unrealistic to expect the club to be challenging for Europe again, there has to be an improvement next season.

Having 14 draws and only seven wins has to be addressed. Villa are ahead of only Wolves when it comes to games won this season.

By reaching a target of 40 points by April 2013, the pressure will be off the players' shoulders and they could look to push on to a possible top-half finish in the league.

Take More Risks at Villa Park

So far this season, Villa have won only four games at Villa Park while losing seven.

Teams with far cheaper squads but a more attacking mentality like Swansea and Norwich have shown this season that you are more likely to succeed by taking a chance than you are by shutting up shop and hoping for the best.

Playing at home should give you the freedom to play more expansive, attacking football, but this season Villa have often looked more like the traveling side.

The team needs to get out of the habit of holding onto a single-goal lead or hanging onto the draw when there are opportunities to go forward and put the result beyond doubt.

Utilise the Flanks More

On the left side of the midfield, Villa have an established, Premier League-level winger in Charles N'Zogbia. On his day, the Frenchman can be a destructive force going forward.

On the other side of the pitch, Villa have an exciting prospect emerging in Marc Albrighton, who has shown signs of real quality so far for the club.

Yet this season, Villa have too often been looking to play the ball through the middle. This was the case at the weekend against Manchester United, where Villa were completely outclassed.

This scenario has happened a lot this season, and Villa have lost the midfield battle more times than they have won it.

If they are going to get better service to the strikers, Villa need to be getting the ball out wide to let N'Zogbia and Albrighton create some chances.

Break Quickly from Defence

One of the Aston Villa squad's greatest strengths is the pace that the team possesses.

In Bent, Agbonlahor and N'Zogbia, among others, Villa have players who, in theory, should be extremely dangerous on the break.

This season, Villa have played very defensively, but they've not been able to convert that defence into attack when the situation arises.

Under Martin O'Neill, the counter-attack was Villa's most potent weapon; the club should be looking to make this the case once again.

Continue to Blood Youngsters in the First Team

A positive trend that has continued under Alex McLeish this season has been the development of young players at the club.

Players like Ciaran Clark have featured prominently this season, while others such as Andreas Weimann have shown that they can be very useful when called upon.

However, finding the right balance of youth and experience is key.

If the team begins to rely too heavily on players without much experience of playing in the Premier League, then it could come back to bite them.