Aston Villa: 7 Bold Predictions for the 2011-12 Season

As this transfer window slams shut, clubs must use what they have until January 1. Many managers will have the squad they want, but some know they still lack in some positions.

Now that transfers have reached their conclusion, squad depth and strength can be properly analysed, and the time has come to make some educated preseason predictions.

Here are seven bold predictions on Aston Villa's upcoming season.

1. Aston Villa Will Finish in the Top Half of the Table

Perhaps not the boldest prediction to kick off with in the eyes of Villa fans, but neutral fans' opinions have been taken and measured—invariably reaching one conclusion: Villa will seriously struggle this season.

I'm not inclined to agree. In the most objective sense possible, Villa have only one glaring weakness and that is squad depth on the wings. McLeish has already shown he favours a solid and dependable approach to the game and I think Villa are too decent to slip below 10th.

A number of teams have strengthened in the offseason, but the likes of Everton, West Brom and Sunderland are really struggling.

There is no reason why Villa can't have a strong season this time around. 

2. Villa Will Reach a Cup Semifinal

In recent years, Villa have come within a hair's breadth of tasting cup glory. Martin O'Neill led his charges to the runner-up spot in the Carling Cup and took part in an FA Cup semifinal.

The following year, Gerard Houllier's team were looking on course to make an impact in the FA Cup until the French tactician strangely decided to throw away the chance of success at Eastlands.

McLeish won the Carling Cup last term with Birmingham and will be hungry for more. He will take the competitions seriously, and so will the players.

With a kind run, Villa could have a season to remember. 

3. Fabian Delph Will Play More Games Than Jermaine Jenas

On the Barclay's Premier League transfer deadline day, Villa recruited Jermaine Jenas on a season-long loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur to provide more competition for places in central midfield.

With personnel such as captain Petrov, Delph, Ireland, Bannan and Gardner already vying for a starting spot, competition just became even richer.

There are no guarantees, though, and while Jenas will be eager to nail down a starting berth, it could be Petrov's place that suffers—not Delph's.

Young Fabian has started the season in fine form and McLeish in particular has been very, very impressed with him.  

4. Villa Will Be Notoriously Difficult to Beat Away from Home

Under Martin O'Neill, Villa fans became used to a rock-solid defence. Richard Dunne and James Collins formed a formidable partnership and Brad Friedel performed admirably.

Then, under the subsequent reign of Gerard Houllier, the goals were flooding in. Not one clean sheet was mustered away from home last term, even in games Villa by far had the better of.

It always seemed they would concede no matter what.

This year, a clean sheet at Fulham was a great start. Shutting out the in-form Wolves at home was another step towards better defending and Collins admits he's enjoying his football again.

Putting goals past Villa this term will be tough, especially when they play organised and compact football away from Villa Park.

5. Villa Will Be out of Ideas When Playing at Home

Following on from the previous slide, whilst Villa will be organised and tough to breakdown away, they will be lacking ideas at home.

It won't be the first time we've seen it, as in the 2008-09 season when Villa mounted a serious challenge for the top four, teams came to Villa Park and 'parked the bus.'

Villa didn't have the guile or the creativity to break down defences then and, unfortunately, the Midlands side are in a worse position to attempt it now.

With Ashley Young and Stewart Downing gone, Villa's two main creative threats have disappeared and it will be even harder to beat teams who organise themselves well at Villa Park.

6. Villa Will Draw Every Derby Match They Play

Following on conveniently from the last two predictions, I predict no cheers, but no jeers, from derby-day experiences.

Being tough to break down, but out of ideas in attack combined with the high-pressure, 'must not lose' mentality of a derby game will result, in my opinion, in plenty of draws.

Villa have been top dog in the Midlands for a while by some distance, but this summer Wolves and West Brom have seriously strengthened, closing the gap.

As the 0-0 draw with Wolves proved, these are going to be incredibly tough games to play. Not much separates the sides in my opinion. 

7. Darren Bent Will Not Score 20 Goals This Season

I'd love to be proven wrong, but this season, I do not think reliable marksman Darren Bent will score 20 goals.

That's not to say he will not be amongst the goals, of course, and I expect to see his name up there with the best, but he will fall short of 20.

The creativity in Villa's midfield that he thrived off for the second half of last season is gone. It has been replaced with talent, but not quite comparable to the recently departed Young and Downing.

It will be tougher for him to find the goals this term, but providing he stays free of injury, he can hit the back of the net 15 times at least.

Still a worthy haul.