Who are the form teams of 2014?
Looking at Aston Villa’s form just in the year of 2014, on an average of one point-a-game, Paul Lambert is currently experiencing ‘Alex McLeish form’, who also averaged a point-a-game for his whole season in charge. In the above table, at 14th, Villa are one place better off than their overall positioning this season. It’s hardly anything to crow about though.
Aside from Liverpool’s rampant unbeaten 2014 form (they have also won their last 11 games), the above table is also interesting reading in terms of trends to consider regarding the relegation picture.
Crystal Palace have displayed top-six form during the year of 2014 and Tony Pullis’s men thus have nothing to worry about in terms of the drop. Sunderland too, with their miracle four points away from their impossible double-bill of Manchester City and Chelsea now have given themselves a real shot at survival. Despite being the current bottom team in the league, in the year 0f 2014, their form is identical to Villa’s.
Sunderland’s resurrection over the Easter period makes Villa’s plight more of a worry with all three relegation spots very much open. Norwich though need to follow the inspired efforts of the Mackems to have any chance with a tough last four games. They’re bottom three material in 2014 and that’s where you’d expected them to end up in the final analysis.
With Cardiff rooted at the bottom of the 2014 table, they too are a safe bet to drop down. Meanwhile, Newcastle in 19th place on 2014 form will be thankful for early season points, as on current form they would have been dropping to the Championship for sure.
In the final analysis if Villa finished the season on an average of a point-a-game on 38 points that would be enough for survival…but little more.
just to put the stats in context, Lambert after 34 games has one point less than villa had after 34 last year, two points less than McLeish had after 34 games, no Benteke and two forwards who started on Saturday having scored the same number of goals in the PRem as Seamus Coleman the everton full back (6 between them). Albrighton had the only shot on target of the whole game.
If we get three points in the remaining games it will have to be because the defence holds out, and we look to goal difference as a key factor. Lambert has not delivered progress, lets hope he delivers survival.
WIth Lerner thinking of his future, and I understand he is selling his London house, a change has got to come
trevor fisher.