These are strange times for Villa fans. Up to now their Premier League history is made up of odd flashy wins followed by long periods of despair – not title run ins.
But Unai Emery is taking the club into a new normal. Perennially the bridesmaid and never the bride, supporters are used to being defeatist when considering the future.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is making long-suffering fans believe in a title challengeGetty
If there is a defeat to snatch from a victory, the Midlanders have been front of the queue.
Whisper it quietly though, there is a feeling Villa being crowned in May for the first time as Premier League champs is not a completely barmy theory. World No1 Emi Martinez recently boasted “I’m a believer mate” when asked if the club could do it.
Meanwhile skipper John McGinn has banned the T word being mentioned and the boss won’t entertain the idea until week 30 to 32 of the season.
There is no doubt pundits fixated on the big six are beginning to reform their positions as Villa steamroller all opposition at home and pervious records have tumbled.
Currently on a best ever home winning league run, they have beaten 15 teams at Fortress Villa Park including Manchester City and Arsenal in the space of a few days.
In the calendar year of 2023, they have 25 wins – their most in their 149-year history.
Comparisons are growing to Leicester‘s incredible against-all-odds triumph and Villa have tracked their points tally so far this season.
But unlike Leicester’s lucky run, Villa have quietly been building a competitive squad since billionaire owners Nassef Sawiri and Wes Edens took over a near bankrupt club in 2018.
They now talk about creating a Great eight as opposed to a Big six. Aspirations are huge.
Their only blip on the road has been handing the manager’s job to Steven Gerrard who flirted with the relegation zone.
Their number one decision is then handing the reins to habitual winner Emery with his glittering trophy cabinet – who literally turned the ship around in October 2022 and it’s been going upwards ever since.
Laughed at as ex-Arsenal gaffer, he has now set out his tactical masterplan utilising the players who had looked dead and buried under previous managers.
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Emery has managed to get the most out of many Aston Villa players, such as Ollie WatkinsGetty
Strong favourites to match West Ham’s feat of lifting the Europa Conference League feels like it is just the first step into the continent.
And if Villa beat Sheffield United on Friday, they would now climb to the top spot. A likely draw between Liverpool and Arsenal the following day would mean Villa is top for Christmas.
That feat which is always considered a good omen for where the trophy ends up.
In the famous words of club legend Ron Saunders, who guided Villa to their last league win… Do you want to bet against us?