9th (NB: this is not necessarily Sophie Downey’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips) 7th There is a new face in the dugout for Aston Villa this season but, in truth, other than a change of leadership things seem to be fairly stable. After Carla Ward’s surprise decision to leave her role at the end of last season, the announcement of Robert de Pauw as her replacement in June was a relatively swift conclusion to the managerial hunt. The Dutchman’s arrival has appeared seamless enough, the speed of the decision allowing him time to get his feet under the table.
While there having been changes to the coaching staff, Villa have retained much of Ward’s playing squad, with a handful of arrivals to supplement the team’s spine. From to and Rachel Corsie, Villa have a strong core of seasoned senior players who possess a wealth of experience, and they will be looking to avoid a repeat of last season’s disappointments. After achieving a fifth-place finish in 2022-2023, many tipped Villa as the most likely to break into that elusive top three but a slow start alongside key injuries and an over-reliance on Daly for goals compounded their issues.
They recovered from a poor start to finish in seventh While maintaining the spine of the team provides stability, the fact remains that a number of players are in the twilight of their careers and questions over whether they can rediscover past form remains. It is perhaps why De Pauw has looked to bring in younger players.