So far this has not been the start everyone connected with Aston Villa was hoping for. No win, failing to score in the first three Premier League games since 1997/98 season and making their worse start in the Premier League since Paul Lambert began his spell in charge back in 2012.

There been the usual problems connected to Football but most of it is leading to one thing- PSR.

What Has Gone Wrong?

More of the question, what has gone right? The problems on the pitch has gone back to the final game of last season at Manchester United. Needing to better one of three teams (Manchester City, Chelsea & Newcastle United) result to make it into the Champions League for a second successive season.

With Chelsea and Manchester City looking comfortable, the main attention turned to Newcastle with their game 0-0 at half-time against Everton. The game at Old Trafford was also 0-0 although Emi Martinez moment of madness, seeing red for professional foul and playing the whole of second half with just 10 men.

Indeed Villa had been second best for most of the game but were hanging on, just. Everton took the lead as things stood Villa were heading back into Champions League. then came the moment that define the match. Morgan Rogers nicking the ball from Man United keeper Altay Bayindir to put the ball in the net however the Referee Thomas Brammell disallowed it.

Now in most cases VAR can intervene and make the correct decision in most cases. The referee blew his whistle before the ball hit the back of the net meaning they couldn’t intervene. The game was 0-0 but The team lost their heads. United took control and goals from Mainoo and Eriksen penalty meant it was all over for a Champions League place.

The negativity has remained despite the fact there was some wonderful memories in the season and Europa League Football a competition that Unai Emery thrives in with four victories to his name (3 for Sevilla & 1 for Villarreal).

What Is PSR?

For The Premier League, it stands for Profit and Sustainability Rules. It rules that the limit of losses for Premier League clubs to £105 million in a three season period.

Aston Villa have blown very close to the limit last season and had to sell players to get under threshold such as Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz and Tim Iroegbunam.

The problems have remained however with other players such as Jhon Duran and home grown player Jacob Ramsay being moved on. The sale of Ramsay has particularly been felt at the club as selling academy players is define is pure profit to PSR.

Aston Villa since 2020 have raised £246M in academy players sale with only Chelsea raising more in the Premier League.

As well as PSR, Villa have to meet to Uefa’s Financial Sustainability regulations. A club can only spend up to 70% of their revenue on these costs. Villa were fined £9.5m by Uefa last July for spending more than last season threshold which was at 80%.

Lack of players coming in to help boost the squad further although we have added Victor Lindelof, Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliott to the squad on Summer Window deadline day. This season net spend has been -10.1m.

Indeed Newcastle United have been suffering from problems as well and find it bizarre how two teams with wealthy owners that want to compete at the top that can’t whilst others like Chelsea and Manchester City can spend like it’s no tomorrow.

Problems On The Pitch

So as mentioned, Aston Villa haven’t scored a goal this season, in fact they are the only side in the top four divisions that haven’t. To be brutally honest, we haven’t come that close in any of the games.

The play out wide has been one of the big problems with recent additions Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand not looking settle in the side. As well as losing Diaby last season, Leon Bailey has joined Roma on loan this season. A lot hope will be placed on Sancho and Elliott and personally I feel more optimistic about that area of the pitch in the future.

Injuries are also taking their toll, with midfielders Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana picking up injuries early on. They were badly missed in the last game, a 3-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace. This marked an end to 19 League unbeaten run at home although probably not surprised it happened against Crystal Palace. That was a third drubbing from the Eagles this calendar year (including FA Cupp Semi-Final) which gives an aggregate score of 10-1 in favour of the South Londoners.

Reasons To Be Positive

Well the previous two defeats to Palace, saw Villa respond really well which only ended by Manchester clubs with City scoring an injury time winner in April with Villa losing a precious point.

We’ve experience bad starts to seasons before and gone on to have great seasons. In fact the last two times Aston Villa finished second (1989/90 & 1992/93) that got their first win in the 5th league match although both occasions they drew first three.

There always speculation and rumours about personnel and I think the club has been greatly affected by it. Now we know what we have in the squad  until January and that will be a good thing and the team will improve in the league and have a great chance of winning some silverware.

The finances and the wages problem won’t go away immediately but with some great performances on the pitch and some success, then Aston Villa can continue their revival since Emery took over just under 3 years ago.

So let’s get behind the boys, beginning with tomorrow game at Everton. First lets get a goal and then three points and see where we go from there! UTV!