Seventh heaven or seventh hell?

By Bill Howell on Feb 5, 08 08:23 PM

At the start of the season most, if not all, Villa fans would have grabbed your last cheesy wotsit if you'd have offered them seventh place in the Premier League at the middle of May.

A few weeks ago, following the draw, albeit a slightly fortuitous one at that, at Anfield, you'd have struggled to meet a Villa supporter whose eyes weren't fixed solely on fourth.

Following the defeat at Fulham the air of despondency hangs heavy over Villa Park.

A European place, never mind top four, is now seen as out of bounds and on the basis of that performance at Craven Cottage most would have to agree.

But Villa fans have had to endure very few off days this season.

And such are the expectation levels these days that when one arrives a poor result is hard to take.

Martin O'Neill spent two months complaining about a small squad and then did little about it in January which upset the masses.

In the fullness of time the manager's efforts during the window to bring in fresh blood will become known.

He was close to getting potentially his long-term number one in Brad Guzan. So bye, bye Thomas Sorensen and Stuart Taylor (and ta-ra to Scott Carson if LIverpool ask for more than £5million in my book).

I know for a fact they were extremely close to a loan signing as the hours ticked down.

And I also know that O'Neill, who was offered Kevin Prince Boateng rather than did the courting, was blocked from moving for his preferred right-back and striker positions by clubs that did not want to sell.

O'Neill has eyes on the long term at Villa.

He does not want to fill up his squad and be in a position where they are no further forward in two or three years and then have to ship all those players back out again.

You can also expect a suprise or two with regards to some younger players from the club's own youth ranks in the coming months.

Whether that policy is good enough for fourth or even fifth this season... well, it probably isn't (barring a run of goalscoring from six goal John Carew or seven goal - and currently injured- Gabby Agbonlahor- not seen before).

Liverpool will finish fourth unless they are sidetracked by the Champions League and Everton- with Villa still having to go to Goodison Park- should settle into fifth.

West Ham (and Villa still have to go to the Boleyn Ground), Manchester City, a Jermain Defoe (don't mention that name anywhere near O'Neill or risk a beheading) inspired Portsmouth and Blackburn are all capable of finishing sixth.

But wouldn't top seven still represent a decent return?

It would if fans were then promised the big names this summer that they have craved under O'Neill.