2020-03-15 - MEBET365 - FREE Tips For Betting, Football Bet of the Day

Chelsea 2019/20 Review: A successful debut season for Lampard

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<span style="background-color: white;">Chelsea 2019/20 Review: A successful debut season for Lampard</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Comfortably sitting inside the top four of the Premier League and into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, this has been a successful debut season for Frank Lampard says Alex Keble...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When Frank Lampard landed the Chelsea job he was tasked with sweeping aside the dull tactics instilled by his predecessor and retaining the club's place in the Champions League - despite losing Eden Hazard and during a transfer ban. The assignment looked <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">almost impossible</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The 2019/20 season has brought plenty of ignoble defeats, plenty of <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">clumsy tactical decisions</strong>, and plenty of delayed reactions to poor performances. But the circumstances under which Lampard inherited the job should not be forgotten, and the fact his side are nine points worse off this year than at the same stage under Maurizio Sarri is irrelevant.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Chelsea remain in the driving seat for a top-four finish. That is a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">superb achievement</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Lampard began the campaign by radically altering the club's playbook. Investing in Tammy Abraham and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mason Mount</strong> paid off instantly as the manager's retro 4-2-3-1 - complete with inverted wingers and crowding of the number ten space - saw Chelsea race through the first few months of the season, riding on the exuberance of youth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">He showed flexibility, too, shifting at times to a three-man defence to cram yet more academy graduates into the team. First it was Fikayo Tomori, then Reece James, and more recently Billy Gilmore. And the kids played like kids, too: bursts of high energy attacking mixed with a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">headless naivety</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">A succinct summary of Chelsea's season is excellent on the ball, poor off it. Their consistent inability to re-compress after the ball was lost has led to serious problems in the transition, highlighting the lack of in-depth tactical coaching going on at the club. Chelsea fan out expansively, wildly, in order to create chances. It is <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">great fun</strong> to watch when it works, but deeply concerning when it doesn't.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">And so the flurry of wins in autumn turned to <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">cold, stale defeats</strong> in winter, a combination of the young players tiring and Lampard's lack of detail being exposed. Without clear direction in attack, the improvisations stuttered as confidence drained.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />But just when Lampard looked to be in trouble Chelsea came roaring back. He changed formation, brought back some of the older players - most notably Olivier Giroud - and the electricity returned. Flexibility and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">problem-solving</strong> are signs of a top manager in the making.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The crowning glory of the first portion of the season was a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">5-2 win at Wolves</strong> in September, a rampant win defined by Abraham's hat-trick, Tomori's wonder-goal, and an intelligent tactical switch to a 3-4-2-1. Things clicked perfectly at Molineaux, even if the defending remained suspect.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The 1-0 victory at Ajax in the Champions League, then, is arguably more impressive. It was an astute and mature performance in Amsterdam that put many of Lampard's doubters in their place - as did a brilliant 2-0 win over Jose Mourinho's Tottenham in December. At the time, that performance looked like a coming-of-age moment for the manager, who - with a clear game-plan executed to perfection - <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">outMourinho-ed Mourinho</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Not everyone has taken to the assertive attacking football, and among those who struggled <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">N'Golo Kante</strong> stands out the most. The Frenchman has endured a difficult campaign, and with Chelsea performing notably better during his absence through injury many are predicting Kante will leave in the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">On the pitch, the three-month period between December and February has been a troubled time for the club, the occasional standout display punctuating an otherwise lacklustre string of games. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Goalless defeats</strong> at Stamford Bridge to West Ham, Southampton and Bournemouth deserve special mention.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they can achieve in 19/20</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">If the season gets back underway Chelsea should be backed to <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>finish in the top four, priced at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/8">1.63</span> with Betfair Exchange, because of the renewed vigour Gilmore and Giroud have given the club.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Lampard's side <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">were on an upswing</strong> before the suspension, and with a relatively easy fixture list they should maintain form. The Blues have only one 'Big Six' away game left, at Liverpool, and are due to play four of the relegation candidates. They ought to pick up the points needed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">An away tie against Leicester City in the FA Cup quarter-final puts Lampard in with a shot of silverware in his debut season. Chelsea are <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>second favourites at</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="8/1">9.00</span> to win the tournament, and with those odds it's probably worth a small punt. The fearlessness of youth is a valuable commodity in the latter stages.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the Champions League, a 3-0 first-leg defeat to Bayern Munich gives Chelsea no hope.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The 2020/21 season could be special. For starters, they can hope to be luckier with injuries: <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Callum Hudson-Odoi</strong>, Christian Pulisic, and Antonio Rudiger have all been available for fewer than half of Chelsea's matches this season. Add these three to a set of young players developing rapidly, the quality of the squad will leap up next year - and that's before they dip into the transfer market.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It will be a busy summer. Lampard ought to be looking for a new left-back, a goalkeeper, a striker, and at least one new winger/playmaker to replace Hazard's influence. Most of the circulating rumours are for big-name players like <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Philippe Coutinho</strong>, Lautaro Martinez, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, suggesting Roman Abramovich is prepared to spend big.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">That could mean <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a title challenge</strong>, should Liverpool dip slightly and Man City fail to adequately refresh the squad.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Performances have been so erratic at Chelsea (reflecting the chaos that comes from a sprightly, inexperienced manager with <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sprightly, inexperienced players</strong>) that it has sometimes been difficult to take a step back and look at the campaign as a whole. On balance, things have gone well.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Chelsea are in the top four having entertained the fans and having developed some promising academy graduates. What's more, with the likes of Matteo Kovacic and Jorginho notably improved the squad looks somehow more talented than it did at the end of last season. <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">That is no mean feat</strong>. Chelsea, and their young manager, can be proud of how they have navigated a thorny year.</span></div>
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Chelsea 2019/20 Review: A successful debut season for Lampard

Chelsea 2019/20 Review: A successful debut season for Lampard Comfortably sitting inside the top four of the Premier League and into the ...

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Brighton 2019/20 Review: Potter on track despite results

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<span style="background-color: white;">Brighton 2019/20 Review: Potter on track despite results</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">The Premier League suspension gives us time to reflect on each club's 2019/20 season so far. Here, we look at how Brighton have developed under Graham Potter...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hiring Graham Potter was viewed as <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a masterstroke</strong> by many, and sure enough within the first few weeks of the campaign his aesthetically-pleasing football was taking hold as Brighton won 15 points from the first 11 matches of the season. The Potter revolution was going swimmingly, so much so the club even gave him a new six-year deal in November.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Fast forward to March 2020 and things feel a little different. Potter still has support for the time being, and yet alarmingly Brighton are the only club in the Football League to have <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">not won a single game</strong> of football this calendar year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Surviving the drop was the manager's only objective for the campaign and so, sitting just above the dotted line, Potter and Brighton are technically doing just fine. There's just one problem. On 29 points from 29 games, the Seagulls are <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">four points worse off</strong> than at the same stage under <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chris Hughton</strong> in 2018/19.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Season so far</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Potter's team no doubt play attractive football but they have seriously lacked a cutting edge throughout the season, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">consistently drawing</strong> against opponents despite looking superior over the 90 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The season has been defined by near misses, by <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lacking ruthlessness</strong> when it counts. As the manager said after a disappointing draw with Aston Villa, 'You can't just win by playing well, you have to be able to suffer'.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Coming back from 3-1 down to <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">draw 3-3 at West Ham</strong> in February briefly suggested Brighton had turned a corner in that regard. They've since scored two goals, and won three points, from four league games.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">But nobody is turning against the manager just yet. When their finishing improves, and bringing <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Glenn Murray</strong> back into the fold has already helped, then Brighton can get back to their early season form.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Murray is not the only fringe player brought back recently. Solly March has also come into the fold, while Potter's usual 4-2-2-2, in which the wide men tuck inside to become playmakers, has given way to a more traditional 4-3-3. In short, the manager is <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">making concessions</strong> while the going is tough.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Everything positive about Potter's tenure so far can be found in their <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">3-0 victory over Tottenham</strong> in October, when Brighton played with an exuberant energy and tactical complexity that made fans dream of a top-10 finish. Aaron Connolly and Neal Maupay formed a phenomenal partnership up front while Pascal Gross and Aaron Mooy played the winger/playmaker roles perfectly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Brighton didn't get near those heights again, although a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2-1 win at Arsenal</strong> in December will live long in the memory. Potter's diamond 4-4-2 cut through the heart of the Gunners' vulnerable midfield, showcasing the best of his tactical acumen, as Maupay's 80th-minute goal sealed a vital three points. Brighton have only won one game since.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Aside from improving on their finishing in the final third, Brighton's main weaknesses this season have been in central midfield, where Potter can't seem to find a winning combination, and central defence. Here, he has made the decision to play £20 million signing <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Adam Webster</strong> more regularly than Shane Duffy, an unpopular decision made worse by Webster's frequent errors.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The worst performance on the pitch was perhaps the 1-0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, although a recent loss by the same scoreline to Crystal Palace will have hurt more. In terms of individual performances both <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mooy and Gross</strong> have fallen short of expectations.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they can achieve in 19/20</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Brighton are two points above the relegation zone and despite slipping badly throughout 2020 many would still predict them to outperform the likes of Bournemouth and Aston Villa, especially given that Potter's side have become draw specialists. They rarely collapse and are always competitive, meaning <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">drawing their way to safety</strong> - 38 points or so - is the most likely outcome.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Their <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>relegation odds of</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="4/1">5.00</span> with Betfair Exchange reflect the likelihood of another year in the top flight, particularly with a kind run of games to be played should the Premier League get back underway. Their final three are Southampton, Newcastle, and Burnley, all of whom will have nothing to play for by that point.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Brighton <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">need a goalscoring forward</strong> to lift them next season because Murray surely doesn't have another year in him. Mooy has done okay but an upgrade on the flanks is called for, particularly with record signing Alireza Jahanbakhsh taking another step backwards. He has played only twice this calendar year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Clearly the board believe in Potter and, with a six-year contract having only just started, the aim for 2020/21 is surely to consolidate tactically while scouting for young prospects ready to be sculpted by the manager. If they can <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">avoid a relegation battle</strong> it will be deemed a massive success.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Not many managers can bring worse results than a popular predecessor and still maintain faith from both boardroom and fan base. It is testament to Potter's <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tactical aestheticism</strong> that Brighton appear to be moving in the right direction even as they drift ever so slightly backwards.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Should the season reach its conclusion and Brighton stay up, however narrowly, then undoubtedly 2019/20 will be viewed as a solid debut campaign - and the start of something <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">much, much bigger</strong>.</span></div>
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Brighton 2019/20 Review: Potter on track despite results

Brighton 2019/20 Review: Potter on track despite results The Premier League suspension gives us time to reflect on each club's 2019/2...

02:12

Bournemouth 2019/20 Review: A year of slow decline

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<span style="background-color: white;">Bournemouth 2019/20 Review: A year of slow decline</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">The Premier League season could be on hiatus for a while, so we've decided to review each club's 2019/20 campaign so far. Today, we look at Bournemouth's uncomfortable year...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Bournemouth's 2019/20 season appeared to be <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">heading towards relegation</strong> before the Premier League was suspended, and yet the yo-yoing nature of the club in recent years - closely following strings of defeats with back-to-back wins - make Eddie Howe's side the most difficult club to analyse before the 38 games are completed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Most people still believe the manager is doing a good job and that, given their stadium has 10,000 fewer seats than any other Premier League club, survival still represents <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">over-achievement</strong>. But there is a growing sense that Bournemouth are stagnating, and that <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">relegation </strong>to the Championship is just a matter of time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The club rank seventh in the league for net spend on transfers (£175 million) over the last five years, and far too many of these recruits have been flops. What's more, the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">gradual decline</strong> from neat possession football to a backs-to-the-wall counter-attacking approach symbolises their shrinking status.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Whether Howe's side are succeeding or failing is entirely in the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">eye of the beholder</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The 2019/20 campaign is perhaps best summarised as the year Bournemouth went all-in for the tactical rebrand. Starting four years ago, beginning with 2016/17, the Cherries' average share of possession per season is as follows: <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">51.3%, 48.5%, 47.7%, 46.3%</strong>. Howe has moved to a deep defensive line that looks to absorb pressure before springing counters down the flanks.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">It isn't really working. The season began brightly with ten points from the first six matches, in which on-loan Harry Wilson led the way in the absence of <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">David Brooks</strong>, but since then very little has gone their way. A long sequence of defeats followed in which Bournemouth simply couldn't score, with Ryan Fraser, Callum Wilson, and Matt King all off form.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As if to prove Howe had completed the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tactical transition</strong>, Bournemouth then ended their unusually poor record against 'Big Six' clubs (historically, they were too open) by parking the bus to beat both Chelsea and Manchester United 1-0. Those wins towards the end of 2019 have kept Bournemouth within touching distance of safety.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The performances of goalkeeper <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Aaron Ramsdale</strong> have been a surprise joy for Bournemouth fans, given the 21-year-old was playing on loan in League One last season. He has stepped up with some big displays over the last few months, holding firm in those key wins against United and Chelsea.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Speaking of which, the 1-0 victory over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side at Dean Court is perhaps Bournemouth's biggest highlight. Following a four-match winless run, and approaching <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">six hours</strong> without scoring a goal, the hosts' Matt King grabbed the winner on the stroke of half-time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1-0 win at Stamford Bridge</strong> broke an even worse patch of form, their five-game losing streak since beating United ending in emphatic style. Dan Gosling was awarded a goal by VAR in the 84th minute to put Bournemouth four points clear of the drop zone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Aside from those goalless games and the dreary attacking performances as a whole, special mention should go to Ryan Fraser for his disappearing act following the successes of 2018/19. The league was suspended with <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fraser on one goal and four assists</strong> from 28 matches. He was clearly distracted by the transfer rumours that have been circulating since last summer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">On the pitch, the 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace in December, which ended with Howe admitting to reporters he was at his 'lowest' point as Bournemouth manager, has got to be the lowlight. Roy Hodgson's side were reduced to 10 men in the 19th minute when Mamadou Sakho was sent off, weakening a defence that was already without Gary Cahill. Somehow, the visitors still managed <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">just six shots</strong> on goal.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What they can achieve in 19/20</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Should the remainder of the fixture get played, Bournemouth certainly have the capacity to avoid being relegated, although already in the bottom three it is no surprise their <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>odds of going down are currently</b></span></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="5/6">1.84</span> with Betfair Exchange.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In fact, they <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">could do with a reset</strong> and may be one of the select few clubs to benefit from the break. There is a lot of talent in the squad, including the soon-to-return Brooks, the two Wilsons, and Fraser, which may give them the firepower to win three games and survive.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Among their postponed games are Crystal Palace, Newcastle, and Southampton, all at Dean Court, providing ample opportunity to get the wins they need. If play resumes, <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">back them to stay up</strong>.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The biggest mark against Howe is his record in the transfer window. There have been far too many flops over the years and summer 2019 was no different. Bournemouth <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">spent £50 million</strong> on Lloyd Kelly, Arnaut Danjuma, Philip Billing, and Jack Stacey, with Billing the only player to appear regularly. That has to change this year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Should Bournemouth go down they certainly have the squad and the right manager to come straight back up, whereas if they survive it will most likely be <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">more of the same</strong>: a fight against the drop that goes right to the wire. The chances of the Cherries progressing notably are remote because, under Howe, each year either remains exactly the same or declines ever so slightly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">A season that began so strongly has dipped dramatically, and rapidly, since November to give Bournemouth a record of <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">11 points from their last 18 league games</strong>. It is a nose dive that seemed likely to end in relegation from the Premier League, and yet football's hiatus may be cause for fans to reassess their chances.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">There is enough talent in the side to rebuild, and Howe remains the best person for the job despite their gradual slide into less attractive football over the last few years. If they can just sort out recruitment then perhaps, in years to come, Bournemouth will look back on the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">slow-motion collapse of 2019/20 as a temporary blip</strong>.</span></div>
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Bournemouth 2019/20 Review: A year of slow decline

Bournemouth 2019/20 Review: A year of slow decline The Premier League season could be on hiatus for a while, so we've decided to revi...

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Aston Villa 2019/20 Review: Tactical issues leave Villa short

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<span style="background-color: white;">Aston Villa 2019/20 Review: Tactical issues leave Villa short</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 700;">Alex Keble continues his Premier League club reviews with Aston Villa, and why tactical deficiencies may see them relegated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">When Aston Villa spent big in the summer of 2019 opinion was split: either they were doing a Fulham or sensibly restocking a depleted side with astute signings. In the end it proved to be neither, and instead the defining feature of the campaign has been a <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">tactical deficiency</strong>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Villa are weaker than the sum of their parts, a squad of talented players inexplicably too porous in defence and unable to hold onto leads. Dean Smith's side have <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">looked brittle</strong> when the chips are down, and have shown little inventiveness when performances began to sharply decline in 2020. The Premier League suspension has come at a good time for Villa. Relegation was beginning to look like a certainty.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Season so far</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Things began relatively well for Villa, and indeed as their televised games through the autumn brought heroic defeats to 'Big Six' sides pundits everywhere declared the club would be just fine. But rather than build on these competitive displays Villa simply couldn't learn from their mistakes, picking up <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">just seven wins</strong> across the season - all against struggling sides.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The main reason for this is Smith's wide-open tactics that appear to <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lack the complexity</strong> required at Premier League level. Villa are a ball-playing side, a short-passing side, and a high-line side, but rather than instigate this with a clearly defined pressing game, or adapting it to fit higher quality opponent, the manager's tactics play out like a Football Manager gamer clicking the pre-set buttons for possession football.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The loss of John McGinn and Tom Heaton around Christmas had a big impact, although Villa's real problems stem from a shape that allows better teams to glide through unopposed. Villa <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">conceded 56 goals</strong> in 29 games, the worst in the division.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Reaching the EFL Cup final in dramatic fashion, Trezeguet volleying in a 118th minute winner against Leicester City at Villa Park, is a memory the fans - who poured onto the pitch at the final whistle - <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">will never forget</strong>. The final itself was another heroic defeat for the club, Claudio Bravo tipping a shot onto the post near the death to give supporters a 'nearly' moment to remember.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Villa's remaining highlights come from the first half of the campaign, when spirits were high. The 5-1 win at Norwich in October suggested the club were clicking into gear, while the 2-2 draw with Man Utd at Old Trafford gave hope Villa had overcome their jinx. It would prove to be the <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">only point Villa won</strong> against 'Big Six' opposition.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Jack Grealish's performances have been <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a joy to behold</strong>, and his blossoming into a Premier League star has been both expected and not. Everyone inside the club knew he could make the step up, but few predicted he would raise his game quite so much, equalling his goal and assist tally (13) for the whole of last season.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Both Southampton and Bournemouth did the double over Villa this season, a serious low point, but arguably the main lowlight of the campaign was their most recent game, a 4-0 at Leicester that made it four consecutive defeats. In that match Villa were truly dreadful, suggesting all <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">confidence had gone</strong>, and suggesting Smith - who looked a beaten man after the game - was out of ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Douglas Luiz and <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Danny Drinkwater</strong> have been big disappointments, with central midfield something of a disaster area for the club since McGinn's injury in December. Frequent defensive errors, characterised by consistently shambolic defending from corners, has undermined John Terry's position, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Relegation, priced at <span class="inline-odds" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; color: #161616; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2/5">1.40</span><span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b> </b></span></span>with Betfair Exchange, is by no means guaranteed, although if the Premier League does recommence at some point then Villa would need around 12-14 points from 10 matches. Their pretty dreadful run-in previously suggested that was beyond them, but the tournament's long suspension could offer hope.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">McGinn and Heaton would be welcomed back to face <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">daunting ties</strong> against Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd, and Arsenal. With only one remaining home game against bottom-half opposition (Crystal Palace), Villa would need to pull some shock results out of the bag. It's possible, but not likely.</span></div>
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<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What next: Summer transfers & 2020/21</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Whatever happens over the coming months, and whenever football resumes in England, Grealish is surely going to leave for a bigger club. <span style="color: #161616; font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(255, 184, 12); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>Man Utd are the favourites, at 4/6, with Chelsea (10/1) and Spurs (10/1) also in the mix</b></span></span>. Likely relegation also means another couple of big names gone, perhaps McGinn and Tyrone Mings, which will leave Villa with some holes to fill.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">However, theirs is a very strong Championship squad and, on sizeable wages, it isn't likely too many will push to leave. Villa can anticipate <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a good go at winning the second-tier</strong> title should they go down, as well as being well-placed to sign a couple of the most promising Championship players over the summer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div>
<h2 style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: #161616; font-family: BetFairFlama, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.5rem; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Summary</strong></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The 2019/20 season was <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">always going to be hard</strong> for Villa. Indeed had a couple of close results gone the other way they would be out of the bottom three and, perhaps, be reflecting on a job well done (for now). Then again, serious question marks are being raised about Smith's viability at this level, even if the likely alternative - a fire-fighter like Sam Allardyce - is anathema to Villa fans.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The club have fallen slightly short, and yet assuming they will be in a good position to roar back in 2020/21 supporters won't look back on the current season with too many regrets. A League Cup final, some wonderful entertainment from Grealish, and a first Premier League campaign for three years; it's <strong style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hardly been disastrous</strong>.</span></div>
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Aston Villa 2019/20 Review: Tactical issues leave Villa short

Aston Villa 2019/20 Review: Tactical issues leave Villa short Alex Keble continues his Premier League club reviews with Aston Villa, and ...

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