Just when all appeared to be doomed, Tim Sherwood came in to save the day at Aston Villa last term.
Not only did the former Tottenham Hotspur boss defy the odds and the doubters to navigate Villa away from the relegation zone, he also guided the club to the FA Cup final.
However, it could be argued that this coming campaign may be even harder, particularly after the sale of two key players.
Can Sherwood work his magic once again? Here, Sport Mole assesses whether this will be the season that Villa fall through the trapdoor into the Championship.
In
Scott Sinclair (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Mark Bunn (Norwich City), Idrissa Gueye (Lille), Jordan Amavi (Nice), Jordan Ayew (Lorient), Jose Angel Crespo (Cordoba), Rudy Gestede (Blackburn Rovers), Jordan Veretout (Nantes)
Out
Darren Bent (Derby County), Enda Stevens (Portsmouth), Andreas Weimann (Derby County), Matt Lowton (Burnley), Yacouba Sylla (Rennes), Antonio Luna (Eibar), Shay Given (Stoke City), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Christian Benteke (Liverpool)
Last season - 17th
Manager - Tim Sherwood
© Getty Images
He may have his critics, but the firefighting that Sherwood was forced to do upon taking the job at Villa Park can only be applauded. He only had the experience of 28 games as a manager prior to his arrival in Birmingham, yet he guided a Villa side that was on a run of only two wins from 21 games to safety.
However, there is a real feeling that the hard work starts now. Not only is the honeymoon period over, but Sherwood is going to have to contend with the departures of Christian Benteke and Fabian Delph. Plenty of players have arrived through the Villa Park entrance door and it will be the manager's job to ensure that everything gels together successfully.
Key Player - Jack Grealish
He may not turn 20 until September, but with Benteke and Delph having moved on to pastures new, there is going to be plenty of pressure on Grealish's shoulders this term. This year has been a breakthrough one for the attacking midfielder, who made 17 appearances in all competitions.
He will have to up his game this time around because opposition teams will now be aware of his ability - the surprise factor has gone. Also, a player in his position should be scoring goals - the 19-year-old is still awaiting his first senior goal in the claret shirt. Villa's fate could well depend on how well Grealish lives up to the expectation.
© Getty Images
Possible starting lineup
Guzan; Richardson, Richards, Okore, Crespo; Westwood, Sanchez, Gueye, Sinclair; Ayew, Agbonlahor
First game: Bournemouth (A), Full fixture list
Sports Mole says
In the last four seasons, Villa have finished 16th, 15th, 15th, and 17th. With that in mind, it's fair to say that they have flirted rather closely with relegation in recent times. Sherwood will argue that the departures of Delph and Benteke have been covered, but it remains to be seen if he has gone for quantity rather than quality in the transfer market.
During his three seasons at Villa Park, Liverpool-bound Benteke scored 42 Premier League goals and a further seven in all competitions. If ever there was a campaign for Gabriel Agbonlahor to take up the goalscoring mantle, surely it's now. Not only have Villa lost the services of Delph in midfield, loanee Tom Cleverley opted to join Everton permanently. Taking all of that into consideration, another season of struggle seems inevitable and on this occasion Villa's luck may run out.
Prediction - 19th
Liam Apicella
