Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton has given his prediction (Image: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Former Aston Villa striker Chris Sutton believes that the current squad, which in his view overachieved last season, hasn't changed substantially enough for this campaign and that has contributed to the struggles Villa are currently encountering.
Villa were heavily restricted in what they were able to conduct in the summer transfer window because of PSR and those limitations meant they couldn't spend freely or add further depth to their squad. At this moment, the most notable additions - Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen - are currently either injured or out of the side, meaning that Unai Emery isn't currently feeling the benefits of recruitment.
The Lions are winless in eight and welcome Brentford and Southampton to Villa Park this week, but two positive results changes things quickly - as Sutton points out, they're only a point behind Tottenham in seventh and only four behind the likes of Man City and Brighton who are currently fighting for the Champions League spots.
READ: Unai Emery must consider rare Aston Villa dynamic in watershed week
READ: Villa hero criticises 'stupid' PSR rules and summer transfers amid form crisis
"If you go back to last season, Villa had played 21 games at the same stage, they have played 20 this season," Sutton told BBC Radio 5Live. "It's very, very, very difficult to measure. This is pretty simple - they overachieved by some distance, with quite a thin squad. If you look at the players this season, it's predominantly the players who played last season.
"You look at the differences - Douglas Luiz. He had a good season, of course he did, but was he such a big loss? They lost Moussa Diaby, who I'd actually forgotten about, and he was quite an important player.
"You look at the players who have come in - Ross Barkley, Onana, Morgan Rogers has really come to the fore. Jhon Duran, there's been a lot said about him. I just think they've overachieved, now they're underachieving a little bit and they're not on a good run, absolutely not.
"I also think we're at a stage now where you look at the Premier League, Villa are in 12th and Tottenham are in seventh and there's a point between them. You can pick out various clubs and talk about them being in crisis. They're on a poor run of games, but I do believe with the manager they've got, the players they've got, they will turn this around."
Agree with Sutton? Have your say HERE
Black Friday is an annual shopping event of massive discounts. You can check out all the latest Black Friday weekend bargains and offers here.