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What do you think Martin O'Neills chances of breaking into the top 4 next season are?

Remote if he loses Gareth Barry.

With or without Barry, I don't see them breaking into the top four. I see them fighting for 5th along with Tottenham, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Everton.

8th at best, and thats counting if Barry stays

If he can keep Barry, and if he can strengthen a weak (in terms of numbers) squad, then there's no reason why Villa shouldn't fight out 4th place with the two Scouse clubs.

I am an armchair Villa fan (support them but rarely go to matches). Both my sons are Villa season ticket holders.

Well I have to say O'Neil has worked wonders this last season. He got rid of a lot of players (too many I thought) and only bought a few in.

Some of his purchaes raised a few eyebrows (Zac Knight and Marlon Harewood) but others, like Young, have been excellent.

He worked all season with a very small squad (maybe the smallest in the Premier league) and was rather lucky that we had so few injuries. All season we had no recognized right back with Mellberg filling in most of the time.

From that small squad we have now lost Mellberg (to Juventas), Sorensen and Berger have been released, and Carson has gone back to Liverpool after his loan, so we have an even smaller squad.

We desperately need a right back, one, maybe two, goalies, a striker who scores 25 a season, and a midfield player to replace Barry if he goes.

We have been linked to Robinson from Spurs (I hope not), and Sidwell from Chelsea, but apart from that it has been fairly quiet.

So to answer your question, no, I dont think Villa will break into the top 4, but then I dont think ANYONE can break into that top 4 at the moment.

Spurs finished 5th in the two previous seasons and looked favorites to break the top 4 monopoly but had a terrible season this year.

The most likely to break into the top 4 is Everton as they have a good squad, with cover in most positions, but even they probably wont do it.

Villa,imo are the most improved team in the Premiership.Took the most points off the top four and do play entertaining football,as i witnessed at Stamford Bridge last Boxing Day.

But can they build on last season come August?.That all depends on whether O'Neill can tempt Barry to stay and who he brings in,in the summer.Rumour has it that Steve Sidwell from Chelsea ?6m is a done deal.

Maybe just maybe, depends on if Villa keep Barry and what happens over the course of the summer i.e transfers, managers in and out etc. To be honest Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal are cemented as the top three. Liverpool are nowhere near title contenders. Everton, Spurs, Villa are the real contenders but Newcastle started to improve at the end of the season and West Ham with a fully fit squad could be an interesting prospect, also depends what happens at Man City but yeah Villa defo have a shout just as good as anybody. My only real concern would be the loss of Mellberg.