Predicted Premier League: 12th

As we creep towards the middle of the Premier League, we reach one of the oldest teams in the country, and one with royal fans…

Team: Aston Villa

Manager: Paul Lambert

Paul Lambert is one of the managers that you’re never too sure is in control. When he seems to be losing too many matches one of his players pulls out a run of games that is completely out of character, then goes back to obscurity. I’m not too convinced by his ability but he does seem to get results and I don’t think this is his season of reckoning.

Key Player: Christian Benteke

It must be hell to watch your nation go to a World Cup and not be there, especially when the thing that they needed most was an energetic striker with a cool head in front of goal. However I back Benteke to show the Premier League what the World Cup missed. Benteke should not be playing for a side like Villa but as long as he does and remains relatively injury free he will score goals and provide goals in other ways. If he wasn’t there, I would be putting Villa on a much lower finishing position that’s for sure.

Best feature: Purple Patches

For the last few years I’ve thought Villa were one of the worst sides around, but every single time they seem to be completely lost one of their players comes out with the form of their life. I don’t know what Lambert does to them but he always seems to get the players performing exactly when he needs them, and these patches of form are what have kept Lambert in a job over the past few years.

Worst Feature: Not enough quality