Villa supporters back Emery to recover despite difficult start
A Birmingham Live poll of more than 4,000 fans shows the majority still expect European football after a summer of heavy squad turnover and four winless league matches.
Aston Villa’s difficult start to the Premier League campaign has not shaken supporter belief in Unai Emery, according to a reader poll conducted by Birmingham Live. More than 4,000 fans have cast their vote on where they expect the team to finish, with a clear majority tipping European qualification despite the club sitting 19th in the table after four matches.
The survey found that 32 per cent of respondents anticipate a Europa League place, while 24 per cent think Champions League football remains achievable. A further 22 per cent foresee a mid-table finish, 14 per cent predict Conference League involvement and just eight per cent expect the side to end up in the bottom half.
Villa have managed only one point from their opening four league fixtures, losing to Brighton, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest while drawing with Hull City. Their sole goal across those games compounds the frustration, although Emery’s side did secure a victory against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
That poor domestic run follows a summer of enormous upheaval. The transfer window closed on 1 September after Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea in what Birmingham Live describes as a British record £117m deal. Emiliano Martinez also joined the London club, Ezri Konsa transferred to Arsenal, Youri Tielemans signed for Manchester United and Ollie Watkins departed for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
Emery has reinvested heavily to rebuild his squad ahead of the January 2027 window. Johan Manzambi arrived in what the publication terms a club-record signing, while Nicolas Jackson was among those brought in for substantial sums. Ibrahim Mbaye and Joao Gomes have also joined the ranks, alongside goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
With no opportunity to add further players until the new year, the focus now falls entirely on integrating those recent arrivals. The Birmingham Live poll suggests that, even after losing so many established figures and enduring a bruising opening month, Villa Park retains a strong reservoir of trust in the manager tasked with turning things around.
