Sunday 15 February 2015 12:09, UK
Aston Villa might not seem an attractive vacancy initially, but there is plenty to encourage potential new managers...
Christian Benteke
One of the main reasons for Paul Lambert's departure was his failure to inspire Christian Benteke to rediscover his form of 2012/13. The Belgian hit 23 goals in his debut campaign at Villa Park, but found the net only 11 times last season before rupturing his Achilles tendon. Just three goals in 18 matches since his return has shelved talk of a big-money move to Liverpool or Tottenham, but the 24-year-old showed his finishing touch hasn't completely deserted him with a fine strike in December's 1-1 draw with Manchester United. If the new manager can work on providing Benteke with better service, the striker could still play a vital role in Villa's survival bid.
Carles Gil
The man charged with creating chances for Benteke has only been at Villa for a month, but already Carles Gil has made a big impression. The 22-year-old scored a stunning goal in the FA Cup tie against Bournemouth on his first start and then produced a smart piece of skill to set up Jores Okore's equaliser in the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea. Lambert hailed Gil as a player who can "unlock doors" after paying £3.25m for the former Valencia playmaker, and whoever replaces the Scot certainly has an exciting talent to work with.
Robust defence
Aside from the recent 5-0 thrashing at Arsenal, Villa's defence has been stronger than their position in the bottom three suggests. Nine of the club's 13 defeats have come by a margin of two goals or fewer, with Villa's record of 34 goals conceded the joint-best in the bottom half and equal to sixth-placed Tottenham. Okore has impressed with a string of committed displays, while Ron Vlaar's return to full fitness should steel Villa for the relegation run-in.
Experience
Another advantage Villa possess over their rivals is the experience of having survived previous battles to avoid the drop. Villa were stuck in the bottom half for the vast majority of the previous campaign, and were only four points above the bottom three in April before earning a crucial win at home to Hull. In 2012/13, they climbed from 19th after 25 games to a 15th-place finish while relegation was avoided by just two points in 2011/12. This is not unfamiliar territory for the squad given their recent struggles, and this relevant experience could be imperative as the season goes to the wire.
Potential
While the immediate task for Lambert's replacement is securing Villa's Premier League status, there is plenty to be positive about should that aim be achieved. Randy Lerner may be looking to sell up after failing to get a return on his investment but the second-city club could be an attractive prospect for potential buyers if they find a way back into the top half. With a passionate fan base, 42,000-seater stadium and excellent training facilities, the infrastructure is in place for Villa to push on; they just need a new manager to engender optimism.
