On the eve of a new year, there is the promise of new horizons, of a newer, better future for us all, individually and collectively.

For Aston Villa, such promises may well be tempered with restraint as years of cutting the club’s costs fused with a sharp decline in recent results (and style) point toward a less-than-thrilling view of the future.

This time last year, Villa were in the middle of what could only be described as a football mugging, a shameless battering at the hands of the great, the good, and the later-to-be relegated.

Back then, the sheer shock of having 15 goals rammed past Brad Guzan in just three games may well have been the metaphorical adrenaline shot that sprung a comatose Villa into life.

This time around the results haven’t been as severe, but the need for a kick start is just as necessary with a single point from the last five games scant return.

In theory at least, Villa should have some success against their next opponents, though many of us know far better than to expect anything from Villa in recent years.

Such a statement, on reflection, sounds almost pitiful, as if lacking any real courage of conviction, though realists may well consider it fairly proportionate given Villa’s mediocrity as injuries have destroyed the team’s personnel and style.

In addition, there is the contradiction that exists at the club illustrated best by the feeling that fans can feel the team is rubbish, but is then are equally incensed when they lose – something that feels a little paradoxical.

Getting more specifically into results, and as much as I hate the term, the Sunderland game is most certainly a six-pointer. Whilst an ever-increasingly competitive league makes over half the league look in danger of relegation, the truth is Villa need a foothold to stop the slide. Yes, the point at Swansea was a step in the right direction, but it will mean naught if Villa can’t take advantage of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Which isn’t to say that the Mackems will be easy pickings on Wednesday, as they will be buoyed by a late equaliser against Cardiff City, but they surely have to be more likely to be beaten than say the likes of Arsenal or Manchester City even though we have actually beaten both this season.

Now whilst results are important to the club’s future in the league, it would be remiss of me to ignore the strong need for incoming transfers.

As of today, a day before the transfer window opens it is almost impossible to predict what is going to happen – not only in terms of who might come in, but in terms of the budgets available.

Reading between the lines there does appear to be some money available, though quite how much is a mystery. Will it be £10m? £20m? £5m?

Whatever happens, and we will cover things when they do, Villa must improve. Yes, the club is not in the bottom three, but recent form has been poor, something that must be fixed, an issue I feel requires further funding to both plug gaps caused by injury, as well as to buy a style of player that isn’t at the club at present.

So, as we are in the final day of 2013, what are your thoughts? How do you anticipate 2014 will turn out, and what do you think needs to change?

Ladies and gentlemen, it is over to you.

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