'Controversy and acrimony of defeat'
Here's my quick assessment of Aston Villa's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.Pre-season prediction: 9thEnded the season: 6thAston Villa's fine season ended in the controversy and acrimony of defeat at Manchester United and that disallowed effort from Morgan Rogers, ending their hopes of a second successive season in the Champions League, where they reached the quarter-finals this term.Unai Emery still produces work that should be the envy of clubs such as Manchester United and Tottenham. He will continue to demand progress under Villa's ambitious owners.There was certainly a tinge of disappointment in Villa's conclusion, with the mystifying 'no-show' in the FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace at Wembley a big blot - then that final day defeat - but Emery has transformed Villa and, with outstanding youngsters such as Rogers, there is still much to be satisfied about.What I said in August: "Champions League football will put an additional strain on Emery's squad but I fancy top four again."Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here
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