Manager: John Gregory

Ground: Villa Park

Last season: 8th

Players In: Olaf Mellberg £5m (Racing Santander), Mustapha Hadgi £2.5m plus Julian Joachim (Coventry), Peter Schmeichel (Sporting Lisbon), Giovanni Speranza (Frankfurt), Hassan Kachloul (Southampton)

Players Out: Gareth Southgate £6.5m (Middlesbrough), David James £3.5m (West Ham), Julian Joachim (Coventry), Michael Standing (released)

Key Men: Villa have built their side around a solid defensive unit in recent years but the departures of David James and Gareth Southgate need to be remedied. Paul Merson will be Villa's inspiration going forward and Peter Schmiechel should soften the blow of losing James to West Ham.

Ticket Prices: £5-£25

Programme Price: £2.50

How to get there: Exit M6 at Junction six. Follow signs for Birmingham. Take the fourth exit at the roundabout onto the A38 signposted Aston. After 1/2 mile, turn right into Aston Hall Road.

www.astonvilla-fc.co.uk