Premier League Preview: the Wild Cards

In the third of AFR’s four part Premier League preview series, Nick Lichtenberg (writing from New York City) looks at his Premier League’s Wild Cards: Aston Villa, Birmingham, and Newcastle. (Part One: Contenders. Part Two: Middle Men)

Aston Villa Football Club

“The Villans” … “The Lions”

American counterpart: a club from its country’s “second city,” with a long and storied history but last true success occurring in the 1980s, since when it has waited in vain for a new generation of stars to realize their potential. Also, its uniform/kit is steeped in tradition and harkens back to the earliest days of the sport. Aston Villa is … the Chicago Bears.