Villa have only brought in four new players, having disposed of the same amount at the start of the summer.
Brad Friedel, Brad Guzan, Curtis Davies and Steve Sidwell should prove to be useful additions but they are not the world class names that fans expected.
And while Tottenham, Man City and Portsmouth have spent lavishly, Villa have almost been stagnant.
Take Tottenham for example. They are a club with ambitions of reaching the top four, apparently so are Villa.
Yet, the men from White Hart Lane have spent a full £30m more this summer with Euro 2008 star Luka Modric one of the key arrivals.
But could the fact that Spurs have chopped and changed be their downfall once again?
Remember the buzz around the Lane at the start of last season. Remember the ambition circulating Manchester City's Eastlands.
Where did it go?
Consistency
Well, Spurs finished in a very disappointing 11th, while Sven's Man City ended the season three places lower than Villa in ninth.
The difference between the sides could have been quality, but the real key was consistency.
Villa hardly changed their team last summer and built a steady unit that relied on team spirit away from home.
They often came back from a one goal deficit to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
And at times those jaws were pretty imposing.
A great result at Wigan summed up the Villa grit and determination.
The game was played on a bog of a pitch and the side were one-nil down at half time.
Hardly any chances were created and big John Carew limped off to be replaced by Shaun Maloney after just 10 minutes.
The hopes of a victory were as bleak as the sky above the JJB, but after the break Villa were revitalised.
No doubt the manager and players discussed their first half downfalls and re-grouped, re-shaped and recovered.
Just after half time Curtis Davies headed home in front of the 5000 jubilant away fans.
Resounding
Then, with 15 minutes remaining, Ashley Young provided a moment of wing wizardry to set up Gabby Agbonlahor for the winner.
The turnaround was complete and Villa had taken yet another three points on their travels.
Would Man City have done the same? The answer, a resounding NO!
In fact, City took just 18 points from their away outings and Spurs only managed 20.
Compare that to Villa's impressive tally of 27, including a 6-0 romp at Derby and you go some way to understanding just why the men from the Midlands finished in the top six.
This season, it seems, will start in the same manner as the last with Villa behind in terms of squad strength.
But, hopefully it will finish in the same way - with Villa above City, Spurs and at least 14 others.