First fans were told that Villa won't finish in the top four this season. Then they were forced to accept that the club can't compete financially with the big guns. And now, to add insult to injury, Martin O'Neill has been quoted as saying that his side will struggle to finish in the top six next year.
Honesty is often the best policy but at a time when Villa have failed to win in 12 games, do we really need to listen to yet more negative exclamations?
The players are finally starting to regain some of their mid-season spirit and with games against three of the four relegation candidates on the horizon, they need all the energy they can muster to claim fifth spot.
Brad Friedel says that a top five finish is vital for the progression of the club under O'Neill. And that is definitely a fair assessment.
But with his manager seemingly negative about next season's aspirations just what difference will it really make to the attitude at Villa Park.
Should the Claret and Blue maintain their current position in the league until the end of the campaign, surely they will be under big pressure to better that next time around.
With O'Neill stating that his Chairman doesn't have the cash to compete with the big boys, the top players at the club may question whether their current club can fulfil their aspirations.
Hope
Surely it is not the greatest of ploys to plant such public seeds of doubt in the minds of the already star-gazing Gareth Barry and the whirlwind that is Ashley Young.
The focus should be on how far Villa can finish ahead of the also-rans.
Manchester City, Tottenham and Everton have been pinpointed as the main threats to Villa's top six status but you have to wonder about the stability both City and Spurs.
Both tend to throw money at problems with very little success and whilst David Moyes has Everton going the right way again - can they really carry on competing with limited cash and a lack of strikers?
Villa are the most youthful and the most settled of the sides in terms of personnel and maybe it is time for O'Neill to inspire his troops rather than making downbeat assessments.
Every Villa fan knows that their club possesses one of the best managers in the game but constant O'Learyesque remarks are doing him a slight disservice.
The focus must be on winning the remaining games this season, with thoughts of next season put to the back of the mind.
Hope must spring eternal at Villa Park if the squad is to stay together and succeed again.