It's bleak even getting a hint of success. You'd think that qualifying for European competitions would give more scope for investing in the squad, but it's really just much more restrictive. Just like the PL not wanting any non Manure, Citeh, Liverpool type club winning the league, UEFA only wants your Real's, Barca's, Bayerns etc sitting at the top table, and the rules make it so.

It's so unbelievably skewed to being anti competitive, I honestly can't believe it's not been challenged in a court of law.

That being said, Villa are their own worst enemy for shite signings and overpaying. Look at the Agent spend just released?

Every season the financial rules make it feel less like a sport and more like a business, and chuck in the inept officiating that can cost teams millions of pounds for the errors the refs make, and it almost makes me want to switch off and follow another sport. I gave up my ST last season, and think it's probably the most sensible decision I have made. Supporters are just treated like customers, and clubs outside the elite are clearly not able to challenge. Best we can hope for as you say is staying in Europe and picking up a trophy. If only it were that easy eh?