It’s becoming increasingly difficult to comment about games, because no matter how much I might think we are going to win, we more often than not, don’t.
I found myself fuming after the Brighton game, because draws at home are quite simply not good enough, particularly when they’re against clubs that you believe are most likely inferior and at best pretty much on levels terms with the Villa.
I know you can’t expect to win ’em all, but failing to win the games you really think you ought is only going to mean one thing and it’s a failure to qualify for the champion’s League, which I believe is more important than anything we might achieve this season, winning the cup apart, of course. It’s essential that we keep qualifying to keep income up, our profile raised and everything else that entails.
That will mean we’ve really reached the next level and to me, is more important than reaching, say, a semi final, this year. But, of course I accept that Unai Emery may have other ideas, as may the players, because our game seems to be lifted when we play the bigger clubs.
Our biggest failings are, as we all know, the defence and particularly at Right Back. The opposition seems to be able to carve us open at will and the annoying part is that it’s often the first serious attack that lads to us conceding, meaning we’re up against it straightaway. You can’t keep playing games at a goal down, but we seem to not be able to avoid it.
I personally think there’s something intrinsically wrong with the way we play. If you watched Brighton, they were able to defend in better numbers than us, but still managed to press us to death, something we know we don’t cope with very well. Yet still we didn’t play a slightly deeper defensive line, which with our chronic defence is something you might think you’d want to do. Don’t get me wrong, we also seriously threatened them too, but Watkins couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo at the moment and even his penalty was poor, in my opinion, because it bounced on it’s way in.
Duran’s clinical finishing is already being missed.
Anyway, squad news and it’s not great.
Pau has broken his metatarsal and will be out for at least a couple of months. While I like him for his vision and passing ability, I’m not so convinced about his defensive abilty. He seems a bit too feeble to me for a defender and I’d prefer him more in a sweeper type position. It’ll be interesting to see how we get on without him.
Morgan Rogers is suspended for hitting five bookings in the first half of the season, as is Duran, for a red card, that upon reflection, was somewhat unlucky. It seemed to me he was unstable on his left foot and the right was uncontrollable, but it’s done and it is what it is.
In other news, Matty Cash is back and while that’s good because we should see Konsa back in by far his best position, I can’t say I’m especially pleased. We all know I feel he’s the biggest weakness in our side, but I suppose he is at least a proper right back, albeit he was originally a right winger, another position I’m not convinced by him in either. He’s not good enough defending or attacking, I think, but he’s all we’ve got. Why do I keep getting a sneaky feeling he won’t be improved upon in this window? Couple our weakness at RB with Bailey’s poor form and we look even weaker, which is a concern. It does at least look like we’re going to try to address the right wing issue, which makes sense, because Emery definitely strikes me as being far more concerned about the attack side of things.
Diego Carlos has been ruled out and I’m not sure if that’s a big loss or not. He’s another player I like, but his passing can be atrocious at times and he gives the ball away far too much. And finally Jaden Philogene is also ruled out. Again, I’m not sure if that’s a loss or not, either. Emery seems really keen on him, but I’m not so sure and personally don’t think he will make the grade. Certainly, he’s done nothing up to now, but hopefully he can come good.
As for Leicester, they have bigger problems than us. First choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is out and Jakub Stolarczyk will replace him. Wout Faes is doubtful. They also have Odsonne Edouard, Fatawu Issahaku, Ricardo Pereira, Kasey McAteer and Wilfred Ndidi all out for various reasons.
What to think then? It’s easy. We’ll win comfortably. It’s Villa at home versus a team that without a doubt is going down at the end of the season.
Except it’s not easy is it? Because we don’t do “easy” anymore. I’m tempted to say we’ll win this 3-1 at a canter, because that’s simply how I feel it ought to go. But the trouble is, as much as our last few games might not show it, I still believe we’re playing with relegation-type form ourselves and any result is likely, because we’re frankly a poor side, totally out of form all round.
I think I’m going to go for a 1-1 draw, but still expect the win.
UTV!
Rumours about us being interested in Oscar Mingueza at RB. If you recall I posted about him some time ago. He’s a hundred percent player and can play in any position across the back four. Hope that the rumours are true.
Where did you read that 1874?
https://youtu.be/XAn8wd_AqZQ?si=wzLDhLV-asHt5gxR
Thanks RSS – is he still at Celta?
Presume he wouldn’t be too expensive – transfer fee nor wages?
Brum Live now running with this story – one year left on his contract with a reported release clause of €20m so have answered one of my questions.
He’s still at Celta Vigo – that’s two questions down 🙂
RB Leipzig are said to be interested.
It’s reported that he can play at RB, CB or wing back so the sort of multi positional player that Emery likes and would suit us given our injury issues and the financial restrictions. Would also allow Konsa to regularly play as our first choice CB.
Where is he playing at the minute? I wonder if we’re investing some of our CL money?????
On top of PSR it seems we have to also comply with CL squad ratio costs – hence the sale of Diaby.
It never rains ………
Yeah, I read that yesterday. Even more of an effort to ensure the ‘Regular’ teams have it easier in Europe too, never mind the EPL.
I can’t believe the levels haven’t been increased since 2013 with the price of players nowadays. Ours and the BarCodes owners should proceed with court action against the authorities.
Didn’t they (they, being a number or clubs) request for the for the figures to be adjusted in line with inflation?
Now weather this was inflation generally or shall we call it “Football Inflation”? I have no idea?
I believe this idea was Pooh-poohed by the powers that be?
RSS Villa definitely and – I think Newcastle but don’t quote me on that – submitted a proposal to the EPL that there should be a review of FFP (as it was then) to take account of general inflation (not ‘football’ inflation) because the FFP figures were set over 10 years ago and all clubs have seen rising costs.
Unsurprisingly the EPL (that’s the twenty clubs who are shareholders) voted against it but not all the wealthy clubs did – they agreed with Villa. Many clubs in the EPL are anti ambition, don’t have the financial muscle of clubs like Villa / Newcastle so vote against any motion that might actually be of benefit if it shackles their ambition.
The EPL shareholders generally give an excellent impression of an ostrich shown a bucket of sand.
The formal proposal from Villa (as far as I can tell only Villa put forward the proposal) was for FFP losses to be increased by £30million to £135m which is below the level of general inflation over the period since 2010 when the current financial rules were established. As previously intimated it was overturned by the EPL clubs.
The rules were introduced to prevent another ‘Portsmouth’ happening. If you look across all four leagues it hasn’t been that successful – one size fits all fiscal restraints are usually not fit for purpose.
Sawiris is on record as saying the rules are anti competition and have forced football into a game of accountants creating ‘false’ paper profits. He’s also on record as saying Villa are taking advice as to whether they can take legal action against the EPL.
Finally, it’s of interest to note that last season the EPL sent £30m in legal fees fighting its own members.
Worthy of a Brian Rix farce!
*spent not sent
“Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Villa have opened talks to sign Oscar Mingueza from Celta Vigo”
That’s looking pretty solid now.
A RB. About time.
He’s being talked about as competition for Cash. I’m hoping he’s his replacement.
With Malen at around £25 mill and Mingueza at £15 mill, I’m wondering who will be out going.
Carlos for £7 mill to Fenerbache and Philogene to West Ham maybe?
You can be pretty sure there will be outgoings, I’d say.
Looking into my crystal ball I see a tall, Columbian centre forward departing Villa Park.
You must have the same crystal ball as me RSS 🙂 Emery might just feel he requires too much maintenance.
Rumours are swirling around a PSG move Hitch.
Yeah, saw that RSS – a swap deal plus cash for Muani – but which way is the cash going?
Allegedly this guy is on £288 per week so I wouldn’t read too much into it but I still feel Emery may run out of patience with our Jon.
From what I’m reading Hitch he’s (allegedly) on around £145k per week.
Although slightly higher than most at VP, is not too far above the present pay structure?
☹️ a mistake if true.
Hitch you weren’t far off –
Basic € 174,808 (£145,087)
+
Bonus € 70,000
Total of € 244,808 (£203,222)
(Nice work if you can get it)
For £80m it’s a deal. Nothing less.
And sell him abraid, not to one of our competitors.
I’d ask more for Carlos!!! £18m at least in today’s market.
£10m on one rumour £6.6m on another – just shows how accurate these rumours are!
I love Ollie but I’d prefer if he was sold, mainly because of age difference, than Duran.
On the ‘temperament’ conversation, I present 4 clear counter-arguments: Ian Wright, Eric Cantona, Didier Drogba, and Wayne Rooney. All world class, natural finishes, who weren’t strangers to a bit of a kerfuffle and and odd red card or five. They were the best and they were winners because of that edge. You can’t have it both ways. Work with Duran to smooth the sharpest edges, but you need the rough ones to be the best. He is well capable of becoming the best. Do not sell Jhon Duran. It will the THE biggest mistake. Bigger than Cahill or any other player you care to mention.
He allegedly clashes like f~~k with Unai and his staff and if I was to hazard a guess (given last summers Hammers shenanigans) I reckon maybe he wants away?
No doubt he’s talented but…
BFR – is it just temperament or disruptive behaviour on a wider basis? If the latter then it’s probably best to let him go – for the right money of course.
Personally, I don’t think there’s a lot in the PSG rumour but who knows?
I don’t know, Hitch. But the way his teammates celebrate goals with him suggests he gets on with them, Chesty in particular.
I think it’s Ollie his pissed right off.
According to Talksh*te Villa wants £60m for Duran. If they get an offer at that level it’s highly (PSR) likely they’d take it.
Whatever we, as fans, think I really can’t see Unai selling Watkins over Duran.
60 million is peanuts. He’ll be worth at least double that in 3-4 years. Forward talent like this is very rare.
Watkins has already peaked, in my opinion. Don’t make the same mistake Pep has. Players have to be sold just after their peak, otherwise you’ll see it in the league table. It sounds harsh, but if it wasn’t for Ollie’s (bad) misses, notably against Arsenal and Brighton, we’d be at least 3rd. Znx all the others when we won, the GD would be positive!
Big Ron also made that error in 1995. A few months later, he was sacked, as his ageing team stumbled, conceding late goals and losing points left, right and centre.
Fergie never made that mistake.
Coincidentally, and to tie up the loose ends of the conversation, Ollie was born in 1995, a few weeks after Big Ron was sacked, which makes him 29 years of age. That, for me, confirms, he has peaked – last season was his best and most probably will not be repeated. Duran, on the other hand…
My mistake; BFR was sacked in late ’94. But you get the idea.
And
I’m reading this AFTER my comments. So I’m not the only one with these thoughts…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6037129/2025/01/06/ollie-watkins-aston-villa-goals-form/
Decent article.
Forest are very impressive this season, failing us wining the league (that ain’t going to happen) I’d love to see them lift it.
Only one team in Forest’s position at this stage have failed to achieve CL qually!
Surely they can’t keep it up, can they???
I’m extremely jealous. No European footy is obviously helping them. But it should be Villa in there with the points we’ve thrown away.
I would be okay with Watkins going, if the money was right. It would need to be around the 80mill mark at least, bearing in mind he’s an England striker.
But he would have to be replaced with a proper player and not an up and comer, as the thought of Duran on his own is scary.
That said, maybe he would be content being top of the tree and wind his neck in?
I still think it might be Duran who goes though. He can’t be trusted, yet.
I get the “players having bad attitudes having an edge” argument, but I think Emery will only tolerate a certain amount of that and could prove to be more ruthless than us fans. Hence all that will matter is the money he can bring in.
I have been saying for over a year that Ollie has lost it. We are the no 3 of chances created and the amount of goals that he has scored has been accidental. He has missed loads. Maybe there was a time but just now he is not a Premier League centre forward. Anything above 50 mil would be a steal for us. We are waking up every matchday and doing the same thing. We need to change.
His goal against Holland in the semis was pure instinct and pure class and shows that he can do it. Where has that gone? Why the indecision and dallying on the ball?
Incidently the media have decided that the only forward we are likely to sell is Duran because he is the only one of our CFs that could command a transfer fee.
And Ollie couldn’t?
That doesn’t make any sense to me.
He gets goals and offers more than just that, with his workrate pulling defenders about.
Lewis Dobbin has gone on loan to Norwich, I see.
I missed that.
“Fabrizio Romano : Aston Villa Keeping Tabs on Kolo Muani”
https://www.givemesport.com/romano-on-aston-villakolo-muani/
Has that one already been pointed out?
I can’t keep up, lol.
Yeah Badger – that was the mooted swap deal (plus cash) for Duran.
Still not putting much store by that rumour – it seems that half the EPL and Serie A are interested as well. Sounds like his agent is offering him around – as an aside he’s only made two starts this season in Ligue 1.
Big, big no from me on that one.
TBR first posted the Duran swop deal – their latest offering is Villa being interested in loaning Luiz from Juventus. Would we have to buy back his girlfriend as well 🙂
Juve do want a loan to buy deal. I don’t get that one either although Juve do want to unload him – apparently he’s been a disaster since joining them – their words not mine.
I like the Malen and Mingueza rumours though
Players returning rarely works. Apart from Steve Staunton.
We seem to do our deals behind closed doors nowadays, which infuriates the press.
I think we’ll get at least 2 or 3 in with Philogene leaving.
Glad of the FA Cup break. An outside chance of McGinn recovering????
On the subject of strikers, i wouldn’t be interested in selling Ollie or Duran. Duran defo has chemistry with the players. You can see it when he scores! He’s like an annoying little brother! Ollie’s record on goals and assist is far from poor too, it’s just he hasn’t hit the heights of last season. Injury and England duty have seen to that. I’m hoping the entire team find form as we haven’t excelled all season…and we’re 4 irritating points off 4th!!!!!
I don’t think we should even be contemplating selling Watkins or Duran. We still need to push on in the premier league and we should qualify for Champions League and hopefully take the FA Cup a little more serious. Just having one striker would be a huge risk and bringing in someone new as a replacement or swap deal could go badly wrong. Watkins is getting the chances and it might be one goes in off his backside and he goes on a good goalscoring run.
After watching Forest with Elanga and Hudson-Odoi, I’m jealous of the speed both have in counter attacks. Woods just needs to get into the box and chances are converted. We look like Malen could inject pace into the team because we are so slow going forward.
In other news, we are getting a commemorative kit for Friday which is on sale Thursday to further fleece the fans ££££££££
Just a thought, will the kit be £1.50? 🤔
£150. £1,500???? 😆
Philogene to Everton on a permanent – mooted £15m.
Although Emery likes him he might be ‘sacrificed’ for players that are performing now rather than potential?
One other benefit of Melan is that he’s registered with Dortmund to play in the CL – I think that means he can play for us in the League Phase taking the place of Philogene but the rules are complicated – sigh!
Well, most on here know how I’ve been on about Watkins for months now and no improvement up till now.
The problem is Duran is a bit of a wild child and are we saying managers of today are not a Ferguson?
Either he’s in the game to learn or be treated as a child and pay the consequences of being kicked out of the game. I like Duran and think he’s more of a player to win us games. Watkins is playing out of his position and the problem is Unia’s thinking!! Yes, Unia brought us a long way but like others question some of his thinking. We should start changing our game stop this tiptap and send the ball forwards for our strikers to get into the game more. Just look at Nottingham the way they use their player’s fast wing play winning them games we should do the same.
Bill I agree that we lack true pace in the transition – Watkins has it but we need him to stay upfield. I think we are missing Diaby’s speed; hopefully we’ll sign Melan who has, it would appear, speed to burn.
Mingueza is also reputed to be a speed merchant and can play as a wing back as well as full back.
Although Digne has been very good I see Maatson, another very quick player as the future.
Get both in and with Maatson it will give Unai some real options.
How are Barcelona, given their financial plight, going to afford Duran?
Klarna?
Exactly RSS – so much for media intellect 🙂
Ye keep Duran think he has a massive future and yes I’ll be buying the new top as long as we beat westham it’s bloody lovely UTV
Below is a copy and paste from website to explain reasoning for the commemorative kit.
“The club adopted black shirts in 1878 and the oldest squad photo on record shows the players in black tops, white bottoms and black socks”
There is a photo on the website showing the players in black and white in a black and white photograph! 😂
I don’t suppose they might have worn a dark blue based on William MacGregor being from Scotland?
I see Brum Live have now sunk so low in their drive for clicks as to print headlines which are no longer just misleading but simply lies like ‘Malen signs, Jhon Duran exit’ neither of which is true.
Here’s a question – can Duran play on Friday in the FA Cup or does his red card preclude from EPL and FA Cup?