Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2025/26

Patser · 27-02-2026 10:44PM

There's Allyson for Ollie now with 3 mins left

Patser · 27-02-2026 10:48PM

It's all such fine margins.

Before Christmas we were continuously winning by 1 goal, usually an outstanding one. Now we're losing by 1 all the time, because we've lost all threat

fullstop · 27-02-2026 10:51PM

Will Emery give it the “we have to be happy in this moment” interview or actually call out/acknowledge this performance

Panrich · 27-02-2026 10:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270898#Comment_124270898

And on a positive note, he looks pretty good….

Patser · 27-02-2026 10:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270897#Comment_124270897

Rogers is right off the boil as well, some of his passes in first half, when we were on top, were terrible (except 1 that Watkins should have done better with). He's acting petulant at times, now that all the pressure is on him to create, without Tielemans offering alternatives

Patser · 27-02-2026 10:56PM

Off the line

listermint · 27-02-2026 10:56PM

Fk. Thaaaat

Patser · 27-02-2026 10:56PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270934#Comment_124270934

And now 2-0 down

Smurts · 27-02-2026 10:57PM

Good god…

Panrich · 27-02-2026 10:57PM

Well at least Wolves have their first home win of the season.

Patser · 27-02-2026 10:57PM

Going to be a horrible weekend watching other scores come in

Panrich · 27-02-2026 10:59PM

The graphic that showed our stats with/without Kamara before the game was so telling.

Patser · 27-02-2026 11:01PM

The team have been incredible all year, I'll cut them lots of slack. The simple lack of squad depth combined with losing entire midfield partnership in space of 2 weeks, and by Emery flogging everyone to exhaustion is just catching up.

Let's hope for a miracle on Wednesday, and then they've 10 days off to recover

Smurts · 27-02-2026 11:03PM

Wolves had 10 points and 16 goals before tonight’s game. That is absolutely shocking. Akin to losing to the Villa 16/17 team.

That team will not beat Lille.

listermint · 27-02-2026 11:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270967#Comment_124270967

Don't think that excuses the team selection this evening. I don't think Watkins should have started.

It's wolves, emery shouldn't have been trying to be a bit creative. Not safe

Panrich · 27-02-2026 11:05PM

The turning point was the cup game against Spurs. We were all calling for a youth team against them with us fighting on two fronts already. Kamara getting injured has derailed our season. Sure it could have happened at any time, but in a game that we didn't really need to target is a killer.

cgorzy · 27-02-2026 11:05PM

We were terrible, no creativity at all. Can’t bring any pace to the attack and give the ball away so easily. I don’t think there is much that can be done to change it either with what we have available. Maybe give Alysson more time with Abraham instead of Watkins but I don’t think Emery is going to be looking to play lots of crosses. We don’t have the players to play high energy football.

fullstop · 27-02-2026 11:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270967#Comment_124270967

Can’t agree with this…I would have until a week or two ago but not now. No European games in recent weeks, plenty of opportunity for recovery and if you can’t get up for a derby against a wolves team who can’t win a game to save their lives then you’ve no business up near the top of the table. They’re showing more fight arguing with fans than on the pitch

CSF · 27-02-2026 11:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270979#Comment_124270979

Been calling that since before that Spurs game even kicked off. Emery f*cked it.

Patser · 27-02-2026 11:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270991#Comment_124270991

I suppose, this was the game to go for it, and cement our top 3 place, but from 15th minute we dropped off dramatically. We definitely needed Maatsens energy, and can't argue that Tammy would have offered a lot more. But others (Konsa, Cash) got caught up in niggly, bitty falling and fouling that slowed game right down and let Wolves settle

fullstop · 28-02-2026 01:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124270917#Comment_124270917

Pretty much…”Congratulations to the fantastic season we are doing”.

LowOdour · 28-02-2026 01:09AM

I think we have done well competing as we have this season. I said it when he left, Malen's pace and impact would be a huge loss. Combined with our 3 best midfielders gone and trying to compete in Europe, something had to give.

If, and a big If at that, we get Champions League next year then we need to figure out a way to build in-depth quality into the squad. Otherwise this could be a pattern until we just stop qualifying

chases0102 · 28-02-2026 01:28AM

Malen. That is all.

listermint · 28-02-2026 01:45AM

Still livid over that decision. Absolutely hated it at the time. Hate it today.

circadian · 28-02-2026 10:23AM

Abysmal. Watkins shouldn't be starting matches.

Smurts · 28-02-2026 11:56AM

I was of the assumption that the reason for Malen leaving was to gain some accountancy advantage due to PSR, assuming it wasn’t just a straight one in, one out against Bailey??

CSF · 28-02-2026 12:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124271813#Comment_124271813

Well, it was to sign Abraham and Luiz moreso I think.

I think people are over lamenting Malen’s exit though. He played 640 minutes in the Premier League this season, and left in GW22.

Malen, like Guessand was another Emery signing that could not break into the team ahead of the lads that were there when Emery joined. It’s a huge criticism for these lads that Buendia largely kept him out of the team because while he had some big moments, he is not a top 10 level Premier League footballer.

cgorzy · 28-02-2026 01:34PM

If Abraham contributes between now and the end of the season then letting Malen go will have made sense. So far it looks like he has the same role as Malen, backup to Watkins, so won’t be playing many more minutes per game than Malen did. With the performances we are seeing lately it is understandable that Malen’s pace and quick shots are seen as something we miss, as is his slightly unorthodox positioning. Abraham, we hope, will bring better finishing and physicality but he is going to need more creativity in the build up to get a chance to show that he brings that.

They are both 20-30M players so getting them to top 4/5 level is a big ask.

pavb2 · 28-02-2026 05:11PM

First thing Tammy needs is minutes.

Taking a pragmatic view the depth of our squad and in today’s environment revenue being more important than trophies is there an argument for prioritising CL qualification via the Premier League rather than the Europa?

CSF · 28-02-2026 07:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124272693#Comment_124272693

I think the international break will be the time when that decision is made. By that time Villa will either be in the QF or out, and will have played Chelsea and Man United and know exactly where they stand in the league relative to both of them, heading into a final 7 games.

Europa League wouldn’t be a great thing to prioritise over Premier League though IMO considering that one bad game could destroy it all.

Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2025/26

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