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

cgorzy · 12-03-2026 08:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307826#Comment_124307826

Yeah a good win away from home overall and McGinn did well when he came on. They were poor enough and we need the improve a lot going forward but it did seem like we played out the game as Emery wanted.

CSF · 12-03-2026 08:52PM

Think it should have been a pen and a red for the keeper which would have made a better outcome, but have to be happy with that regardless.

listermint · 12-03-2026 08:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307839#Comment_124307839

Agreed.

Patser · 12-03-2026 09:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307839#Comment_124307839

For the Watkins chance?

I don't think so myself, Ollie made a hames of it, pushed the ball way too far left of keeper, then tried to make the impact look bad. Keeper did everything to pull out of the collision Ollie was trying to engineer

CSF · 12-03-2026 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124307854#Comment_124307854

If the keeper doesn’t put himself in the way of Watkins he’s running through and scoring imo, it shouldn’t be a requirement to hurdle over people who make movements to obstruct you.

artanevilla · 13-03-2026 12:37PM

Emery the quickest post war manager to make it to 100 wins for Villa, ahead of Ron Saunders and Joe Mercer who both began their Villa careers in lower divisions.

Aston Villa: Unai Emery reaches milestone in win over Lille - BBC Sport

Remarkable achievement.

cgorzy · 13-03-2026 04:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124309033#Comment_124309033

I wonder how many Managers we needed to get the 100 wins before Emery was in charge?

artanevilla · 13-03-2026 05:33PM

Emery -100 is Steve Bruce.

pavb2 · 14-03-2026 02:07AM

At the start of the season I had a small bet on Villa to finish in the top 5, a few weeks ago I thought why didn’t I make it top 4. But now that Chelsea result looks even worse the more you look at it, even a draw would have kept a decent buffer. Looking at Chelsea and Liverpool top 5 could easily just slip away I think we definitely need to get something at Utd this weekend and hope Newcastle do us a favour as I can’t see Spurs getting anything against Liverpool.

Patser · 14-03-2026 01:35PM

We just need to concentrate on getting points ourselves, as without them all else is useless.

But while we have Pool and City as our last 2 games, Chelsea have a tough run coming up that we could re-establish anl gap on them - if we can just get results. I mean Chelseas next 7 Prem games are Newcastle, away to Everton, then City, Utd, Brighton away, Forest and Pool. So there's at least 2 matches there our top 5 rivals can't both take points from, tough away game to Everton and also City

Meanwhile over same run we have West Ham, Spurs, Sunderland, Fulham, Burnley - the likes that preChristmas we were winning

CSF · 15-03-2026 11:06AM

Big result from Newcastle yesterday, hopefully takes some pressure off and can get a result today

Bounty Hunter · 15-03-2026 01:54PM

Barkley & McGinn start.

really hoping for at least a draw even though I’m not sure if I’ve ever been confident going to Old Trafford.

Patser · 15-03-2026 01:55PM

Digne over Maatsen is a weak call.

And Matty Cash still missing

CSF · 15-03-2026 02:16PM

It’s definitely not that lineup most of us would have been expecting. Hopefully this is one of those Unai genius days.

listermint · 15-03-2026 02:44PM

Ugh just noticed it was Anthony Taylor officiating.

Ugggh

cgorzy · 15-03-2026 02:46PM

Mings, Digne and Bogarde in the back 4 so I don’t think we’ll be pushing on much. Probably a lot of ball over the top for Watkins to chase as the attacking hope or maybe Barkley can release Rogers to run through the middle. Hopefully they get tighter on Fernandes than they did in this game last season. Great to have McGinn starting again.

LeBash · 15-03-2026 02:48PM

I have a good feeling about today and I never have when we go to Castle Greyskull

Patser · 15-03-2026 03:37PM

It's a very much nothing game this to watch - no real intensity either team, little atmosphere.

Villa lacking any real intent going forward. Digne is getting into decent positions but is nearly always cutting back and playing short balls, rather than his trademark whipped crosses. Buendia running around headlessly as usual , 100% effort little product, Rogers strutting without seeing any ball, Oillie isolated as ever.

It almost has a feel of a preseason friendly, rather than a top 4 battle

Patser · 15-03-2026 03:45PM

Ollie so poor again - twice has lost out to Maguire in 1 v 1 situations, and then a stupid, stupid yellow for playing on when clearly offside and everyone has stopped

CSF · 15-03-2026 03:48PM

Villa started well, but lost ther way in a big way. Probably need to tweak something to avoid more of the same. Idiotic from Ollie. There’s no way he didn’t know.

Smurts · 15-03-2026 03:48PM

Watkins looks spent and frustrated, and frustrating to watch too

Bounty Hunter · 15-03-2026 03:50PM

A lot of possession but Very toothless… that said honestly Utd have not been anything special either and I'd say many would nearly take a 0-0 here the way things are going and Chelsea's result.

At least there are options on the bench as Utd should be fresher and Villa will need a refresher later and tbh look like they need a spark if they are to get a goal here. Tammy, Maatsen, Bailey, Luiz all potentially ready to come on for tired legs and hopefully have the potential (even if the likes of Bailey always seem to fail to live up to it) to make a difference.

Smurts · 15-03-2026 04:11PM

Balls.

Patser · 15-03-2026 04:12PM

Feck feck feck

Again we've brought it on ourselves, so casual with the ball, giving them chances and then a header in from a corner

Watkins out muscled and out jumped to let Casemiro get to ball

Patser · 15-03-2026 04:15PM

Has woken them up a bit, need someone to actually take a shot though, not this messing around at edge of box

Patser · 15-03-2026 04:19PM

Watkins and McGinn off - Tammy and Bailey on. Bit of speed up front at least

Patser · 15-03-2026 04:21PM

Should bring on Maatsen for Buendia as well

Patser · 15-03-2026 04:23PM

OH!

Barkley!!!

Lovely finish!

LeBash · 15-03-2026 04:23PM

Barkley you beut!!!

Bounty Hunter · 15-03-2026 04:23PM

tbh since their goal Villa woke up and started playing the way the should have been already 1-1 and now the likes of Tammy on looking for a winner

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

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