Aston Villa Review

We’re in the international break, which is coming to be regarded as the real start of the season for Aston Villa. It’s not ideal, but there we are.

That’s a hallmark of the Unai Emery era. It’s one of the things supporters are getting used to as part of the deal, and it’s a deal that’s working out just beautifully, thanks very much.

So, when Emery is linked with other jobs or indeed said to be under the threat of the sack for a run of poor results, most of us take it in stride. The Villa manager has proved himself time and again.

In this week’s Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris and Jamie discuss whether there’s a limit to that trust. What would persuade Villa to sack him? What happens when Emery does eventually leave?

We talk about Villa’s structure as well as the club’s spiritual and financial commitment to the man who delivered the first trophy in three decades, and whether it’s time for Villa to think very seriously about their succession plan.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

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* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

It’s all change at Aston Villa. We’re all looking forward to seeing the new generation in action in the Premier League and Champions League this season but there’s nothing wrong with the occasional look in the wing mirrors.

Villa have progressed enormously since Unai Emery succeeded Steven Gerrard as manager. Two seasons in the Champions League, one in the Conference League and one rather successful one in the Europa League – that felt like a long way off when Gerrard got the elbow.

As another transfer window comes to a close, let’s take a moment to reminisce.

In this week’s Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris and Jamie discuss the players who departed the club in the last four years, from Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer all the way up to Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey.

We talk about the contributions of the players Emery inherited and signed who have since moved on. You should listen. It’s fun, and what finer way to usher in a new dawn?

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

Aston Villa got walloped by Brighton & Hove Albion in the first game of the Premier League season and it was hard to ignore the void at the top of the pitch.

One gaping hole was left there by the absence of another. Ollie Watkins is off to Al-Hilal after apparently declining to play at the Amex Stadium. In that one decision, a reputation has been destroyed.

May Ollie Watkins never again darken our door.

In this week’s Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris and Steve discuss Watkins as a Villa player, as a departee and as a deserter.

We talk about the reasons his absence at Brighton was so significant, and take stock of the latest transfer news regarding Emiliano Martínez and Leon Goretzka. And Jack Grealish, weirdly.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

The list of sales continues to grow and the summer transfer window is proving to be a historic event for Aston Villa, no matter how it all turns out in the end.

Villa have sold a player and signed a player since we recorded this week’s podcast and are seemingly a big leap closer to letting another leave for a whopping transfer fee too.

It’s been intense. Let’s take stock.

In this week’s Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris and Jamie discuss the players who’ve left Villa and the status of the goalkeeping department after the capture of Japan’s Zion Suzuki before his predecessor has gone.

We talk about the on-pitch impact of the barrage of sales and the emotional effects of losing them all in one go at what is, possibly, maybe, potentially, the right-ish time when viewed through a purely rational lens.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

Competitive football is less than a week away for Aston Villa so it’s about time we looked ahead at what’s to come in 2026/27.

Villa are in a slightly funny place at the moment, with work still to do in the transfer window but the glow of silverware still keeping most of us warm at night. Like it or not, it’s about to get very real again.

So, what’s the target?

In this week’s Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris and Jamie discuss Villa’s season ahead and what we want to see from Unai Emery’s team.

We talk about the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup and hair transplants, as well as next week’s European Super Cup.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

They don’t make them like John McGinn anymore. In truth, they never really did.

Aston Villa made history last season and they did it with one of their finest ever players wearing the captain’s armband and scoring crucial goals along the way.

McGinn was the second Villa player to lift a European trophy. We couldn’t have chosen a better skipper for the moment.

In this week’s Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris and Jamie discuss the one and only John McGinn.

We talk about his contribution and legacy, his status within the club, and where he now sits in the rankings of Villa’s greatest players of all time.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

The last couple of weeks have been a right old laugh, haven’t they?

Aston Villa have sold two of the three players who scored in the Europa League final but bringing in nearly £150 million for Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans does at least feel like some good could possibly come out of it.

With Johan Manzambi and João Gomes both confirmed as incoming transfers, the only logical place to aim our sights for this episode of the podcast is Villa’s midfield.

In the first of the newly reimagined Aston Villa Review podcast, Chris, Steve and Jamie discuss the midfield merry-go-round.

We talk about the players who’ve left, the players who’ve signed, what it means, and what to expect.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

There’s been an awful lot to enjoy about this season but there have been some distinctly whiffy spells too.

Aston Villa are on a dodgy run in the Premier League, losing their last two at home and now dropping points after scoring the first goal at AFC Bournemouth.

With the Champions League buffer shrinking, Unai Emery needs to sharpen his magic wand and start jabbing people in the eye with it.

This week, we talk about the draw with Bournemouth as well as the upcoming fixtures against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League and Newcastle United in the FA Cup.

Chris Nee and Steven Green also discuss Villa’s midfield woes and the form of striker Ollie Watkins. Come and join the fun!

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

Remember goals? Goals were great, weren’t they?

Aston Villa scored one of them on Sunday but it was ruled out by the goal-hating dorks at Stockley Park. In the end, Brentford were good value for a 1-0 win at Villa Park and Villa were left to lick their wounds.

It’s been a chastening few weeks for Unai Emery and his Villa team and they must respond if they’re to get their Champions League quest back on track.

This week, we talk about Villa’s Brentford defeat and the preceding win over Red Bull Salzburg in the Europa League.

Chris Nee and Steven Green also discuss VAR. Seriously. It’s most of the episode. Enjoy!

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.

There’s only one podcast where you’ll find a comparison between Rugby Town’s epic 2022/23 title bottle job and an Arsenal team that almost certainly won’t do the same thing, but hey, it’s all good fun anyway.

Aston Villa are now four points behind the Gunners thanks to their first away win against Newcastle United in absolutely ages, and we’d all have taken that at the start of the season.

With six wins in seven Europa League matches, Villa are in tidy shape in Europe as well. No complaints from us, this week. What on earth would we say?!

This week, we talk about the wins over Fenerbahçe and Newcastle, the upcoming fixtures against Red Bull Salzburg and Brentford, Villa’s injuries and what’s left of the transfer window.

Chris Nee and Steven Green also discuss tactical fouling. As dog lovers, we felt it was our duty to do so. Our doody? Grow up.

If you enjoy our podcast, the best ways to express that are:

* Subscribe to the podcast and, if you can, pick up a paid subscription to Aston Villa Review for just £4 per month

* Tell every Villa supporter you’ve ever met

You can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and wherever else you download your podcasts by searching for Aston Villa Review.