Unai Emery's Aston Villa fail to close the gap between themselves and the clubs above them in the Premier League table following a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town. Listen in as Cole and Simon are joined by Andy Bates from the Gather 'Round The Lamp podcast to assess Villa's stalement at Villa Park, the club's conistently inconsistent nature and how Emery's men will approach a crucial run of upcoming fixtures.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Right then, how are we all feeling about Saturday's frustrating draw against Ipswich Town?
• Injuries aside, should Aston Villa be doing better in the Premier League this season?
• Is the combination of Champions League matches and a deeper FA Cup run catching up to Villa?
• Let's show Ollie Watkins some love, shall we?
• What should be the priority for Villa at this point in the season?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

Andy Bates: @VillaLamp

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aston Villa are heading to the 5th round of the FA Cup thanks to goals from Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers. Tune in as Cole and Seb are joined by Neil Dunworth from the For The Love of Paul McGrath podcast to discuss Jacob Ramsey's strong form, Donyell Malen's dynamic nature and gush over Villa's shiny new toys (Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, we are looking at you!).

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• What did the lads make of Sunday's win over Spurs?
• Could Aston Villa go all the way in the FA Cup this season?
• Are we seeing some of Jacob Ramsey's best form in a Villa shirt at the moment?
• How important is Donyell Malen to this Villa team?
• Let's talk about Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio's cameos, shall we?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Sebastian Bacon: @SebastianBacon8

Neil Dunworth: @LoveMcGrathpod

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been an extremely busy winter transfer window for Aston Villa and with that in mind, listen in as Cole, Seb and Simon discuss the ins and outs of the football club's transfer dealings and try to answer the most important question of all...is the current Villa squad better than it was prior to the opening of the winter transfer window?

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Overall, what did the lads make of Aston Villa's transfer business?
• Was it the right time to sell Jhon Durán?
• Does Kosta Nedeljkovic's loan/potential sale to RB Leipzig make sense?
• Are Villa in a better position heading into the summer months now?
• Are Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio the right kind of signings for Villa at this moment in time?
• Is the current Villa squad better than it was prior to the opening of the winter transfer window?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

Sebastian Bacon: @SebastianBacon8

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a week where transfer speculation seems to have consumed our minds over football matches being played, listen in as Cole and Tom return to reflect on another Champions League hangover, a bevy of defensive concerns and a plethora of transfer business/news surrounding the football club.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• From finishing in the top 8 of the Champions League to a sluggish loss away at Wolves; what did the lads make of the week that was for Aston Villa Football Club?
• Why does this post-Champions League hangover continue to sting Villa?
• Centre-back/defensive concerns continue! What needs to change?
• Goodbye Jhon! Durán joins Al Nassr....an example of the lesser of two evils perhaps?
• Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio are set to join Aston Villa on loan; no risk moves or is there more to it?
• Assessing Villa's January business...well, trying to!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between a loss to AS Monaco and draw against West Ham United, it was a frustrating week for Aston Villa, with more questions than answers being posed. Join Cole, Tom and Simon as the lads reflect on Champions League priorities, centre-back concerns and Jhon Durán's future.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Aston Villa's Champions League/Premier League balancing act struggles continue, but what did the lads make of it?
• Importance of Jacob Ramsey's strike against West Ham.
• Goodbye Diego Carlos! Was selling the Brazilian the right call?
• With a potential injury to Tyrone Mings, how important is the January transfer window now?
• Can we safely rule out a sale of Jhon Durán this month and what does his future look like heading into the summer?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aston Villa remain undefeated in 2025 following an away win over Everton and comeback draw against Arsenal. Join Cole and Simon as the lads discuss an important week for the football club, the brilliance of Ollie Watkins and the importance of the Lucas Digne/Ian Maatsen left-back rotation.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A massive week for Unai Emery's Aston Villa! What did the lads make of clashes against Everton and Arsenal?
• With only 2 losses out of the last 11 matches, are Villa already on a promising run of form?
• Is it fair to say that Villa look a bit more structured in 2025?
• Why is there always criticism around Ollie Watkins' performances?
• The importance of the Lucas Digne/Ian Maatsen rotation.
• What can Donyell Malen bring to the football club?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aston Villa marked their 150th anniversary match with a win over West Ham United in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday and with that, perhaps the potential for a bit of cup magic seeps into the hopes and dreams of Villa fans alike. Join Cole and Seb as the lads reflect on a historic night at Villa Park, look ahead to a massive week and discuss the latest transfer comings and goings at the football club.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Friday night's festivities at Villa Park certainly had mixed reviews amongst Villa supports, but what did Seb make of it all?
• An Aston Villa performance that certainly required patience; what did the lads make of it?
• Does Youri Tielemans need a rest and more importantly, can Villa afford to make that decision?
• Emi Buendia's impact.
• What could additions to Villa's right-hand side mean for Matty Cash and Leon Bailey?
• Ah, the magic of the FA Cup! How are we all feeling heading into the fourth round?
• With Everton and Arsenal coming up, how big of a week is this for the football club?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Sebastian Bacon: @SebastianBacon8

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa began 2025 with three points in the bag ahead of a busy month filled with Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup action. Listen in as Cole and Tom return to discuss an ugly, but important win over Leicester City at the weekend, Leon Bailey's redemption arc and look ahead to, what most Villa fans will hope is the start of a magical FA Cup run (we know how this usually goes, don't we?) against West Ham United on Friday.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A perfect start to 2025 in terms of points secured, but a less than convincing win; sometimes you just need to take an ugly win and move on, right?
• Ian Maatsen's instant impact.
• Leon Bailey's road to redemption and what this means for his Aston Villa career.
• Ross Barkley, an undervalued impact player?
• What is/should be Villa's biggest priority in the January transfer window?
• Villa haven't experienced much FA Cup magic in the last decade or so, but could that begin to turn around against West Ham on Friday?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It certainly wasn't the end to 2024 that Aston Villa fans were hoping for, with a loss away at Newcastle United and a hectic draw against Brighton, which leaves fans heading into 2025 with more questions than answers. Tune in as Cole and Seb discuss officiating blunders, defensive concerns and try to look positively into a new year that surely will be filled with more Villa-related action.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A difficult loss on the road and a frustrating draw at Villa Park to round out 2024; does the last few days perfectly summarize Aston Villa's season thus far?
• Officiating in England is just appalling, isn't it?
• Defensively, why are Villa such a mess?
• Tyrone Mings' impact and role in the team.
• Are fans relying on some January transfer magic a little too much?
• Looking ahead to, hopefully, a positive 2025!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Sebastian Bacon: @SebastianBacon8

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unai Emery delivered an early Christmas present for Aston Villa fans on Saturday, with a 2-1 win at Villa Park against a struggling Manchester City side. Listen in as Cole and Simon reflect on Saturday's victory, Jhon Durán's most complete performance in a Villa shirt and assess the true value of Emery's side.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A nearly complete performance for Aston Villa on Saturday; was that Villa's best performance of the season thus far?
• Jhon Durán's impact and complete performance.
• Just how good is Morgan Rogers?
• How mint is Youri Tielemans in the number 10 position?
• What should Villa fans make of Jack Grealish's hand gesture?
• Villa's smart transfer business and the evident benefits of it.
• Conor Hourihane's retirement; all the best to the Bandon Beckham!
• Right then folks; have a brilliant holiday season and we'll speak to you all again soon!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.