The 2025/2026 season is nearly underway for Aston Villa and as a result, Cole, Simon, Seb and Tom are back for their annual season preview show ahead of Saturday's match against Newcastle United. Join in on the fun and sign up for our FPL league, The Holtecast Cup, for your chance to win one of two prizes: https://shorturl.at/veEhE.

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 Villa heading into the new season?
• Are we all happy with the looks of the squad?
• Is Villa in a better or worse position heading into this season compared to this time last term?
• What would be deemed as a successful season for the football club?
• Our 7 "Meatball-tastic" predictions are shared...let's see how this goes!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

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.

Happy Tuesday and welcome back the latest edition of the Holtecast! It's been a while since we've reflected on the latest Aston Villa news, so tune in as we have plenty of chatter in store for you.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Boubacar Kamara may have signed a new contract back in July, but what does his and Lucas Digne's new deals mean going forward?
• Is this a make or break season for Jacob Ramsey?
• John McGinn, an irreplaceable meatball.
• Should we expect to see more transfer business before the window shuts?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

GUEST: @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 unveiled the signing of 24-year-old Ivory Coast international, Evann Guessand on Friday and as a result, Cole was joined by French football expert, Jonathan Johnson to discuss what Villa fans can expect from Guessand and how he could fit into Unai emery's plans.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• What kind of player is Evann Guessand?
• From Jonathan's point of view, what are Guessand's main attributes?
• Should Villa fans be concerned about Guessand missing time due to the Africa Cup of Nations?
• Could Guessand be the type of player to make an immediate impact or is patience a virtue with this signing?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

GUEST: @Jon_LeGossip

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.

There's been plenty of memorable players that have donned the famous Aston Villa shirt over the years, but what would a best XI look like from a tenured season ticket holder? Listen in as Cole and Simon run through Simon's best Villa XI from his time as a season ticket holder (beginning in the 1997/1998 season).

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Is Emi Martinez truly the best Aston Villa goalkeeper of the last 28 seasons?
• Have Villa lacked true quality in the full-back areas?
• Just how good was Paul Merson?
• Is Simon's front three spot on or are there any questionable omissions?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

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.

Following the release of "Waking the Giant: Inside the Rebirth of Aston Villa" on July 17th, Cole and Simon had the pleasure of speaking with co-authors, Gregg Evans and Matt Maher, to discuss the ins and outs putting the book together and the stories that have Aston Villa fans captivated across the globe.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• How did the idea of writing this book come about and what has the journey been like to write and release the book for both Gregg and Matt?
• What chapter(s) have stood out as particular favourites for Gregg and Matt?
• We have to ask, what was it like speaking to Dr. Tony Xia after all this time?
• Looking at where the club were to where they are now, just how impressive has this 'rebirth' been and does the club get enough credit?
• When Gregg and Matt look back through the book and at what Aston Villa has been through, what do they think the ultimate end goal is for the club under current ownership and how realistic is it to achieve such a goal given current financial restrictions?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

GUEST: @greggevans40

GUEST: @mjmarr_star

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.

Happy Wednesday and welcome to another episode of the Holtecast! Things are starting to get busy for Aston Villa, so join Cole and Simon as they have their say on the latest news surrounding the football club.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Incomings - Marco Bizot has officially joined the club and fills the backup goalkeeper spot behind Emi Martinez.
• Outgoings - The likes of Tommi O'Reilly, Finley Munroe, Oliwier Zych and Kosta Nedeljkovic have already departed on loan; should we expect to see more young talent head out on loan this summer?
• What can be made of Enzo Barrenechea's move to Benfica and does it represent good business?
• The importance of patience when it comes to Villa's transfer dealings.
• The new home kit is here; what's the verdict on it?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

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 fans have enjoyed plenty of fantastic moments with Unai Emery at the helm and with that, new arrivals have made their mark along the way. Join Cole, Simon and Tom as lads rank the football club's signings within the Unai Emery era.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• From the depths of Ross McCormack's gate to the heights of being Paul McGrath-like, we run through the players that haven't lived up to expectations, are precious gems and those that are somewhere in-between.
• Does Amadou Onana deserve more credit?
• Is Morgan Rogers our most valuable player?
• Does anyone get stuck behind Ross McCormack's gate? Find out!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

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.

BBC Radio WM host, Daz Hale, returns to reflect on last season's campaign for Aston Villa and key decisions that the football club will have to make heading into next season.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• What did Daz make of the season that was for Unai Emery's men?
• Was missing out on the Champions League the end of the world?
• Emi Martinez and Ollie Watkins' Villa futures.
• Do fans of the football club need to stop looking back at the past?
• What has been Daz's favourite moment while working in the media this past season?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

GUEST: @DazHaleWM

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.

With the summer transfer window now open once more, Cole, Simon and Tom assess the futures of the first steam squad in what is sure to be yet another busy and challenging period for the football club.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Which first team regulars could be made available this summer?
• Could we see a complete overhaul in the goalkeeping department?
• Does Matty Cash still have a role to play in this squad?
• Could Youri Tielemans' or Boubacar Kamara's futue at Villa be in doubt?
• Is Jacob Ramsey one of the most sellable assets?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

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.

The Villa Roundtable is here! Cole is joined by Neil Dunworth, Pete Schaad and Rich Sutherland to reflect on where the 24/25 season leaves Aston Villa and look ahead to what will be a busy summer for the football club.

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 Aston Villa heading into the summer months?
• Was missing out on Champions League football the be-all and end-all?
• How concerned are we all about potential player sales?
• It's safe to say that we all have full faith in Unai Emery regardless of what happens this summer and that's the most important thing, right?
• How confident are we all heading into next season then?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

X: @HoltecastPod

Threads: Holtecast

Bluesky: @holtecastpod.bsky.social

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Neil Dunworth: @LoveMcGrathpod

Pete Schaad: @Holy_Trinity_AV

Rich Sutherland: @villaparkpod

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.