Aston Villa Banter 4

03 Nov 2026 22:10:19
We were never going to win tonight, I was more disappointed with our performance than result. Our passing was poor individual performances poor, Manzambi was poor for the third game on the trot,Emery will sort him out. Their goalkeeper didn't have a single shot to save, we lost the ball almost every time we were in possession. After our performance tonight and Man U turning their game around unfortunately there is only one outcome on Sunday. Emery will sort it out ,but a few players have to up their game. Our midfield is totally ineffective and we are played through far too easily. Tonights result was totally expected so no shock there, Saturday result was also poor and we need a positive result Sunday to get things back on track. The international break is welcome and we can regroup a change in tactics should see us buck up our ideas, I just hope we get our midfield fired up, because it's been really poor lately.

03 Nov 2026 22:30:45
I think that assessment is harsh I thought the difference between the two sides was in the final third. Barcelona showed their quality we didn't. For me the difference was summed up by how Raphina took his first goal the ball was fired quickly into his feet instantly controlled got his shot off albeit with a bit of a deflection but his first thought was to get the shot off.

A few minutes later Villa played a similar ball into Jackson his first move was to check back and the chance was gone that's the difference between us and the top tier sides it's what they do at the top end of the pitch.

A couple of observations, too many of our players are too keen to hit the deck looking for fouls (Buendia, Manzambi and Alysson). I would also like to see us try playing Alysson and Mbaye from the start, move McGinn into a more central position which he has played for Scotland I think the pace of the front three would create a lot of problems for teams and McGinn I think would get on the scoresheet more often.

03 Nov 2026 22:43:02
Agree with pretty much all of that Lord. I suspect the long term vision, at least for certain types of games will be to play that exact front three of Jackson, Mbaye and Alysson with Mazamvi as the 10, but with most of them so young, I can see why Emery is taking his time to build to that.

As has been said, tonight we never really had much more than a punchers chance, but the first half was encouraging in many ways. You can see the potential there, we're just not at that level to compete away to Barca right now.

We all know we're going to have a bit of a stop start season, but it's frustrating when it's sometimes the more senior players that don't turn up. Still, Rome wasn't built in a day and I'd much rather be annoyed about losing away to Barca than annoyed at drawing away to Sheff Utd as we were not too long ago. it's difficult to keep perspective after a couple of poor showings, but we're on the right track.

04 Nov 2026 14:05:30
I agree with LOTM, a tad harsh Scot, we are going to have an up and down season, we have to accept that this year it's not like other years when the bulk of the team was mature and together for multiple seasons, our squad is young they will learn, second half was frustrating I'll admit but I'm still happy with how we are progressing.
The 2 big things I thought last night that buggered us were individual mistakes and team selection, I think we should have had at least one of Mbaye or Allyson starting for their pace. There was plenty of opportunity to score in the first half but we weren't quick enough, their keeper may not have being busy making saves but he was constantly playing sweeper and stopped several good chances with the clearances he made.


did they constantly carve us open and score 3 great goals? No they didn't. we handed them the first one on a plate from a mistake in the box, second was a lucky deflection. their third was a great goal I admit but heads were down at that point and the game was already gone. lots of positives in recent weeks so let's enjoy the development of this squad.
UTV.

03 Nov 2026 21:59:40
Always disappointed when we lose even against one of the European giants but there were some positives.
Could and probably should have scored in the first half. Don’t think it would have changed the result.
My bigger concern is the run we’re currently on and next game is Utd away where we don’t have a great record and could be looking at 4 games without a win.
I think we always knew there would be times where we would struggle this season. It’s how we bounce back. Did it after our poor start to the season, can we do it now?

04 Nov 2026 13:47:49
The run we are currently on? You mean losing twice in our last 10 games? Terrible run I guess, especially when you consider the very easy games we lost, away to Bournemouth in the cup with our third choice team and away to Barcelona, but your right, sack the manager and fine all the players 2 weeks wages, that'll teach them.

03 Nov 2026 21:20:16
Mcguin and buendia off mybae and allison on please

03 Nov 2026 20:58:38
Mistakes cost goals and our track record isn't the best. Hard work, effort determination we have in abundance but finishing and mistakes are holding us back.

03 Nov 2026 22:04:11
Agree Scott masters of our own downfall tonight. Still to play Barcelona in the CL is what dreams are made of though. I'm not going to moan though I'm so proud of the lads no matter what we will still support our great club UTV.

03 Nov 2026 13:43:55
Feeling very jealous, got some mates who’ve gone to Barcelona, they keep putting loads on Facebook , in a very loud Irish bar , the last one , looks brilliant. Let’s hope we can pull it off , for Villa fans Worldwide, the Villa message is bigger than ever . UTV

03 Nov 2026 09:17:49
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 9 - Quick Round Up

03 Nov 2026 07:18:02
Happy Birthday Sir Unai Emery.
Who would have thought 5 years ago we would be playing Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League and it's down to 3 men( And the players of course) But these 3 wise men of Aston we have travelled near and far love them with all my heart. UTFV

03 Nov 2026 11:13:31
Well said!
And some more good news that Suzuki may not be heading to the Asia Cup in the new year too!
Bring on tonight, can't wait. Great times to be a Villa fan!

03 Nov 2026 11:47:05
What a birthday present if we could give Barcelona a good game and get some sort of positive outcome. Hope Uni has a great birthday,some would say being a manager of a BIG CLUB (Carragher) playing Barcelona is agreat day as well. Hope the loyal away fans have a great time and evening in Barcelona.

02 Nov 2026 16:34:29
It’s now being reported that McGinn should have retook the penalty because the keeper touched the bar as he was about to kick the ball. Apparently keeper not allowed to do this and I’m sure most of us would not be aware of this rule how come ref and VAR didn’t spot it.

02 Nov 2026 19:13:23
Ironically a lot of the new penalty rules were created because of Emi Martinez carry on putting players off 🤣🤣.

02 Nov 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - MCR has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool's Wide Areas Are Letting Us Down

01 Nov 2026 12:04:27
Cash is usually the first one to get a yellow card totting up suspension, yes he gives everything unfortunately he is far too reckless for his own good at times. We are obviously struggling for full backs, so it will make the Man U game more challenging than it should be and they may well have a new manager for Sunday's game.

Hope the Man City villa turn up,not the usual Man U villa and we roll our sleeves up and do what everyone else has been doing to them at home, if we don't it will be big news.

01 Nov 2026 18:59:34
At least 3 of those yellows were for pushing players in the back out on the sideline just like yesterday they were totally needless. we will miss him, McGinn is not far off aswel.

01 Nov 2026 00:27:54
My next door neighbour had his annual Halloween party tonight which me and my family always attend, he puts on a good spooky horror show, my family all went except me and my two grandsons, us three went to our own second half horror show. Wish I'd stayed at home. Two Saturdays, chalk and cheese, we can't have it all are own way.

Tactics created that poor showing, we didn't, and not for the first time have a credible midfield. Kamara was again missing in action,Mcginn and (nothing to do with his penalty) was a passenger. Perhaps everyone had an eye on Tuesday, but tonight was as poor as it's gets especially the second half. We should have lost the chances Fulham had. I can't remember a shot on Target the second half.

Villa park used to be a fortress and yet we have had only one win and one decent performance. If this continues we can forget competing for European football next season. We have made expensive signings that are doing ok, ok is not enough to get to the level of last season. Tuesday is a free hit, let's hope we are not embarrassed.

Who are the most troubled side in the Premier League at the moment and who do we have a poor record against on their ground and who do we play in our next league game. Let's hope we can regroup for next Sunday or there will be some harsh words especially if Barcelona do to us what Bournemouth did in the week and Fulham second half.

01 Nov 2026 10:02:09
I think we have to accept that this season we are likely to be inconsistent whilst Emery makes sure the entire squad are imbued with how Emery wants them to play so I'm not unduly surprised at the Fulham result. Having said that I must admit I was surprised by the performances of certain players. If Alysson doesn't track back to support his full back then he won't stay in the first XI too long. I don't know if Emery instructed him to stay further up the pitch because his performance was very different to that against Man City.

The other player who disappointed me was Goretzka when we needed some control in the middle of the park in the second half he wasn't there, given his experience I thought that was poor. Looking forward to Tuesday against Barcelona, we normally pull out our better performances against good sides.

01 Nov 2026 19:11:13
I mentioned the other day after Bournemouth that I was disappointed with Goretzka, watching him in the first half I thought ok maybe I was harsh as he was very decent but second half he was non existent, fitness is his issue I think, for me last night was as much Emerys fault as any player, he had ample time to make changes, we were under constant pressure for 15 or 20 mins before they scored, same in the cup he waited till the scored the second one when he should of changed at half time.

stubbornness is his biggest negative point as a manager. I'll be happy with any European spot for next year, if it's Europa or conference we should be winning it. Brighton look like they will take our spot in the top 5, a lot will depend on how quick we can get the consistency in our play.

31 Oct 2026 23:18:22
What on earth happened second half, far to many, with one eye on Tuesday. All the energy disappeared, Jackson was the only one closing players down, nobody following him up. You can see Emery knows, that Goretzka needs the minutes in his legs, he improved tonight. Can't understand Ginny with the pen, when I saw him with the ball, I was waiting for him to pass it on, surely Jackson or one of the kids have the confidence to take one.


Emery will have to put them on Lucozade drips, to get those energy levels back up, there again they say,”a Mars a day, helps work rest and play ", they will need something. UTV.

31 Oct 2026 23:04:16
Why couldn't he make those changes 10 mins earlier, it was plain to see we were out of legs and you knew a goal was coming. at least we didnt lose.