Aston Villa Banter 4

19 Aug 2026 23:14:04
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new video entitled entitled, C U Next Time - The Prem Preview Marathon Edition}

19 Aug 2026 16:01:05
If Konsa doesn’t sign in time for this weekend, he will probably make his league debut against Villa.
The irony.

19 Aug 2026 16:22:16
Get John Coffey from The Green Mile to do his thing on big Brian Madjo, rough him up

UTV

19 Aug 2026 20:17:10
Sigh, Paulinha, and let him do his thing against Arsenal.

19 Aug 2026 20:40:30
😂😂😂 Whackie,

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 15:15:57
Refresh the squad is understandable, suicidal wholesale changes is suicidal. We all know how our season started last year, the difference to this year we had the quality to change things, I genuinely think that we don't have this option this season if, as I think, we will struggle and I'm worried that we get off to a poor start.

19 Aug 2026 16:39:07
If we get more than 1 point & 1 goal scored in our 1st 5 games this season then that's an improvement on last season. 🤷🏼‍♂️

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 17:13:28
Scott, we have all known for a long time we needed a refresh in our squad. Players wanting to leave, ie Konsa, Digne, are not down to Emery or anybody else in the club; they have all given a few good years' service and got us our 1st bit of silverware in 33 years. As I said last year, it was imperative to qualify for CL. Imagine if we hadn't now?
Most people on here were crying out for an overhaul of players, we are doing it now and I expect it will take 2 years for us to be at a level where we can compete again for honours.

Unfortunately, that's the way the cookie crumbles with the likes of us and Newcastle. But I remember 1 word that Marines said, and this sticks out in my mind: whilst we have Emery as our manager, Believe!
UTV.

19 Aug 2026 17:34:02
I'm with you, Daz. I think this year the transition will be difficult, and qualifying for European football may well be beyond us, but Unai will get it right given time. We just have to be patient.

19 Aug 2026 18:09:02
I agree to a certain extent with both of you. Call it spoilt with success, which it obviously was, and it will be difficult to struggle with if it does take the couple of seasons that's referred to.

It's well known that Villa fans can be fickle and impatient, and I think there will be unrest if things don't go well this season, let alone two years.

19 Aug 2026 19:01:29
We've all to some degree wanted to buy loads of players, but when we do, we moan about losing the players that they're likely to replace, leaving, we can only pick 11 players + subs. What do you do? 🤷🏼‍♂️ Manzambi is a replacement for Rogers, Gomes for Tielemans, Garnacho for Sancho (bit-part player at best), Ruggeri for Digne, AWB for a non existent back up or replacement for Cash, Suzuki for Emi, & Allyson, Madjo, Cisse, & most importantly of all, Kamara is back.

Buendia was arguably our best player back end of the season. Konsa has gone, replace him; Ollie goes, replace him; & the kids have shown promise, so no worries there. There's been moaning about injuries, we're not gonna be alone with getting injuries, & that evens itself out over a season. Said it before, we're gonna be ok. 👍🏻

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 20:40:47
Hope we don't sign Tosin from Chelsea or Axel disaster!

19 Aug 2026 20:56:02
I agree with some of the above. The one I definitely don't agree with is Gomes being a replacement for Tielemans. Gomes is a destroyer; Tielemans was great at taking the ball off the back four, driving into the final third, and playing a decisive pass that isn't Gomes' game.

In fact, the one concern I have about the transfer business we have done is we haven't targeted a Tielemans-like player to replace him.

19 Aug 2026 21:11:42
Scott, like, ne, you travel over land and sea, it just makes you appreciate the good times more. We are gonna be piss poor this season, and we are gonna be like prime Barcelona. It's the way of the world. I'm currently in Cyprus, and I've never seen so many Villa tips in all my life.

19 Aug 2026 21:49:17
Mings, why should we target a Tielemans type player? Does that mean we should go for a Rogers type player to replace Rogers & so on? We've bought 'different'. Manzambi is more dynamic than Rogers (from what I've seen). A midfield 2 of Gomes & Kamara, I can see Kamara being more creative/attacking if let off the leash. I can see, as a whole team, that we're gonna be more attacking, kind of like in the Europa final.

As for replacing Konsa, I've watched a lot of YouTube & read articles on Keba Cisse. I think we have our replacement already, he's quality; just cos we didn't pay stupid money for him doesn't mean he won't step up. (how much did SJM cost us again?) Also think Ruggerri can cover Pau & Mings too. & Bogarde is still around, not a world beater, but coming into his peak years soon, so might get better.

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 23:14:02
Because in Rogers and Tielemans we have lost two of our most creative talents, Manzambi is young and will need time to get used to the league, and I'm not sure who else will replace those numbers. Chance creation is neither Kamara's nor Gomes' strength.

20 Aug 2026 07:45:07
If we win to nil, then Kamara & Gomes have done their job. Those 3 points are just as important as being creative, and chances/goals should be spread amongst the team. But, most importantly of all, a 20 goal+ No9 is the difference; if we have 1 of them we'll be sorted. 👍🏻

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 15:13:10
Just watched the new Paddy Power advert. Brilliant, it sums the league's outlook, as far as Financial Fair Play and teams like Villa are concerned, also their big 6 outlook. UTV

19 Aug 2026 12:00:23
Arsenal back in for Konsa. Think he’ll probably go.
If Watkins goes too, it will be very interesting to see what/who we can bring in, if we can, to replace them. They must both want to leave, otherwise we wouldn’t be in discussions, surely?

2 signings today, possibly 2 more known to be coming. If we do lose Konsa and Watkins we will surely need to replace with like for like at least as positions go if not the quality from day one.

19 Aug 2026 16:09:25
Deal agreed. Really worried about the start of the season now. Our spine has been ripped apart. Still in Unai we trust.

19 Aug 2026 16:18:34
That's roughly £100M to replace them both (we paid roughly £40M for them & had their peak years). If we spend all of the £100M (if we get £50M for Watkins, literally in last few mins Konsa going for £51M), we'll be sitting pretty.

If Watkins was to go, wonder if that would make Endrick think of coming to us as our 1st choice No9. 🤔

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 16:34:20
Should Utd be worried about having a completely new midfield 3 if they sign Baleba? (which weakens Brighton, who we play 1st) & what of Citeh without Rodri & Reijnders? I can't wait for the new season. We look more set up to play attacking football rather than that tedious cat & mouse passing round our penalty box crap.

I'd only be worried if Saudi came in for SJM. He's the heartbeat of our squad. We're gonna be ok, guys. 🤗

UTV.

19 Aug 2026 18:42:07
Baleba is out injured, I believe.

19 Aug 2026 09:43:10
So come the end of the Transfer window, this could be our starting XI.

Suzuki
Wan Bissaka, Konsa, Torres, Ruggeri
Kamara, Palhinha
McGinn, Manzambi, Garnacho
Jackson.

So of the starting XI against Freiburg only 3 would remain!! I know we thought this would be a summer of transition but I’m not sure any of us thought it would be anything like this.

This season will be a real test of Unai’s coaching credentials. All teams have to transition as the squad gets older but I can’t ever remember any teams transition involving so much change in one transfer window.

19 Aug 2026 10:09:55
Unfortunately Unai's hand was forced, and I don't believe he would want changes to be so drastic, but it is what it is. I'll be happy with top 10 and getting out of Champions League group stage this season.

19 Aug 2026 11:15:53
If anymore go, who will we sell next summer to comply with the rules? We'll miss Watkins massively. Not only his all round play and effort, but he's rarely injured.

19 Aug 2026 12:47:31
In fairness I'm not sure the financial pressures will be the same. We have saved significantly in terms of salaries we are paying. Tielemans, Rogers, Digne, we're all on circa £150,000 a week. Suzuki is allegedly on £88,000. Manzambi is on £85,000 and Ruggeri £82,000. That saves us about £190,000 a week. Shifting Mings, Martinez and Bailey saves another £450,000, and if Konsa and Watkins go it will be even more.

Admittedly, some outlay will be required, but I wouldn't imagine we will eat up all of the salary savings the club has made. Add to that, we will have reduced the age profile of the squad, so all positives. The key question is, can Unai make us competitive this season with such upheaval in the squad?

19 Aug 2026 13:00:24
You're assuming that Manzambi and Garnacho won't still be injured, and that we haven't sold Konsa (looks certain to go).
Not sure how long Gomes will be out either ??
Re: next summer, we'll have same issues imo. Lower capacity will have a significant impact.
UTV !!

19 Aug 2026 14:32:56
The pessimism is really grating on me. We're getting inflated prices for our players, & they'll be replaced by players that the best manager on the planet chooses/has chosen. We've got injuries, but that'll only be an issue if every club we play against has zero injuries, which is very, very, very, very unlikely, & we have some quality kids in & around the squad that look hungry.

Chill out ffs. 🤦🏼‍♂️

UTV.

18 Aug 2026 09:10:21.
Hi folks,

Rangers fan here.
I hear we're signing Kosta Nedeljkovic.

What's everyone's thoughts on the lad?

He looks rapid and a bit of a unit but maybe a bit injury-prone?

Thanks in advance.

18 Aug 2026 09:54:58
I don't think we've seen enough of him to know, mate. I think he'll stick around at Villa, though. You can have Bailey if you want him. 😂

UTV.

18 Aug 2026 11:44:52
He's a good lad, I think he'll thrive in Scotland, at 4 million I think he's a steal.

18 Aug 2026 19:20:35
Personally, I'm sorry to see him go.
Would expect him to be a hit north of the border.

17 Aug 2026 20:28:23
Just a thought… The Watkins to Saudi seems to have come from out of nowhere, I wonder (apart from the financial benefits) if he knows that we’re actively looking for another No9, or that there’s talk behind the scenes that Madjo would be 1st choice going into next season? I think the latter, from what I’ve heard, Madjo kills it in training, the staff are blown away by him, & not cos of his age.

🤷🏼‍♂️

UTV.

18 Aug 2026 00:10:32
Not a chance Madjo would be 1st choice.

18 Aug 2026 06:51:47
If you're good enough, you're old enough, Giggs, Rooney, Owen, Milner, Gareth Barry, Messi, Ronaldo, Yamal...

UTV.

18 Aug 2026 07:15:29
He's not as good as any of them.

18 Aug 2026 08:06:16
Based on that, he only plays for Villa, who spent £10M on him at 16? Citeh are on about replacing Rodri with a 17 y/p. He who dares wins, Rodney.

UTV.

17 Aug 2026 14:14:10
What happened to our L/B, saw photo of him on a plane on his way, two days ago, now he's either changed his mind, or it’s the usual Villa lack of information. Thought we would of at least seen a photo of him in a Villa shirt by now.

Can’t believe all the Martinez rubbish again, must be down to his agent, two years we’ve had that now. What is going on with Ollie, rumour after rumour, now we’ve got Saudi involved, Ginny must be feeling like Billy no mates UTV.

17 Aug 2026 15:07:28
If we get all the money we want for those who want to leave, then we've played a blinder & they will be replaced, might pay over the odds ourselves, but that's just how it is.

UTV.

17 Aug 2026 09:38:38
Is anyone worried we're not ready for the season?

17 Aug 2026 10:13:52
Would be better if we didn't have so many injuries. I'd take a draw Sunday and hope we get some players back.

17 Aug 2026 16:19:34
I hate that the season starts before the transfer window closes. Should be closed 3 days before the first game.

17 Aug 2026 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Goram_no1 has posted a new article entitled, Why Rangers Should Stay Patient With McInnes

16 Aug 2026 22:25:28
Romelu Lukaku to Fenerbahce. Market worth 6 mio. looked good in the World Cup. What a steal. Could have been very useful for AV.

17 Aug 2026 07:26:22
We've already got the 'new Lukaku'.

UTV.

16 Aug 2026 20:40:36
Just watched some YouTube of Suzuki, & read the comments, compared him to Buffon, they’re not far wrong, & several of his saves are comparable if not better than Emi’s 1 against Forest, & they’re, boy, can throw too. Stick our fastest player on the halfway line when defending corners, see him catch it & launch it, hopefully that player is Endrick lol 😂

UTV.