I don’t deny it. I’ve been one of the team’s most critical (ok, moany) Villa fans of all, this season.
I can’t help it. The older I’ve got, the more critical I’ve become overall and I honestly wish I was more like my grandsons, who always have 100% belief that we are going to win. I used to be like that too, when I was late teens. What happened?
The simple answer is life and experience. Along with many of you, seeing us fail year after year to win anywhere near like our fair share of anything has ground me down. So much so that my expectations are minimised, because missing out yet again hurts less. Will the Grandsons feel the same in 40 year’s time? I hope not.
And then Unai Emery hasn’t helped. He’s raised expectations so much since his arrival, that victory is just that: expected. And when it doesn’t come, it’s all the more gutting.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good thing. I’d much rather we get close to something than not be in the running at all.
So with that in mind, while this season was one of ups and downs, it was generally massively successful and apart from winning big ears, you probably have to go back to the early 20th century, if not the 19th, to think of a better one.
I mean, it doesn’t get much better really. I obviously don’t need to recap, but I’m writing it for posterity. We reached the quarters of the Champions league, missed out on qualifying for next season’s Champions league by a whisper and wrongly disallowed goal, qualified for the Europa league and reached the semis of the FA cup.
So a load of “nearlys”, but still a great result overall. The big hope is it wasn’t a one-off and we continue to push on.
What went wrong then?
The Champions league, we battered PSG in the second half at home, but the first tie was our undoing. If only.
Premier league? Well Unai got it spot on. We were mostly really good, but that wretched run in the, I don’t know, six weeks? before Christmas proved our undoing. Thinking back to then, I think the consensus was that the lack of backup in the squad was our biggest failing and in hindsight, it was probably to be expected. The fact that we got some great loan players, that gave the team a big boost straightaway, proves the point and that was probably the biggest disappointment of all.
Still, building a better squad has to be a slow job now, given the financial restrictions, but we have a pair of the best in the game trying to get us there. I’m sure they’ll continue to do that in the summer.
And the FA cup? Well, things were going fine until we absolutely never turned up against Palace, who also knocked us out of the Carabou cup. Sometimes the opposition just seems to have your number and there’s not much you can do about it.
Missing out on Champions league qualification was the biggest disappointment of all for me. Yes, you can talk about what the Europa league might bring in , but the revenue is dwarfed by the Champions league and there’s no trying to gloss over it. It’s cost us millions and I really do hope the club try to take the PGMOL to the cleaners. They won’t win, because the game won’t let it happen. But it would make me and I suspect the owners feel better that the clowns who run our game are at least being held to account. A “complaint” is a total waste of an e-mail in my opinion.
So having looked back, we now have to look forward to the summer transfer window.
Emery has said we’re going to be busy and I’m sure we are. There are a few young players who can go and plenty of fringe and even first team players too, I suspect. First and most obvious is Marcus Rashford. There is not a chance in hell that we will be signing him. It might have been a possiblility if we’d qualified for the CL, but even then, I think it was very doubtful, I read today that he’s on £225k a week for us and coupled with a 40mill fee (even though that will be reduced) it just doesn’t make economic sense. Yes, we pay well, but we’re not as stupid as Man U.
Asensio, I’m not sure about. He’s on £150k, I believe, along with a few others. I like him, but a 4 year contract? I’m not sure, but would trust Unai’s judgement on that one.
Bailey is another cert, while he still has some value. What that value would be now, is the question? £20 mill perhaps? I’d take it, I think.
Olsen has gone, so we definitely need a new goalie. By all accounts we might need two if Martinez goes, which I think is a distinct possibility, if he gets the right offer.
Would just Martinez, who I’d expect to get us maybe £40 mill be enough to stave off PSR and the squad to revenue rules? PSR, probably but I believe the rules in Uefa competions are much more stringent, so most likely not.
And then it gets a bit concerning. We have other players who can bring us decent money in and I’ve heard talk of £100 million being raised, which is nice, but frankly not a great amount these days (it seems obscene that I’ve just written that, but that’s how it is).
So we then come into the realms of one of our top players having to leave. And we’re probably talking about Jacob Ramsay, Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers.
I believe Unai would rather sell his soul than Rogers, so there’s no way, for me. I don’t see Ollie going either. I’ve thought for a good while that we don’t necessarily have a problem scoring goals if a striker is out, but looking at the closing table shows us we do. Ollie contributed what you’d expect and finished the highest English goalscorer. But we finished the equal lowest scorers in the top ten. Unless we can bring better in, I can’t see it happening unless someone makes an offer we can’t refuse.
Which leaves Ramsay. Unai has come out and said he won’t be leaving, but I’m not convinced. If we have to sacrifice a name, I think he is favourite.
I sincerely hope not, but nowadays needs must and even though I think we’re on track to bring in around £325 million this season, there’s a good chance it won’t be enough.
I think one thing’s for sure. It’s going to be a very interesting window and I expect Unai to do a flurry of business early on.
There’s a Europa league to prepare for, after all.
UTV!
Aren’t humans supposed to smash everything and kill each other when they lose? Someone tell them they won, FFS.
Quelle bagarre! Any excuse for a riot with the French amateur hooligans matched with Paris CRS – who are the professional hooligans – in the sense that they get paid for cracking heads in a street fight. Football, and the result are just a catalyst.
A Minister says there will be 3400 extra police drafted in for the victory parade on the lookout for trouble. The yobs won’t want to disappoint them.
Diaby in Saudi. Played 24 Goals 5 Assists 14 Yellow Cards 4 Red cards 1
I could have achieved those stats in Saudi, Gerry.
Imagine the wonga! Christ!!!!
BRENTFORD HAVE SIGNED KELLEHER FOR 12.5 MILLION!!! 12.5! WTF?! WHERE WERE VILLA? 🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦🤦
I was looking through Villa salaries in relation to PSR and UEFA 70% salaries to revenue. Without doubt Villa have a hefty amount of dead salary making it hard to meet these financial restrictions. The following is a list of players with reported salaries who I expect to leave this summer.
End of Contract:
Robinson Olsen: £50,000
Courtney Hause: £10,000
Sold:
Kosta Nedeljkovic £20,000
Get Rid of but no one wants:
Philippe Coutinho £125,000
Leander Dendoncker £90,000
Likely to be sold:
Emiliano Martínez £150,000
Leon Bailey £120,000
Lucas Digne £120,000
Matty Cash £80,000
Emiliano Buendía £75,000
Álex Moreno £35,000
Kaine Kesler-Hayden £10,000
If all these players leave Villa it would save approximately £885,000 per week and just over £46m per year. This is likely to reduce our salaries to income to around 80%, so UEFA will be fining us for last year and next year.
Clearly there will need to be players bought. 2 x goalies, right back, right winger, left back and a striker. And there in lies the problem, I can’t see all these positions being bought. The only way this would occur would be other players not in the list being sold to generate funds. This summer ‘s transfer window will be busy. I don’t think there are many U21’s pushing for selection into the first team squad for next season. I hope I am wrong as this is increasingly looking like the route to solve many of our financial problems.
Lots of articles about PSR in the papers. ManU rake in around 4 times matchday receipts than we do.
It looks like if we want to compete, we have to leave Villa Park 🙁
My stance entirely, Bum Bum.
We will never achieve the revenue we need at Villa Park.
I’m very much old fashioned and the thought of not playing at VP was just a simple no.
But you have to accept the reality of the situation eventually and if we don’t, we will never hit the heights. It’s just not possible.
Leaving Villa Park is an absolute must.
One that I believe can be done tastefully, with fans kept as the top priority, as long as the only aim isn’t money.
Reluctantly, having listened to Kieran Maguire and seeing the numbers I have to agree that a new stadium is a fundamental part of challenging the elite clubs BUT, and this is the real point, it’s not just about ticket prices or capacity, it’s about the holistic match day experience.
For instance it’s reported that Spuds fans spend on average spend 50 minutes more at the ground on match days than Villa fans thus increasing revenue.
At present Villa’s match day revenue is around £30m whereas clubs like United, Arsenal and Spuds rake in around £100m +
Younger fans do not, I believe, attach the same reverence towards VP as us older fans and they are the future. Let’s face it, football – the game we were brought up on is long gone – now it’s all about money and the Europe ‘Super League’. With 215 games being broadcast on Sky next season the traditional 3pm kick off is just about dead as is the game we all once loved!
It is odd how it has evolved. VP was once very well served by transport links, even with its own stub off the motorway. Match day buses to and from the city centre and a just about adequate train service – all for crowds of about 30,000.
But VP is jammed into its triangular site and could not have the capacity extended. At 42000 attendances the transport links cause major delays on leaving. I am in favour of a move.
I have thought about where, and conclude the new stadium should be built close to the NEC, Birmingham International , and the Airport.
You can say what you like about Levy, and Spurs fans do – but they have to admit the Tottenham Stadium is a brilliant venue. The upgraded train service to Northumberland Park station reduces the strain on White Hart Lane. If Villa built a similar stadium near the NEC multi use parking in the area could be expanded.
Regarding VP, if we were to leave in the future, would we be happy for it to cease to exist? I.e. be demolished???
Also, who would pay for it? Birmingham City Council sure as hell won’t be. Neither will Mr Starmer, even though he’s happy to pay for the red circus tent in Manchester. Villa should ask the government. And when they say no, ask them to justify why it’s OK to use tax payers’ money for United’s vanity project, despite their financial irresponsibility. And not for a major venue in the midlands for a responsible and well-run club. I’d love to see their answer.
It’s always been thus BFR.
Birmingham get nothing whilst London and Manchester are fawned over by successive Governments!
When the Millennium Dome was being considered Birmingham put forward a top class proposition sited alongside the NEC with its main line station, airport and motorway links but no – they chose a highly polluted London Docklands site with little or no transfer infrastructure costing millions more of tax payers money.
W*****s.
The best description I heard of the new Spuds ground was that it was ‘Like playing football at an Ibis hotel’.
Would be gutted to see Digne and Cash go.
As for Brentford’s new keeper, maybe we have our eye on a bigger fish?
This seems a possible rather than a fancy.
Premier League outfits Brentford, Brighton and Aston Villa have registered interest in Verona defender Diego Coppola.
According to a report by TMW, Verona’s Diego Coppola is being pursued by Brentford, Brighton and Aston Villa. The 21-year-old’s first Italy call-up by Luciano Spalletti has made him a prime transfer target in the market.
Coppola had an impressive season with Verona in the Serie A and now with the international first-team call-up, The Gialloblu are set to raise their asking price from an initial €10 million.
I watched Great players at Villa when I was very young. George Curtis: Sammy Morgan; Bruce Rioch; Chico Hamilton: Andy Lockhead; Pat McMahon; Ray Graydon; Ian Ross; Brian Little; Gary Shaw; Peter Withe; Dennis Mortimer; Tony Morley; SID! ; Jimmy Rimmer; Andy Gray; Nigel Spink…
My life is blessed because I got to watch all of these players before the premier league destroyed football in this country.
Hoping for a new chapter now UTV
Football is dead Neil! Well as we all loved it once!
I will always love and support Villa but I hate the way it’s all been groomed by UEFA to create a back door Super League.
It’s fanciful to believe we were ever in the running to be a Super 6 club. We might have finished in the top 6 over the last two seasons but it will take a decade or more to lever out one of say, Spurs or Chelsea. Manure, Pool, Arsenal and Citeh are way out in front and they could drop out of Europe for 4-5 seasons running without losing their status.
The Champions League with 5 clubs entering is one club away from reaching that ultimate goal of the Super League! 36 clubs in one league is ridiculous really and I wouldn’t be surprised if they create a champions league 1 and 2, with 20-22 teams in each to accommodate them all.
As Sid already highlighted with the PSR restrictions, it seems when we get to June every season we will be in a predicament of needing to sell. Meanwhile Manure without European football go out and buy Cunha for 62.5m. We simply can’t compete and won’t be allowed to!
You forget one thing Holte.
We have a great manager who can punch above his weight, combined with a superb load of backroom support.
While Mam U have a donkey as a manager and backroom support/owners that their fans detest.
I don’t think it bodes well for them, even if they are one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Plus, we’re respected. They absolutely are not and are mostly derided.
That’s just an added bonus. 🙂
Financing the new stadium for Villa would not be a problem. Our current owners can find the money, and in fact the American side are keen on it. VP would probably be demolished, there isn’t the East and West stand symmetry which enabled Highbury to be turned into high class apartments keeping the outward facades. Perhaps the painted red-brick Holte End exterior could be kept, but nothing else. Villa as the freehold owners ought to be able to develop the whole site at a profit. Downside is the neighbours.
Could it not be kept and used more regularly as a concert venue, for the ladies’ and kids’ teams? Surely that would earn more cash long term?
If the ladies game is going to grow, then it could be a good option with top tiers of stands closed. While I’d consider giving tickets away to watch the kids to get attendances up. Then there’s tours and perhaps could add a comprehensive and interactive museum to capture fans’ imaginations, young and old.
Surely, it’s worth more alive than dead?
Womens football was massively popular decades ago. 40-50k crowds were quite a regular thing, but it proved to be a fad.
I wonder if it might go the same way now?
Don’t get me wrong, it’s being hyped and marketed much better nowadays.
But in a world where men can’t stand these screeching women in the mens game…..
Or is that just an old fogey attitude?
Things changed when shirt swapping became frowned upon!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It wasn’t a fad. The FA banned it being played on any of their clubs grounds and so killed it off as it was proving more popular than many of the men’s teams.
The reality is that the land VP is built on isn’t worth a toss, imo.
Nobody wants to live there apart from minorities and there’s no way they will pay. That load of rubbish next to the Perry Barr stadium proves that, as there’s loads of properties that they can harly give away.
Spurs moved, yes, but they’re still near their heartland.
My view is 100% not to go south. It’s bloose country.
We go north, away from that scum. Back end of Sutton or nearer Bodymoor.
It only needs a decent rail spur.
But you’re right. If the best access is the aim, it’s where you suggest.
Then, any thought of going to a game again would go out of the window for me.
Because it would prove the club doesn’t give a flying F about actual fans.
I have watched Arsenal games at the Emirates and it empties before the end of games due to the hassle getting away. The biggest problem with VP is the train service. It’s all very well improving Witton station but the biggest problem is the number of trains allocated during match days. Also why not more carriages? Aston station is just a short walk away too and I agree with the principle of adding post match entertainment to prevent the bottleneck congestion caused by 40,000 exiting in a 5-10 minute spell.
I don’t want to move away from VP. Absolutely no way would I want to move to anywhere near the NEC, although I get the transport links but I tell you now, it would be soulless. Other clubs fans are envious of our stadium. Just ask West Ham supporters. We can easily develop the Doug Ellis / Witton Lane stand to get capacity up to 60,000.
I can’t believe we are even thinking about it. My son who is 26 said he would also hate leaving VP. It’s not a generational thing IMO. It only takes a few games at VP, particularly under the lights, to fall in love with Villa and our beautiful and historic home.
Holte, the Witton Lane seats 5K. It’s miniscule and would need flattening and something similar to the Trinity building, with the North stand also being flattened too, to make any serious difference.
I forget what the North stand being flattened proposal would have given us, but I suspect it was about 50k
It’s not enough.
We’re tinkering at the edges.
To get that extra 50 mins of fans staying at the ground, you need restaurants, pubs and all sorts.
Spuds is like a Star City.
And while we keep messing about at the edges, we will never get anywhere near the required revenue, imo.
I’m pretty sure Villa (Doug) bought loads of houses on Witton lane when noone wanted them. A wise move. Doug was always good with the dough.
But I also recall we sold them.
Who and how much?
It would be cheaper to rebuild 2 sides of the stadium than move away. I’m only engaging in the premise of moving based on the premise that the is no other way if we want to compete. If we can find a way with Villa Park and the surrounding area, then there’s no way we should move.
https://x.com/SibsMUFC/status/1930155543865209023?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
A counter argument.
It’s okay for a ManU fan to say that, but we had decades of abject failure while Sir Chewalot worked miracles. I’ve seen a lot of empty seats at Old Trafford recently. What would another 10 years of shite do to their matchday attendances? Close the Stretford End? Even Citeh has looked far from full this season.
If they keep pushing up prices, a minor recession would decimate these clubs.
Delighted to see Tyrone has signed an extension to his deal. He has to start if fit, in my opinion. If he’d started more games in the run-in, we’d be in the CL. Just my opinion. An error on Unai’s part. Again, just my opinion.
Really happy for this news. Players like Mings and McGinn will be Villa legends who went from Championship to Champions League with us. It’s a shame Jack didn’t stick around and gain the same level of respect and status. I suppose the silverware and huge salary for a handful of appearances makes up for it though.
It looks like the Witton station modernisation has been given the green light with funding in place. I wonder if the queuing will be much worse while the work is carried out.
Excellent news about Mings – top player, top bloke.
The other side of the coin and I really hope this is just a rubbish rumour – Villa reported to be showing interest in Sancho – why and just no?! He’s ‘Deli Ali the sequel’ and like most sequels a great deal worse.
Sancho! Nooooooooooo 😩
Just a thought on expanding Villa Park. The North Stand is being increased by 8,000 seats bringing the capacity up to approximately 50,000.
The Doug Ellis stand currently holds approximately 9,000. Does this mean this stand could be demolished/ rebuilt to take the ground up to and beyond 60,500 (which the Blue noses are going to build). By doing this after expanding the North Stand capacity would be similar to what it is now whilst the rebuild is going on. In turn the short term hit on revenue stream would be limited.
On another note an interesting podcast on Claret and Blue. The financial expert feels that with the winter transfer business and increased Champions League revenue, Villa might just be OK with PSR requirements. The harder part will be next financial year with the drop off in revenue due to no Champions League. Therefore, do Villa look to enhance their balance sheet by doing a Chelsea? The Premier League failed to agree to stop the selling of women’s football teams. Could NSWE sell the women’s football club for an inflated fee. For example, let’s say’s it’s worth £50m, could they put £100m into the women’s football team in cash to help it improve the playing squad. And then sell it V Sports for £150m. This allowable sale would clear any PSR issues with Premier League. It would not meet UEFA rules, where our salaries to income percentage is the determining factor. However, Barcelona have shown just keep paying the fine for none compliance.
Sid – EUFA’s approach to non compliance seems more pragmatic than the EPL’s vindictive points deduction (and one where Villa are content to accept the fine) all designed to keep the hoi polloi in place and protect the position of the Sky Six. More so because PSR is a complete nonsense in terms of the real financial position of clubs given the original objective was to protect clubs from being put at risk by owners debt (Portsmouth).
So why do clubs like Liverpool and Manure get away without any recognition of massive debt liabilities whereas Villa are persecuted for losses notwithstanding they have no debt and the owners have continued to invest through share ownership – to the point where our owners have now concluded they may as well raise debt – rather than continuing to invest in shares – as it has no impact on PSR!!!
The £105m cumulative losses over three seasons has never been adjusted for inflation – which in itself is complete b**locks – and is voted against by the clubs! This means that, in addition to the Sky 6, many clubs like Brentford with no ambition other than to stay in the EPL vote against these changes to deny the ambitious clubs the opportunity to challenge the elite thus perpetuating the lack of real competition in the league.
Even when alternatives to PSR are mooted such as a similar model to the EUFA SCR the clubs cannot agree and PSR rumbles on.
At what point do our owners throw their hands into the air and say enough is enough – that’s my principle concern.
Maybe I’ve got it all wrong but, as a fan of Villa, it’s extremely frustrating, annoying and worrying.
Rant over!
Careful what you wish for. If the Yanks get their hands on the EPL fully, there will be zero promotion/relegation.
It’ll be the Harlem Globetrotters every week. This appalling World Club Championship is a perfect example of pointless bureaucracy.
Interesting what you say about Brentford voting to maintain the 2nd tier outside of the Sky 6. Hope they go down in that case.
From the Times today “Arsenal target Rogers.” I bet they do, but unless they are going to do a Citeh and pay us double what he is worth it is just close-season tosh.
I will start the counter-rumour here. “Villa target Rice.” spread it around – thanks.
I heard the same rumour about Rice OLL – it appears were prepared to do a PSR swap deal where Arsenal pay £100m for Rogers and we takeRice off their hands for £50m
Remember- you heard it here first 🙂
Would you welcome Grealish back to VP?
It’s clear that we need to bring in a wide left player and it’s,not going to be Rashford!
Problem is his wages, even with a loan deal.
My own view is no – he left us for money and trophies and so ended his Villa story.
Except, having said that, if he were to slash his wages to within our structure because he is determined to contribute to Villa’s future and we could get an initial loan deal with an option to buy then I would have to reconsider.
Interested in others point of view.
No. Over the hill.
Right player, wrong time.
I don’t believe he’d want it.
Never go back.
Now, he is one who has every chance of ending up in one of the arab countries.
He won’t be able to resist the money now, the greedy get.
Fair enough Badger – difficult to argue with that.
Time will tell.
Grealish
Another restoration job. One of the 1000 trades that Birmingham homes is a thorough service and overhaul of players in Unai’s workshop in B6. Change the oil, fit new pads, adjust the pull-to-the-left and restore that England shine. Jack has been ruined by Pep, he has many more miles on the clock and is expensive to run. Only a consideration at a knock-down price.
How much bubble wrap needs to go around his shins?
Big Ange sacked. That’s what you get for delivering major silverware for the first time in how many years? Harsh.
He was fired for looking at the mike instead of the camera – and for being surplus to requirements once Levy had tapped up a replacement.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cd9lwdegxvxo
Fascinating.
The real joke is that Manure can ignore PSR whereas Villa with little debt and responsible wealthy owners have to sell to meet the nonsensical regulations.
It’s a f*ing joke.
Absolutely. But clubs like Villa should make a lot more noise about it. The issue should be public knowledge, but it’s not. Villa officials should be laying out the situation in full in the national press, not with a ‘sour grapes/sore losers’ context, but with a ‘this is ridiculous, unfair and plain stupid’ angle. The powers that be should be pressured to comment, explain and justify. Are there no decent journalists these days?
Journalists are raising the issue; the problem is the clubs who are only interested in perpetuating their membership of the EPL on terms that suit them rather than being prepared to see the ‘bigger picture’
https://www.footballfancast.com/psr-updates-aston-villa-transfers-15m-loss/
Maybe, Hitch. But I’d like to see someone from the Premier League, the chief exec ideally, being put in a position where they’re required to justify how these rules are fair or even logical, based on United vs Villa, for example. More can be done. Shout louder…
I’m in your court BFR, I really am but the reality is nothing will be changed.
It’s like the ref Bobby Madley who’s said what every fan feels about VAR plus he’s gone further on laying the blame for VAR at the feet of those with financial vested interests in the EPL – article below
https://www.footballinsider247.com/hackett-bobby-madley-in-serious-trouble-with-howard-webb-after-amazing-var-claim/
Instead of people taking notice he’ll be censured for speaking out, probably banned and shamed into retracting his views – football, the game we were brought up on, has been destroyed.
The elite will continue to be protected no matter how reckless their owners nor how much they twist the rules.
NSWE might as well ‘join the club’ sell the women’s team to V Sports and use every other financial artifice available to them – it’s a fools game in football to be ‘honest’ and principled.
Well done, Bobby Madley. Why would he get into trouble to speaking the truth? I hope he tells Webb to stick his job up his a*** if he reprimands him. He’ll be a hero amongst fans and will no doubt get another job giving expert insight on radio or TV.
On another, but I suppose related track, it’s being widely reported that Villa, Coutinho and Vasco de Gama are working towards the termination of his contract on a mutually agreeable basis.
His current loan with Vasco ends on 30th June and the implication is that all parties want to achieve the same aim – Coutinho’s contract terminated (it still has a year to run) so that the player can sign a permanent deal with Vasco.
Assuming that there is no compensation involved then this would be a win, win all round and take £125k per week off Villa’s wage bill. Add to this the end of Hause’ contract plus the probable sale of Buendia, Dendonker, Digne, Ned Kelly and possibly Martinez would see a big reduction in the wage bill problem (have I missed any high earners?)
I expect us to pursue a policy of signing young players with potential along the Morgan Rogers ideal rather than established names earning big wages. The one exception might be Asensio with a significant reduction in his wages but a decent signing on fee in compensation which, I believe, can be treated as part of the transfer fee and amortised over the length of the contract.
Forgot Bailey – expect him to be sold as well.