At last, Champion’s league. But now what happens?

So after Spurs’ defeat against Citeh it’s official. We’ve qualified for the Big Ears cup.
First off, congratulations to the players, the staff, the owners, but probably mostly Unai Emery, who whatever happens in the future has probably already established himself as one of Villa’s great managers. And rightly so. To take a team that looked doomed to be relegated just a short while back to the Champion’s League is a fantastic achievement.

But at the same time it begs a load of questions.

I posted a link last night that made for incredibly interesting reading. The takeaway line is this;

Our analysis shows that Villa will easily exceed £300m in revenue next season, obliterating their previous record of £218m in 2022-23, as well as West Ham’s record of £257m for a non-Big Six side.

And that is a conservative estimate. I highly recommend you read the article, if you haven’t already;

https://tbrfootball.com/aston-villa-poised-to-break-2x-financial-records-300m-windfall-now-all-but-certain/

But then, as soon as we think it’s all great news, so just tonight I’ve read that we may be £107 million over the FFP limit. Again interestingly, it’s from the same source, so hopefully there’s no agenda;

https://tbrfootball.com/aston-villa-up-to-107m-over-ffp-limit-cuts-needed-despite-champions-league-cash/

The new rules are all a bit vague, as there’s supposed to be some limit of an unknown multiple of whatever TV money the lowest club gets. It will all be voted on in the General meeting that’s due, but it’s probably correct to say that this is going to affect Aston Villa more than any other Prem club purely because just as we would normally be ramping up our spending so it justifies our CL position, we may actually have to sell players first.
How typical is that of Villa’s luck?

I profess to not understanding the rules regarding FFP, because the numbers are ridiculous, the game has gone financially stupid and I frankly am past caring.
And all I know is the clubs that spend the most money, get the best players and generally do the best, performance-wise. Man City and Chelsea might offer protestations, but we all know they bought everything they’ve achieved in the last 20 years or so because they spent fortunes. C’est la vie and I’m not convinced much is going to change. Or maybe that multiple I mentioned might at least partly reduce the gulf in club spends somewhat?
One thing I don’t get about FFP is that our owners were buying equity in the club, which I thought meant we weren’t adding more debt and were actually benefitting our ratios?

Whatever, just as the rumours of elite players being touted as possible targets for the club abound, does it mean that we have to sell our best players before we can entertain the thought?
And who are those best players?
Well, there are some standouts. Martinez, McGinn, Luiz and Watkins would pull in what? £300 million? (60, 60, 80 and 100 million is my pure estimate). But you’ve just ripped the backbone out of the existing side, so it just isn’t going to happen. In fact, I don’t see one of them leaving, let alone all of them. As for the Watkins to Man U rumours, that’s just laughable and I’m not even going into why, as much as they might be able to pay way more wages.

The even more worrying thing is what do we regard as a big enough spend that might put us in a position where we can at least hold our own for a while in the CL and not see the team ruined by the constant Thursday-Sunday thing that threatened us so much this season?
We saw that we couldn’t sustain our earlier exploits, as much as the lads actually did better than things seemed and managed to keep dragging points from games even when they didn’t look likely.
But would it be fair to expect the same in the ultimate cup? No, is the simple answer to that.

We might not do so bad with injuries next season, so you could say we in effect have new players coming in. But it’s clear that a one in, one out policy will not suffice.
And sadly, neither will a £200 million budget get you very far these days. Let’s face it, as obscene as it sounds, it’s a couple of decent players and one pretty good one. We haven’t even entered elite player level there either.

It seems to me we are going to have to go with what we’ve got, while adding some “cheap” gems that it seems Emery and the scouting team have an eye for.
Not yet elite, but possessing the ability to become so.

It’s going to be an interesting season. With the aim being that we manage to get into the CL the season after next. Sustainability will be the name of the game and that’s the hardest part of all. You have to be in it and stay in it to win it.

Up the European Villa!

133 Comments

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  1. Tom
    Tom May 18, 2024 at 9:52 am . Reply

    Why is everyone talking about selling Duran, Watkins or Dougie. Yeah everyone has their price and if Chelsea want to come in and offer £150m for Ollie , fan bloody tastic !
    But I think we are forgetting the rest of the squad who could generate cash, Beundia, Cash or even work something similar to the archer deal for a struggling or newly promoted team. Adidas sponsor is more money in, champions league qualification is more money in. I think the media need to pipe right down about all of this. If it’s not Ollie be depressed we qualified for champions league then they have us down as skint and bankrupt.
    Yes we don’t have a global fan base like Chelsea , United or Liverpool but how on earth are United books looking compared to ours, or Chelsea dare I even say Liverpool and city.

  2. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson May 18, 2024 at 11:06 am . Reply

    Tom. my sentiments, let’s stop guessing Uni moves ,inevitably we get it wrong because he’s a professional at his job .these shite papers will generate crap for us to read . I’ve never bought a rag for 20 years they are after your money with crap reading . Yes let’s laugh at them but never believe because they are like politicians they are unreliable.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 May 18, 2024 at 7:27 pm . Reply

      Bill – great points we are all trying to double guess what will happen.
      But Emery himself has alluded to potential budget problems and that we will have to be clever and clinical in our decision making.

      It’s in the nature of fans to become involved in transfer discussions and the impact of PSR on what the club can do.

      I read that Archer is coming back from Sheff U because of their relegation – presumably we have to buy him back at a lower price – the difference essentially being a loan fee.

      Will we sell him again?

      It’s highly likely Zaniolo will go back to his club; the same for Lenglet with Mings being fit again.

      Then we have the challenges of Coutinho, Cause and Dendonker – going to be an interesting few months.

  3. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum May 19, 2024 at 1:44 pm . Reply

    Erm, isn’t the speculative nonsense half the fun? What else are we to do throughout the summer months?

    Anyway, there’s a bloody match on in a couple of hours! This could be an absolute walking fest for 90 minutes or a celebration of our respective seasons. I’m goung for a 1-1. Ollie to get his 20th of the season. Actually, thinking about it Ollie might have riled up the team to help him net a brace. He’s a hungry young lad!!! 28 isn’t old anymore, especially whith the way players look after themselves. Unless your surname is Grealish!!! 😁

  4. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 May 19, 2024 at 3:12 pm . Reply

    Team sheet tells the story of a gruelling season: Olsen, Konsa, Digne, Carlos, Luiz, Lenglet, Chambers, Diaby, Duran, Watkins, McGinn. Only 5 on the bench off which only Torres has any real first team experience.

    Palace might just fill their boots today.

  5. Badger123
    Badger123 May 19, 2024 at 3:29 pm . Reply

    Just got in from work.
    Martinez and Bailey are not in the squad at all. Allowed to go home early?

    Olsen, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Lenglet, Digne, Diaby, Douglas Luiz, Chambers, McGinn, Durán, Watkins

    Subs: Torres, Gauci, Kesler Hayden, Iroegbunam, Emery, Munroe, Kellyman, Young

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 May 19, 2024 at 3:45 pm . Reply

      Badger, they’ve added some more kids to the bench since I looked.

      Bailey was carrying a knee injury, Tielemans was clearly carrying a knock and did brilliantly for 60 minutes against Liverpool and I wonder whether Martinez was fully fit?

      Also important to give Tielemans time to get fully fit for the Euros.

      Opportunity for a bit of an experiment with Duran – he’s not done too well on his previous two starts – hooked quite early both times if memory serves correct. Also Emery can have another look at Chambers – I thought he did really well when he came on against Liverpool.

      Still can’t see past a defeat on this one – not that it matters overly much.

  6. Badger123
    Badger123 May 19, 2024 at 3:55 pm . Reply

    I’d expect a few kids to get minutes today. Absolutely no reason not too.
    I don’t think Duran and Ollie fit together and can see Ollie coming off quite early.

    I can’t see past a loss either, but Palace don’t have much to play for either, so you never know.

  7. Gerry
    Gerry May 19, 2024 at 4:00 pm . Reply

    Maybe all the reasons why we should not win this one are nullified by the fact that the same reasons apply to Palace. Maybe for the first time in ages Villa players can enjoy the freedom afforded them by having nothing to worry about. Maybe the teams
    that Palace beat in their winning streak were not all that special or not playing well. Maybewe 6can 6win another one.

  8. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 May 19, 2024 at 4:06 pm . Reply

    Horrible but typical Villa stats – Palace have beaten us more times than any other EPL club at home and in the last 25 times we’ve finished the season with an away game we’ve won just one!

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum May 19, 2024 at 4:30 pm . Reply

      And what did we say about records are there to be broken????
      This really is the epitome of a pointless end of season game…

  9. Holte
    Holte May 19, 2024 at 4:43 pm . Reply

    2-0 and game over. I think it’s what we predicted given how many fit players we have available.

  10. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum May 19, 2024 at 4:44 pm . Reply

    Maybe not…

  11. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 May 19, 2024 at 4:45 pm . Reply

    Yep but I can see us finishing the season as we started it.

    Turned it off anyway – as you say Bum Bum pointless game but I’m fed up of listening to the commentators love fest with Palace!

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum May 19, 2024 at 5:24 pm . Reply

      They’re infuriating aren’t they…So bloody disrespectful. F^#k the lot of them.
      Awesome season beyond expectations.
      Love u AVFC!!!!!!!!
      I really hope Villa have said ‘Get yr sorry asses off to the beach with your families for the next few weeks, fully paid for’.
      And while you’re at it, put a bid in for Elise too…

  12. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson May 19, 2024 at 5:29 pm . Reply

    Why put the players through agony knowing it’s a lost cause, play the young kids it’s making us a laugh being ripped open like this game’s going, What’s his thinking ? Play some of them on the bench . Our defence is crap been like that for weeks . Oli not in the game because no service it will ruin his season.

  13. Sidforever
    Sidforever May 19, 2024 at 5:32 pm . Reply

    Just when I thought Olsen could not get any worse he surpasses my low expectations.

  14. Badger123
    Badger123 May 19, 2024 at 5:33 pm . Reply

    So Olsen concedes loads again.
    Coincidence? I think not.
    FFS get rid of this liabilty.

  15. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum May 19, 2024 at 5:35 pm . Reply

    5-0. I expected us to chill but that scoreline is embarrassing. It also shows who needs to go out of the superfluous players…
    Weirdly enough I’ve hardly seen Emery at all. Is he there???

  16. little8
    little8 May 19, 2024 at 5:36 pm . Reply

    Great season absolutely buzzing bur this is embarrassing

  17. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson May 19, 2024 at 5:36 pm . Reply

    5 now ridiculous. Makes me wonder why

  18. Holte
    Holte May 19, 2024 at 5:39 pm . Reply

    Our defence has been woeful most of the season. Olsen is a liability but you can say all the defence and midfield have allowed Palace to run riot and unchallenged all afternoon.
    Just because we have qualified for the Champions League shouldn’t mean they can switch off for this game. We have suffered a lot of injuries yes, but the starting XI should put up a better performance than this.

  19. little8
    little8 May 19, 2024 at 5:47 pm . Reply

    You’re quite right Tom not a great end to the season we are already on holiday feel a bit for the loyal fans that have travelled there

  20. Roy Bracy
    Roy Bracy May 19, 2024 at 5:53 pm . Reply

    I’m fuming 5.0 this is embarrassing and gives media chance to laugh at us and say we told you that we not good enough.
    Why not play youngsters at least they might try.
    Unai not as good as all the hype
    I don’t care what anyone thinks I hate losing any game

    1. BFR
      BFR May 19, 2024 at 7:38 pm . Reply

      What not play the youngsters? Because this Palace team at this moment may well have put 10 past them. What benefit would that be to anyone, most of all the youngsters?

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