Brentford 1 – 0 Villa; So poor I don’t know where to start.

Aug 23, 2025

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Wow. I find myself stunned after watching that utter, utter load of rubbish.

It was that bad that I honestly can’t find a single redeeming feature.
Looking at that, combined with last week’s non-showing, we have serious problems.

I’ll start at the back. Pau. He is never a defender as long as he has a hole in his proverbial. I reckon I’m probably faster than him and I’m old enough to be his grandad.
We pushed up far too much against a side that has oodles of pace, where we have none.
It was all quite simple and incredibly basic. Sit back, wait for us to give the ball away again and then batter us with pace. I’m sorry, but how Emery allowed this is totally beyond me.

Then Komara gets injured so we put Buendia on. Again, I’m sorry, but I don’t see that as the right move at all. I’d agree that we needed creativity, but it was more on the wings. He can go for me. He’s just not productive enough and never has been for the Villa. Don’t agree? Look at his stats.

Watkins never had a look in, Rogers didn’t look anything like getting into the game and McGinn did nothing.
It was so obvious there was something seriously wrong and Emery did nothing to change it until it was far too late.

So what was going on? I believe Emery likes to give players every chance to hit form. It’s how it works. Players just cannot be at the top of their game all the time. I get that.
But we have too many who look frankly awful and need changing out.

But then, you have to question the tactics too. We played the first half so slowly I nearly fell asleep. Yet we upped the pace in the second half, which is something I’ve noticed is a regular thing. Why is that? Why do we let teams get in first, then have to try to haul things back?
It’s poor, in my opinion.

And even though we picked up the pace, it still looked to me like we wouldn’t score in a month of Sundays.

We look totally toothless and I find that seriously concerning.
We had how many corners? And didn’t get close to scoring.

Brentford must have thought all their birthdays had come at once, while I thought it was that bad, I didn’t even watch the last 10 minutes.
I don’t remember the last time I finished watching a game on the telly early.
I can see it happening more and more too, because what was on show today was nothing like entertaining.

Comments

62 responses to “Brentford 1 – 0 Villa; So poor I don’t know where to start.”

Holte

26 August 2025

I have copied and pasted an article on BBC website as below:-

Do you really think Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and Uefa wage ratios are solely responsible for Aston Villa’s sluggish start to the season?

Bar Emi Martinez’s suspension for Newcastle United and Ezri Konsa’s for Brentford, the only change to the side in the opening two games to the one that beat Paris St-Germain in last season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg, was Ollie Watkins starting instead of Marcus Rashford. This is a strong team – and should be playing like one.

Yes, there are big-picture concerns regarding PSR and Uefa wage caps limiting clubs challenging the top six. But let’s be honest, they also exist to protect clubs from themselves.

Since Unai Emery arrived, Villa have had six transfer windows. Of all the arrivals, only Morgan Rogers (£8m initial fee) and Youri Tielemans (free transfer) have been unqualified successes. The jury is still out on £50m record signing Amadou Onana.

Meanwhile, close to £100m has gone on Ian Maatsen, Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand – all benchwarmers so far. Malen and Guessand were brought in to potentially play on the right side, yet this season Emery has persisted with left-footed John McGinn there, disrupting the team’s balance and fluidity.

For a side now with reportedly the 12th-highest wage bill in Europe (10th last season) – above both Newcastle and Tottenham – the toothless display against a Brentford team mid-transition, having lost their manager and key players, wasn’t about PSR. It was about a team being too predictable, and lacking cohesion and quality.

Supporters had to accept higher prices in the name of PSR compliance, but after seeing how money has been spent, naturally patience thins.

Fans don’t want spin. They want a return on their hard-earned cash and at least decent performances.

At the moment, Villa’s issues aren’t down to regulations – they’re down to decisions.

Reply
1. Hitchens60
  
  26 August 2025
  
  Was that article by David Michaels?
  
  Reply
  1. Badger123
    
    26 August 2025
    
    Yep, a MOMS article.
    
    Reply
    1. Hitchens60
      
      26 August 2025
      
      Thought so – has his style all over it.
      
      He’s particularly critical of the prices being charged to fans and the upselling such as The Terrace View but if fans are prepared to pay and it increases the revenue streams then what is the club supposed to do.
      
      I think one of the main issues was the rather offhand way the club communicated (or more accurately – failed to communicate) with fans exasperated by the very poor decision making around celebration of the 150th anniversary.
      
      I hope the new commercial director is an improvement on the last one who, despite his claims, really didn’t achieve much more than alienating the fan base.
      
      Reply
Gerry

26 August 2025

Borussia Dortmund have signed England youth international Carney Chukwuemeka from Chelsea on a five-year contract. Dortmund have paid 24m.

Reply
1. BFR
  
  26 August 2025
  
  He’s only 21 and very talented. What odds he’ll be in the England squad within 5 years? Maybe not in Bellingham’s class, but if Dortmund do what they do with him, we may yet rue letting him go. Oh, and it looks like Chelsea made a small profit, too, which is both ridiculous and impressive (through gritted teeth).
  
  Reply
Badger123

26 August 2025

Interesting article, Holte.
And to make the doom and gloom even worse for those who want him, Jackson’s agent is saying the player is on the move in 48 hours.
And it doesn’t look like it’s going to be to the Villa. It’s looking like Bayern.

Reply
1. BFR
  
  26 August 2025
  
  Not bothered. Too many injuries.
  
  Reply
  1. Badger123
    
    26 August 2025
    
    Agreed.
    
    Reply
Bill Pearson

26 August 2025

I have to admire how some of you know and remember things, I’m at a age where at 87 remembering people names , interesting Holte and bloody right I will be interested if he’s learned a lesson from management that’s gone wrong, as I’ve seen from his past a stubborn man , surely player’s have a say in the games why things go wrong, yes McGinn midfielder not right wing , Watkins not getting balls in from crosses. All in all what’s the coaches doing for the money they get . I predicted Grealish would prove you need a ball player, two assists in his first game , Pep you are an idiot as shown in your last match. I now fear we will be struggling this season over lack of understanding the wants at Villa .

Reply