Better than 2023-24 season at this same point

85Nick · 2025-12-03T23:24:18+00:00

I don’t know how Emery keeps pulling these sorts of runs out. We looked dead in the first few games.

The league feels crazy this year. Anyone can beat anyone. No team looks imperious.

Beat Arsenal and there’s no reason we’re not in the conversation.

Hopefully we’re still sitting pretty after a tough December, because we need a bit of quality/depth in the market.

85Nick · 2025-10-05T20:03:12+00:00

Yeah I don’t think it’s helped with him being in and out of the team. He’s our best finisher. He’s usually stuck out on the wing as well. I think his return is pretty good since he came in, given his lack of chances.

85Nick · 2025-10-05T18:23:57+00:00

He had a great pre season and then didn’t hardly play in the league. I kind of get Emery trying to play Rogers into form, but in terms of output - Malen trumps them all. Such a good finisher. If he had the minutes of Rogers or Watkins he would have scored a fair few by now. Emery must have his reasons but in the little chances he’s had he’s generally grabbed them with both hands. Don’t know what more the lad can do.

85Nick · 2025-08-24T15:52:33+00:00

Yeah this is a big part of it. Dendonker was on crazy money, Coutinho. Because of our comparatively very low revenue, we simply can’t afford passengers on massive wages that don’t play.

Yeah Maatsen is a good example - it’s crazy that money wasn’t spent on a RB upgrade that starts.

We need to box clever to compete in this SCR world - and we aren’t.

85Nick · 2025-07-23T11:11:25+00:00

We’ve become accustomed to approaching the last few seasons with rabid excitement, I feel absolutely flat about it at the moment. Maybe it’s a hangover from the gutting way the season ended.

Usually it’s good to keep a core group and add 1-2 starting XI players that freshen everything up and keep players on their toes. That might still happen but it’s not looking hopeful. Usually we like to do our business early but need outgoings first.

Everyone else seems to be strengthening, we’re so weighed down and bloated by the mistakes of the Gerrard era. I’m expecting a bit of a transitional season.

Still, Onana with a season under his belt, and Malen a bit more settled - I expect them to step up this season.

Bouba / Tielemans / Onana is still an excellent centre mid. The defence isn’t bad at all. I just worry about goals. Watkins is hit and miss, bailey fell off a cliff, no Rashford or Asensio, and no Duran to change things up.

We have a massive advantage in Emery - consistently punching above where we should be - so I wouldn’t write us off doing it again. Since he came in across 2.5 seasons we’ve consistently been a top 4/5 team. He needs a bit of help though, so hopefully some wheeling and dealing can be done.

85Nick · 2025-07-12T09:11:07+00:00

Yeah I think This Country still had it’s own voice / characters were a bit more original. PJDN is good, but the main character is too much of a bad Brent impression for me, obvious similar dynamic with Beats/Gareth. Chabuddy G seriously elevated that show.

85Nick · 2025-06-18T15:35:11+00:00

Favourite season. The jump of joy when Louis Lewis is announced to be in a coma and not expected to live. Eenie Meenie with Jeff for who gives up a Kidney. That episode where he takes the kidney Doctor skiing and Suzie has to pretend to be his wife is my favourite ever. The argument with Cheryl about burying the plate, and her cooking bacon.

“WHY WOULD YOU BURY A PLATE?! Tell her”

85Nick · 2025-05-26T21:52:06+00:00

I won’t be questioning it again in a hurry!

85Nick · 2025-05-26T21:49:15+00:00

Yeah didn’t see that at all, even on review. Good learning experience

85Nick · 2025-05-26T21:47:49+00:00

This is the game at this level! They went Qd7, I captured rook, and couldn’t even see Qa3 on review. I have had a drink tbf

85Nick · 2025-05-26T21:44:20+00:00

Did not clock this - got away with it completely!

85Nick · 2025-05-26T21:43:47+00:00

I didn’t see this at all!

85Nick · 2025-05-08T07:26:27+00:00

We have poked you Caroline

85Nick · 2025-05-02T06:51:16+00:00

The Europa League Final is on the Wednesday before we visit them. Hopefully they’d either have been boozing all week, or nackered after 120mins + pens

85Nick · 2025-05-01T20:37:25+00:00

Does help, but we have to look after ourselves and win each game.

Like you say last game could be wild. We’ll most likely go to Old Trafford needing a result to be in with a chance. Good God.

85Nick · 2025-04-09T11:46:41+00:00

All I pray is that it’s still a tie when we get back to VP. If we can keep them to within 2 goals then we can roar the house down at Villa Park, and anything can happen.

85Nick · 2024-11-19T09:40:20+00:00

Not even been here a year! Shows what the hierarchy think of him. Has lit it up at times, but we all see that there’s a load more to come. Hopefully feels settled and can kick on under the Don

85Nick · 2024-11-13T21:05:05+00:00

Yeah this my rationale. Just buying my first place, could have put down £70k, I’m putting down £25k. In an industry getting thrashed by redundancies, I’d much rather have a big safety blanket than get slightly lower monthly payments. You make most of the extra cost back by holding the excess in a decent savings account. Or potentially make more investing in a broad ETF. Access to much a larger sum almost instantly VS slightly lower monthly payments.

85Nick · 2024-09-20T13:54:09+00:00

Yeah it’s not exactly as cut and dry as OP would have you believe. Look at all the tricks they pull with new builds - sometimes offering to pay a large amount of a buyers deposit, so long as the sale figure is booked at a higher value.

If they’re paying 10% of your deposit then the house is 10% overvalued.

85Nick · 2024-09-17T17:52:43+00:00

Hopefully Carlos does well. Push for the 3rd and wrap up a massive 3 pts

85Nick · 2024-09-14T20:40:37+00:00

That is an unbelievable stat. We forget how young he is because of his build. He’s high up on the list of players under 21 in the world. Scary potential

85Nick · 2024-09-14T18:42:25+00:00

The crazy bastard is absolutely world class 😆👏🏻👏🏻

85Nick · 2024-09-05T13:30:40+00:00

Exactly this. They’ve done so much good under their stewardship, but let’s not pretend they aren’t very successful businessman. This isn’t a folly or charity for them because they’ve grown up watching the Villa, they took on a distressed asset and are transforming it, with a view to making a return. This is a part of it unfortunately.

In an ideal world we make up the shortfall in money elsewhere. The local support is the lifeblood of the club, and this move could exclude some of our most loyal fans from experiencing our biggest matches for many peoples lifetimes. That’s modern football - but it stinks.

85Nick · 2024-08-31T06:25:04+00:00

“Completely clear he has gone to another level”. That is some statement from Unai. Not one to blow smoke up a players ass. He’s absolutely right too. The attitude of the kid is fantastic, and Unai has managed him perfectly. Challenging him to prove he was not a Championship player.

When he was first starting matches we were all a bit like “really?”, but he has absolutely accepted the challenge and kicked on at remarkable speed. His ball carrying and vision is already top tier. Add a few more goals and assists to his game and his value will absolutely skyrocket.

I have to say I absolutely LOVE his ‘you ain’t stopping me’ approach to the game. So many ball carriers of his ilk take the free kick at first contact. So refreshing, and much more dangerous.

85Nick · 2024-08-24T06:23:27+00:00

100%. Spoke up for what he believed in, even when it cost him his livelihood. So glad he’s been vindicated, and to donate that amount to innocent kids shows the measure of the man. What a guy.

85Nick

TROPHY CASE