Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Brend'Watkins on June 14, 2023, 12:55:40 PM
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Of course we want to win everything that's on offer but a realistic possible outcome given where we are in our upward development. I'm going for scraping 4th as I don't see the FA cup as the Holy Grail it once was and the other cups nice as they are to win ain't really attracting better players + we want to keep our better players, I'm thinking Martinez.
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Quite an announcement.... :-)
I'd not enjoy the 3rd and would have any of the other three. It's tough to pick my preference though, always wanted the FA Cup but the lure of two cups wins...
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I don't know how I managed to get it in this section. Could a MOD move it to the main Forum please.
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So is this a thread to say what we want from next season, or what we think will happen?
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Where's finish 2nd and win the FA Cup and UEFA Conference League? This seems a sneaky way of continuing the "we can't do well in the league AND the cups" point of view.
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Where’s win the CL? Who cares that we are not in it. We are Aston Villa and we win what we want.
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Where's finish 2nd and win the FA Cup and UEFA Conference League? This seems a sneaky way of continuing the "we can't do well in the league AND the cups" point of view.
No it’s not meant to be that. I and probably you think we’ll make progress on last season but realistically we’re not winning the league and if we won the FA cup it’s unlikely we’ll be 4th bottom in the process. Finishing top 4 would be outstanding progress. Throw in a cup on top and it’s Outstanding +. Right now I’d be disappointed with A conference cup only with just a top half finish.
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The holy grail for me is the FA Cup. Never won it in my 55 years on the planet and I'd luv it, LUV IT, if we won it.
Other than that, top 6 and go a long way in all the cups. Another season of consolidation and building for a real push in a years time.
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Voted for only FA Cup option, but reckon top four is possible! Believe in Unai!
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I went for option 2. Win 2 trophies and qualify for Europa league anyway via the conference cup, would be an amazing season.
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I voted for 4th place. For me our position in the League always been most important. 4th gives CL - speaks for it self. Prediction next season - the League: 1. City, 2. Lplop, 3. United, 4. Us, 5. Arse, 6. NewCastle
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I went for 5 - win the fucking lot
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Get to the 40 points then take it from there.
Preferably getting past the 40 in the 14th game.
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This is not wise.
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a trophy, any trophy. Please.
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This is not wise.
its fun though
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I'm still not accustomed to thinking we might win anything. I'll say we finish a triumphant fifth and a decent League Cup run.
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I'm still not accustomed to thinking we might win anything. I'll say we finish a triumphant fifth and a decent League Cup run.
I wanted to put something like that as an option because it would be progress. I don’t think it would be seen as enough even though it is.
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The poll doesn’t reflect my thoughts, the FA Cup is the one domestic trophy that I’ve never seen us win. I’d love to win it and finish higher than 7th place.
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I would love us to win the Conference League and finish top 6 that would be a brilliant season.
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My No1 priority is to continue to progress under the Emery project. So much as I'd love to win the FA cup, if we came 4th bottom it will have failed and we'd be looking for another manager.
I'd be happy with 1, 2 or 3 - but finishing 10th would still be a concern for me.
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Anything but the Papa Johns or the Trillion Trophy please.
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Finishing 10th and winning a trophy would be our best season for over quarter of a century. There's fuck all of a concern about it.
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Finishing 10th and winning a trophy would be our best season for over quarter of a century. There's fuck all of a concern about it.
Finishing 10th would be a concern trophy or not, particularly if we spend big in the summer.
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Finishing 10th and winning a trophy would be our best season for over quarter of a century. There's fuck all of a concern about it.
Finishing 10th would be a concern trophy or not, particularly if we spend big in the summer.
Agree. We need to be looking at bettering this season’s 7th as our initial target.
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I would love us to win the Conference League and finish top 6 that would be a brilliant season.
Yep, that's what I'm down for ... progress in the league, have a good stab at the Conference League which IMO is our best shot at silverware next season.
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After years of being kicked in the bollox by the villa I have grown to be pessimistic. However this season I really think we could make top 4. Not too bothered about the cups. Champions league and here we come. Unai I am convinced can take us to great heights. One day he will piss all over the premiership and Europe. Sir Ron would be proud of him and the ghosts that roam around the corridors of villa Park will be there to make sure it happens. Fuck I have actually cut back on drinking and smoking as I want to be there that day that Unai leads us to where we belong...VTID
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I chose the first option, and there’s talk that fifth place will get you Champions League next season:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/10/champions-league-uefa-new-coefficient-plan-for-places-country-success
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Chose the top option. Top 6 and a European trophy would be good progress
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Not being greedy but the FA Cup, The Conference League Trophy and top 10 will make me very happy.
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FA Cup please .
Realistically we aint gona win the league & we ain't gona be relegated.
Please Please the FA Cup before I'm finally priced out of a season ticket.
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2024 is a very special year, it will be our 150th anniversary since we were founded back in 1874.
No pressure but we must win some silverware. FA Cup to finish the collection followed by a night in Athens where the Ancient Gods of Football bow down to see us lift the Euro Conference Cup. All that combined in a top 8 finish.
As I said, no pressure.
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The 150th Anniversary was not on my mind. We need to win something. I'd take the 3rd rated European competition now.
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What I want to happen
Top 6 in the league - restores the natural order of things
Finalist in either league or FA Cup - wembley day out topped off by a victory on penaties
Win ECL - homecoming parade
Being more realistic - to not go backwards in any respect - ie at least 7th in league
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FA Cup, but not at the expense of a bottom half finish.
I would certainly take any trophy and a single figure finish, though.
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F.A. Cup. Decent League Cup and European run. Top half. That is all.
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Because of Emery and our superior squad I'm not gonna lie, if we weren't playing Sunday-Thursday against Europe, pundits would start picking us for the top 4 or possibly as a dark horse title contender!
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Not being greedy but the FA Cup, The Conference League Trophy and top 6 will make me very happy.
FTFY
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Last season, Spurs and Chelsea were really inept for most of the season, as were Liverpool until a late flourish. That made it easier for Arsenal (who I don't think were brilliant but were just consistent until the last few games) and Man City who just put teams away with ruthless efficiency. What the league needs is teams like Spurs and Chelsea to take points off teams in this year's top 4. I think Emery is capable of getting a high level of consistency going, and if the usual suspects can take more points off each other, then there's no reason we can't be anywhere in the top 6.
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Any teams really ? Doesn't have to be Spurs and Chelsea.
Can say Leicester and West Ham underperformed last season for sure but other teams were taking points of the top 2 and 3.
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-8th
-Europa Conference quarter final
-League Cup quarter final
-FA Cup out straight away as we will get either Manchester club
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150th birthday, it's a big one . I think Silverware is coming , just not sure on shape or size. Get the champagne on ice
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You don't look a day over 125. Anyway, can we please win the FA Cup before I die? It's the only major trophy I have not seen us win in my lifetime.
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I've got a good feeling about this coming season. Dunno what we'll do, but the top end of the Premier League is getting an awful lot more congested now ... at least one team from Manc City, Manc United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Us, Chelsea, and Newcastle is going to end up with no European football in 2024/5.
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4th.
Any other season, I would take any of the other options. But to make champions league with the level of competition I think there will be this season would be an incredible achievement over 38 games.
I think we will finish top 8 and win a cup, which will be way, way more fun and enjoyable. But head rules heart on what I want to happen.
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I've got a good feeling about this coming season. Dunno what we'll do, but the top end of the Premier League is getting an awful lot more congested now ... at least one team from Manc City, Manc United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Us, Chelsea, and Newcastle is going to end up with no European football in 2024/5.
Bit like last season then, Spurs and Chelsea will struggle , Liverpool are on a downward trajectory in my opinion. Poch is overhyped nothing. The Aussie at Spurs needs armbands
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Being of a certain age, I can't help but bring to mind that the last manager to join us part way through a season and have the kind of immediate impact that Unai Emery had last season was Tommy Docherty, in 1968/69. Promotion the next season we then all believed was but a formality. That wasn't quite how it worked out of course, as that next season we were relegated (to the old third division) - following, as it happened, a pre-season that was spent mainly on tour in the States. Just saying.
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It would be great to find a way to 5th. But I think 6th is very achievable. Going from UECL to UEL is good progress.
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The league is going to be toughest ever next season imo
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Looking at the teams we should in theory be competing with for places, I think we've had a more impressive transfer window than the rest?
Liverpool have maybe made the most exciting signings, with MacAlister and Szoboszlai, but they're losing players to Saudi clubs too. Newcastle have signed 2 players but with Champions League to contend with is that enough? Mount and Onana at ManU seem solid rather than exciting, Spurs signed Madison but probably going to lose Kane.
There's still loads of time obviously for them to add more, but as things stand I think we could sign nobody else and still say it was one of the best windows we've had.
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It would be great to find a way to 5th. But I think 6th is very achievable. Going from UECL to UEL is good progress.
Agree with this, making our debut in the Champions League in the anniversary season would be nice though.
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5th and win a trophy.
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It would be great to find a way to 5th. But I think 6th is very achievable. Going from UECL to UEL is good progress.
Agree with this, making our debut in the Champions League in the anniversary season would be nice though.
The Union Berlin trajectory in Germany, or similar. Promoted, within a couple of years the Europa Conference, year after Europa League, last season qualified for champions league. Add a cup in there next season and it would be amazing!
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Not being greedy but the FA Cup, The Conference League Trophy and top 10 will make me very happy.
I'll agree with that but the top 6 plus both trophies would be very nice!
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Win the conference league and top 6 will do for me. (F A Cup would be a nice bonus)
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It would be great to find a way to 5th. But I think 6th is very achievable. Going from UECL to UEL is good progress.
A fair assessment. https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1682300902042918912
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Cup treble.
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Trophy plus Champions League qualification
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I think Villa will finish 2nd this year and win the Conference League.
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I think Villa will finish 2nd this year and win the Conference League.
Arsenal or Citeh to win the title though?
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Chelsea's technical director, who only joined in December, has apparently just quit already.
Hopefully they will continue to be a shit show.
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It would be brilliant top six and a cup I would take that.
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Fancy us to make the League cup final.
We tend to average a cup final appearance every five years so either this season or next going from 2010.
If we get the calibre of opponents West Ham did then winning the Europa Conference should be a realistic target aswell.
Not sure on the league as cup runs in two different competitions will inevitably impact on the league at some stage.
It's going to be quite a ride when you look at the quality of our performances for final three months of last season, 7th wasn't a fluke at all, we fully deserved it so certainly got a mid 1990s season vibe with the manager and infrastructure we have in place.
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The league is going to be toughest ever next season imo
Outside the top 7/8 I actually think it will be much weaker than last season.
Promoted teams certainly look much weaker, think Burnley will just about stay up but they won't come close to achieving what Fulham did.
Speaking of them Fulham are pretty much losing their spine and manager so they could be outside bets to drop and likes of Bournemouth and Everton will be bottom six again.
Wolves are in real cost cutting mode, then re-signing Matt Doherty is a #levels meme when you look at what we're signing now.
Interesting how Brentford get on for half a season without Toney. They'll have a credible plan in place but it's still missing a 15-20 season striker until January so eventually they'll have a tough spell.
West Ham only team in bottom half I think will have a significantly better season and even then they've lost Rice and will be in europa league so I can't see them seriously threatening for 7th.
Could be one of those seasons where there's large points difference between 7th and 8th so we need a good start and be in that first third of the league early on.
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Will be interesting how Brighton do. Realistically there's 8 clubs, the Sky 6, Newcastle and us that will have ambitions of top 5.
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I think Chelsea look strong with a new manager and the signings of Nico Jackson and Nkunku. I imagine Mudryk will be much more settled and they still have Sterling who may come back to form. Also with no European football to contend with I see them as challenging for top 4 this season.
Hopefully Spurs will continue to struggle and perhaps Brighton may hit a ceiling, but I think the top 6 will be very, very competitive this season. I think it will be one of the most interesting PL seasons in a long time.
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Knowing our luck, probably something like this
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2IJstrXcAEPCaC?format=jpg)
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7th according to The Guardian's football writers. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/31/aston-villa-premier-league-2023-24-preview
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7th according to The Guardian's football writers. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/31/aston-villa-premier-league-2023-24-preview
"One to watch
Emery invited Kadan Young to dip his toes into the first team last season and the 17-year-old has looked bright this pre-season, his blistering pace his primary weapon. The England Under-17 international was part of the Villa squad that travelled to the US this summer but first caught Emery’s eye during a training camp in Dubai last winter and subsequently featured on the bench in the league. At home playing as a winger in Emery’s favoured 4-3-3 system, Young is highly regarded and could be given the chance to make his debut. While one Young has left this summer, another is only just getting started in claret and blue."
Emery's favoured 4-3-3? I'm guessing he's never actually watched us.
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7th according to The Guardian's football writers. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/31/aston-villa-premier-league-2023-24-preview
"One to watch
Emery invited Kadan Young to dip his toes into the first team last season and the 17-year-old has looked bright this pre-season, his blistering pace his primary weapon. The England Under-17 international was part of the Villa squad that travelled to the US this summer but first caught Emery’s eye during a training camp in Dubai last winter and subsequently featured on the bench in the league. At home playing as a winger in Emery’s favoured 4-3-3 system, Young is highly regarded and could be given the chance to make his debut. While one Young has left this summer, another is only just getting started in claret and blue."
Emery's favoured 4-3-3? I'm guessing he's never actually watched us.
He works for the Guardian, so unless we were playing the red or blue mancs probably not.
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no mention of Archer or JP. Those were more obvious ones to watch. The former was well known
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Nothing against Young, but he only played 20 minutes in one match in the USA games, there was a lot more excitement to be had from Archer, Philogene and Kellyman.
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no mention of Archer or JP. Those were more obvious ones to watch. The former was well known
He mentions them both earlier in the piece.
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Nothing against Young, but he only played 20 minutes in one match in the USA games, there was a lot more excitement to be had from Archer, Philogene and Kellyman.
Agreed, if any of the really young players make the breakthrough this year (which I think is unlikely) it'll be Kellyman who looks a fair bit further along than Young and they were the 2 that went to the US. I like the look of Patterson as well I reckon Feeney will be the best of the lot but he's already out on loan, I wouldn't be surprised if at least 1-2 others from that group go out though.
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I think it's going to be a tough season. We are newbies in terms of managing Europe aswell as the domestic stuff. I think we will finish mid-table but win the euro conference
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5th
european conference winners
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I think it's going to be a tough season. We are newbies in terms of managing Europe aswell as the domestic stuff. I think we will finish mid-table but win the euro conference
but we have literally the best manager in the business when it comes to doing just that.
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I think it's going to be a tough season. We are newbies in terms of managing Europe aswell as the domestic stuff. I think we will finish mid-table but win the euro conference
but we have literally the best manager in the business when it comes to doing just that.
I'm keeping my expectations level so that i don't get disappointed. Some of the football we are playing is unplayable .
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Really liked what I've seen in pre season in final third, Diaby will be a real difference maker that Bailey should've been.
I think 5th or 6th is realistic even with a strong european run.
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We are still a bit light in certain areas , any serious injury to Martinez or Watkins and we are scraping the barrell
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We are still a bit light in certain areas , any serious injury to Martinez or Watkins and we are scraping the barrell
True, but almost every team is the same with their key players, lose them and you're diminished.
Spurs got regular top 4 and the Champions League final without a back up for Kane, and when they finally did get one he was shite and they finished below us :)
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I'm really looking forward to this season I think we will do well.
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We are still a bit light in certain areas , any serious injury to Martinez or Watkins and we are scraping the barrell
True, but almost every team is the same with their key players, lose them and you're diminished.
Spurs got regular top 4 and the Champions League final without a back up for Kane, and when they finally did get one he was shite and they finished below us :)
Son had a bad year by his standards, but he's still got into double figures in the league for the seventh year running. He 's got at least 6 assists in each of those 7 years as well, which means that most years he's up and around the 20 goal contribution mark.
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Not sure if this post belongs here but it's a piece by John Percy in The Telegraph on how he sees the upcoming season.
Aston Villa are upwardly mobile and a genuine threat to Premier League elite
Expectations are high under Unai Emery after a superb finish to last season and Villa's sights are set on Europe.
It is usually when the passports get rolled out where Unai Emery excels, and the emerging force of Aston Villa are finally ready to make their mark on the European stage.
Villa are upwardly mobile under their meticulous and brilliant Basque coach, and optimism is building that they could be a genuine threat to the Premier League’s private members’ party.
We have obviously been here before, and Emery’s predecessor Steven Gerrard was speaking openly of European ambitions before his unhappy tenure was ruthlessly brought to an end last October.
Yet these last 10 months under Emery have taught Villa fans to dream. When he insists the target is to win a trophy this season, those supporters now believe it is far more than just hyperbole.
Emery the European specialist
Emery’s impact since his appointment last year cannot be overestimated: with 49 points from 25 matches, the one regret from Villa’s hierarchy is that he did not arrive earlier.
Owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have never concealed their desire to return Villa to European football, and they have one of the undisputed masters in continental competitions.
Edens’ vision of sport is understood to be driven by data, analytics and statistics, and Emery has emphatically delivered in all those departments.
Indeed, this will be the 16th successive season that Emery is operating in a European tournament. He has lifted four Europa Leagues in that time and juggling the demands of a congested fixture list has never been an issue.
It may only be the Europa Conference League, but try telling that to Villa and their fans. They have not played in Europe since 2010, when Rapid Vienna knocked out a Villa team including the likes of Stiliyan Petrov and Emile Heskey at the play-off round stage. Hopes will be high that the serial trophy winner can prove the difference.
Emery’s methods are already the stuff of legend. He loves a long meeting, where he drills his philosophy into the players in exquisite detail. He is extremely punctilious, and on the team bus back from away games is often seen scouring his iPad in preparation for the next opponent.
He works long hours, and is understood to even be something of a joker on the training pitches at Bodymoor. While he has never really opened up on his experiences at Arsenal, there is no question that his messy departure in November 2019 has fired him up to prove people wrong.
Smart recruitment on and off the pitch
Villa’s transfer business has also delivered a statement of intent. The capture of Youri Tielemans on a free transfer was solid enough, but the arrivals of Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby have turned heads.
Torres, a left-sided centre-back, has been on the radar of many European heavyweights before Villa agreed a cut-price £31.5 million deal with Villarreal. Diaby, the record £43 million buy, was on Villa’s radar for years and sources in Germany initially expressed doubts over whether the French attacker would be interested in moving from Bayer Leverkusen.
With claims that Diaby favoured a ‘big-six’ club and Champions League football, it is testament to Emery’s powers of persuasion that the deal was completed. Emery already had the nucleus of a decent squad, and the improvement of Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins as individuals has been tangible.
John McGinn, the Scotland midfielder, has proved outstanding after returning to his preferred position and Emery made it clear that he should be offered a new contract. McGinn signed the deal last month, and the hope is that Watkins will soon follow. If they can add another proven striker to their squad, it could prove significant.
Another eye-catching arrival has been made at senior board level: Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo, known as Monchi, has rejoined Emery as the club’s president of football operations. His reputation across Europe is excellent, despite a scratchy period in Serie A with Roma, and the expectation is that he can elevate Villa to another level.
Monchi is also renowned for backing homegrown talent, which aligns with Villa’s belief in their academy. Talented homegrown youngsters including Cameron Archer and Jaden Philogene have been offered a chance to stake a claim in pre-season.
It all means that expectations are incredibly high ahead of the new season, which kicks off at Newcastle on August 12.
This will be a test for Villa’s players and the challenge is to build on last season’s momentum. The draw for their European return will be made on Monday and the hope is that city squares will be swamped by claret and blue flags over the coming months.
With ‘Super’ Unai Emery in charge, there should be no limit to what Villa can achieve.
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Michael Owen thinks we'll finish 6th and Wolves will get relegated.
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We'll finish 4th or 5th, win the Europa Conf, have a good domestic cup run, win the Boat Race and the Ryder Cup.
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About a month ago we were 150/1 to win the title and Brighton were 66/1 (I know). Brighton are still 66/1 but we've moved into 50/1 so some people are noticing our progress. We're 22/1 to lead the field excuding. Citeh which strikes a non-gambler like me as a "better value" bet.
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Finish 8th with hopefully winning a cup
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I did read Saddvillan s piece over here about Super Unai Emery and this with all he has shown us since his arrival you have to belive I would say. Then again this is football and PL and the unpredictability is a defining part of the whole you can also say. Also the other teams - at least some of them, has gone to assemble resources and qualities `as much as the world can offer ish` over years one might argue. If the poll hadnt been closed I would have voted for 5th or 6th.
According to Wiki s list of managers since the beginning of everything Emery has win% of 60 - leading the others with some huge gap, following him we have Ramsay at 50% and then Smith at 48% , both in our first great period about hundred years ago. Long it may continue with Emery football at Aston Villa.
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I will be happy to see progress, to see the style of play develop and the players intergrate into a slightly different system. A good finish in the league and good performances in the cups, especially Europe which is so important for our profile in the wider game.
That's not to say we don't have a chance of winning anything I just don't think this is our season. If this had been Emery's second pre season I would be feeling a lot more confident of a top 6 and trophy winning season.
I am massively excited to see where this is going though, it does feel like the start of something exciting.
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Finish 8th with hopefully winning a cup
Honestly, 8th? Who will finish 2-7? Yes to the cup though.
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Finish 8th with hopefully winning a cup
Honestly, 8th? Who will finish 2-7? Yes to the cup though.
It’s sid1964, he might mean 8th from bottom.
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Our ex manager seems optimistic about our prospects
https://twitter.com/moneill31/status/1687425918900326400?t=Mwn6h7yUXZx_WoLBvq53CQ&s=08
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Our ex manager seems optimistic about our prospects
https://twitter.com/moneill31/status/1687425918900326400?t=Mwn6h7yUXZx_WoLBvq53CQ&s=08
Not surprising, having a book to sell.
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I feel more optimistic about us than at any point in the last 15 years, but at the same time a part of me's thinking this is all too good to be true and we'll fuck it up like we have done every other time in the 35 years I've been watching us. Something feels a bit different this time though, it seems like we're in really good hands and not just winging it with a couple of chancers (Lerner and O'Neill).
The bare minimum is having a team that's feared by everyone again, nobody sees us as an easy touch any longer. A top 7 finish, a cup run at home (either would do) and the UECL would be amazing.
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Finish 8th with hopefully winning a cup
Honestly, 8th? Who will finish 2-7? Yes to the cup though.
It’s sid1964, he might mean 8th from bottom.
Ha! I don't want to get carried away too much, but I look at what the Arsenal did last year and think, how far away are we from something like that. A Gabriel Jesus maybe?
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I know it's pre season but West Ham lost Rice, haven't signed anyone to replace him and just lost 4-0 to Bayer Leverkusen.
That's a club who should be better than last season and pushing for top 10 again.
I think with what's come up the bottom half is going to be much weaker than last season so I think we should be aiming for another 60-65 point season personally, that should be good enough for 6th at least.
When you compare us to many in premier league we've got our main targets in very early compared to just wating until August 31st so that is a huge positive for me.
Challenging for top 6 and having a very good run in one of the cup competitions should be well within our capabilities, this is the most depth we've had beyond the first 11 in probably 25 years if not longer.
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Somebody called Johnathon Pritchard gives a fans point of view (his view being 7th and going 'deep' in a cup would represent greatness).
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/06/premier-league-2023-24-fan-previews-part-one-arsenal-to-fulham
A thing that struck me was how many fans from other teams on there think Newcastle will finish top 4. I can't see that personally. The Everton fan has us in 3rd.
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Somebody called Johnathon Pritchard gives a fans point of view (his view being 7th and going 'deep' in a cup would represent greatness).
More bad news, 'Arry Redknapp doesn't think we'll finish top 6. Mind you, he thinks Yanited will win the title so I wouldn't worry too much.
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Newcastle have a very tough start to the season.
After us they have Man. City away, Liverpool at home and Brighton away before CL starts for them.
Took one point from those three fixtures last year.
Important we go up there and don't lose for once infront of a crowd, a win would be a huge statement.
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Newcastle have a very tough start to the season.
After us they have Man. City away, Liverpool at home and Brighton away before CL starts for them.
Similarly, Liverpool have Chelsea (A), Newcastle (A) and us at home in 3 of their first 4 games (with Bournemouth (H) in the middle).
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I think Chelsea will come good again this season and the Top 3 will be them, Arsenal and Man City. Spurs will carry on as they left off, I think, and if any of the "big" clubs have a wobble it'll be Man Utd.
Honestly the top 6/7 will probably be a repeat of last season in terms of teams, with Chelsea replacing Spurs in the mix.
Between us, Newcastle, and Brighton, it'll come down to who can balance their European campaigns with the league. I think finishing 6th, and well clear of 7th, would be a good season. Assuming it's coupled with a trophy, or at the very least going deep in both cups and Europe.
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I don't think Arsenal or Newcastle will do as well as they did last year - both had exceptional seasons which will be hard to replicate. Man City will win the league again, but I think the rest of the top 8 is up for grabs. I want us to win a cup as much as any of us, but qualifying for the Champions League is something most of the other big clubs in England have done before - this season looks like another opportunity that I really hope we take.
The side we have now and the amazing manager - we should be aiming high.
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I don't want to 'go deep' in any cups. If we're not going to win I'd rather exeunt (followed by a bear).
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Obviously Emery is our blessed leader and shall lead us to glory, but two slight concerns.
One is the Pau at LB thing. I hope we don’t see that on Saturday, I don’t think it worked. I think he can probably make it work with time but not sure I want to see it Saturday.
The other is the imbalance of the squad. Brilliant CB options and more or less ok at full back when Moreno is fit. Absolutely tons of very good options in midfield.
Up front though, we are so reliant on Watkins.
Archer to me hasn’t really shown much in the (admittedly brief) time he has had. Duran is absolutely raw. I hope we sign another forward option this month.
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In theory we have improved the squad and not lost anyone so we should be looking at an improved league placing. Big unknown is the impact of Europe. I'm naturally pessimistic so expecting a drop off this season.
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I think the Pau Torres at LB and Konsa at RB are more CB systems that slide across rather than conventional full back roles. Emery mentioned that in certain circumstances he would play only one traditional FB and then the three CBs. It will be interesting to see if he plays Digne or goes with the three CBs with them having Barnes and Almiron who both play wide. If both start that is.
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In theory we have improved the squad and not lost anyone so we should be looking at an improved league placing. Big unknown is the impact of Europe. I'm naturally pessimistic so expecting a drop off this season.
It all depends if and how others have strengthened too. I'd expect us to overtake Brighton at least , but who knows.
Chelsea are an unknown but have spent big and would expect top 4. Tottenham are usually in the mix but have a new boss.
Liverpool have lost and are replacing an entire midfield.
Newcastle are going to drop off a bit I reckon.
I want 6th at least and think we'll get it.
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I think Chelsea will come good again this season and the Top 3 will be them, Arsenal and Man City. Spurs will carry on as they left off, I think, and if any of the "big" clubs have a wobble it'll be Man Utd.
Honestly the top 6/7 will probably be a repeat of last season in terms of teams, with Chelsea replacing Spurs in the mix.
Between us, Newcastle, and Brighton, it'll come down to who can balance their European campaigns with the league. I think finishing 6th, and well clear of 7th, would be a good season. Assuming it's coupled with a trophy, or at the very least going deep in both cups and Europe.
I agree. Chelsea have bought well and now have a proper manager, although the injury to Nkunku may slow them. I was expecting them to be top 4.
It will be a major scrap for 6th, unless 5th opens up with someone like Liverpool going off the rails.
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Phil McNulty on BBC site has us finishing 5th! Behind MC, Liverpool, Arsenal and MU.
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Phil McNulty on BBC site has us finishing 5th! Behind MC, Liverpool, Arsenal and MU.
He was close last year, predicting us to finish 8th, but then quite a number of his other placings were wide of the mark.
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Ooh, it's like summer 1997 when Fergie tipped us as dark horses (Rock of Gibraltar?) for the title.
Starting the season with four defeats on the bounce wasn't the way, though... nine wins out of the last eleven was pretty mint, mind.
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Ooh, it's like summer 1997 when Fergie tipped us as dark horses (Rock of Gibraltar?) for the title.
Starting the season with four defeats on the bounce wasn't the way, though... nine wins out of the last eleven was pretty mint, mind.
That Blackburn game, yikes!
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I'm going with:
1. Man City
2. Arsenal
3. Man Utd
4. Chelsea
5. Newcastle
6. Liverpool
7. Villa
8. Brighton
9. Spurs
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Ooh, it's like summer 1997 when Fergie tipped us as dark horses (Rock of Gibraltar?) for the title.
Starting the season with four defeats on the bounce wasn't the way, though... nine wins out of the last eleven was pretty mint, mind.
That Blackburn game, yikes!
We were on holiday and watched MOTD that night not knowing the score. The featured match was Man Utd beating someone or other and seemed to go on forever until a quick round up of the other games. Definitely not worth staying up for.
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Newcastle will have it tougher trying to compete in the Champions League and league. It's a bit different playing teams like Porto, Inter and PSG than the likes of Hibs or Luzern.
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Phil McNulty on BBC site has us finishing 5th! Behind MC, Liverpool, Arsenal and MU.
I'd question Liverpool being included in that group, I think 4-7 will be us, liverpool, chelsea and newcastle in some combination. That said 1-2 injuries and I could see ManU dropping out of that top 3 as well, they have a good 11 but there isn't much depth in behind that.
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We know that barring a miracle Man City will be up there, but besides them I think it's open with a bunch of clubs. The effect of Europe, a couple of injuries and who knows. Can Arsenal repeat last season and deal with Europe, same for Newcastle, how much will Chelsea improve, Man Utd and Liverpool should be up there but have shown they can have a lot of off days, will Spurs continue to go backwards/tread water, and then there's us. And maybe someone doing a Brighton. It's actually quite interesting for once rather than knowing before a ball is kicked what the top end of the table will look like.
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Have been watching/reading quite a few predictions for the season and it's a weird feeling seeing a lot of people talk about us in the same breath as Liverpool and Chelsea, but it's nice to see Emery being recognised as the brilliant manager he is.
An interesting point I saw being made on a video was that most likely Man City and Arsenal are the top 2, but there's 6 or 7 other teams that are just as likely to be battling for 2nd come the end of the season, as they are to be battling for 6th.
Everyone seems to be writing Spurs off, especially if Kane goes, which seems right, I think. I don't envy Postacoglu trying to prepare for the new season with a team that's basically built around Kane, with no idea if Kane will be there or not.
As for us, I've seen it pointed out multiple times that we have an easier European campaign to balance, which is a fair point, and probably better squad depth than the teams we're likely to be competing for places with.
I think 5th is a reality now, and that's possibly enough for Champions League this year, although I'd be happy with Europa.
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Have been watching/reading quite a few predictions for the season and it's a weird feeling seeing a lot of people talk about us in the same breath as Liverpool and Chelsea, but it's nice to see Emery being recognised as the brilliant manager he is.
An interesting point I saw being made on a video was that most likely Man City and Arsenal are the top 2, but there's 6 or 7 other teams that are just as likely to be battling for 2nd come the end of the season, as they are to be battling for 6th.
Everyone seems to be writing Spurs off, especially if Kane goes, which seems right, I think. I don't envy Postacoglu trying to prepare for the new season with a team that's basically built around Kane, with no idea if Kane will be there or not.
As for us, I've seen it pointed out multiple times that we have an easier European campaign to balance, which is a fair point, and probably better squad depth than the teams we're likely to be competing for places with.
I think 5th is a reality now, and that's possibly enough for Champions League this year, although I'd be happy with Europa.
Spurs have a top 6 attack and a bottom 6 defence and I'm not sure they're doing enough to fix it. If Kane goes as well then I just can't see them troubling the European spots.
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What does that make their midfield?!
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What does that make their midfield?!
Spaghettified.
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My view fwiw is that we will be 6th or 7th this year with a cup run of some sort.
Cannot see past Man City winning the league, especially as Arsenal will be competing on a couple of fronts for the first time in a little while, as will Newcastle. Both have improved their squad but not to the Man City standard and neither have the resources to really play a Madrid or Bayern on a Wednesday, a tough league game on the Saturday and the return fixture the following week.
Liverpool are still a couple of players short but are well coached. Although they have a very good attacking line their midfield even with Alexander-Arnold in it is a little light for a whole season. Chelsea don't know their starting midfield yet but are not in Europe, so will get it right. No Potter to impose the "Brighton, 51 points is brill" approach.
I saw that Man U have lost their "star" striker. Again recruited well and probably the bigger threat along with Liverpool to Citeh.
Spurs are spurs. Will they have Hazza this time next week? If so we had better get Watkins on a longer contract by the end of the season as I think he's on their radar. Mind you an offer by Levy of £5 mill and a bag of rabbits won't be too difficult to resist. Should do well as they are not in any European competition but probably won't because, well they're Spurs.
We are in that mix assuming our squad stays as it is or we strengthen with a back up striker.
The rest? meh.
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BBC asked 26 of their TV and radio pundits for their predictions. Ellen White and Stephen Warnock have us 4th. All the rest of them have no imagination.
Stephen Warnock: I've been out in the United States covering the Summer Series and I was lucky enough to go down and watch Villa train and speak to Emery. When you see what he's about and how he works, it's very impressive. Looking at that, and the form they were in under him last season, I think they might sneak in.
Ellen White: I really liked the way Villa played under Unai Emery last season - it wasn't just their results which were impressive when they were flying up the table.
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Full of optimism, many outside the club tipping us for big things. So the most Villa thing ever is to have 2 players seriously crocked in the space of 3 days and get absolutely twatted on the opening day.
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I’m starting to think that we might not actually win the league after all.
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I'm starting to think winning a game might be an achievement.
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5th. Above cloggers.
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11th
Conference League winners on penalties
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Anywhere mid table.
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Fucking hell. One defeat and shit made from bricks are everywhere.
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Full of optimism, many outside the club tipping us for big things. So the most Villa thing ever is to have 2 players seriously crocked in the space of 3 days and get absolutely twatted on the opening day.
If you’ve watched Villa for any length of time then you should avoid optimism at all costs. I thought today would be a draw at best but what an awful few days. Our attempt to strengthen the squad looks buggered already. Feel for Emi and Tyrone and we will miss them enormously.
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Fucking hell. One defeat and shit made from bricks are everywhere.
It's your fault with that fucking thread title.
WHAT THE FUCK were you thinking?
You must never do that again, never ever.
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21st
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Fucking hell. One defeat and shit made from bricks are everywhere.
It's your fault with that fucking thread title.
WHAT THE FUCK were you thinking?
You must never do that again, never ever.
I know. I massively fucked up.
*hangs head in shame*
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Anybody changed their minds since August? I said 5th and I still think that's realistic, maybe even a tiny bit pessimistic! .
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I've changed my mind in terms of what I think the split will be. I think there's a top 3* that will be somewhat clear of the rest, but I see little difference between 4th to 6th, so I think 4th is as realistic as 5th for us now.
Annoying as it is to say, I think it depends on how long Spurs can keep their level where it is. They've definitely benefited from no European games, and they've been lucky with no injuries to key players.
* can't fully decide on Arsenal, to be honest. They look great at times but also very beatable, and Raya looks a liability.
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I'd agree with that assessment, AV84.
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5th place with CL football next season and Conference League winners.