Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on December 11, 2025, 10:16:43 PM
-
Sunday 14th Dec, 14.00 KO.
Them 1 Us 2
-
0-4.
-
Hopefully Emery gets over his "always losing at Nuno's home ground" syndrome but I don't think he will unfortunately.
-
Hopefully Emery gets over his "always losing at Nuno's home ground" syndrome but I don't think he will unfortunately.
Agreed, it could be hard work. Have gone for a draw, but would love a win no matter how scrappy it is.
-
This one worries me.
Eminently winnable but could easily be a slip up.
1 more massive effort from the lads then they get a welcome full week of rest/recovery.
-
Hopefully Emery gets over his "always losing at Nuno's home ground" syndrome but I don't think he will unfortunately.
Of course he will. They're shit.
3-0 Villa FTF.
-
We have enough to beat them.
-
If Torres is out that is a significant blow.
-
If Torres is out that is a significant blow.
With Lindelof it’s better than having to play Kamara there.
-
I will take the draw in this one as long as we thrash manure week after.
-
If Torres is out that is a significant blow.
Why do you think Torres could be out?
-
If Torres is out that is a significant blow.
Why do you think Torres could be out?
Valid thought I would think being as he went off against Arse and didn't travel yesterday and Emery confirmed an injury. He probably will play but if he is being nursed through the games then might not be as imposing as he has been recently.
-
2-1 us (Watkins, Malen).
This line up if Torres is for, if not Lindelof to be in for him.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
McGinn
-
F365's preview of the weekend:
Team to watch: Aston Villa
How many times have we seen unlikely title challengers emerge only to immediately sh*t themselves and slink back whence they came the second things get real? It’s not even always just Chelsea.
Aston Villa have inserted themselves directly into this title race after a 10-game run featuring nine wins culminating in that sensational stoppage-time winner against Arsenal that prompted an entire team of adult humans to go full toddler. You’ve all seen the video. Absolute cinema. Never mind the Celebration Police; it’s the Dignity Police who should have been making house calls to Arsenal players this week.
It was a huge moment, though. One swing of Emi Buendia’s right boot was the difference between Arsenal maintaining a comfy six-point lead over Villa or seeing it trimmed to three, with Man City taking advantage later to move even closer at two points back from Arsenal – which is nearer to the Gunners than they were after 15 games in either 2022/23 or 2023/24 and we all know how those panned out.
The problem for Villa is that they’ve had to set an absolutely absurd and dare we say it unsustainable pace to get to where they are and if title contenders they are to be then they will have to keep sprinting as best they can.
Especially this weekend, because Arsenal are playing Wolves. So there is no margin for Villa when they head to the London Stadium for the Claret and Blue Derby against West Ham.
On paper it shouldn’t be a problem, because West Ham are sh*t. But they’re a ticklish kind of sh*t now under Nuno Espirito Santo; one that even Liverpool were able to easily subdue and eventually overwhelm with competence but a team nonetheless now capable of preying on those who turn up with any uncertainty or self-doubt as Newcastle and Burnley both have in recent weeks.
Villa shouldn’t have that problem, but imposter syndrome can kick in at the funniest times, and the entire country declaring you title contenders can absolutely be one of those times.
-
A fair and accurate description of exactly what we did, only much worse, at home to Sheffield United two years ago.
-
Arsenal highly unlikely to drop any points to Wolves, so we need to win to keep up. This is the level we now occupy.
-
1-2 victory. Hopefully Torres is okay for Sunday. A slight worry with Mings still out for at least another 2 weeks. This will be a tough game.
-
2-1 us (Watkins, Malen).
This line up if Torres is for, if not Lindelof to be in for him.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
McGinn
Do we really need Onana? Hardly broke sweat last night so unlikely to be fatigued but might get away with bringing in Buendia and having Kamara and Tielemans as the two in midfield.
-
2-1 us (Watkins, Malen).
This line up if Torres is for, if not Lindelof to be in for him.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
McGinn
Do we really need Onana? Hardly broke sweat last night so unlikely to be fatigued but might get away with bringing in Buendia and having Kamara and Tielemans as the two in midfield.
Absolutely Onana has to start. Same line-up as the Arsenal game. West Ham have physicality so we need to counter that. Kamara, Onana, Tielemans and McGinn to start.
-
F365's preview of the weekend:
Team to watch: Aston Villa
How many times have we seen unlikely title challengers emerge only to immediately sh*t themselves and slink back whence they came the second things get real? It’s not even always just Chelsea.
Aston Villa have inserted themselves directly into this title race after a 10-game run featuring nine wins culminating in that sensational stoppage-time winner against Arsenal that prompted an entire team of adult humans to go full toddler. You’ve all seen the video. Absolute cinema. Never mind the Celebration Police; it’s the Dignity Police who should have been making house calls to Arsenal players this week.
It was a huge moment, though. One swing of Emi Buendia’s right boot was the difference between Arsenal maintaining a comfy six-point lead over Villa or seeing it trimmed to three, with Man City taking advantage later to move even closer at two points back from Arsenal – which is nearer to the Gunners than they were after 15 games in either 2022/23 or 2023/24 and we all know how those panned out.
The problem for Villa is that they’ve had to set an absolutely absurd and dare we say it unsustainable pace to get to where they are and if title contenders they are to be then they will have to keep sprinting as best they can.
Especially this weekend, because Arsenal are playing Wolves. So there is no margin for Villa when they head to the London Stadium for the Claret and Blue Derby against West Ham.
On paper it shouldn’t be a problem, because West Ham are sh*t. But they’re a ticklish kind of sh*t now under Nuno Espirito Santo; one that even Liverpool were able to easily subdue and eventually overwhelm with competence but a team nonetheless now capable of preying on those who turn up with any uncertainty or self-doubt as Newcastle and Burnley both have in recent weeks.
Villa shouldn’t have that problem, but imposter syndrome can kick in at the funniest times, and the entire country declaring you title contenders can absolutely be one of those times.
haha, that's a good write up. Some humour too. I'll have to pay attention to these. Link mate?
-
So my Sister (with a favour for the Rags) is mercifully in Dubai over Christmas but has invited us to dinner on Sunday to exchange pleasantries, whatever they are. I foolishly asked what time and she said 2pm. As a result of which I will be spectacularly rude and look at my phone throughout the meal.
Our winning run will end eventually and what better place than Stratford? comfortably the worst place I have ever been to in London, and it didn't include a visit to the stadium we all own.
1-1
-
So my Sister (with a favour for the Rags) is mercifully in Dubai over Christmas but has invited us to dinner on Sunday to exchange pleasantries, whatever they are. I foolishly asked what time and she said 2pm. As a result of which I will be spectacularly rude and look at my phone throughout the meal.
Our winning run will end eventually and what better place than Stratford? comfortably the worst place I have ever been to in London, and it didn't include a visit to the stadium we all own.
1-1
I lived in the environs of Stratford for 2 years as a student as the 80's became the 90's. The place is palatial now to what it was then, but still a sh*thole!!
-
So my Sister (with a favour for the Rags) is mercifully in Dubai over Christmas but has invited us to dinner on Sunday to exchange pleasantries, whatever they are. I foolishly asked what time and she said 2pm. As a result of which I will be spectacularly rude and look at my phone throughout the meal.
Our winning run will end eventually and what better place than Stratford? comfortably the worst place I have ever been to in London, and it didn't include a visit to the stadium we all own.
Stratford been a few times to Athletics etc.. thought it was pretty smart nowadays
1-1
I think Harlesden / Willsden was worst place in London I have been too. Long time ago mind.
-
Anything from the boss on players missing out
-
The worst place in London is Clapham, hands down. It's less a place than a gigantic propaganda exercise in the service of people with no imagination.
-
I like the Willesden / Harlesden area. I lived in Willesden for a bit when a student, my (favourite) son-in-law is from Harlesden and my wife was living in Stonebridge when we met.
-
Yep, nothing wrong with a bit of NW.
-
Anything from the boss on players missing out
Emi and Pau will be assessed after training tomorrow, hopeful they will make the squad and travel to London.
-
Absolutely Onana has to start. Same line-up as the Arsenal game. West Ham have physicality so we need to counter that. Kamara, Onana, Tielemans and McGinn to start.
For such a big lad he was easily brushed off the ball by Rice which led to the Arsenal goal. Buendia I expect will come off the bench.
-
Absolutely Onana has to start. Same line-up as the Arsenal game. West Ham have physicality so we need to counter that. Kamara, Onana, Tielemans and McGinn to start.
For such a big lad he was easily brushed off the ball by Rice which led to the Arsenal goal. Buendia I expect will come off the bench.
In fairness Rice is hardly a little bloke and currently one of the best DM's in the game
-
The worst place in London is Clapham, hands down. It's less a place than a gigantic propaganda exercise in the service of people with no imagination.
Plenty of imagination around Infernos in Clapham back in the day. Not so much on the playlist, mind.
-
The worst place in London is Clapham, hands down. It's less a place than a gigantic propaganda exercise in the service of people with no imagination.
Plenty of imagination around Infernos in Clapham back in the day. Not so much on the playlist, mind.
I can't comment on the dim and distant, but this century it's the Volkswagen Golf, the M&S ready meal, the Durham University, the Coldplay of London. Utterly dreadful.
-
Maybe someone can let Sky news know we're also playing. After yet another discussion about Mo Salah (will he won't he) they covered Spurzz and all the usual suspects and totally blanked us, the most in form team in the top five leagues in Europe. Wankers.
-
Our press conference is always the last one on a Friday, it gives them far less time to write the headlines and keeps us out of the news. Probably a strategic move by Emery et al to ensure we quietly go about out business and that a snippet of what he says isn't paraded all day.
-
1-1
-
0-2, the run continues
-
The worst place in London is Clapham, hands down. It's less a place than a gigantic propaganda exercise in the service of people with no imagination.
I never thought this would happen.
-
Hopefully Bowen has an off day against his future employer.
Win please.
-
I don’t mind a draw there as long as we smash manure in the next home match.
-
F365’s review is bang on and in line with my thoughts so I think a point will be good to consolidate top 4 position finish.
-
If it wasn't for Dave copying across their content regularly, I wouldn't know that F365 still exists but they've got a nice blend of humour and analysis. Reminds me of the "Fiver" Guardian daily emails. I had to unsubscribe a few years ago as I'd feel bad about missing a couple of days and never catching-up.
As for Clapham, I used to work there and have two brothers living close to it now. It's probably fine if you're 25 and Australian but it never sleeps, it just sucks the life out of me.
-
If it wasn't for Dave copying across their content regularly, I wouldn't know that F365 still exists but they've got a nice blend of humour and analysis. Reminds me of the "Fiver" Guardian daily emails. I had to unsubscribe a few years ago as I'd feel bad about missing a couple of days and never catching-up.
Same - I used to love The Fiver, but haven't read it in a decade now (I assume it's still going).
F365 is similar, about 15% of it is the funniest, most interesting, most well-written football stuff on the internet, buried deep inside the other 85% which is engagement farming slop about Arsenal and Liverpool.
But I guess the latter needs to pay for the former.
-
I expect a bit of Unai tinkering tomorrow - but mainly because of injuries
Lindelof for Torres and Bogarde will play with Tielemens. Can't see Onana starting 3 in a week
-
I think Maatsen has taken over as the left back now from Digne too - but there's loads of games left so both will get enough mins
-
They’ve only got 2 decent players Bowen and Paqueta and I believe Paqueta is out
However we are Aston Villa so we have a team that can beat top of the league Arsenal but also lose to the Eagles that like to go ahead, so as football is not an exact science anything is possible
1-2 to us in a scrappy stop start low on quality game
-
I think Maatsen has taken over as the left back now from Digne too - but there's loads of games left so both will get enough mins
Not so sure. More a horses for courses thing, though it’s true that Maatsen has raised his level over the past 4-5 games.
-
They’ve only got 2 decent players Bowen and Paqueta and I believe Paqueta is out
Unless he is injured hw could be playing as he only got a one match ban the other week which he has served.
-
Anthony Taylor is the ref tomorrow. No decision yet as to which side he'll be playing for but you can bet the house one group of fans will be furious with his performance come 4pm tomorrow afternoon.
-
Anthony Taylor is the ref tomorrow. No decision yet as to which side he'll be playing for but you can bet the house one group of fans will be furious with his performance come 4pm tomorrow afternoon.
Match Officials Mic'd Up: Was Jhon Duran's red card for Aston Villa against Newcastle the right decision by Anthony Taylor?
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13285062/match-officials-micd-up-was-jhon-durans-red-card-for-aston-villa-against-newcastle-the-right-decision-by-anthony-taylor (https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13285062/match-officials-micd-up-was-jhon-durans-red-card-for-aston-villa-against-newcastle-the-right-decision-by-anthony-taylor)
-
Can see this being a Leeds type performance and maybe 1-1 if Rogers isn't quite on it.
They'll be low block as usual and have dug out some decent away draws and beaten Newcastle in last six weeks.
Bowen is also quality and their main hope of staying up so I think Digne might come back in for this as Maatsen started plenty in recent times and I'd get him ready for Man. United game instead.
Pretty good looking at the table and seeing with us still to play Liverpool are four points off us despite winning. Shows how good our league form has been in last three months.
-
Anthony Taylor is the ref tomorrow. No decision yet as to which side he'll be playing for but you can bet the house one group of fans will be furious with his performance come 4pm tomorrow afternoon.
Match Officials Mic'd Up: Was Jhon Duran's red card for Aston Villa against Newcastle the right decision by Anthony Taylor?
He'll probably send Rogers off for "copying" Cole Palmer's goal celebration.
-
2-0 Villa, we need a good win and a dominating performance to get ready for the next massive Premiership game.
-
*BING BONG*
Bath Dave to the thread.
-
Anthony Taylor is the ref tomorrow. No decision yet as to which side he'll be playing for but you can bet the house one group of fans will be furious with his performance come 4pm tomorrow afternoon.
Match Officials Mic'd Up: Was Jhon Duran's red card for Aston Villa against Newcastle the right decision by Anthony Taylor?
He'll probably send Rogers off for "copying" Cole Palmer's goal celebration.
Anthony Taylor is a shithouse of a referee. Obviously does not like us,expect nothing from him.
-
With Man City having a potentially difficult 90 minutes at Palace and us playing a member of the bottom three everything is set up for Villa to shit the bed cos that's what we do. Please convince us that Villa Unai!
-
This game has all the makings of a disappointing end to our run - but hopefully that’s my natural pessimism!
-
With Man City having a potentially difficult 90 minutes at Palace and us playing a member of the bottom three everything is set up for Villa to shit the bed cos that's what we do. Please convince us that Villa Unai!
That's been said for the past six weeks. It hasn't happened.
-
Pau not playing. Martinez is
-
Pau not playing. Martinez is
Where has this been reported?
-
If Pau is not playing that’d be a huge blow.
-
With Man City having a potentially difficult 90 minutes at Palace and us playing a member of the bottom three everything is set up for Villa to shit the bed cos that's what we do. Please convince us that Villa Unai!
With respect a silly comment.
-
With Man City having a potentially difficult 90 minutes at Palace and us playing a member of the bottom three everything is set up for Villa to shit the bed cos that's what we do. Please convince us that Villa Unai!
Sooner or later, we're going to lose a game or come unstuck against a team we should be beating. It happens, it won't mean we've shit the bed.
-
Pau not playing. Martinez is
Where has this been reported?
It hasn't
-
Pau not playing. Martinez is
Where has this been reported?
It hasn't
Is this an official ITK?
-
Pau not playing. Martinez is
Where has this been reported?
It hasn't
Is this an official ITK?
We’ll soon find out
-
ITK….on H&V, I don’t believe it!
-
Only X rumours, but Pau, Emi & Youri all out.
-
Rumours always turn out to be true with us.
-
It's all Second Hand News anyway.
-
No.
-
There's never been anything on X that wasn't true.
-
Martinez and Pau out. Youri starts.
-
Martinez and Pau out. Youri starts.
Bollocks.
-
Only X rumours, but Pau, Emi & Youri all out.
At least one was wrong.
-
Beezer
Cash Ezri Lindy Digne
Bouba Amadou
McGinn Youri Rogers
Ollie
Bench
James Wright (Gk)
Garcia
Maatsen
Bogarde
Hemmings
Emi B
Guessand
The Don
Sancho.
Presuming that Dibu and Pau are still injured and that Elliott’s spending the afternoon Christmas shopping at Westfield Stratford City Shopping Mall