Press-ing fourth

[dave.woodhall]

Next.

https://thebirminghampress.com/2025/10/aston-villa-and-the-easy-way/

[eamonn]

Bimey, Mr Woodhall and VillaOnTour both turning around match review content within a handful of hours. Have a rest, lads.

[Legion]

Done.

[ChicagoLion]

Its a real pity that we have the International Break, you can see we are getting both co-ordination and momentum.

[darren woolley]

Great read Dave.

[dave.woodhall]

Great read Dave.

Always a pleasure Daz.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Excellent summary Mr Woodhall.
UTV

[dorsetvillian]

It's been a big turn around after the first 5 or six games. Hopefully with players staying fit and a gradual introduction of the newer players we can continue the good run. Unai definitely has options to change and rotate, play different systems.

[eamonn]

Its a real pity that we have the International Break, you can see we are getting both co-ordination and momentum.

Yes, as mentioned, Dave's columns are put together at lightning speed at the moment. Hopefully he comes back with the same form after the internationals.

[LeeB]

Good piece Dave, in contrast to the bluenose whose efforts feel like he's forced to write them at gunpoint.

[tomd2103]

It's been a big turn around after the first 5 or six games. Hopefully with players staying fit and a gradual introduction of the newer players we can continue the good run. Unai definitely has options to change and rotate, play different systems.

Agree and it's starting to look more settled after a challenging start.  The back four and two central midfielders in front of them has started to look a lot stronger, even though we we've been missing some key squad players in midfield. 

Bizot has been a good addition so far and I think Lindelof could turn out to be a shrewd signing as the season progresses, particularly in Europe.  We still look light at RB, with Garcia not really looking like a dependable back-up to Matty Cash at this point.  Torres has been good since he returned to the side and has worked well with Konsa, even though we are still conceding frustrating goals.  Kamara and McGinn have been excellent in central midfield in recent weeks and Bogarde is progressing well.  Having Tielemans, Onana and Barkley back in contention makes that look a strong area.

Onto the attacking side and after of a few weeks of wondering where the goals were going to come from, we've been scoring quite freely.  It's still tempting to think how things would look if we still had the additional quality of Rashford and Asensio in the squad, but we haven't.  Wide right, number 10 and competition for Ollie Watkins still remain the areas that I believe heavy investment in, along with a little tightening up at the back, would see us be in regular top four contention or possibly better.  The new additions we do have in those positions have shown glimpses, but are going to need time.

So things are looking a lot more positive going into this latest break.  Climbing in the league and set for what looks like another interesting European adventure.

[dave.woodhall]

Good piece Dave, in contrast to the bluenose whose efforts feel like he's forced to write them at gunpoint.

He does them as a favour to me so I'll never criticise him.