The last cup final of the season is now upon us as Villa look to return to Europe for the first time in 13 years. No one would’ve dreamed of it back in October. But staring down the threat of a relegation battle, the owners took decisive action and replaced Steven Gerrard with Unai Emery. He rewarded them with a top-half finish—and maybe more.
Many are saying it’s a Manager of the Year performance, and I wouldn’t disagree. The transformation has been remarkable. The fact that there’s still more to play for today is incredible.
On the day, it’s Brighton who stand in the way. Emery’s been extremely complimentary of the visitors, as well he should. They played good football under Potter, and it’s only gotten better under di Zerbi. If any team points the way for Villa, and the Other 14 in general, it’s Brighton. But, given their exertions and having already punched their first European ticket, Villa ought to have the motivational edge. A packed Villa Park can’t hurt. If the team can go to a raucous Anfield with Liverpool having everything to play for and come away with a draw to stay in the hunt, they’ve got it in their locker.
Elsewhere, you’ve all read the permutations. Brentford could beat City and leapfrog us with a draw or loss. Spurs could do the same. So really, it’s best to just focus on winning. If it comes down to the other complexities as the afternoon wears on, we’ll bite our nails then.
We’ve had some great results, turned over for no one. The power of positive aspiration has been on full display and Emery has put some pride back in the club. I’ve no doubt he’ll have engineered a plan for success today, it will just come down to the players wanting it.
Come what may, it’s been a season to remember and one that may very well herald a new era at Villa Park. I’ve really enjoyed it, and I’m guessing Unai has, too.
Over to you.
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 77
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Get in, Dougie
And Ollie. Nice from Bailey and Ramsey there for the tap-in.
Could Bailey finally be starting to become good?
Ramsey having a really good game so far.
Poor ref,nothing wrong with mings tackle
Cash is having a mare,should have cleared the ball instead of letting Brighton attack
Brighton goalscorer is some player
JG…very talented team, Brighton. Enciso defo one to watch.
That was quite a half…Brighton defo not at the beach, more petulant than I’ve seen them.
Bailey had that really nice ball for Ramsey, but man…I guess I’d have a different view if his shot hadn’t been deflected onto the crossbar. But he gives the ball away so much, never seems to stick with him.
Nothing new as far as criticism of him, but you can see why we’re so heavily reliant on the left side.
Midfield needs to tighten up and shut the through balls out at source. Clearly they have looked at our offside tactics.
I guess we should be grateful that the last game of the season actually matters and is so tense?
Agreed, MK. That high line is nerve-wracking at times. Like today.
JG, the question for me was whether Mings had committed a foul or not. . .certainly wasn’t considering whether it might be a yellow
Mark, yes they are exploiting our highland, but we’ve been playing it in the last dozen or so games where we’ve only conceded 7 goals. . . .they are doing it better than most though!
high line
JC. . .’petulant’ . . .good word to describe them Macalister. . super player, but what a whinger
Credit to Brighton playing with this level of energy
Can’t count on anything from this ref can we ?
Robbo
At this stage we safely say we r getting nothing from this clown
A goal would save what’s left of my nails
Young for cash
Only change I would make
Beundi has to work harder
Brilliant
Emery is God number2 after mcgrath what a hero
They stayed tough, fought for every ball…deserved.
And to keep Spurs out makes it even sweeter.
JG…Emery, just masterful.
Certainly does JC
Ramsay is a superstar in the making
Looks like JJ’s ready to take that step up, JG. Playing with more awareness and confidence.
There have been a few excellent managerial performances this season.
Arteta continues to help Arsenal progress
Howe takes Newcastle into Europe
De Zerbi taking Brighton to Europe playing super football
Surely no manager deserves it as much as Emery though?
From relegation strugglers to Europe and if only we hadn’t had to endure Gerrard for a dozen games we could well have been in the top 4.
And this with almost exactly the same squad.
Can’t praise the man enough. Not just for the football we are now playing and the results we’ve achieved, bit also the way he has conducted himself.
Well played Unai Emery. Now give yourself just a bit of a break eh . . . You’ve earned it
JC, you’re right, taking the place from Spurs is sweet.
Kane goes yet another season winning nothing and after his dive to win a penalty at Villa Park, maybe that’s how it should be.
Having said that, surely it’s time for him to move on, and with Son having also gone off the boil, no wonder they’re struggling to find a new manager.
Pleased to see Everton survive. Always see them as a proper club. . . a bit like us.
Sorry that Dean Smith wasn’t quite able to keep Leicester up although I wouldn’t have minded seeing Lineker’s face at full time.
Thank goodness Ramsey’s missed goal didn’t cost us. . . . would have been so unjust for that to be playing on his mind all summer
Thank fcuk for Gérard, only he was that bad we never would have got emery
Frem will be frothing at the mouth with all transfer speculation
Indeed, r0bb0.
Maybe he’s had better games, not sure, but I think today was the best 90 I can remember from him.
Now I’m really curious about the window, JG.
If we play our way into the conference proper, we’re going to need more bodies to progress in the league. So hard making the leap from where we are to where we want to be.
I’m expecting a fair bit of activity is what I’m saying, and today should’ve made it just that bit easier for Emery to get some targets.
A big shout out to Watkins too. A dozen goals in the second half of the season and only 5 short of the magic twenty despite having to suffer under Gerrard (as most of our players did).
Not bad for a useless, hopeless idiot eh? (No true villa fan would have accused one of their own players of being those things would they?)
JC. . . .not just easier (hopefully) for Emery to land his targets, but an extra little incentive for any wavering players to consider whether they may actually win something at Aston Villa.
Consider that Kane has won bugger all at Spurs, and I reckon there aren’t too many better options than us in the Premier league right now .
THE VILLA BOYS FROM ASTON………WE TRAVEL NEAR AND FAR……
What an end to the season. Tremendous effort from everyone. VP was thunderous. Then nervous. Finally deafening.
Congratulations to Compass. The 5 year plan to reach Europe has been achieved. If you’d mentioned that at Craven Cottage I’d have split my sides laughing and called the psychiatrist’s number for you. Congratulations to the playing squad but most of all, congratulations to Unai and his staff. Master coach
I have to commend Brighton. They weren’t on the beach but fighting all the way. A real contest. We had our chances to extend the lead, but couldn’t take them.
The beers are flowing. The celebrations have started. Ramsey my MOM but don’t like singling out 1 man when they all contributed.
We are going to need some additional players for next season. Unai already knows this. As a mere serf, I’ll watch with interest what transpires.
That’s Chelsea and Spurs finishing below us. I am one happy bunny. We might have slipped 2 places today and that would have cost us about £6 million in lost income not to mention the money that we can now earn in Europe. This is important if we want to carry on progressing next term.
I’m totally exhilarated. Spurs cannot get a manager from anywhere. They’re all rejecting them. Levy’s reputation has caught up with him. Kane will sling his hook. Or leave for free this time next year. He won’t be signing any new contract. De Zerbi is mad if he considers going there.
robB0, Lineker’s face will be as long as a train. I also thought the Brighton players were in the ref’s face from the off. Not like them. It was obviously part of their plan.
There’s a photo on the official site of Nassef, Wes and Unai walking around the pitch at the end of the game. These are the men.
Just seen some ‘guru’ (im being kind) on another site saying that Ollie won’t lead the line next season because he can’t score 20 goals a season.
Fuck me, I hope the plonker has been celebrating and was drunk, ’cause I’m struggling to find an excuse for him otherwise.
Firstly, only 3 players have scored 20 goals this season. I don’t know where this magic ’20 goals needed a season from top strikers’ came from but armchair fans don’t seem to realise just how few players actually achieve it once and how vanishingly small a number of players do it in consecutive seasons.
Last season only Son and Salah hit this arbitrary target and the season before, only Kane and Salah. So in the past 3 seasons, only Salah has passed the ‘guru’s target in consecutive seasons. . . not even Kane has done it.
The season before, 4 players achieved it but Kane and Salah weren’t two of them.
Secondly, in the second half of the season, Ollie has scored 12 goals, so but for Gerrards poor management, Ollie may well have hit this seriously difficult 20 goals in a season.
It’s likely that we will bring in another striker over the summer and I hope we do, but not because Ollie isn’t up to it. We need another striker because it’s too risky to rely so heavily on just Ollie!
r0bb0
Hope you haven’t been chasing Harry Johnstone on TVB. They got rid of him pretty sharpish ‘cos he wouldn’t pay the rent to live in their heads.
I spoke to a Leicester lady last night who refused to blame Rodgers, she said an old squad and lack of investment did for them ( a warning there for us moving on). I wanted Leicester to stay up for my brothers kids who live there, they are 3 an 5 but also have Everton supporting friends, either way a startling season when all three of the new arrivals survive. at least two should of had no chance whatsoever. Wonder what the next three will do?
Southampton who were considered to be the model club on how to survive and make money have been eclipsed by Brighton. Everton have thrown millions at it and barely survived and Leicester ex league winners petered out.
Forest spent more than we did 1st season and ended up higher after looking dead in the water. Unai did very well but I can’t even name forests manager let alone the players, he has to be in with a shout for manager of the season. Could say the same for Fulham and Bournemouth’s.
As for Unai’s contribution you only have to look at the number of players in with a chance of Player of the season. Under Gerrard you wouldn’t have picked your nose but Under Unai they were lining up. what’s superb is the adherence and application of the game plan and that it works most games. We will see moving forward how long that lasts and what we do about it. I suspect the new arrivals with say more about this than we can speculate. My hopes as usual are that we can use some of the talent we have already over huge outlay having proven that the talent seen by others in bringing them in actually was real just not realised (that may also have been partially time and experience plus coaching)
The High line is like a game of chicken, Brighton had men making dummy runs in the hope one of ours would follow letting the late runner in by a whisker, Takes discipline and good refing to pull off, VAR can be a great help in this as its so inaccurate but slanted to the defenders cause usually.
Mark, the comment about the number of potential player of the year contenders is a good one. It’s hard to find a player who ‘hasn’t’ performed under Unai. For me, the standout improver has been John McGinn (and yes, it was hard not to say Ollie). He is the perfect example of how important human empathy is in a manager. Gerrard made an example of Mings (presumably to show that he was the boss?), publicly stripped him of the captaincy and gave it to McGinn. Imagine receiving the captaincy under those circumstances. He then had no real plan on how to use McGinn. . . or any other player come to that. McGinn is now back to his very best and would be more than worth the £50m that was touted a few years ago
Mark, I’m sure the high line makes us all nervous and it seems remarkable that teams have not been able to break it on a regular basis.
It’s a bit like the playing out from the back, which has been so hard to watch, imagining that we’re going to be caught out every time (and indeed we were a few times)
The fact is though that we’ve only conceded 8 goals in the last 14 games. Its hard to imagine that opposing managers haven’t noticed our high line, so there must be something about the way that Emery is coaching the players that makes it effective, despite our worst fears as fans. I guess a key part of that is that we have Emi as a last line of defence. Yesterday he proved again how effective he is and that must also play on the minds of opposing attackers, who know that their shot has to be pin point accurate to get past him.
Will managers start to work it out next season. . . . .time will tell, but if it remains effective, it won’t be because VAR “is so inaccurate”.
. . . . and now the transfer speculation will really ramp up.
Good to hear Emi shouted ‘LET’S GO TO EUROPE, VILLA!’ down the microphone at the end.
. . . . not what you’d do if you were thinking of leaving?
I’m still on fire. That was some afternoon. My ears are still ringing.
The high line debate will rumble on. We are not the only team that deploys it, but we probably have it down to the most technically correct of them all. Breaching it sounds easy, but timing the run and delivery has to be perfect, not almost perfect. You need the right players who are able to play it. I did not think our back 4 fell into such a category but Unai has welded them into shape.
As Mark says, dummy runs to trip the straight line are employed. The line has to be disciplined to combat it. And yes, it is never going to 100% watertight, nothing ever is, so we’ll just have to keep scoring at the other end.
What the high line does achieve is compression of the game into approx one third of the pitch. It means players are closer together, less gaps in midfield and alternative passing options increase. Speed of thought and accuracy of passing become essential. Add pace in the right areas and oh dude……
r0bb0,
re Ollie: context is everything, thanks for providing some.
Not sure what the Duran project will yield, guessing Emery will take a good look over the summer. Sort of just occurred to me, but as a ‘bargain’ buy for cover, Duran physically fits the Watkins mould: tall, strong, rangy and fast. Would’ve been a like-for-like replacement for the most part in terms of the team’s mechanics.
Seems like Archer’s done enough to warrant a good look, as well.
Anyway, that’s the three we have. I can see Emery wanting another one in, especially if we’re taking all the competitions seriously, and depending on how Duran and Archer get on in the summer.
But to your larger point, we do need goals from elsewhere. All teams do. Most important going forward, the Bailey position has to produce, along with Ramsey, McGinn, Luiz (who have done).
MK,
Without VAR, Brighton’s first would’ve stood, so yeah, it does help. May not agree with all the criteria, but at least offside is easy enough to determine.
Plug, r0bb0, MK…high line in general:
There are days (like when we tonked Pool) when teams will get in behind. The right run and right pass…you’re in. But our lot have done a really good job adapting.
Mings has been a good leader, being vocal, keeping everyone focused. He and Konsa have got their positioning just right. It’s usually a FB that will break the line just for being further away. Cash, who was having a torrid time with both Enciso and Mitoma, was definitely very concerned about being beaten. Not sure if it was him or Digne who played Undav onside, but Cash was turned and primed to follow the run.
But it does compress the pitch like Plug says and gives support to high pressure and possession/recycling, so you’re basically saying “this is how you have to score on us.” Once Villa have a lead, Emery pulls it back a bit, especially 2nd half.
He seemed happy to let the side go chasing for more after 2-0, but 2nd half at 2-1, we went to the now familiar defense-first setup, dropped deeper, let Brighton have more of the ball, kept it all in front of us, and said, “Now break this down, instead.”
Definitely how Emery likes to play. Coaches will obviously see that, but you can see the weakness in any side/set-up. Taking advantage is the trick.
Against Villa, you’re thinking you don’t want us to score first. Building a team that can win 1-0 with regularity and by design is monumental in terms of grinding out results.
(Points all of you made)
Plug,
Spurs and Chelsea finishing behind us: Massive. I assume Chelsea will get their act together because they simply have too much talent to stay that poor. But Spurs? Just the wrong environment all round, and there’ll be a LOT of questions after getting pipped by us coming up from the wrong end.
What was impressive yesterday was the “match or better the results” scenario and Villa being pushed to win and doing it. They would’ve known the scores in the other games, and they held firm.
Doing the double over Brighton is no mean feat, especially when they had nothing to lose and seemed to have a real edge about them for whatever reason. They really wanted to win that one.
Robbo by inaccurate I mean they use a line that Rolf Harris would be proud of when painting with a decorators brush. What I am sure aids us at home is the cut of the grass, I would bet that it’s very much part of how Unai teaches the high line. The Var people cannot help but see that too when checking. I suspect Unai has said there is no blame just hold that line and press the ball in midfield the keeper will do the rest and our defenders are no slouches. Helps that most of the speedsters are on the wings these days.
So to beat it I’d look to play the ball in wide behind our full back and hope to pull back to onrushing players before we recover.
I am happy to play that way I’ve done it enough in games to know it takes complete faith in your team mates, I bet they hammer the shuttle runs at the training ground though.
I once played in a game where we lost a man early to the leagues best side. We were unlikely to win anyway so I pushed the defence into midfield and dropped back myself , the forward followed and they just kept playing it in behind as I constantly stepped up, the linesman had to have shoulder surgery. Took them 85 mins to score. Most of the time I could see the runner and the pass so judged wether to step or just win the foot race.
Still buzzing, Europe opens a new world and guess a few new players
Cash was rusty yesterday got a skinning in the 1st half,was slightly out of line for goal but then he has been injured fir a lengthy spell I am sure emery preseason will make or break him
Digne was excellent yesterday with all cames we need 2 for every positions
So good to finish above spurs
My best and sincere wishes to Ashley Young as he departs VP. He’s been an exceptional player for us this term. I hope he is able to find a great coaching position somewhere. Thanks for everything Ash.
Hello fellow Lifers, have you been walking around with a disbelieving grin for months now? Forget SG, to think we were in the Championship a while ago and survived on the final day of our first season up. Maybe the powers that be finally decided that we need some good times as Villa fans.
Not that we got here by luck but we got a manager like Emery seems to be unbelievable. I would love to hear the vision they sold him to join us when we were at 16th. Next year will be hard, not everything will go to plan but I hope us fans trust the process and plan.
Sorry to see Young go, they should have given him a better send off on the final day. Expecting to see a few sales plus investment to bulk up the squad. No way Cash will be the number 1, Martinez may be poached, upgrade on Bailey would be priorities. The relegated teams all have good players, though Emery may have his own plans. Are these Asensio rumours credible?
Exciting times, UTV!
Watched the Europa Cup final last night. It was a tough watch. From the first whistle, both teams contested every throw in, foul, goal kick, corner and off side. Simulation was everywhere. Not appeals, but in the officials faces every time. Mourinho gave a shameful performance ranting and raving continually. Uefa need to take serious action with some lengthy bans for the players and coaches concerned whether they were carded or not.
Plug, couldn’t agree more. It bemuses me that football authorities are so incompetent/impotent when it comes to taking a grip of the rules of the game in ways which seem obvious to many football fans.
Rugby is of course the example that can so easily be held up to show that it IS possible to control players. I know that it’s harder to get a grip on something that is already out of control than to maintain an already positive position, but abuse of officials really has gone too far now.
There are some worthwhile trials taking place at lower levels of the game: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65752659
but the example is being set at. the top of the game and surely it just needs referees to start enforcing rules more rigorously. Advise the clubs that anyone other than the captain speaking to the referee will be booked and a second yellow will still result in a red card. Players will soon get the message. If players prevent feee kicks or throw ins being taken, book them. . .I’m sick of it, ad yes I know we do it at least as much as any other team . . . .it still pisses me off.
Maybe there needs to be a sin bin for certain offences instead of permanent sending off but for goodness sake, get a grip
I thought this was an interesting article, particularly because it goes against the flow of much recent comment about Leon Bailey:
https://www.astonvillanews.co.uk/2023/06/02/aston-villa-ace-leon-bailey-ready-to-explode-next-season-goal-creation-stats-do-not-tell-full-story/
he’s a player that I’m sure all of us would ‘like’ to see prove his worth but he has certainly blown hot and cold so far. If you read of his background, it gives even more reason to ‘want’ him to succeed, and I’d love the substance of this article to be borne out next season.
If anyone can bring it out of him, I suspect we all believe that Emery is the man to do it!
r0bb0,
I’ve certainly been a critic, but I never want to see any player fail…If Bailey’s showing more in training, enough for Emery to keep faith, I’ll be happy if he finds himself. Seems like a good guy, seems like the rest of the squad like him. And it’s really hard to know just what a player has in his locker when he’s ‘struggling’ in matches.
Not convinced by the stats quoted, though. I’d expect anyone in that position to have a decent xA and some long carries.
What puzzles me about him is how often he loses possession. He has to have better quality on the ball than he generally shows.
But like you, and I guess virtually all of us right now, I trust Emery’s judgment.
Good to see you, Villalore.
I know I’ve been walking around feeling like we’ve won something. Can’t wait to see what Emery does next.
And yes, next season will be hard.
It is sad to see Ash go…maybe they’ll do something for him next season. I’d wondered if perhaps joining the staff in some capacity might’ve been a possibility.
Did a fabulous job for us, contributed in a lot of ways. Not the future, though, and like you say, don’t know that Cash is either. If I’m right about his system, I’m thinking Emery wants more of a shutdown defender on that side.
JC, I think most on here have been a critic of Bailey at one time or another, but on the other hand, most have seen flashes of something very good. As has been said before (possibly by me), this is typical of so many wingers, who often tend to be put out wide from an early age because of their speed rather than their skill levels or game awareness.
By many accounts, Bailey is an individual who is self critical and prepared to work hard to improve and I can’t help having a soft spot for players like that. I know sentiment can’t come into it though and Emery doesn’t strike me as a sentiment driven manager. . . . he wants, and expects results, so we can be pretty sure that if Bailey stays, it’s because Emery has seen something good in him and believes that Leon will be able to show it more consistently with a bit more time and coaching.
. . . I do hope so.
As the rumours exit the mill with increasing frequency, it will be hard not to become disappointed by the inevitable lack of signings of exciting players we’ve been linked with.
Back in January there was a general sense of concern that we were leaving ourselves too thin on the ground. . . . but look what happened!
Emery seemed unwilling to compromise on players who were ‘nearly’ right and that takes self confidence and a strong nerve.
I’m in the back yard kicking an empty beer can around and enjoying the sun whilst wondering when we might hear some news about incoming players. Spud’s infamous words are ringing in my ears….”nothing happens in June”. Except we get our signings done early.
I’ve just read a report suggesting that Spurs are ‘eyeing up a move for Ollie Watkins’.
I mention this, not to question whether it might be true, but to question just how shallow some ‘reporters are.
We all know ‘it’s all about the clicks’, but at least do a little bit of work and try and put together a story that has a ‘ring’ of truth about it.
The article also mentions Man United and at least that would represent a step up for Ollie and a chance to play for another manager who seems more than capable of developing players, but right now, I don’t see him going anywhere.
I’m trying to think which players ‘might’ look to move on to ‘advance their careers (or pay packets), but am struggling to find any obvious candidates at the moment.
Can you?
Yep it’s true RObB0, the majority of stories relating to player movements are click bait as you say. Sad reporting of the poorest kind.
Players at VP are managed/coached by an elite coach who’s up there with the best of them. Footballers looking to improve their game, need not look anywhere else. Players are well known though for their greed and a big carrot dangled in front of them usually works even if it’s a step down in footballing terms.
Sometimes players move through no fault of their own. If a club receives an offer and wishes to take the money, they have no choice but to get on their bikes. Aka Ings. Alternatively, players reading the runes might not like what they see and would not wish to play second fiddle to an incoming signing. Aka Targett.
In Villa’s case, Unai will only sell on players surplus to requirements. Incoming signings will be improvements on existing personnel but not necessarily leading to anyone’s demise. We just need a more capable squad given the additional matches expected next season. Closing the gap on Citeh will take a little longer than 2 transfer windows.
Transfer rumours, they put Bruce to shame about incoming and outgoing
What we need,honestly every player is replaceable, but for me a right back and someone to play right-wing is urgent, then it’s getting strength in depth
Things moving slowly or stationary on the transfers front. Whatever Unai does with player movements, I’m onboard and supportive. But I’m intrigued to know what he’ll do with Archer and/or Duran. Will Duran go out on loan? Will he loan or sell Archer?
What about Bertie? Will he be sold? Same question about Couts. What will he do with Tim and Aaron?
And who will we meet in the qualifying round in Europe? At the moment we’re not seeded and could therefore meet Juventus. But amongst other permutations, if Viborg win Friday night and Fenerbahce win Sunday, we’ll be seeded too.
Well, now that we’ve turned to transfers, I’ve finally put a silly season page up.