11 Points and Back Across the Channel
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
3w ago
The weekend was good for Villa: They took care of their own business, and City did, too, the two results pushing Villa’s cushion to sixth back up to 11 points. Not insignificant at this stage of the season. And then of course it’s Ajax on Thursday to recommence our European campaign after a much-needed break. So first off, let’s stop and take that in: Villa are fourth in the League, and playing Ajax in the elimination rounds of the Conference League. Sounds a bit like the sort of scenario we’ve been dreaming of returning to for god knows how many years. First, the league. Others have gone thro ..read more
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Luton vs Aston Villa: They’ve Gotten Better
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
3w ago
While not exactly cranking out the wins, Luton Town have started making it very hard going to play against them. So here we are, the proverbial banana skin that isn’t really a banana skin because every manager will tell you there are no easy games. Doesn’t mean there aren’t games that break wide open for you, or those where the opponent is committed to having a poor day. But by and large, there aren’t any matches you can bank as wins without expecting to be challenged. For Villa on the day, this is simply about whether they’re once again up for the desperation of the danger zone as the season ..read more
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Aston Villa vs Forest: Time to Start Another Streak
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
1M ago
It’s Forest who come calling at Villa Park today desperately in need of points. Villa are almost equally desperate for points to stay ahead of Spurs and United in the race for Europe. Would be a good time to resume normal service under Unai Emery at Villa Park. There are, at most, 13 games standing between us and the dream scenario of finally clinching a Champions League finish. There are also four games standing between Villa and European silverware. So. 17 games. But maybe not quite that many if Villa can rediscover their home form. We’ve seen the various breakdowns about what we probably ne ..read more
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Villa’s Big Week
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
1M ago
With the FA Cup replay Wednesday, and a chance to put 11 points between them and United on Sunday, Villa picked a good time to rediscover their mojo at Bramall Lane. It could’ve been a much less ebullient occasion, but Emery & Co look to have learned a little bit from a string of disappointing if not tragic results, especially against the bottom-half clubs who’ve taken to parking the bus. Sorry ‘playing a low block’. Why five goals? Villa played it forward quicker, finding Ollie and Bailey in space instead of letting The Blades get set. That’s what they’ve needed to do, and they went out a ..read more
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Aston Villa vs. Newcastle: Something Has to Give, Right?
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
2M ago
We’re back to the league, with up-and-coming panto villains Saudi Arabia Upon Tyne visiting to continue what’s become an interesting bellwether fixture among the Other 14. And naturally, we’ve got streaks on both sides that point to very different things. Bottom line, based on last season, Villa are overperforming while Newcastle are doing the opposite. I hear about injuries and the like, but I don’t think the toon have had it any worse than Villa in terms of impact to the overall quality and size of the squad. So, do Villa continue their torrid run of home form, or do Newcastle end their away ..read more
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FA Cup: Chelsea-Villa and Priorities
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
2M ago
This break thing has been a bit weird. No football, more injury setbacks. And now it’s down to London and Stamford Bridge to play a 4th-round FA Cup tie for the first time in ages. Probably not the worst thing, in the end, even if Unai has made it clear it’s not Villa’s top priority. Judging from his comments, seems a little bit of gamesmanship going on implying it’s more important for Chelsea, which is kind of a new twist from him. Thing is, he’s in a funny spot. Doesn’t really have many choices other than his best available XI at the moment, so he and Villa have to take this game, if not the ..read more
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FA Cup: Do Villa Really Care?
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
2M ago
Here we are traveling to the Riverside to take on Middlesboro and try to avoid a slightly embarrassing record of FA Cup exits. I’d think that in itself would spur Emery on. But obviously, how seriously Villa take the competition has to be viewed in a larger context. The most common sentiment I see is that a majority of fans (maybe a slim one), see the domestic cups as a manageable path to glory and want Villa to take both of them seriously. And now we only have the one to worry about. I completely understand. A 67-year drought in the FA Cup is a bit sobering, and I know everyone would be over ..read more
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Aston Villa vs Manchester City: Ready for Primetime?
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
4M ago
It’s City, finally, and a funny time to be playing them given their recent form and the 3-3 draw with Spurs. They’re not at their best and they need a win, never mind the three points. For Villa, it’s inevitably going to be seen as a referendum on both our aspirations and quality. Anytime you’re an outsider dancing around the top 4, well, there are going to be questions until you notch a signal victory. Is tonight the night? No idea. It’s why I don’t bet or make predictions. I’m terrible at them, even if I have pretty good gut feelings. In Emery’s presser, the stakes were clearly addressed, al ..read more
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Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw: UECL Group Throwdown
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
4M ago
So, real quick from me as I’m hitting the road and will miss the match in real time. Should be able to catch a replay. But, that’s not the important thing. Legia have become Villa’s clear rivals to top the group. Winning the group isn’t everything, but it does avoid an extra high-stakes fixture and minutes on the players’ legs. Legia of course shocked Villa in Warsaw, and have proven to be a tough, disciplined outfit. Tonight’s match may not ending up being a thing of beauty, but Villa will most certainly want to avenge the away-leg defeat and put themselves on course to close out the group. N ..read more
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Spurs vs Villa: Tough Stretch Looms
Aston Villa Life | Living and Breathing Aston Villa Football Club
by John Clark
4M ago
Villa travel to London a little banged up from international duties for what is turning out to be a fairly significant match at this point in the season. After today’s results, Villa could leapfrog Spurs into fourth, just two points off the top. It’s pretty remarkable, but I’m not too worried about that just yet. It’s a long season and being here now doesn’t mean we will be at the end. However, keeping up is the name of the game if you do want to be there, and when you’re at this end of the table, you have to just keep getting results. It’s the teams just behind us I’m paying more attention to ..read more
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