19 Aug 2026 15:15:57
Refresh the squad is understandable, suicidal wholesale changes is suicidal. We all know how our season started last year, the difference to this year we had the quality to change things, I genuinely think that we don't have this option this season if, as I think, we will struggle and I'm worried that we get off to a poor start.
19 Aug 2026 16:39:07
If we get more than 1 point & 1 goal scored in our 1st 5 games this season then that's an improvement on last season. ??♂️
UTV.
19 Aug 2026 17:13:28
Scott, we have all known for a long time we needed a refresh in our squad. Players wanting to leave, ie Konsa, Digne, are not down to Emery or anybody else in the club; they have all given a few good years' service and got us our 1st bit of silverware in 33 years. As I said last year, it was imperative to qualify for CL. Imagine if we hadn't now?
Most people on here were crying out for an overhaul of players, we are doing it now and I expect it will take 2 years for us to be at a level where we can compete again for honours.
Unfortunately, that's the way the cookie crumbles with the likes of us and Newcastle. But I remember 1 word that Marines said, and this sticks out in my mind: whilst we have Emery as our manager, Believe!
UTV.
19 Aug 2026 17:34:02
I'm with you, Daz. I think this year the transition will be difficult, and qualifying for European football may well be beyond us, but Unai will get it right given time. We just have to be patient.
19 Aug 2026 18:09:02
I agree to a certain extent with both of you. Call it spoilt with success, which it obviously was, and it will be difficult to struggle with if it does take the couple of seasons that's referred to.
It's well known that Villa fans can be fickle and impatient, and I think there will be unrest if things don't go well this season, let alone two years.
19 Aug 2026 19:01:29
We've all to some degree wanted to buy loads of players, but when we do, we moan about losing the players that they're likely to replace, leaving, we can only pick 11 players + subs. What do you do? ??♂️ Manzambi is a replacement for Rogers, Gomes for Tielemans, Garnacho for Sancho (bit-part player at best), Ruggeri for Digne, AWB for a non existent back up or replacement for Cash, Suzuki for Emi, & Allyson, Madjo, Cisse, & most importantly of all, Kamara is back.
Buendia was arguably our best player back end of the season. Konsa has gone, replace him; Ollie goes, replace him; & the kids have shown promise, so no worries there. There's been moaning about injuries, we're not gonna be alone with getting injuries, & that evens itself out over a season. Said it before, we're gonna be ok. ??
UTV.
19 Aug 2026 20:40:47
Hope we don't sign Tosin from Chelsea or Axel disaster!
19 Aug 2026 20:56:02
I agree with some of the above. The one I definitely don't agree with is Gomes being a replacement for Tielemans. Gomes is a destroyer; Tielemans was great at taking the ball off the back four, driving into the final third, and playing a decisive pass that isn't Gomes' game.
In fact, the one concern I have about the transfer business we have done is we haven't targeted a Tielemans-like player to replace him.
19 Aug 2026 21:11:42
Scott, like, ne, you travel over land and sea, it just makes you appreciate the good times more. We are gonna be piss poor this season, and we are gonna be like prime Barcelona. It's the way of the world. I'm currently in Cyprus, and I've never seen so many Villa tips in all my life.
19 Aug 2026 21:49:17
Mings, why should we target a Tielemans type player? Does that mean we should go for a Rogers type player to replace Rogers & so on? We've bought 'different'. Manzambi is more dynamic than Rogers (from what I've seen). A midfield 2 of Gomes & Kamara, I can see Kamara being more creative/attacking if let off the leash. I can see, as a whole team, that we're gonna be more attacking, kind of like in the Europa final.
As for replacing Konsa, I've watched a lot of YouTube & read articles on Keba Cisse. I think we have our replacement already, he's quality; just cos we didn't pay stupid money for him doesn't mean he won't step up. (how much did SJM cost us again?) Also think Ruggerri can cover Pau & Mings too. & Bogarde is still around, not a world beater, but coming into his peak years soon, so might get better.
UTV.
19 Aug 2026 23:14:02
Because in Rogers and Tielemans we have lost two of our most creative talents, Manzambi is young and will need time to get used to the league, and I'm not sure who else will replace those numbers. Chance creation is neither Kamara's nor Gomes' strength.
20 Aug 2026 07:45:07
If we win to nil, then Kamara & Gomes have done their job. Those 3 points are just as important as being creative, and chances/goals should be spread amongst the team. But, most importantly of all, a 20 goal+ No9 is the difference; if we have 1 of them we'll be sorted. ??
UTV.