04 Sep 2026 12:33:35
I'm sure Emery will tell us why he has left Madjo and Harwood Bellis out of Champions League squad. Reading Bellis, one of the reasons for joining Villa, was his dream of playing in the Champions League must feel like a kick in the teeth.
There are a couple of circumstances where he could still play. On the face of it, it seems like a cruel way to treat a newbie. Emery has form in some of his controversial, questionable decisions, but he is the boss.
04 Sep 2026 13:22:15
Bellis didn't register in time with UEFA. Not sure on circumstances with Madjo, but I'm sure there is one.
04 Sep 2026 15:12:12
Daz, I have checked. It was definitely Villa's choice, not UEFA. Read the following press release: "Aston Villa deliberately left Taylor Harwood-Bellis out of their UEFA Champions League squad."
"He did not sign too late. All clubs submitted their final List A squad entries to UEFA on September 3, 2026 following the close of the summer transfer window." Definitely a kick in the teeth.
04 Sep 2026 19:47:10
Emery has spoken and he did leave the two of them out. Don't accept his reasons. A youngster who is only injured at the moment is a feeble excuse, and I don't understand his reason for Bellis. I'm sure some of the players will feel like me, completely disappointed at how a new signing that we paid big money for is totally excluded.
I hope Emery has regrets with his decision down the line. Potential future signings will take a view on how Bellis has been treated, and I would think he's never going to do that to me, I'm out.
04 Sep 2026 19:52:34
Can only register 23 players, so some had to miss out. By the sounds of it, THB missed out because he was the last to sign and we have enough cover at CB. Quote from Emery - "Taylor arrived as the last one and we can get the balance with Lamare Bogarde in case we need a centre-back or we even can play Kamara." I would also speculate that other players are more experienced, or were willing to sign because they could play Champions League, and THB was just happy to get a move to the prem.
Madjo is only 17, so he probably missed out on seniority.
04 Sep 2026 20:40:16
We definitely don't have enough cover at centre half, that's why we spent 30 million. Just imagine Bellis is a star in the Premier League, playing to his potential, and he can't play in the Champions League.
04 Sep 2026 21:05:32
Look at it from Emery's point of view. During a game, how often will you substitute a CB? Very rare. We have 2 full backs for each side, those are regularly subbed out as they do more running on the wings. CBs are usually only subbed if injured, and if it's serious and lengthy we can swap THB into the squad. The CBs he included, plus Bogarde, all know Emery's system, and it might take a while for THB to gel with the others.
Personally, I would have liked to see him involved, as our other CBs are no spring chickens, but I do understand it. Everything for Villa starts at the back, so I can see why he trusts the players who have the experience of playing Emery ball.
04 Sep 2026 22:29:43
Whack, I don't understand why you would spend big money on a centre half who could become a regular starter and exclude him from the potential to be a reliable asset in top class games. I think it's not the way to treat a new signing. Madjo has the potential to change games, and has already proved it. Has anyone else upfront done that who is still there.
04 Sep 2026 23:05:41
I agree. I would like to see THB and Madjo in the squad, but someone had to miss out. I'm sure Emery has his reasons. Whether or not they are what he is saying publicly, I trust him to get it right. Who would you have dropped from the squad instead?