The Talk Villa Newsletter: #3
All eyes are on our Premier League opener with pre-season now over, our Europa Conference League play-off round opposition is set and Monchi talks strategy...
🏆🎶 Trofeu Taronja champions, you’ll never sing that…
21 days and six games later, Aston Villa have concluded their pre-season schedule ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and it even ended with silverware as John McGinn received the ‘Orange Trophy’ at the Mestalla on Saturday night.
Ok, so it’s not exactly the most sought-after achievement around Europe, but start as we mean to go on and all that…
Importantly, it’s been a productive, challenging and entertaining summer from a Villa perspective. We’ve seen some impressive patterns of attacking play, positive ball progression in the mould of an Emery side and defensive discipline, as well as tactical tweaks to test different solutions while gaining important experience against strong European opposition.
Will it be Pau Torres at left-back on Saturday, or Ezri Konsa at right-back? Will Youri Tielemans start? Will Moussa Diaby and Emiliano Buendia both provide support for Ollie Watkins? Villa are much more unpredictable this year, and that’s a great strength to have.
“Now we’re analysing the pre-season, I am happy with the matches we played in the United States, I’m happy with the match we played against Lazio and the match we played today with the atmosphere,” Emery said of our preparations this summer post-Valencia.
“We are going to play a lot of matches, playing on Thursday and then on Sunday, with FA Cup and Carabao Cup. We did pre-season thinking that we have to work on different things tactically, and we did it.
“We were practicing some tactical decisions and some we are taking really well but others we have to continue learning, improving and taking more information.
“Overall, I’m very happy. We have to be ready and have everyone very excited with our supporters for the first match in Newcastle. It’s our objective now to start our season in the best way possible.”
Villa’s pre-season results and highlights:
Walsall 1-1 Villa
Newcastle 3-3 Villa
Fulham 0-2 Villa
Villa 3-3 Brentford
Villa 3-0 Lazio
Valencia 1-2 Villa
It’s been thoroughly enjoyable following every minute of Villa’s work this summer, and while optimism is perhaps at its highest point going into a new campaign since the days of Martin O’Neill, Emery will no doubt have spotted countless ways in which we can still get better.
Our new signings have settled and impressed, with Tielemans arguably the pick of the trio, some of our more familiar faces have continued to adapt and improve in their understanding and application of Emery’s demands on the pitch, and it’s hoped that we’re now in the best possible shape for our trip to St James’ Park this weekend. Stay tuned for plenty of in-depth analysis during the season…
Europa Conference League play-off round opponents confirmed
‘We’re all going on a European tour, a European tour [via the Europa Conference League play-off round], a European tour…’
As per the draw in Nyon on Monday, it’s either the ‘John McGinn Derby’ [vs Hibernian] or FC Luzern that stand in our way of progressing to the group stage of the UECL, with the two-legged tie to be held on August 24 and 31.
Our opponent will be determined by August 17, and we’ll have a deep dive into whomever that might be once known.
Without going all Rio Ferdinand on you, this is indeed ‘what he does’ in terms of Emery’s pedigree and success in Europe over the course of his glittering coaching career, and it’s hoped that after the brilliant scenes at Villa Park against Brighton back in May, this is the start of a memorable run…
Monchi 101
While it’s always fascinating to hear from Emery, Villa’s President of Football Operations, Monchi, sat down for an in-depth chat with Marca last week.
It proved to be an equally as fascinating insight into his mindset and role at the club, as he delivered an ambitious, but balanced, response to how our strategy is building us for sustained success, while also taking a pragmatic approach given the regulations that ultimately govern us.
There was also a lovely insight into his relationship with Emery and Director of Football Operations, Damia Vidagany, too, as he revealed that they don’t necessarily schedule meetings, but will often eat together with their respective offices at Bodymoor Heath next door to one another, and they’ll go through their respective thoughts and opinions.
Year 2 of ‘Unai-versity’, 2023/24 Season Preview
From the despair and lack of direction last October, to the elation and connection between the team and supporters on the last day of last season, it was quite the first eight months under Emery, who has transformed the club already.
Aside from the obvious in terms of integrating new faces, he will also have to manage expectations and as well as improving on our league finish last year, with Europa Conference League games to consider too, the Villa boss will need to find the right balance when he rotates, as we could play up to 60 games this season if all goes well.
With 49 points from his 25 league games at the helm last season, that pace would have put us amongst the Champions League places over the course of a full campaign, and so it’s about continuing that momentum and evolving further to ensure we’re making continuous progress.
Objectives and preferred achievements will differ amongst the Villa faithful, but ending a 27-year wait for a trophy is surely at the top of the list for most, while breaking into the top six in the Premier League remains a hugely difficult task, but not necessarily an impossible one.
The games come thick and fast over the next two months, with all the details you need, including broadcaster information, below.
A trip to St James’ Park first up is undoubtedly a tough place to start, but there is a genuine feeling under Emery that on our day, we’re absolutely capable of beating any side put in front of us.
For more on our Premier League rivals and a wonderful read in general, check out The 12th Man Newsletter! 👇🏽
Predictions
Seventh place in the Premier League and a trophy. Finding the balance of improving in the league while trying to advance deep into cup competitions will be a difficult challenge for us to adapt to.
Emery has made no secret of his aim to win at least one trophy as Villa boss, and so our league form could dip at times as a result with inconsistency a concern. That’s not to say we won’t be able to find the right balance and rotate, but what a year it would be to lift silverware and continue to establish a foundation and solidify our position in the top seven.
Watkins will be our key man and top goalscorer again this year, such is his importance in staying fit and leading the line. Although Jacob Ramsey will miss the first month of the season, he’ll kick on and become even more influential for us and will star at the End of Season awards, with Cameron Archer emerging as our best young player.
Where will we finish? Will we win a trophy? Who will be our key player this season? Leave a comment below with your predictions!
Transfer talk, team news
No confirmed deals of note since we last spoke, but there has been plenty of speculation over potential exits.
Aaron Ramsey is the subject of a reported £12m offer from Burnley, although it’s suggested that there will be a buy-back clause included in any agreement. Rumours continue to circle the likes of Lucas Digne and Philippe Coutinho as they’re linked with moves to the Middle East.
Diego Carlos allayed fears over his fitness after he was absent from the squad that faced Valencia, having shared an update on social media to confirm he’ll be ready for Newcastle. Alex Moreno continues to make progress in his recovery and is expected back either later this month or at the start of September, while we still hope to see J. Ramsey in mid-September after the first international break.
Talk Villa Poll
While there is still just under a month remaining before the transfer window closes, if it were to close tonight, have Villa done enough?
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