Columns
Regular My Old Man Said columns
Five Reasons to Be Cheerful as Aston Villa’s Preseason Begins
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans - Preseason BeginsAfter arguably the best season Aston Villa have enjoyed in a generation, Unai Emery's squad has returned to Bodymoor Heath after a well-earned summer break. They've barely had time to unpack the sun cream before the squad has already undergone some serious surgery, and there's every chance more arrivals and departures are still to come.With...
World Cup Villa Reflections – Konsa Scapegoating, Villa Injury Woe and Ex-Villa Hero
The Good, Bad and Ugly of World Cup 2026 So FarWhile Aston Villa fans are either enjoying a summer off or worrying about UEFA cost spreadsheets, there's a World Cup on. It's a good chance to remember what football was like before the Premier League made it a product, or is it?The GoodUp to the quarter-final point, it's been a surprisingly entertaining World Cup,...
Aston Villa’s Euro Vision Narrows as Fan Disappointment Magnifies
The Good, Bad and Ugly of WolvesIt isn’t the end of the road for Aston Villa’s unlikely European dream, but the path is narrowing...
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Aston Villa Fans After Emery Shares Long-Term Target
Despite creating some good openings, Villa have suffered a second defeat on the bounce. Emery’s men haven’t quite clicked since the impressive home win...
Aston Villa’s Focus Simplifies After Losing Records
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Manchester UnitedAston Villa, unbeaten in ten games, scoring in every game under Unai Emery, heading to a soggy...
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Aston Villa Fans Face Win-Win Situation
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans After Old Trafford TripBy Armen MirzoianThe unthinkable has happened… Aston Villa have lost a game and it’s...
Aston Villa Show Guts Galore to Surge into Fifth as Fans Face Tone Deaf Commercialism
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Brentford and FulhamAston Villa are Fifth… At the back-end of April. Breathe it in, but try not to...
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villa Fans After Europa Guarantee
Five Reasons to be Cheerful Post BrentfordBy Armen MirzoianWith Unai Emery breaking yet another record this weekend, and Villa maintaining their unbeaten run to...
No Luck About it, Aston Villa Outperform Made up Statistics in Magpie Massacre
The Good, Bad and Ugly of NewcastleIf any Aston Villa fan wasn’t happy with the performance against Newcastle United, they need to get checked...
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Aston Villa Make Huge Toon Statement
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Aston Villa fans After Newcastle WinBy Armen MirzoianFollowing on from Villa’s demolition of Newcastle, there were discussions on...
Newcastle’s Gamesmanship Called Out as Emery Enters Stress Test Period
The Good Bad and Ugly of Villa Life Post ForestAnother game another three points for Unai Emery’s upwardly mobile Villans who now sit in...
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans After Stamping Ticket for the Battle for Europe
Five Reasons to be Cheerful After Back-to-Back Midlands WinsBy Armen Mirzoian It is likely that if you’re reading this column, then you’ve had an excellent...
Unai Emery’s Disruptors Look to the Top Six, While the Media Disrespects Them
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Chelsea and LeicesterWell… Of all the pieces that will be written about Aston Villa’s week, this is the...
Five Reasons to Be Cheerful as Villa Fans After Gatecrashing European Spots
Five Reasons to be CheerfulBack-to-back away wins suddenly place Aston Villa in the European qualifying spots, is the NSWE plan finally coming to fruitition?By...