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Regular My Old Man Said columns
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,...
What We Learnt From the Villa’s Immediate Post-Season
Aston Villa are Europa League winners, Champions League returnees, and already three weeks into the summer transfer rumour cycle. Here are the three observations that cut through.The Rogers Sell-on Clause Changes the ConversationThe transfer fee figure most commonly attached to Morgan Rogers in the press is £80 million. What the press consistently omits is the 20% sell-on clause Middlesbrough reportedly hold on any future...
Aston Villa’s Win Overshadowed by Regressing Rogers, Zombie Watkins and Monchi’s Mess
The Good, Bad and Ugly of an Eventful WeekA week is a long time in the Aston Villa world; it’s either a week of...
Five Reasons To Be Cheerful As Villa Start Unbeaten League Run Painfully
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as VillansDespite Unai Emery leading Aston Villa to a Champions League quarter-final within less than three seasons of taking...
Darkness Gathers Despite Villa Breaking Their Goal Drought
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Everton and BrentfordWhat a difference a year makes. This time last year, Villa had just dispatched Young Boys...
Five Reasons To Be Cheerful As Misfiring Villans Limp On
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as VillansAfter a mostly dull summer at Villa Park, the Villa boys have ensured that fans' misery would be...
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Aston Villa’s Transfer Window
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Aston Villa’s Summer Transfer WindowAfter another horror show against Crystal Palace, it was clear that Unai Emery’s squad...
Five Reasons To Be Cheerful As Villa Fire Blanks and the Transfer Window Closes
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villa FansThe slow summer transfer window has led to a troubled start to the new season, but reinforcements...
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Villans After Bees Loss
With Aston Villa served up a relatively soft start to the season in terms of fixtures, they were hoping to get out of the...
What We Learnt as Villans After the Brentford Defeat
Another season kicks off — and this one already looks like it could get interesting for a whole host of reasons. So, what better...
Aston Villa Must Shake PSR Victim Tag and Roar Back on the Pitch
The Good, Bad and Ugly of Villa's Season OpenerThe first day of the season is traditionally the time when every fan up and down...
Five Reason To Be Cheerful As Villa Escape Opener With A Draw
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Aston Villa Open 2025/26 SeasonThe dull summer transfer window was extended onto the pitch at Villa Park with...
Summer of Reflection and Regret as Aston Villa Prepare to Go Again
The Good, Bad and Ugly - Preseason Thoughts'Tis the Preseason of contemplation or so it seems at Aston Villa. The ramifications of the last...
Five Reasons To Be Cheerful As Preseason Begins in Earnest in the USA
Five Reasons to be Cheerful as Preseason Warms UpAston Villa's exciting 2024/25 season ended not with a bang but with something of a whimper,...