Another season kicks off — and this one already looks like it could get interesting for a whole host of reasons. So, what better time to bring back an old MOMS favourite: What We Learnt. The column first appeared on the site around 13 years ago and has always served as something of a truth serum when it comes to all things Villa.
The Context Provided by Brentford 1 Aston Villa 0
1. PSR Red Herring
While PSR and UEFA squad ratio rules may restrict Villa’s long-term ambitions, they are certainly a red herring when it comes to excusing the team’s performances in the opening two games of the 2025/26 season.
The team Unai Emery selected against Brentford was virtually the same team, bar two players, that started at Villa Park a few months ago, when Villa beat PSG in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final. The difference being a suspended Ezri Konsa replaced by Tyronne Mings, while Marcus Rashford, was replaced by Villa’s top scorer last season, Ollie Watkins.
There was more than enough quality on the pitch to get a result against a Brentford side that had been stripped of its key players from last season, was comfortably beaten by Nottingham Forest on the opening day, and is now managed by a set-piece coach.
2. Formation Failings
Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand were both signed with their capacity to play on the right-hand side, yet both started on the bench – despite it being evident from John McGinn’s performance against Newcastle, that Villa lose balance and instinctive flow when he had to constantly shift to his left-foot when in the penalty box.
Against PSG, Villa played the same three behind the front man, with McGinn starting the left side and Morgan Rogers on the right. Is that the better setup?
Arguably, both Rogers and McGinn are more effective in the number 10 role, but Tielemans obviously has to play centrally. That said, if Kamara’s [annual] injury from the Brentford match is serious, Tielemans will likely drop back into the deeper midfield two – which may force a switch in front of him that may help.
3. Roger’s Passing
What’s happened to Morgan Rogers’ passing? Over the past week, the transfer rumour mill had him linked with £80 million moves. Have we really reached the point in this overhyped sport where you don’t even need to be a great passer to command that kind of valuation?
Rogers remains a top prospect, and he seems like a good lad. But let’s melt the ice statues, ignore the inflated rumours, and focus on developing the clear potential of what should be a very good player. In a season like this – when Villa will need sparks of inspiration from their better players to push on – Rogers has a real stage to shine and step up.
4. Transfer Waste
This essentially expands on a couple of earlier points. Villa’s wage bill has ranked around the top 10 across Europe over the past couple of seasons – higher than both Spurs and Newcastle. You don’t run into issues with PSR and UEFA squad cost ratios unless you’ve been spending heavily. And that’s where sympathy starts to wear thin: what exactly have Villa been spending all this money on?
If Emi Martinez hadn’t been suspended against Newcastle and Ezri Konsa hadn’t missed the Brentford game, Villa would have started both matches with eight players Emery inherited. Of the players brought in under Emery and Monchi, only Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans currently look like legitimate starters. Andre Onana, despite his hefty fee, still doesn’t feel like a nailed-on first-choice.
After six transfer windows, that’s a poor return in terms of evolving the team – especially when you consider that recent signings meant to make a difference include Ian Maatsen (£39m), Donyell Malen (£27m), and Evann Guessand (£30m). That’s nearly £100m spent on players who aren’t considered starters. Even £50m record signing Onana continues to flatter to deceive and arguably wouldn’t make Villa’s best XI.
Then there’s the full-back situation: Kosta Nedeljković and Andrés García were brought in to address the right-back position, but quickly fell out of favour. Nedeljković was shipped out on loan, while García wasn’t even trusted to start in the name of rotation against bottom-of-the-table Southampton between two Champions League quarter-final legs.
Other players have clearly been signed as PSR-flipping assets – financial chess pieces to balance the books, not the kind of players fans fork out hard-earned cash to see on the pitch.
5. Price Gouging Backlash
Speaking of ticket prices – one of the key points MOMS stated to Villa’s Chief Operating Officer Ben Hatton during Fan Advisory Board meetings, was when it came to the commercial team’s continued opportunist pricing on the back of Unai Emery’s success on the field, fans would remember it when results turned.
There’s been blatant opportunism – and arguably worse – in terms of Champions League ticket pricing, and now this season, fans are paying more to watch Premier League games featuring a Europa League-level team than they did to see a side competing in the Champions League.
It’s no surprise, then, that they’ll be a low threshold of patience to poor performances and results.
Yes, it’s early days – and any seasoned supporter knows not to panic after a slow start – but with Opta ranking Villa’s opening six fixtures as one of the softest runs in the league, there are reasonable expectations to where the team should be in the table in a couple of months time.
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