One thing confirmed by a scoreless first half is how good Unai Emery is at organising a team, regardless of the number of departures and arrivals. Whatever the eventual result against the champions, Emery proves again he’s an alchemist. #AVLARS
New: #AVFC reach agreement in principle to sign Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG. Deal worth €55million - Villa in process of finalising deal for long-standing target.
Story @TheAthleticFC@David_Ornstein
https://t.co/mkwCD2QCtC
🚨🟣🔵 Leon Goretzka to Aston Villa, here we go! Verbal agreement in place with the German midfielder after direct call with Unai Emery.
Verbal green light to #AVFC project with club planning for medical and signature this upcoming week.
Documents ready - follows @MatteMoretto.
@BookofAEGIS Ornstein once reported Villa want Emery to be their Fergie - a manager who knew when a team had run its course and wasn't afraid to dismantle and rebuild. That's the role Villa appear to want Emery to have. Stings to lose one or two but I'm excited for this rebuild.
I don't get all the wailing and gnashing of teeth to be brutally frank.
To me, this is a brand new day
With the road wide open ahead of us.
And the right bloke has the map in his hand.
What is not to feel excited about?
Nothing lasts forever, so make hay while the sun shines.
UTV
#NUFC & #AVFC have lost six players to the "big six" in the last 12 months despite both clubs recently qualifying for the CL and winning a trophy. Football's financial rules are simply anti-competitive and the only people who will tell you otherwise are the ones who benefit.
We marvel at how impressive Emery is for getting the maximum out of a set of players that were bang average before his arrival…
And how he’s impressively maintained these levels with a squad that he inherited, rather than players he chose...
We desperately want Aston Villa to progress but we’ve already seen and achieved what the maximum level of these players gets us…
We finally begin to see those players move on for impressive fees and allow Emery to bring in players with attributes that suit his style…
So why is it such a terrible thing?
Farewell Damian Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez Romero 😍
From saving a penalty on your debut to shushing Lille fans after getting 2 bookings and still staying on to make the winning save…
From gyrating in front of the Stretford End to waiting on a call from Amorim on deadline day…
From making me actually root for Argentina in 2022 to humping any trophy that came within arms length, no matter what royalty was in attendance…
In two separate losses to Forest you produced two of the greatest saves I’ll ever see.
You - 2x Yashin Trophy Winner while with my club - have been the greatest Aston Villa goalkeeper in my lifetime… by a long stretch.
You lovely… chaotic… entertaining… crazy… talented man.
Forever our shithouse ❤️