This piece was intended for publication in the close season, but following the reporting of Andrea Traverso's (UEFA Executive Director, Financial Sustainability and Research) shambolic 15-minute diatribe on February 26th, it really couldn't wait.

Gone is the effervescent, rarely wrong, and inspirational figure in black. Now Unai is cutting a dejected profile on the sideline, focusing on things he cannot fix, whilst hoping for a miracle to repair those he can. To underline the current travails, Emery was on the cusp of a rare 100th win as Villa boss; now he is on the cusp of a 50th defeat, with few expecting the former to come first. Time and circumstance have taken their toll.

Just a Reminder: Villa, the most fouled team in the Premier League, are yet to be awarded a penalty this season.

Villa find a way.. and that's all that matters. Real-Time Match Report 🟩 11 Feb 2026 Villa 1-0 Brighton, Villa Park

"The contenders for the title [with Arsenal] should be Man City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle, Man United, Liverpool. Why? Find the information." Unai Emery

We can talk about Premier League corruption, VAR being unfit for purpose, the vile, negative tactics of opponents being hailed as progression, and all of that can be true. Still at the end of the day, it's not meant to be for Villa and probably never will be again. So we just have to enjoy the journey, even if it ultimately leads nowhere.

🟩 25 Jan 2026 Villa 2-0 Newcastle, St James’ Perfection 2 to 27 and all along the touchline.

Leon Bailey “His adaptation is not necessary. He knows us and he is coming here fit. For Sunday, he is going to be available.”

Maguire and his band of social media muppets will need something else to bore on about as the Deloitte Football Money League for 2026 is published and Villa are apparently no longer the unsustainable, profligate, wage expenders they once were.

As night follows day, so does a poor Villa display follow an opportunity to make a step change in the table. Injuries, of course, are guided by misfortune; repeatedly failing to raise your game is not.

Villa play at home for the first time in six, and are on an eight-game winning run at Villa Park and are unbeaten since 1906 or something like that.

The u21s visit to Brighton in PL2 on Friday is ⚠️ Postponed ⚠️ 🌨️. But, Saturday sees Villa open their 2025-26 FA Cup campaign at Tottenham. Sunday sees a double header as the Women meet Brighton at VP and the u18s take on Reading at Bodymoor.

We weren't at our usual level but still had our moments. With City drawing nothing's changed, we're still neck and neck. Tomorrow is Arsenal-Liverpool, and there's not a bad outcome for us there. Win, win, win, even if the most important win didn't happen

Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will be assessed over the next 24 hours to see if they are ready to return, having missed 13 and 6 games, respectively.

Palace are 15 points behind Villa, 14th in the table, and are on a three-game losing run having not won at Selhurst in the League since 1st November and having not won a League game at all since 7th December.

SJM scores a second half brace after his miss of the decade last time out. Villa make it 18 wins in 21 games, move second in the table with 18 games left to play.

Forest are twenty-one points behind Villa after nineteen games and are on a three-game losing run coming into this game. Three points for the visitors then.

Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara return from suspension, but Amadou Onana is doubtful after being Merino'd on Tuesday.

Villa lose for the first time in twelve but prove their class off the pitch as George Hemmings makes his debut on it.

Comparing Aston Villa's 1914 11-match winning run under George Ramsay with 2025's 11-match winning run under Unai Emery.