I remember Jack Grealish saying to me earlier this year: "Just give me one start for England and I know I'll be able to show what I can do."
The
#AVFC
man pulled it off tonight. 👏
Despite Steven Gerrard's quotes on Douglas Luiz just a few hours ago
#AVFC
are now pretty clear with their message.
Douglas Luiz will NOT be sold tomorrow. More corners to look forward to, then.
#AVFC
cult hero, Jed Steer, is leaving after a decade at the club.
Steer (still out injured) was inspirational in the 2019 promotion-winning season but will soon be out of contract.
A top guy who played a big part in Villa history.
Dean Smith’s press conference has just been drowned out with chants from the
#avfc
players in the dressing room of : ‘Tuanzebe, Tuan, Tuanzebe, Tuanzebe, Zebe. Zebe!’
#AVFC
have lodged a second bid for
#AFC
goalkeeper Emi Martinez. Understood to now be substantially closer to Arsenal's £20m asking price.
Now it's a waiting game.
Story
@TheAthleticUK
:
Buendia is really finding his feet in claret and blue.
He's been so industrious and inventive in the last three games.
It's only going to get better, too.
Exciting times.
#AVFC
The away end are now singing "you're getting sacked in the morning" and pointing towards Gerrard in the dugout.
#AVFC
Absolutely toxic. What a mess.
The club have a big decision to make now because the supporters are furious.
Marcelo Bielsa's big Uruguay plans for Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez
🔵Leading the line
⚪️No Suarez or Cavani
🔵Video sessions
⚪️Lone striker role
🔵Finishing drills
#LFC
w/
@PhilHay_
@TheAthletic
Think that result/performance shows that
#AVFC
are ready to compete with the best in the division.
Thought Luiz, Konsa and McGinn were great. Another point on the board.
Great to see all the
#AVFC
fans giving Dean Smith the applause he deserves on the final whistle.
He's improved this side every single season. Even after losing his best player, he's on track for further progression. This Villa side are a lot of fun!
Tyrone Mings is just great isn’t he? Open and honest. Encouraging but brave enough to say it how it is. Confident but not cocky + already a great rep for his club and country.
Said he was different from day one 🤝
#AVFC
#ENG
Super bad luck for
#AVFC
in the end, but again, a performance to be proud of as
#CFC
win on penalties 4-3.
Anybody who can't see the progress this team is making doesn't understand football.
Onto
#MUFC
Unai Emery is a some manager...
#AVFC
Finally the fans are all singing together as the team start to turn on the style. This is what Emery has been calling for since he arrived. It feels like Villa are genuinely on the way up...
The owners are here today and look pleased.
#AVFC
have won three consecutive Premier League games without conceding for the first time since a run of four in December 2009 under Martin O’Neill.
#Ontheup
Nice moment for Wesley to make his return today.
Dean Smith: "I named the
#AVFC
squad on the training pitch yesterday and there was a round of applause from all the players."
#WBAFC
Another £30million spent by
#AVFC
on Danny Ings.
They mean business, that's for sure.
Will be fun to watch them this season.
Mings and Ings. Be careful commentators...
Nakamba is flying for
#AVFC
today.
Chopping into tackles, breaking up play and already he's won possession five times! Could be a star in this new-look Villa team...
Gerrard on Tyrone Mings and his excellent performance after a night of abuse from the
#LUFC
fans.
#AVFC
"The only way is to make sure your team win and have the last laugh."
A disappointing result for
#AVFC
but this isn't the time to rip into the team.
They've been a joy to watch so far this season. A little fine-tuning and they'll be right back on track.
Philippe Coutinho is the first Villa player to score in each of his first two Premier League appearances at Villa Park since....................
Carlton Cole in August 2004.
#AVFC
Dean Smith will go down as one of the most popular
#AVFC
managers ever. What he did for the club was incredible. Now, Villa have to get it right. This is the biggest test yet for NSWE.
The story of
#AVFC
greatest victory in modern memory:
▪️Grealish wasn’t even fully fit!
▪️Watkins came of age
▪️Smith’s tactical masterplan
▪️HT video analysis
▪️Wild scenes
▪️Barkley’s scouting mission
▪️Martinez 3/3 against
#LFC
@TheAthleticUK
Imagine telling any
#AVFC
fan back in October that they could go into the final game of the season knowing that a win would guarantee European football. Some turnaround.
Brilliant performance from
@JackGrealish1
On another planet today. Goal and an assist to top if off nicely. Mr Southgate can't ignore him for much longer.
#avfc
If those outside of the big-club bubble are wondering whether
#AVFC
are a big story again:
Only
#AFC
and
#MCFC
have more wins than Villa since Unai Emery became manager.
Long way to go but this might be the beginning off a proper transformation...
Pep Guardiola on
@JackGrealish1
"He’s incredible. A top player. I’m happy he (initially) stayed in the Championship to defend his club.
He’s a talented player who always creates something.
An exceptional player but too expensive for Manchester!"
#avfc
#mcfc
#AVFC
are interested in signing Youri Tielemans on a free this summer.
#LCFC
Unai Emery is a big fan and will make an approach soon.
Emery wanted a new midfielder in Jan and will definitely add to that area ahead of 2023/24.
Unai Emery says he "wasn't listening" to remarks that he couldn't cut it in England after the
#AFC
experience.
"In my career, I've had more success than less doing it this way,"
He is elite, no question.
NEW quotes from the manager
@TheAthleticFC
I’ve watched O.Watkins closely over the last few games and he definitely sets the tone for how this new
#AVFC
play.
Without him, the clean sheets aren’t possible.
He’s applied more pressures in the attacking third than any player in the PL.
Analysis:
Love that from Guilbert. Slides in on Tierney to cut out an attack and then win a goal kick.
"COME ON" he roars, punching the air.
The
#AVFC
players are starting to feel this...
#AVFC
2-2
#MUFC
Brilliant comeback from Villa. Coutinho will get the headlines but this was Jacob Ramsey's day. A brilliant goal and assist. What a player he is becoming...
HT thoughts:
- It’s pre-season so nothing matters
- It’s pre season so nothing matters
- It’s pre season so nothing matters
- Diego Carlos is the greatest player ever to put on an
#AVFC
shirt.
S.Gerrard on Carney's
#AVFC
contract:
"We believe this is the right place for him. If anyone else thinks it's not then I would like to sit in front of them and discuss it. We don't see a problem. He's got 18 months left on his deal. We just need to let the kid play football."
Youri Tielemans is set to join
#AVFC
@David_Ornstein
@TheAthleticFC
As reported earlier in the week, Villa were keen to get this done asap. Lucrative contract offered. Proven PL player on board. Medical happening.
#AVFC
are interested in signing Youri Tielemans on a free this summer.
#LCFC
Unai Emery is a big fan and will make an approach soon.
Emery wanted a new midfielder in Jan and will definitely add to that area ahead of 2023/24.
For a team said to be lacking bollocks, that was a gritty and spirited performance from
#avfc
. Villa fans behind Smith before, during and after the game. Purslow runs onto the pitch to congratulate the boss who is all smiles alongside John Terry.
#avfc
Gerrard says Douglas Luiz will need some facial reconstruction after the foul (high boot) from Lanzini.
"It's a mouth injury. He's going to need some expert help. There will be no kissing for him tonight.
"I'm pleased he played on. That's the type of character I want."
#AVFC
Matty Cash on
#AVFC
under Unai Emery:
"We are buzzing. I really don’t think the club has a ceiling, it is such a big club. I think we have the perfect manager and the sky is the limit. Hopefully we can keep progressing in the right direction."
A friend of mine is a
#mufc
season ticket holder. Said
#avfc
fans were the loudest he’s heard at Old Trafford so far this season.
...Years of hurt, mate!
Unai Emery
#AVFC
"Traore is very appreciated in the dressing room. Everybody loves him. Today is everyone happy for him. He’s a good guy with good skills and the capacity to score."
#AVFC
confirm in a statement that preliminary designs to build a new North Stand are in place. Capacity would increase to over 50,000. A full public consultation will start in the coming months.
Every
#avfc
player is now in front of the away end who are singing and clapping their team off. There's a real togetherness about this group but the players are raging by this defeat.