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BBC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'A season of missed opportunities'
We asked for your views on our fan contributor David Michael's end of season scorecard (27 May, 15:58 BST).Here are some of your comments:Tony: Absolutely agree with this assessment. We've played some brilliant football - home to Newcastle, for example - some of the best play I've seen in over 57 years at Villa Park. Yet we then don't turn up in crunch games, and I don't get it. Next season will be trepidation about possibly falling back from what we achieved over the past three seasons. Nervous!Robert: I give this season a 7/10. While we can take Villa seriously as regular European contenders now, there's more work to do before we're regulars in the Champions League. Our season will be defined by the number of times we've had to get a result from a losing position, but it could've been different if we'd avoided individual defensive mistakes that led to goals conceded or, in the case of the last day, getting our goalkeeper sent off. Champions League regulars are strict on players who make mistakes at that level, and if Villa aspire to become one of them in years to come, that's the mentality we need to My old chap watched Villa with my grandad through the 50s and 60s. He always said, even then, that Villa didn't score enough goals. It's the same this season, our goals-for column is too low. That said, we shipped a lot too. Liam Delap would be a good start at correcting that Season rating - 7/10. Could have easily been 9/10 but two pivotal games, against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, when the team froze and cost us dearly has lost a lot of goodwill. Our unsung hero has to be Boubacar Kamara. Midfield dynamo who can play across midfield, got us out of a lot of trouble by playing in the back four when we were desperate and is now scoring goals. Kamara is very much the glue that has held Villa together this The season has been one of missed opportunities. Seeing Newcastle and Palace win trophies, something we haven't managed since 1996, makes me very envious. Missing out on the Champions League in the way we did also sticks in the craw. Overall 7/10.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Should Villa sell 'one of the crown jewels'?
"Emi Martinez speculation continues," announces the Aston Villa page of the Express & Star's website, which also carries two photographs of Martinez with his young family, apparently taken just a few hours apart. In one, all are beaming, at the grand opening of Mrs Martinez's new shop in Tamworth. In the other, they are taking in the adulation of the Villa fans after their final home game on Friday night, with Martinez looking wistfully into the stands. Seconds earlier, he had been seen apparently wiping away tears. Could this have been a farewell? Does this look to you like a family about to move to Saudi Arabia, or anywhere?Speculation is the way we pass the time until facts become clear and the biggest unknown variable in this situation is whether Villa will qualify for the Champions League next might argue that Villa's needs for next season might not differ much either way. Their squad requires refreshment not wholesale upgrade. They proved competitive at the highest level, gave overall favourites Paris St-Germain a serious fright, and lasted longer in the Champions League than the Premier League can never have too many good players, but if Villa only end up replacing any departures with players of similar standard - younger, perhaps - there is every reason to think they can be equally competitive again. Ensuring sufficient squad depth would be important, especially if they go into the Europa or Conference Leagues, where they might play even more games, given the performance of English clubs this there is no doubt that being in the Champions League would strengthen their position in two important ways: obvious financial muscle and football status. Being a Champions League club undoubtedly makes Villa more attractive to ambitious new players while their current squad, now proven at that level, surely want to stay of PSR regulations and how close Villa have had to operate to the line, this might mean some football realpolitik. Few will want a crown jewel like Martinez to go, just as there was disappointment when Villa sold Douglas Luiz last year. But, especially if they remain still sixth after Sunday, it may be that Villa's long-term interest will be better served by selling a player at their peak, and betting on their proven ability to effectively reinvest the selling Martinez be a wise idea? Let us knowListen to full commentary of Manchester United v Aston Villa at 16:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM/DAB Birmingham/Freeview]Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Ollie Watkins is now Aston Villa's record Premier League goalscorer – here's why it matters
Down in Dorset, Ollie Watkins finally did it. A goal against Bournemouth on Saturday means Watkins has surpassed Gabriel Agbonlahor's total of 74 in the Premier League for Aston Villa, so has scored more times for the club than any player since English football's top division was rebranded in 1992. Advertisement The roar that accompanied his winner at the Vitality Stadium felt cathartic; a blast of pent-up frustration as he broke a record which had been long in his mind, but which had, particularly in recent months, started to seem like it could slip out of reach, perhaps permanently. He ran to the travelling Villa fans, having glanced Morgan Rogers' whipped cross into the far corner. He grabbed the club's crest on his shirt and, after being mobbed by team-mates, allowed himself a few moments to soak up the achievement. After the game — a 1-0 victory that keeps Villa's hopes of returning to the Champions League next season alive — Watkins was serenaded by those away supporters; he responded by handing his shirt to a child in the crowd. A special memento for somebody from a historic day. When it was time for media duties, Watkins expressed his delight at setting a new milestone: 'Getting that goal to break the record for this club is massive and something I had my eye on when I came to the club. I said it in my first interview (after being signed in 2020) and it is a great achievement for me.' To break the record now belies the fact that Watkins' place in the Villa side is currently less assured than at any point since their manager Unai Emery was appointed in October 2022. Niggling injuries have suppressed his rhythm and confidence, while fellow front men Jhon Duran and then Marcus Rashford raised the level of competition in terms of selection. When asked about playing Watkins with one or the other of those two, Emery has insisted the 'next step' for Villa is to field twin strikers, yet the small body of evidence — especially when Duran and Watkins dovetailed — seemed unconvincing and destabilising to the structure. Agbonlahor's record, which had for so long seemed destined to be broken by Watkins, started to seem a little safer after the turn of the year. Three hours before Villa's Champions League match against Celtic on January 29, reports emerged of Arsenal having a bid for the England international rejected. Advertisement Villa's senior figures were deeply angered and worried about the unsettling impact on the player, who started that league-phase finale, especially as Arsenal's £40million ($53.5m) offer had been rebuffed two days earlier. Watkins grew up in Devon, a county in the south-west of England far from London, as an Arsenal fan and conversations were had about a move to Mikel Arteta's side. However, with less than a week left of the winter window and Duran heading to Saudi Arabia to join Al Nassr, it was considered unlikely, even if Emery initially did not rule it out. The manager later spoke with Watkins about the remainder of this season, and the 29-year-old's future will be reassessed in the summer. After Arsenal's January overtures came to nothing, Watkins' individual aim became overtaking Agbonlahor's 74 Premier League goals. If he could work his way past that target, it would likely go a long way towards Villa qualifying for the Champions League for a second year running. Privately, there was confidence from close observers that he could reach 20 league goals for the season, in light of an impressive track record under Emery. Below is a rolling 900-minute average of Watkins' expected goals (xG) per 90 minutes compared with his actual goals per 90 — essentially, a player's scoring form versus expectation. If there is more red shading, they are scoring below the quality of their chances. Conversely, the blue shading means they are finding the net more often than the underlying data would suggest. Since arriving in the Premier League, there have been periods of underperformance in Watkins' goalscoring. A good omen, though, is that he has finished the past three seasons strongly in terms of finishing. His goal against Bournemouth brought his 2024-25 league total to 16 with two matches left to play. In the previous campaign, he scored 19 in the Premier League. His disappointment at just missing out on becoming the first Villa player to score 20 or more goals in a top-flight campaign since Peter Withe did it in 1980-81 was offset by registering a division-leading 13 assists. 'It had been an aim, but there is always next season,' Watkins said of the 20-goal mark. 'I am not surprised by how well I have done this season because of all the hard work I've put in. Has it been a breakthrough? Yeah. But next season will be better, I'm sure.' Advertisement However, he returned to Villa after his summer break just a week before their Premier League opener due to his involvement in England getting to the European Championship final in early July. He was also carrying an injury, limiting him to a handful of training sessions. Since then, Watkins has struggled with a knee issue too, impeding his sharpness and mobility — essential traits of his finishing ability. 'We started the season playing only Watkins (up front) when he was not completely fit,' Emery admitted in a press conference last week. Performances have suffered and reached a point where Emery overlooked him for pivotal matches. Not starting either leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain wounded Watkins mentally — Rashford is now regarded as a No 9 and in direct competition for selection following his January loan move from Manchester United — as did the times he was omitted in favour of the now-departed Duran. Following the 4-1 victory against Newcastle United last month, where Watkins started for just the second time in seven matches, the forward told Sky Sports: 'I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games. I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn't playing — I let him (Emery) know that.' Emery is not the only Villa figure Watkins has spoken to and with whom he has been clear about his wishes. There is an acceptance of Watkins' frankness, given no top player has a mentality that welcomes being second-best. This was highlighted by his display that day against Newcastle. He scored the game's opening goal inside the first minute and assisted Ian Maatsen for Villa's second to double the lead just after the hour. Watkins appeared revitalised physically and, like last season, was at the core of everything positive the team did. Those recent omissions are just the latest test in a career of proving sceptics wrong. Advertisement As a young boy, he was rejected by Exeter City before belatedly signing schoolboy forms there. On loan at Weston-super-Mare in the sixth tier of the English game, he was a floaty 19-year-old wide forward who struggled aerially and whose hold-up play was limited. His evolution in the years since has been impressive. Those who used to play with and against him have expressed astonishment at how he has transformed into an all-round striker, as shown by the evenness of his finishes, with either foot or his head. His late equaliser away to Bournemouth last season was a staggering example of the major improvements aerially — under severe pressure and facing away from goal, Watkins managed to generate enough power from the cross and towards the far post. The graphic below, showing where he scores his goals, demonstrates how Watkins has taken his chances almost exclusively in the box under Emery. Watkins' central positioning was illustrated in January. This goal at the Emirates Stadium showed Watkins back to his best, managing to time his run towards the back post and behind Arsenal's back line. Despite leaning back, he keeps his volley on target. His progress has been in line with Villa's predicted trajectory and undoubtedly justifies the £28million fee ($37m at the current exchange rate) paid to Brentford, then in the second-tier Championship, in summer 2020. Watkins' relationship with his previous club has become increasingly strained. Seemingly, the more goals he scores against them — five in his previous four matches — the greater the animosity swells. The apex came last season, following Watkins' close-range headed winner. He stood in the Brentford goal, pointing at a supporter who had insulted his family during the match, sparking a melee between both sets of players. After arriving at Villa, Watkins put up solid numbers under Emery's predecessor, Steven Gerrard, but was streaky and never regarded as a traditional No 9. He would operate instead as an inside left-winger behind striker Danny Ings — a role encapsulated in his first goal under Gerrard. Cutting inside, Watkins rifled this effort against Brighton into the top corner. Then Emery arrived and three months later, Ings was sold to West Ham, with Villa putting their faith in Watkins. The new coaching staff started to show Watkins clips of other players to encourage his evolution as a striker and asked him to remain within the width of the penalty area, replicating the movements of Edinson Cavani and Carlos Bacca, prolific strikers who had worked under Emery at other clubs. This chimed with the player, who was keen for greater responsibility and to be the one getting on the end of chances inside the 18-yard box. Advertisement Watkins accepted that if he was to warrant an England recall and elevate his game, he had to concentrate on his effectiveness in the most telling areas of the pitch, resulting in a higher goal output. A hat-trick against Brighton early in Emery's first full season was seminal — all three goals were scored from within the penalty area. Gradually, Watkins transformed into an archetypal centre-forward, scoring an increasing number of goals with his head, helping him become a greater threat from crosses. Watkins is considered one of Villa's most conscientious and hardest trainers, described to The Athletic by a source close to the dressing room, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their position, as 'working relentlessly with staff to get to these levels'. He has a close relationship with Villa's individual-development coach, Antonio Rodriguez Saravia, known around the club as Rodri. Saravia tends to work with Watkins after the main training session is over, fine-tuning the nuances of a striker's game. This includes finishing practice, more analysis meetings and learning the type of runs to make. The overarching sense of vindication has been immense, with impressive statistics the result of refined finishing ability. Last season's left-footed strike against West Ham was notable. This was Watkins at his most instinctive and flowing, driving into the box before shifting the ball onto his weaker foot and ripping a shot into the roof of the net. Another notable goal was against Arsenal earlier in 2023 — he felt amply confident to slow William Saliba down, before executing a stepover and finishing expertly. Last season, Watkins was the first player in Europe's top five leagues to reach 15 goals and 10 assists. His combined final league total of 32 — 19 goals, 13 assists — meant he was only the ninth Englishman of the Premier League era to have 30 or more goal involvements in a 38-game campaign. A propensity to make constant elastic-type runs against defences — stretching the play before contracting it by dropping deep and receiving the ball to feet — is common in his collection of goals and works perfectly with Emery's two attacking midfielders on either side of him. Advertisement The 3-1 win at Fulham in October was a case in point. Having drawn defender Issa Diop towards him… … Watkins spins into the space behind… … and then has the poise to drive towards goal, steady himself and finish low into the far corner. Here is another trademark Watkins off-the-ball run and finish against Tottenham in November 2023. After a give-and-go with Youri Tielemans, he receives the ball and shoots with minimal backlift. His record in London remains outstanding, having scored at Fulham, Brentford, West Ham, Arsenal and Spurs in the previous two and a half years. Here, Watkins shows his range of finishing, first dinking one over Kepa Arrizabalaga against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in April 2023… … before driving hard and low past Robert Sanchez at the same stadium the following season. Those moments have grown more sporadic in recent months, with Watkins no longer looked to as Villa's key source of goals. Yet he is capable of delivering a reminder of his quality, shown last month when he came on as a second-half substitute against Southampton. Note Watkins pointing for the ball to be passed to Tielemans in the build-up. Tielemans duly receives, prompting Watkins to dart behind Southampton's back line. Tielemans judges the weight of the pass perfectly but even more impressive is Watkins' acrobatic finish. He is off-balance but gets sufficient contact with his laces to lob Aaron Ramsdale. This 73rd-minute opener broke Southampton's spirit, leading to a comfortable 3-0 win. Surpassing Agbonlahor's Premier League scoring record visibly meant a great deal to him. It was a moment to celebrate Watkins' achievement and reflect upon his importance to Villa and the Emery era at the club.
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Bournemouth 0-1 Aston Villa: Unai Emery's side boost Champions League hopes with gritty victory as Ollie Watkins nets winner
Aston Villa boosted their Champions League hopes with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday evening. ' goal was the difference, as Villa saw out the final few minutes with 10 men following Jacob Ramsey's red card to deliver a blow to the Cherries' own European hopes. Full report to follow.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fan-focused response to Villa's fixture change 'right thing to do'
Perhaps somebody will ask Unai Emery this week how much difference it really makes for their last home game, against Tottenham Hotspur, to be moved forward from Sunday to Friday at 10 days' notice. From outside, it is hard to believe that such a well-organised staff as Villa's will find that difficult. Villa played 55 first-team fixtures last season, a figure they will equal for this campaign on Saturday, so turning the squad round for a game every three or four days has become standard Villa made a fuss in advance about the change and have expressed their annoyance at the final decision in a smartly respectful way. Keeping grumbles out of their official communications, Damian Vidagany - Villa's director of football operations, and the jolly figure alongside Emery in almost every media appearance - issued a well-pitched missive on social media: "Fixture changed and honestly, not happy..."So? Well, even if this season ultimately ends in disappointment - and I will qualify that in a moment - it has been a season full of drama and several truly landmark occasions. No Villa fan could seriously say they were not entertained, at one area in which the club has perhaps let itself down at times recently has been a careless approach to the relationship with those their understandable dash to maximise revenue, Villa's handling of some issues, most notably ticket-pricing, left a section of long-serving supporters feeling under-appreciated, banking trouble for the that in mind, even if it was obvious that a change to this fixture would be of much greater inconvenience - and potentially expense - to supporters than players, it was good to see a senior figure at the club acknowledge that, and say how unhappy he was about was also right to note that, on this occasion, the Premier League did have a reasonable motive: to be seen to be even-handed towards two English teams in a European clearly signalling he understood why supporters would be cross and had been protesting on their behalf was the right thing to do, and a good example for the me quickly clarify what I mean by Villa's season possibly ending in disappointment. They are very likely to qualify for Europe for the third season running, and - at worst - go into a competition for which they will be the ante-post favourites, given the strong chance of English sides winning both the Europa and Conference Leagues this Champions League is the preferred outcome, but the consolation prizes are not bad to full commentary of Bournemouth v Aston Villa at 17:30 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio WM 95.6FM/DAB/FreeviewTune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
