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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Aston Villa’s calculated evolution - it is easier to change the carpets and curtains in a house than the walls and beams. Free to read on The Athletic #AVFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...

nytimes.com

Emery has chosen calculated evolution rather than De Zerbi's revolution

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Three passes from start to finish, involving as many players - all summer signings - in ten seconds. The second goal at Spurs provided an insight into Emery's Aston Villa 2.0. Energy, directness and dynamism - the plan #AVFC had earlier this summer. Free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social

nytimes.com

Three passes and a goal: A 10-second demonstration of Unai Emery’s Aston Villa 2.0 (Gift Article)

Suzuki, Manzambi and Jackson combined brilliantly to carve Spurs open on Saturday afternoon

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Hello BlueSky! Live event at Witton Arms on September 28th. Free tickets, but you must register by clicking the link below. #AVFC www.eventbrite.com/e/the-1874-p...

eventbrite.com

The 1874 Podcast Live

Join Dan Bardell and Jacob Tanswell for some Aston Villa chat and a Q&A.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Unai Emery: “Manzambi played a good match but not understanding yet everything with his position. But his qualities are over the tactical idea of what we are achieving, because he’s a fantastic player and he must feel free to exploit his qualities but always under our structure.” #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

"You scored a goal," sing the Villa away end. Tammy Abraham comes on for Nicolas Jackson. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My oh my. An outrageous Buendia hit. Spurs are ragged and Gomes drives straight through. After the ball goes back inside the pitch, Buendia lets fly. Top left corner. 3-0. Home fans are leaving. Exceptional. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Manzambi and Jackson sense a second goal. They're getting a lot of joy. Buendia and McGinn are working like trojans to regain the ball and feed them. #AVFC just have to stay disciplined without the ball.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Kinsky saves from Jackson after Manzambi plays him in. The pair look so direct and aggressive in their running. #AVFC happy for McGinn to slide along Cash, be in a back five mid-block (5-3-2) with Manzambi and Jackson up front and breaking with power and purpose.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Emery talked yesterday about Jackson not picking up unnecessary bookings. 30 seconds into the second half, he gets one. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Matty Cash going through his own warm-up at half time. May be coming on pretty soon. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

HT: Spurs 0-1 #AVFC Spurs decent in wide areas but Villa started to nullify as the half wore on. CBs defending box very well - 5 headed clearances from Mings, with Suzuki's saves key to weathering opening period.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Brilliant time to get the goal. With Van De Ven off injured, Villa make use of having an extra player in the box. Buendia tries a clever disguised pass. Robertson doesn't clear properly and McGinn pulls it back for Kamara whose shot/cross sees Manzambi tap in. 1-0 #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Bentancur should be booked. Yet he's not. Physios on for Manzambi who seems to be in some pain. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Kinsky saves from Buendia. Both sides targeting a specific flank. Spurs targeting Ruggeri, #AVFC going for Gray/Van Hecke. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Really like how wholehearted Joao Gomes is. Just shouted at himself and put his hands over his face after pressing at the wrong time and leaving space. Hasn't got the best poker face. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Suzuki saves again after Archie Gray gets behind Ruggeri and then from Savio. Top goalkeeping. Three times now Savio has played a slide pass for an underlap. #AVFC getting overloaded down their left.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Emery wants McGinn and Buendia tucked in, so width coming from both full-backs. Kamara is dropping between the CBs, so #AVFC can keep building in a back three. Interestingly, Manzambi dropping deeper and alongside Gomes - far deeper than Rogers would pick the ball up.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Double save from Suzuki after a really poor, lax giveaway between him and Wan-Bissaka. #AVFC will have chances to play through the lines but have to better defending wide areas.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Important for #AVFC to weather the opening minutes from Spurs, who will obviously want to start well, as they did against Everton. Spurs a threat with Savio's pace against Ruggeri, with Porro supporting behind, so Gomes will need to keep coming across to cover.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

John McGinn won the toss and decided to swap ends. Shooting towards #AVFC away end. Manzambi starts as the central 10 with Buendia off the left. Big role for him out of possession too, with De Zerbi, like Emery, mainly attacking centrally.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Alysson absent in #AVFC's squad due to feeling a slight issue during the Coventry match. Should be fine for the next match post international break.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

#AVFC rank 20th for xG. Only Hull have had fewer touches in the opposition’s box. Villa have never put up the highest creation numbers & been based on ruthlessness, but with new signings being integrated - all very good on transition - plus space to exploit today, Emery will hope for an improvement

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Both teams will improve but today feels a big game, with neither wanting to go winless into the international break. Start of the game is important for #AVFC, considering the anxiety around this stadium & their own form. Two managers who bait the press - make for a transitional match or an impasse?

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Brian Madjo expected to return to full training during the international break. #AVFC will travel to Spain for a camp but before then will host Southampton in a behind-closed-doors friendly next Friday. Story @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...

nytimes.com

Villa's Emery expects Madjo to return to full training over international break

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Unai Emery: "Tottenham, I expect them to be in the top four. "I respect De Zerbi and he needs time… tomorrow is a huge challenge for us."

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Unai Emery on team news: "Joao Gomes and (Matty) Cash at the beginning, yes (will be available). But we will see - they are more or less with the group but I must be sure they are 100% for tomorrow.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Emery: “We were speaking this week about pre-season - pre-season is still here, becausewe are joining Manzambi after being injured, we are joining Gomes after being suspended, still not being available Goretzka. In pre-season, the only thing we did was working with the players we had last year."

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

🟣“Obsessed with being the best version of himself” 🟤CL omission but #AVFC knew about his character 🟣Captained every club & level 🟤Viewed in similar mould to Pau 🟣Villa budgeted for CB roughly half Konsa price 🟤Taylor Harwood-Bellis' Villa career is underway: Free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social

nytimes.com

Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ Aston Villa career is finally underway (Gift Article)

Signed from Southampton in the summer, and excluded from Villa's Champions League squad, Harwood-Bellis has had to be patient

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

#AVFC will travel to Bournemouth in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

FT: Coventry 1-3 Villa Even against sub-par opposition and the fact it was a rotated side, some really good signs for #AVFC. Certain patterns of play/movements looked rehearsed and effective - 18 shots is very healthy - with Emery showing he has varying and several options, especially going forward

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Alysson will be #AVFC's fifth and final change of the night.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Nicolas Jackson replaces Tammy Abraham. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Perhaps it is because McGinn has been playing on the right, but he's been drifting over to the inside channel and overloading the right side with Mbaye. They have combined really well, sometimes swapping positions. Mbaye feels like he could be a breath of fresh air to this tactical structure.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Dreadful Coventry marking again from a corner, but Abraham is there to tap in. Much-needed night for him - will do his confidence a world of good. Manzambi is coming on shortly. #AVFC 1-3

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Some really nice movements to work out of deep build-up this evening. Whether that's bounce passes from a CM to the opposite CB or Wan-Bissaka making late runs high as Mbaye drifts in and McGinn moves out-wide, #AVFC showing better variation in this. Seems like something they have worked on

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Marco Bizot hobbling off at half time. Zion Suzuki is warming up and looks likely he may well come on. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

HT: Coventry 1-2 #AVFC Villa comfortable at the start and end of the half, with a weird period in between. Encouraging passages from Mbaye, with the new players literally told where to be by Emery. Others needlessly lax at times - shown in Barkley & AWB's yellow cards

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Barkley atones for his error, making his usual near-post run from Mbaye's corner. Poor marking but a planned set piece from #AVFC - before the corner, McGinn looked over to Emery, who told him to aim towards the near post. Villa settle again after a poor period. 1-2.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

McGinn misses the target after Coventry make a mess of it. An error-strewn half from both teams, to be honest. Emery is shouting at Hemmings to move more central and deeper, so Bizot can go long from goal kicks and there are players behind him to win the second balls etc. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Coventry should score again as Mings is tackled in his own box. Terrible period from #AVFC. Had been in control and home supporters were growing frustrated quickly. Then through their own carelessness, they have given Coventry the upper hand.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

1-1. Barkley booked for a foul on edge of the box, having been caught on the ball. Subsequent free-kick goes in, with Bizot rooted to the spot. Just before that, Harwood-Bellis should do better with his header, having been unmarked. Coventry's chances largely coming from #AVFC's making.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Having a right winger who constantly threatens in behind was a priority for Emery and his staff this summer. Gives his system so much and so refreshing to see. Obviously it is early days but there are already early signs of what could develop with Mbaye. McGinn always trying to find him. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Lovely, lovely, outside of the foot pass from Hemmings. Coventry's defensive line was ridiculous, which is why most assumed it was offside. Calm finish but wonderful creativity from Hemmings. 1-0. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Wan-Bissaka is inverting to play as third CB, with Harwood-Bellis in the middle of the back three. Due to having natural width, Mbaye and Ruggeri are on the flanks. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

As he was signed to play, Mbaye starts on the right. Barkley and Bogarde are in the pivot, with McGinn further ahead. This is Harwood-Bellis' first game in exactly a month, so the opening stages will be important in adjusting. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Emery's Villa don't do much in the Carabao Cup. It's a time for those who haven't yet played much and for Emery to wear more casual attire. But given league form and several new, exciting signings yet to be fully integrated -tonight feels a good time to win & continue the rebuild process. #AVFC

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