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Led to looking quite desperate early on here. Lack of control means defence is exposed more, broken upon more & feel slightly more fragile.

280

FT: #AVFC 2-2 Brentford A fair result. Villa edged quality of chances, Brentford had more attacks - roughly similar number of touches in the box. Hull aside, partly because they want you to, Villa not really controlling games this season.

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Alysson and Barkley are coming on. #AVFC

120

Less than two minutes between both teams scoring again. #AVFC switch off and don't track Ajer. Emery has not looked at his bench for a while.

Goal, Brentford. 2-2 Just as #AVFC did in the first half, Brentford instantly respond.

010

Very composed from Manzambi to pick out McGinn. His deflected shot finds the far corner. Relentless. 2-1

050

How Villa needed their captain. Of course it's John McGinn. Four matches played for Scotland in 10 days. Played all but three minutes but here he is, still on the pitch 76 minutes in, finding a way to produce for #AVFC.

170

Feels a bit of a shootout, now. No control, end-to-end. Manzambi and Jackson finding success when they peel off to the left. Busy international break for some of the players on the pitch, so they're having to dig deep now. #AVFC

040

Brentford continuing to grow in ambition. Testing #AVFC from crosses. Suzuki has made a few good interventions. Villa have to step it up as labouring currently.

010

Replaces Emiliano Buendia. Manzambi moves to the left, McGinn as the 10, Mbaye on the right. #AVFC

040

Matteo Ruggeri has just come out of the tunnel and has some strapping on his left leg. Hamstring area. #AVFC

Good save from Suzuki after three #AVFC defenders don't deal with Thiago - his header falls for Schade, who shoots on the volley. Suzuki parries to safety. Wan-Bissaka now tasked with providing high width outside of Buendia, which doesn't tend to come naturally

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is coming on. Replaces Matteo Ruggeri at left-back. #AVFC

220

Question is, does Emery say his team can beat Brentford by playing like this - fire with fire, relying on better players as well as being at home - or does he seek control? But not sure if he can do that with Gomes & Kamara, who love duels... just yet anyway.

190

HT: #AVFC 1-1 Brentford McGinn should score just before HT. A rough and ready affair. Lots of fouls (most from Brentford). Nature of game means huge physicality required - transitions, tension, both putting a lot of players in the box from crosses.

1110

Feels like a game that Brentford prefer and play more. Emery would rather have a slower, more controlled match with fewer turnovers, though the best chances are coming on transition. #AVFC

280

So there is an argument for Manzambi and Jackson to just stay up front and occupy the CBs, as there's a big hole between them and their CMs for Buendia and McGinn to roam. #AVFC

170

Frenetic, untidy match. Both teams wanting to play with pace but not major precision, yet. Brentford's full-backs not comfortable in following Buendia and McGinn when they move inside the pitch, behind Brentford's CMs.

160

Brentford picking up loose balls centrally and crossing well down Villa's right. But Villa have excellent pace and directness on transition

Really important #AVFC hit back straight away as Brentford can revert to sitting in a compact block when with something to protect - see their victory here last year. Really good intensity to the game

280

But Villa go straight down the other end and Jackson is there, in the right place, after Buendia's shot takes a ricochet. 1-1. Crazy few minutes

050

#AVFC hit back immediately through Jackson. Brentford's goal had come from them showing the ball to Mings since the first goal kick and continuing to do so out of possession. Mings' pass then intercepted and Brentford attack down the right.

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 15h

Johan Manzambi largely operating as a right 10, aiming to create overloads down that side with McGinn and Cash. But he has already popped up on the left, so has freedom to drift across. Joao Gomes making his Villa Park debut and has to be good in finding those neat passes under pressure today. #AVFC

050

Tyrone Mings excellent aerially against Spurs so Brentford, a tough aerial opposition, makes sense to keep him in. Emery has spoken about Manzambi improving every day but, pertinently, he also said he must allow Manzambi "to play free" - hopefully he has freedom to drift and find space. #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 15h

#AVFC XI: Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Ruggeri; Joao Gomes, Kamara; McGinn, Manzambi, Buendia; Jackson

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Emery: "We have to build our structure stronger as we did the last year. I am especially happy how we finished before the break our matches. But we played a very shit match against Nottingham Forest at home. So how we can react, how we can change our performance at home is very important." #AVFC

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Unai Emery on Alejandro Garnacho: “Definitely, he’s improving. The two weeks we worked were very important. He played 90 minutes in both matches. He’s still young, he joined us to exploit his qualities, but firstly prepare his body and his football - he’s doing it.” #AVFC

What is happening with Alejandro Garnacho at Aston Villa?

Unai Emery has made a career of rehabilitating ailing playing careers, but he still has to find the right buttons to press with Garnacho

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Victor Lindelof and Emiliano Buendia are progressing in talks over a new contract at #AVFC. A deserved reward for form, starting last season and continuing into the new campaign. They rank quite highly on @theathleticfc.bsky.social's new club-wide series: The Ladder www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...

Aston Villa squad ladder: Zion Suzuki a clear standout, unfair placing for Tyrone Mings? (Gift Article)

In the first of a new monthly series, we assess Aston Villa most-used players this season and rank them on their recent form

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Alejandro Garnacho and Aston Villa. Reasons behind his struggles so far, recent improvement sensed by #AVFC, the club's view and Emery's "long-term project" - brought in with a low appearance threshold & briefed he would become a permanent signing. More @theathleticfc.bsky.social - free to read:

What is happening with Alejandro Garnacho at Aston Villa? (Gift Article)

Unai Emery has made a career of rehabilitating ailing playing careers, but he still has to find the right buttons to press with Garnacho

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

A longer international break means more fixtures played & even more apprehension from players' respective clubs. John McGinn has luckily come through four games in ten days, having played 357 minutes of the 360 minutes (plus injury time). Not ideal for #AVFC and rather anxiety inducing

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Jacob Tanswell @jacobtanswell.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Roberto De Zerbi: “Villa are playing 86 per cent more long balls than last season." Were those figures, or interpretation of Villa’s data, close to being correct? Are #AVFC becoming a direct team? On @theathleticfc.bsky.social Free to read:

Is Roberto De Zerbi right about Aston Villa going long? (Gift Article)

Villa have an increased confidence to follow Premier League trends in hitting the front quicker and easier. And Suzuki plays a big role.

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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...

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