Aston Villa have had a mixed pre-season but, overall, a successful one — a variety of challenges, some friendlier than others, as we look ahead to the 25/26 season with optimism. Another crack at the Europa League, another push for the Champions League and, hopefully, a long-overdue trophy.
Before we get to the season ahead, I have to talk about last weekend — following Villa in two countries, over two days.
Marseille – Heat, Beer, and a “Friendly” That Wasn’t
Flying into Marseille Provence Airport, I didn’t know what to expect. You read the horror stories… but I actually enjoyed my time there. The sun was blazing, the beers were flowing, and by the Old Port it was lively, much like the OM fans themselves.
Locals called them “crazy” and advised Villa fans to ditch the claret and blue. That feeling intensified when police escorted us into the away end of the Orange Vélodrome. But truth be told, I never felt threatened before, during, or after the game.
And the game itself? No friendly. OM don’t do friendly. Three big takeaways:
George Hemmings – Star in the making. Calm on the ball, mature beyond his years. With our midfield stacked, a loan could be perfect for him.
John McGinn – Thrives in big atmospheres, and that chip… pure class from the Scot.
Tyrone Mings – Hero. Putting you know who in his place after that alleged spit at Amadou Onana. The 150-odd Villa fans in the away end loved it, especially with OM fans pressed against the fence hurling abuse.
Villarreal – The Yellow Submarine
The game was the next day, so travel needed planning. Some went via Alicante and hired cars; we went for a different route — via Madrid. Landed about 2pm, quick dash to the Bernabéu (with its new metal sheeting it looks suspiciously like Grand Central), then a 3:30pm train down to Castelló. Three hours, a few cervezas, hotel check-in, and off to Villarreal.
The place itself is a small, local town — almost ghostly until matchday. The Estadio de la Cerámica stands out for miles thanks to its bright yellow exterior.
This one felt more like it, both on and off the pitch. Villa fans dotted all around, a stronger XI with Martínez, Tielemans, and Watkins starting. Watkins has looked razor sharp all pre-season and could be set for his best year yet. Jamal Jimoh-Aloba caught the eye on the left, and Emi Buendía — my player of pre-season — was brilliant again in a 0-2 away win.
Season Outlook
There’s been negativity going into this season and, while some of it’s understandable, it’s easier to focus on what matters — what happens on the pitch.
Last Season Recap
24/25 had the highs of another deep European run and the frustration of just missing out on the Champions League. Inconsistency away from home and injuries to key men hurt us, but two consecutive top-six finishes shows we’re here to stay.
The Summer Business
Quiet, but calculated. The headline so far is Evann Guessand for around £25m, plus Bizot as a backup keeper. More is expected, but it’s not ideal to start without all of Emery’s targets in place.
Tactics
Pre-season saw Emery experiment — a back five at times. Then, in the US, we saw advanced full-backs with Kamara dropping into a three. With links to right-backs, maybe that’s a hint of what’s coming. Personally, I’d like to see the high line back more regularly.
Key Men & Ones to Watch
Emi Martínez – Best keeper in the world. Due a big year after a season of not quite being himself.
Donyell Malen – Could be ready to explode if given more minutes.
Ollie Watkins – Could become the first Villa player in the Premier League era to score 20 league goals in a season. If he hits 25, he joins the PL 100 club.
Targets
Minimum: another top-six finish.
Dream: break into the Champions League spots and lift silverware.
Prediction
5th. Close to top four, in the fight for most of the season, but maybe just missing out. A European or domestic cup win would make that a perfect year.
This is the best Villa team of my lifetime. But great sides are remembered for trophies, not just finishes. It’s time to make history. UTV.
