The new Premier League season promised a fresh push for Champions League places, but two games in and Villa are yet to score. In the latest episode of the My Old Man Said podcast, we dive into the concerning signs already emerging.

Villa’s limp 1-0 defeat at Brentford felt all too familiar — predictability in attack, questionable tactical tweaks, and a severe lack of aggression or width. Despite boasting over 75% possession, Emery’s side struggled to break down a Brentford team who’ve promoted their set piece coach as manager and had key players stripped out over the summer.

UTV

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If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

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Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

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This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aston Villa kicked off their season with a goalless draw against Newcastle, but behind the clean sheet lies a more intriguing story - one of financial recalibration, tactical caution, and squad transition.

In this episode, we dive into the key takeaways from the Villa Park stalemate, including:

• The £40m Jacob Ramsey sale - smart business or soul-sapping necessity?
• Why Villa’s multiball fine and ban sums up modern football’s absurdity
• Bizarre debut: has Emery found a keeper he can finally trust?
• Our new Speed Demon and Slow B*stard stats feature (guess who’s who)
• Tactical tweaks, red card fallout, and what the draw really tells us about Villa’s squad depth

We also discuss what it means to juggle UEFA’s squad cost ratio, PSR restrictions, and supporter expectations — and ask: has Emery quietly solved a major squad weakness while the club trims the financial fat?

As mentioned in the show:

Retro Football Manager – 2025 Aston Villa Challenge

Relive the glory days of Championship Manager with Retro Football Manager, the free-to-play mobile game that ditches the fluff and brings pure football management nostalgia back to your fingertips.

Step into the shoes of Unai Emery and take control of Aston Villa in the 2025 season. With European football on the horizon and a squad brimming with potential, can you mastermind a route to glory? Balance the books, beat the big boys, and take Villa all the way to European greatness – without the annoyance of PSR.

Built for the true football romantic, Retro FM delivers the pixel-perfect thrill of old-school management with none of the modern-day nonsense.

Free to play download it here - https://rfm25.onelink.me/AFls/moms25

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Aston Villa gear up for the 2025/26 Premier League opener against Newcastle, the latest My Old Man Said podcast dives into everything that’s gone down in a spicy pre-season finale.

From the emergence of summer signing Guessand and the Buendia conundrum, to the practical madness of DNA sprays and rule tweaks that’ll reshape the season—David, Phil, and Chris dissect it all. The trio also touch on Mings’ unlikely moment of unity against Marseille, the club’s clever (if forced) moves in the French market, and what Villa’s average attendance says about their historical standing.

With final verdicts on where Villa might finish, which players could shine, and how Emery’s “control over chaos” approach stacks up against a fiery pre-season, this episode sets the tone perfectly for what lies ahead.

Listen now – it’s the calm before the Geordie storm.

UTV

As mentioned in the show:

Retro Football Manager – 2025 Aston Villa Challenge

Relive the glory days of Championship Manager with Retro Football Manager, the free-to-play mobile game that ditches the fluff and brings pure football management nostalgia back to your fingertips.

Step into the shoes of Unai Emery and take control of Aston Villa in the 2025 season. With European football on the horizon and a squad brimming with potential, can you mastermind a route to glory? Balance the books, beat the big boys, and take Villa all the way to European greatness – without the annoyance of PSR.

Built for the true football romantic, Retro FM delivers the pixel-perfect thrill of old-school management with none of the modern-day nonsense.

Free to play download it here - https://rfm25.onelink.me/AFls/moms25

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The My Old Man Said crew dissect Villa’s pre-season US tour and ask some uncomfortable questions: Have we seen this defensive script before? Is Buendía fading into the background? And just how worried should we be about what’s brewing down the road at St. Andrew’s (or whatever you call it nowadays)?

Plus, lots, lots, more.

UTV

This episode of the My Old Man Said podcast is sponsored by NordVPN. NordVPN allows you the opportunity to help get access to those 3pm Saturday or 2pm Sunday games, which aren't available in your region, by switching your virtual location to a country which is screening it. As well as protecting your privacy and online data.

With the MOMS deal on NordVPN, you can get the Fastest VPN in the world for the price of a coffee a month, while being able to use it across 10 devices and try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get your MOMS EXCLUSIVE NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/moms

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the emotional tributes to Birmingham's own Ozzy Osbourne to the pressing concerns over rising ticket prices, this episode unpacks the complex dynamics shaping Aston Villa's current quiet summer. The arrival of goalkeeper Bizot is a plus, while Kamara's new contract, after a period of uncertainty, is a big step in the right direction.

Key highlights:

• Local community's embrace of Ozzy Osbourne tributes
• Pre-season analysis and defensive improvement needs
• Kamara's new contract
• Impact of UEFA sanctions on transfer strategies
• Growing tension between commercial decisions and fan accessibility
• Supporter representation

Tune in to this must-listen episode for an insightful exploration of how Aston Villa navigates the delicate balance between commercial growth and maintaining its soul as a community club.

UTV

This episode of the My Old Man Said podcast is sponsored by NordVPN. NordVPN allows you the opportunity to help get access to those 3pm Saturday or 2pm Sunday games, which aren't available in your region, by switching your virtual location to a country which is screening it. As well as protecting your privacy and online data.

With the MOMS deal on NordVPN, you can get the Fastest VPN in the world for the price of a coffee a month, while being able to use it across 10 devices and try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get your MOMS EXCLUSIVE NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/moms

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Aston Villa got wrapped over the knuckles by UEFA, after a gamble on high wages led to mixed success. All eyes are on how Unai Emery can take this team to the next level, while working within the financial restrictions that the club now face. We look at the avenues available to Villa in terms of players to be offloaded to ease the financial handbrake, UEFA's punishment, while catching up on the latest happenings at the club.

Outside of Villa, we look back at the Black Sabbath and Oasis concerts and delve into the latest Three Points.

UTV

This episode of the My Old Man Said podcast is sponsored by NordVPN. NordVPN allows you the opportunity to help get access to those 3pm Saturday or 2pm Sunday games, which aren't available in your region, by switching your virtual location to a country which is screening it. As well as protecting your privacy and online data.

With the MOMS deal on NordVPN, you can get the Fastest VPN in the world for the price of a coffee a month, while being able to use it across 10 devices and try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get your MOMS EXCLUSIVE NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/moms

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deep-dive episode of the My Old Man Said podcast, David Michael is joined by Chris Budd and Phil Shaw to assess what’s next for Aston Villa as they gear up for a new season. With questions from listeners providing the spark, the hosts cover everything from summer transfer rumblings to squad ambitions and potential silverware.

There’s a humorous detour through Dua Lipa’s setlists, dark arts nostalgia, and Emery's chances of landing success. Plus, updates on Real Oviedo’s La Liga return and the off-season’s biggest conspiracy theories.

UTV

This episode of the My Old Man Said podcast is sponsored by NordVPN. NordVPN allows you the opportunity to help get access to those 3pm Saturday or 2pm Sunday games, which aren't available in your region, by switching your virtual location to a country which is screening it. As well as protecting your privacy and online data.

With the MOMS deal on NordVPN, you can get the Fastest VPN in the world for the price of a coffee a month, while being able to use it across 10 devices and try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get your MOMS EXCLUSIVE NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/moms

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for long awaited Mad Few (remember Steve Bruce's quote?) question and answers session. From Villa Park Identity and the next steps for the club, to recent goings on's - we answer My Old Man Said listener questions.

UTV

This episode of the My Old Man Said podcast is sponsored by NordVPN. NordVPN allows you the opportunity to help get access to those 3pm Saturday or 2pm Sunday games, which aren't available in your region, by switching your virtual location to a country which is screening it. As well as protecting your privacy and online data.

With the MOMS deal on NordVPN, you can get the Fastest VPN in the world for the price of a coffee a month, while being able to use it across 10 devices and try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Get your MOMS EXCLUSIVE NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/moms

GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUB

If you want ad-free advance versions of the shows and extra exclusive shows during the month and to join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club, please do support the show by becoming a MOMS Member.

For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS Member

Follow the show on:

X/Twitter at @myoldmansaid / Threads at @myoldmansaid / Bluesky at @myoldmansaid and join the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.

Credits:

David Michael - @myoldmansaid

Chris Budd - @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw - @prsgame

My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.com

This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.