Football
Be interesting to see how these new players fit in.
Cant see Unai putting up with Rashford walking about UTV
Next game Villa v Spurs in the fa cup
Amazing what a 6 month loan agreement can do.
Good luck.
Lord Emery is a top manager though.
Kind Regards.
5 February 2025, 06:09 GMT
A £100m investment in a Birmingham regeneration project has been welcomed by the government.
US company Knighthead has spent the money buying the 48-acre former Birmingham Wheels site in Bordesley and preparing it for regeneration.
It plans to build a 60,000-seat stadium for Birmingham City Football Club, which it bought in 2023, on the land in the east of the city, along with sporting facilities, shops and homes
It was offline for some time after his passing but see it's now back up and running...
https://www.avfchistory.co.uk/
Big week coming up in the league with home games against ispswich, liverpool and chelsea.
Rashford looked lively tbf, cant see him being able to play vs man u if we did draw them.
Ascensio looked awesome in his 30 mins cameo. Levels up. UTV
Does feel like a really big game for the title race.
Hoping we show up tonight
Macphee is known as Nanny at Bodymoor Heath.
big big game for us this one
It's a very tricky match to have any confidence in predicting the result though.
After a sluggish performance against Everton losing 1-2 we bounced back with a solid 2-0 win away to Fulham. The market has Palace as favourite @ 2.60.
I'll say a 1-1 draw @ 7.4 but I'm not having a bet.
The Villa away fans are always good value, in my top three of away supporters.
So a full house and thankfully no rain forecast, can't better that for a midweek match.
COYP
recently so it will be interesting to see how players minutes are managed.
Hope you have a great time tonight slippy, obviously hoping you lose though
I wouldn't want to predict this game either. Sign back in with after match feedback if you get the chance later please bud.
COYP
The stats say Villa had most of the possession but didn't really make use of it and were even time wasting, mainly by their keeper which was difficult to fathom out.
So the market got it spot on and it was a very deserved and emphatic win for us and of course a highly prized scalp in getting the three points against Villa.
Their fans were in good form to begin with but after our third goal about a third had had enough and did the offski.
Seeing our man Mateta up close is quite a sight, he absolutely gave his all throughout and he's deceptively quick for such a big bloke.
We don't get many matches like this @ S.P.so a big Palace group hug was the order of the night to celebrate after the final whistle.
Jobsagoodun.
Villa team news according to Grok on X
As of today, March 29, 2025, the most current team news for Aston Villa centers around their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final match against Preston North End, scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, March 30, 2025. While specific lineups and injury updates can shift closer to match day, here’s the latest based on available information:
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has recently provided a team news update ahead of the clash at Deepdale. Although exact details from his statement aren’t fully outlined in the search results, it’s known that Villa are coming off a strong run, including their Champions League quarter-final qualification. Key players like Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers, Marco Asensio, Youri Tielemans, and Marcus Rashford are expected to feature, barring any last-minute setbacks. Watkins, despite a minor knee injury that kept him out of England’s March internationals, is likely available as there’s no indication of a prolonged absence, and he’s a pivotal part of the squad. Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, has been in good form with three assists in nine games, suggesting he’s fit and ready.
On the injury front, there’s some uncertainty. Amadou Onana has had limited minutes recently, which led to his exclusion from Belgium’s national team, but it’s unclear if this is due to fitness or tactical choices—Emery might still include him. Leon Bailey, who lost his starting spot due to Asensio’s arrival, is reportedly back to full fitness and could be in contention, though his role might be as a substitute given interest from clubs like Tottenham. Ezri Konsa is nearing a return from injury, which could bolster the defense, while Pau Torres, Boubacar Kamara, and Ross Barkley have been mentioned as doubts in earlier updates this year, though their current status for this match isn’t explicitly confirmed in the latest reports.
Posts on X also hint at a possible lineup, with one user suggesting Villa might make significant changes from their last Premier League outing against Brentford, listing a potential XI including Martinez, Cash, Bogarde, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, Rashford, Asensio, Malon (possibly a typo or youth player), and Watkins. However, this is speculative and not an official confirmation.
Given Villa’s depth—described as potentially the strongest squad in club history by BBC’s Mike Taylor—and their status as favorites against Championship side Preston, Emery might rotate slightly but is unlikely to heavily weaken the team with a semi-final spot at stake. Expect a mix of regulars like Watkins, Asensio, and Rashford, with possible returns like Bailey or Konsa, pending final fitness checks today or tomorrow morning.
For the most definitive update, Villa’s official channels typically release team news closer to kick-off (1:30pm GMT on March 30), so keep an eye out for that announcement. Anything beyond this is based on the trajectory of recent reports and could shift with new developments.
As of the latest available information leading up to March 29, 2025, here’s the team news for Preston North End, primarily focused on their upcoming FA Cup quarter-final match against Aston Villa scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2025:
Injuries and Doubts:
Ali McCann is confirmed to be out with a calf injury. This was noted ahead of their match against Portsmouth on March 15 and reaffirmed in updates for the Aston Villa game, indicating he remains sidelined.
Brad Potts is questionable due to a hamstring issue. His status has been uncertain since mid-March, and there’s no definitive update confirming his return for the Villa match.
Milutin Osmajic is also listed as questionable, with his availability uncertain due to unspecified reasons (noted as "other" in some reports). Manager Paul Heckingbottom has not clarified his status fully for the upcoming game.
Jack Whatmough has been mentioned as reducing defensive options, likely still recovering from an earlier injury, though specifics for this match are unclear.
Jordan Storey was reported earlier in March to be a week or two behind in recovery compared to others, suggesting he might not be fully fit yet, though he could be nearing a return.
Positive Updates:
There’s no specific mention of players returning for this exact match, but earlier in March, Heckingbottom noted Ben Whiteman was getting more comfortable daily in training, hinting at a potential return to the squad soon if not already. However, no confirmation ties this directly to March 30.
Squad Context:
Preston’s squad has been stretched thin by injuries throughout the season, and Heckingbottom has had to manage with limited options. The majority of the lineup for the Aston Villa game is expected to "pick itself" due to these constraints, though he retains some tactical flexibility.
This information is pieced together from reports around mid-March (e.g., previews for games against Portsmouth and Sheffield United) and FA Cup-specific updates. Given the match is tomorrow, the most current team news might still evolve, but based on trends, McCann is definitively out, Potts and Osmajic are doubtful, and the team is likely operating with a depleted roster. For the absolute latest, checking Preston North End’s official channels or a match preview from today would be ideal, but this reflects the situation as of the most recent detailed reports.
Predicting the most likely result of the Preston North End vs. Aston Villa FA Cup quarter-final match on Sunday, March 30, 2025, involves considering current form, team quality, and historical context. Based on available insights, Aston Villa appear to have a clear edge.
Aston Villa, a Premier League side managed by Unai Emery, are in strong form, having won four consecutive matches across all competitions, including a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City in the FA Cup fifth round. They boast a deep squad with key players like Ollie Watkins, who has recovered from a minor injury, and Marco Asensio, who has been prolific in cup competitions. Their statistical likelihood of advancing is high, with models like the Opta supercomputer giving them a 65.9% chance of winning within 90 minutes.
Preston North End, the only remaining non-Premier League team in the competition, have been solid at home, remaining unbeaten in their last 15 matches at Deepdale across all competitions (6 wins, 9 draws). Their 3-0 win over Burnley in the previous round shows they can compete, but they face challenges with injuries and suspensions, including the absence of Sam Greenwood and ineligibility of Kaine Kesler-Hayden against his parent club, Villa. Their defense is robust, conceding no more than one goal in any game during this home streak, but they’ve struggled historically against Villa, winning just once in their last 15 meetings (a 2-0 Championship win in 2016).
Given Villa’s superior squad depth, attacking options, and recent momentum, they are favored to win. Preston’s defensive resilience might keep the game competitive, but Villa’s quality is likely to prevail. Common predictions from various analyses lean toward a Villa victory, often by a narrow margin due to Preston’s home form, though Villa’s firepower could stretch the gap.
The most likely result, balancing these factors, is Aston Villa winning 2-0. This reflects Villa’s ability to break through eventually, as seen in their recent cup performances, while acknowledging Preston’s potential to limit the damage at Deepdale.
Depending on Villa's starting line up, I'll be laying PNE.
Only reason why it didn't work out at Arsenal was because of timing, he couldn't get the players in that he wanted, had dodgy sporting directors foisting players onto him he didn't want, and couldn't get rid of some big earners already there, Mikel waked into better conditions. I'd like to see him back at the Emirates one as there's unfinished business, but good to see him re-build his reputation at Villa.
Kind Regards.
