My Old Man Said - An Aston Villa Podcast

After a wild week that swung from European frustration to domestic delight, Aston Villa head to Anfield to face Liverpool in what feels like the “final boss” test, after beating Spurs and Manchester City in recent weeks.In this episode, we look at Villa’s evolving mentality under Unai Emery, the re-engineering of Matty Cash into a right-back goal machine, and whether Villa’s defence can stand up to Liverpool’s bruised but dangerous attack.There’s also discussion on Arne Slot’s wobble, Liverpool’s long-ball problem, and how the likes of Gravenberch and Salah might define the contest. Plus, updates on Emi Buendia’s injury, tactical tweaks, and the latest musical sermon from the MOMS Lovers Walk Unlimited Orchestra - serving up some funky gospel Polish funk to lift the Villa faithful ahead of Anfield.Emery’s touch is almighty divine, Turning right-back water into wine! Man of the match, goal of the month, new deal signed, The Polish Cafu is doing just fine.Topics DiscussedFrom Go Ahead Eagles to Manchester City momentumIs Anfield the “final boss” in Villa’s progress?Emery’s tactical evolution and right-back alchemySlot’s Liverpool transition: brittle midfield, long-ball hangoverBuendia update and likely Villa line-upCan Villa strike from the left against Salah’s side?The gospel according to the Lovers Walk Unlimited OrchestraGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicLover Walk Unlimited Orchestra - Lovers Walk RecordsMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Villa Park witnessed another Unai Emery masterclass as Aston Villa produced a performance of tactical brilliance to beat Manchester City for the third consecutive time at Villa Park.In this week’s My Old Man Said, David Michael, Chris Budd and Phil Shaw break down how Villa controlled the champions, ghosted Haaland, and played out from the back with Harlem Globetrotter-level confidence.From Matty Cash’s grass-cutting finish to Pau Torres’ ice-cold passing, the trio dissect how Emery’s control culture has flipped Villa fortunes this season - and what comes next with Liverpool looming.Expect wit, insight, and the usual madness - plus a few operatic nods from the Lovers Walk Unlimited Orchestra.UTVSpotify Links to Opera Tracks (also available on all streaming platforms)My Old Man Said OperaHolte Enders in the Sky - Traditional Verse AriaGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicPhillip Shaw - @prsgameMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

After five straight wins, Aston Villa’s European dream hit turbulence in Deventer - as Go Ahead Eagles clipped the Villans’ wings.In this Something for the Weekend edition of My Old Man Said, David Michael and Chris Budd dissect how Villa managed to make a mess of a winnable tie and what it tells us ahead of Manchester City’s visit to Villa Park.From the strange lethargy in Holland to Emery’s squad rotation gamble, we pick apart what went wrong, who’s to blame, and how Villa can bounce back with a statement win over City.Expect frank talk, tactical insight, and the usual humour - plus an appearance from the Lovers Walk Unlimited Orchestra to lift spirits.UTVGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicLover Walk Unlimited Orchestra - Lovers Walk RecordsMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

After a fifth straight win, the My Old Man Said crew bask in the glory of Villa’s gritty away triumph at Spurs - or as one listener put it, “Stoke City in a spaceship.”We dissect the new blue-collar Spurs, Buendía’s resurrection arc, and Emery’s latest tactical masterclass - while also diving headfirst into the off-pitch chaos that’s gripped Villa Park: from the political circus around the Maccabi Tel Aviv away fan ban to the weekly merch drops that seem to matter more than the football.Also in this packed show:Curtis Davies literally folds Paddy Kenny in halfBowie’s Ziggy catsuit and Spitting Image horrorAI football and £179k-a-day sackingsWhy UEFA should never have let this fixture happenAll that, plus 'Speed Demon' and 'Emery's Clipboard'.UTVGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicPhillip Shaw - @prsgameMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

From Warsaw to Rotterdam, and every airport bar in between - Aston Villa’s European adventures have reignited something special among the fanbase. Unai Emery is currently enjoying his eighteenth consecutive season in European competition, but is he likely to continue the run at Villa?In this episode of the My Old Man Said podcast , David Michael and Chris Budd, are joined by the returning Max Stokes of Villa on Tour to look back at Villa’s start to the season so far, and reflect on Villa's best European trips of the past three seasons.It’s part travelogue, part therapy session - and an update to see if Emery’s blueprint is still intact.Expect analysis, dry humour, and the odd flashback from the continent.UTVGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicMax Stokes - @villaontour_My Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

When journalist and author Guillem Balagué arrived in England in 1991, there were only 13 foreign players in the Premier League. Three decades later, Spanish minds are shaping its future — and none more intriguingly than Unai Emery at Aston Villa.In this face-to-face interview recorded inside the changing rooms of Biggleswade United, the ninth-tier club where Balagué is chairman, My Old Man Said takes the conversation far beyond the touchline. From Emery’s obsession with control and structure to the Spanish influence redefining English football, Balagué opens up about a year spent shadowing Villa’s manager for his new book The Rise of the Villans.Expect fly-on-the-wall stories from Bodymoor Heath, conversations with Emery's mum, the mystique behind Emery’s intensity, what makes Villa’s project so unique, and how football has evolved from the Cantona-Wenger era to the analytical age of Emery, Guardiola and Maresca.For Villa fans, it’s a rare insight into the inner workings of a club on the rise. For everyone else, it’s a journey through the modern game’s cultural transformation — told by one of football’s great storytellers.UTVGet a good deal on 'Rise of the Villans' hereGet tickets for the Witton Arms launch eventGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Guillem Balagué - @GuillemBalague

After a winning week that took Aston Villa from the chaos of Rotterdam to the comfort of Villa Park, My Old Man Said returns to make sense of it all.From the surreal experience of being herded behind Perspex to watch Villa play Feyenoord to the sight of Napalm Death on the flight home, the European trip had everything - but most importantly, it reminded fans what Unai Emery’s Villa can be when fully switched on.Back on home soil, Burnley offered the perfect chance to consolidate that rhythm. With Marlen’s ruthless finishing, Bogarde’s composure under pressure, and a midfield that finally hummed again, it felt like the real Villa had clocked back in. Yet, the familiar sight of a soft goal from a set piece showed there’s still work to do before they can start dreaming bigger.In this episode, we unpack the growing control in Villa’s play, the tactical tweaks behind the win, and why this run might just be the spark to reawaken Emery’s machine - plus a few laughs along the way.UTVAs mentioned in the show:InvestEngine – Build Your Own ETF Portfolio (ISA and SIPP options available)Build your own SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) by choosing your own ETF's for long-term flexibility and specialisation in how your pension is invested. Zero trading fees. One of the best ways to build a low cost pension and beat the commission drag of pension companies that shave off your earnings. You'll also get up to a £100 bonus - Start with InvestEngine hereGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicPhillip Shaw - @prsgameMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Aston Villa finally got their first league win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Villa Park - but is this the turning point or just a temporary lift?In this week’s My Old Man Said podcast, we break down a game that went from frustration to relief. From Watkins snapping his seven-hour league goal drought, to Buendia’s record-breaking six-minute cameo of a goal and assist.We also ask the big questions: has Pau Torres unlocked Villa’s true identity for Emery? Are new arrivals like Elliott and Sancho destined to struggle?Beyond the pitch, we try and embrace a new football “woke” language guide.UTVBe Smart and Invest in YourselfAs mentioned in the show, don't feed football's commercial beast and invest in yourself. These are investing services MOMS personally uses (after hours of research) - all low-cost, no trading fees, and they come with bonuses when you sign-up below:Penfold – Pensions Made SimplePerfect if you’re self-employed or a freelancer. A super simple, low-cost pension you can set up and manage straight from your phone. You’ll also get a £50 welcome bonus when you use the code MOMS and join via this link - Sign up to Penfold hereInvestEngine – Build Your Own Portfolio (SIPP option available)Build your own SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) by choosing your own ETF's for long-term flexibility and specialisation in how your pension is invested. You'll also get up to a £100 bonus - Start with InvestEngine hereTrade 212 – The Essential ISAMOMS go-to investment app. Invest up to £20,000 a year tax free through a Stocks & Shares ISA. The ISA is one of the last great tools to beat inflation and get a better return than any savings account. Plus, you’ll get a bonus share when you join through this link - Open your Trade 212 ISA here GET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBGet ad-free shows and extra shows, and join My Old Man Said's 24/7 Villa community, Match Club.For more details and to become a member, click here: Become a MOMS MemberJoin the show’s listener facebook group The Mad Few.Credits:David Michael - @myoldmansaid Chris Budd - @BUDD_musicPhillip Shaw - @prsgameMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT

Aston Villa might have beaten Bologna in Europe, but the cracks are still showing. In this Something for the Weekend edition of the My Old Man Said podcast, we break down the limp Europa League performance, the flat atmosphere at Villa Park, and why ticket prices are killing the buzz.We dive into Unai Emery’s squad choices, the ongoing questions around recruitment, and whether Ollie Watkins can really be trusted to deliver when it matters most. With Fulham next at Villa Park, history says this should be three points - but for the first time under Emery, there’s genuine doubt.From transfer missteps to corporate tifos, and fromLincoln City air raid siren ultras to the cold reality of Villa’s current strike force, we get into the big picture issues and why a result against Fulham is non-negotiable.UTVGET AD-FREE SHOWS and JOIN MATCH CLUBIf 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 MemberFollow 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_musicMy Old Man Said - https://www.myoldmansaid.comThis Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT