Aston Villa are without a win in five matches, but Unai Emery's side are still well placed in the Premier League and in Europe.
They will be hoping to bounce back against Crystal Palace at the weekend before a big Champions League night against Juventus at Villa Park on Tuesday.
But what is the one thing - good or bad - that isn't being talked about in relation to Villa right now?
Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty Images"Aye, it is mad," said John McGinn, and it was, in a way.
He had just left the field after helping Scotland win in Poland – perhaps not quite "one of the greatest days in the history of Scottish football" as a local reporter suggested, but a good day all the same.
"My dad sent a nice text to say it's surreal seeing his boy in the top-five all-time scorers for Scotland, which is a bit mad," said McGinn. "I'm sure I'll wind Ally McCoist up the next time he's commentating on a Villa game!"
He should, too. McGinn's goal, a few days after one that beat Croatia, was his 20th for Scotland – one more than McCoist. At better than one every four caps, McGinn's strike rate for his country is not far off that achieved by the legendary Rangers striker. "Super became more super than super," as Matthew Lindsay of the Herald, external put it.
Whether international performances relate much to a player's prospects when they return to domestic football is debatable, but it will be very much to Villa's benefit if McGinn walks back into Bodymoor Heath wearing the grin he sported in Warsaw.
Villa's fortunes over the past few seasons can largely be tracked against the progress of their captain. McGinn in form has usually meant Villa look good. Lately - though one point off third place is hardly doing badly - Villa have lost a little altitude, while McGinn's season to date has been patchy, either side of injury.
Unai Emery is among many who have often spoken admiringly of McGinn's dedication and leadership skills. Much of the praise he attracts is in this vein - a jovial, positive competitor, taking his football seriously but not himself.
All the 'what a great guy' praise is entirely true and well-intended, but sometimes overshadows just what a skilled footballer he is. Technically proficient, a clever picker of a pass with a dangerous striking ability from outside the area. In form, McGinn proves that he is still often underestimated, not unlike his team last season.
"We've been through a right rough spell," said McGinn. "Personally, a long goal drought for club and country, but I've managed to get two in two, back on scoring form and back to winning ways for us [Scotland]."
International breaks often seem to disrupt the rhythm of clubs, but if this one has helped McGinn rediscover his groove, Villa will have good reason to be thankful for it.
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Image source, Getty ImagesAfter 1,026 games as a manager, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has lost four consecutive games for the first time, a run that started with a Carabao Cup defeat by Crystal Palace last month.
The Spaniard could also lose his first three meetings with Oliver Glasner, something he last did against one counterpart in March 2018 (Zinedine Zidane).
Meanwhile, Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored more Premier League goals (four) against Villa than any other team, and recorded his joint-most assists (two). The Frenchman was directly involved in four of the Eagles' goals - including scoring a hat-trick - in their 5-0 win over Emery's side on the final day of last season.
Aston Villa's priority in the January transfer window will be a new centre-back, with 31-year-old Real Betis defender Diego Llorente on their shortlist. (Football Insider), external
Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesFollowing the news that Morgan Rogers has extended his stay at Villa Park until 2030, we asked for your views on the midfielder's new contract.
Here are some of your comments:
Alfie: Absolutely amazing news. He is one of our best players. The way he glides past players is absolutely amazing - sometimes he looks untouchable. Unai Emery can and has got the best out of him, but there is definitely more to come from Morgan Rogers. Absolutely love him as a player.
Cassie: Rogers has the potential to be a top-class player. He is still a bit raw and inexperienced in some matches, but that is allowed as he will learn a lot from Emery. It is important to tie down players in this current climate, and also shows that he is part of Villa.
Pablo: Absolutely delighted we have tied him to a long-term contract. I know 'everyone has a price' but it is as good as we can get looking forward.
Kevin: So far this season Aston Villa have not been consistent enough. As a whole, the team is not defending as well, which has meant we have let in too many goals. John McGinn being subbed a lot is an example, while Leon Bailey has been poor so far this season. Players like Rogers are letting ego get in the way of a 90-minute performance - he is not the finished article.
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers has signed a new contract to extend his stay at Villa Park until 2030.
The 22-year-old joined the club on deadline day in February 2024 from Championship side Middlesbrough, and has gone on to make 31 appearances in all competitions under Unai Emery.
So far this season, Rogers has scored three goals and registered three assists while also making his Champions League debut.
His impressive performances earned him an England call-up for the most recent international break, where he made his senior international debut against Greece.
Aston Villa fans, how do you feel about the news? Has Rogers impressed since joining the club?
BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha gives us his insight and opinion every fortnight on your Premier League club.
But this week, he's in the hotseat for your questions.
So what do you want to ask for a former player. Best opponent? Most memorable team-mate he played with?
Or maybe you're just interested in what next for your club this season?
Image source, Getty ImagesAston Villa defender Lucas Digne made three goal contributions during his 50th international cap for France, as they beat Italy 3-1 to finish top of their Nations League group on Sunday.
The left-back has been in fine form for Unai Emery's side so far this season and was rewarded with an international start ahead of AC Milan's Theo Hernandez.
Les Blues took an early lead when Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot headed home from Digne's corner in the second minute.
Digne then doubled France's lead with a free-kick, which hit Tottenham and Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's crossbar and ricocheted in off his back.
Italy did manage to pull a goal back through Andrea Cambiaso, but Digne and Rabiot combined once again to seal France's win in the 65th minute.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could look at selling 31-year-old Brazil defender Diego Carlos in January. (Football Insider), external
Image source, Getty ImagesDefender Ezri Konsa has returned to Aston Villa from England duty, with Three Lions interim manager Lee Carsley saying "we won't take risks with any of the players".
Konsa was substituted at half-time of England's 3-0 win in Greece on Thursday.
Carsley added: "He has been assessed by the medical team and the scan results are back. He will go back to Villa."
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants to bolster his defence with the January signing of Spain centre-back Diego Llorente from Real Betis, but the 31-year-old's long-term contract may prove an obstacle. (Football Insider), external
Villa are also leading the race to sign Athletic Bilbao's Spanish attacking midfielder Oihan Sancet, 24, but are unsure whether to meet his 80m euros (£66.9m) release clause. (Caught Offside), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column
Image source, Getty ImagesThere has been some pressure on players carrying an injury going into international breaks with their national side because you are contracted to these clubs and that is where your income is.
But, for me, as a player I had a similar mindset to Harry Kane that I would always be available - injured or not injured. I would have injections when I was on international duty just so I could represent my country because it meant that much.
It is difficult, however. If you look at Jack Grealish and Pep Guardiola's comments, he has a point because the forward has not been able to play for Manchester City because of injuries. So if you have been sidelined for three or four games, I would agree that you are then not fit and available to go on international duty.
But when you look at some of the other players, ones who have been playing and being managed by their club, then I do not see it being different to being played and managed by your country.
From the club's side, when they are competing at such high levels in the Premier League, you can understand why they would want their players to be rested and get fully fit again over the two weeks, rather than having to come back straight into a hectic period of fixtures.
I kind of get it from both points of view but, as a player, if I am half fit and being played by my club, I would be fully available for my national team.
It is really difficult with the pressure that is on the players, though. I would not look at it as a decision players have made solely.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Image source, PA MediaEarlier, we asked you who scored Aston Villa's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season.
The answer is Amadou Onana, who netted in the 2-1 win over West Ham on 17 August.
Who scored Aston Villa's first Premier League goal of the 2024-25 season?
Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT
With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.
Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.
From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.
But it can work both ways.
Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.
How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.
Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.
I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.
Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesA change is as good as a rest, so they say. Villa will hope so since the international break is no longer much rest at all, with so many players away.
Perhaps there was always going to be a dip after the emotional rush through September and October, and the charged atmosphere for the Champions League wins over Bayern Munich and Bologna.
Ninth place at the final international break of the autumn does, at first look, seem a bit of a let down. However, Villa were within one touch - that touch being Evanilson's header as the end credits were rolling against Bournemouth - of being on 20 points instead of 18, and therefore third. In Europe, to have misfired in Bruges and still have nine points is entirely satisfactory.
"Our objective is to try to beat teams that are contenders and favourites to be in the top seven," said Unai Emery on Saturday. "But at the beginning we are starting behind them."
This sounded almost exactly like what he was saying last season, when the more fancied challengers for the Champions League places waited in vain for Villa to falter. It may still be true, although not quite as true as last autumn.
Villa's summer spending was limited by regulations, and they had to sell Douglas Luiz, which felt unbearable at the time, although perhaps much less so now. Their squad may have fewer expensive names than, say, Chelsea's, and arguably peak-Villa now is not much higher than peak-Villa of a year ago. Undoubtedly though, the depth of the squad has been improved.
The benefits of this may only be appreciated in the later weeks of the season.
Last spring, Villa ended up stumbling to the finish line, happily having done enough to secure fourth place. However, that exhaustion was arguably the biggest reason they failed to win the Conference League. If they need to sprint for a European place next April and May, they should be better equipped for it.
Morgan Rogers' remarkable year offers further evidence. Twelve months ago, he was not on the Villa scene at all and, after joining, did not make a Premier League start until mid-March.
His promotion to the full England squad is due reward for his work since then and highlights the most significant feature of Villa under Emery and his staff: they find good players, and make good players better.
That should keep their long-term trend rising, despite a wobbly couple of weeks.
Tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights
Image source, Getty ImagesMorgan Rogers says he has "surprised" himself at times this season after receiving his first senior call-up to the England team.
The Aston Villa midfielder was not in interim manager Lee Carsley's initial squad but received a late call-up on Monday after eight players withdrew from international duty.
Rogers will now be in contention to make his Three Lions debut when England face Greece on 14 November and the Republic of Ireland on 17 November.
"You can kind of hear the rumours [about a call-up]. I'm just focused on my football. I'm enjoying it and think I'm playing really well. I think there's more to do and improve on," the 22-year-old told a pre-match news conference.
"You don't want to think too far ahead of the next game and take it for what it is. I'm thankful and grateful that I'm here now.
"I just try and push myself every day and see what new levels I can get to do. I have probably surprised myself at times [but] I have always believed I can get to this level and maintain it."
Rogers has impressed since joining Villa in the January transfer window, playing in every Premier League and Champions League game this campaign. So far, he has scored three goals and provided three assists.
Asked about the impact boss Unai Emery has had on him, Rogers said: "Not just me but any player would say that trust from any manager is a big thing and he gave me that.
"From minute one he threw me in at the deep end. He gave me the chance to shine and develop. He was on top of me to get that to that level and maintain that level.
"You know that he is there for you and he is always going to push you. It gives you that extra something from within."
David Michael
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesThere are two ways to view Aston Villa's current season.
One perspective is that they have squandered a great opportunity to build on last season's success and capitalise on Arsenal and Manchester City's recent stumbles to cement a place in the top three.
Alternatively, despite dropping to ninth, they are still only one point away from third, with everything to play for.
However, there is a brutal reality to the latter scenario. After the international break, Villa will find themselves in a dogfight for the European spots alongside teams like Newcastle and Chelsea, who do not have the added strain of Champions League football.
Zooming out, judging by the calendar-year results over 29 games, Villa would rank seventh in the league, even trailing Manchester United, a club that recently sacked their manager after a disappointing year.
Key players have certainly been out of form and only substitute Jhon Duran's goals have saved Villa from what could have been an uglier set of league results.
If the players deserve some criticism for recent performances, then even the usually untouchable Unai Emery has made some key mistakes. Should Tyrone Mings have started, after well over a year out, in such a crucial Champions League match against Club Brugge? A win would have set Villa up nicely for a potential top-eight spot, as, overall, the next four games will be tougher than the first four.
The Mings decision echoes Emery's choice to bring Clement Lenglet out of the cold in the Conference League semi-final first leg against Olympiakos instead of relying on Pau Torres. Lenglet's unnecessary shirt pull nullified Leon Bailey's early goal that would have put Villa ahead and his rustiness directly led to two conceded goals, ultimately costing Villa a shot at the trophy.
After the international break, solidifying Villa's defence is essential for the improvement needed to avoid an anti-climactic season. Consistency in selection may be key to achieving that.
Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external
Following Morgan Rogers' call-up to the England squad, here is another look at what his former manager Michael Appleton told The Football News Show about what the 22-year-old was like when he coached him at Lincoln City.
