Aston Villa

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, PA Media

In recent years, we have more often heard managers say that the performance is the really important thing.

There is a logic here; there is only so much that can be within a manager's control, so the best you can hope for is to get your team to follow the plan and, if the performances are right, over time the results will be too.

The problem with this is that life is not always fair like that. Everyone knows, even if they do not say it, that results are the only metric that matters. There is no column in the league table for style marks. So, although this website's report on Aston Villa's win at Everton reads like a one-star review of a B-movie, Unai Emery was delighted.

"Very happy," he said quietly to radio reporters, his voice reduced to a reedy croak by an evening of yelling. "We have broken our barren spell away. In the Premier League it has been very important to try to get three points, try to get a clean sheet and recover a bit of confidence."

'Everton nil' were the words he most wanted to hear. He added: "Yes, of course the clean sheet, because we have conceded a lot of goals. It's not normal this year how many goals we are conceding.

"Of course we are analysing, we are trying to recover confidence and recover our structure as strong as possible defensively. Today I think was one good step forward."

Emery has cut a rather frustrated figure at times recently, especially as his team have dropped points from winning positions against Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Brighton. In fact, the statistics show us that they are conceding goals this season (32 in 21 league games) at more or less the same rate as last (61 in 38), but with the team a little less productive at the other end, the stakes for those mistakes have felt higher.

For Ollie Watkins to score the winner, then, made it a doubly encouraging evening. He played all 90 minutes, rather than making way for Jhon Duran in the second half - a relatively rare occurrence this season - and his goal was his first apart from penalties since November.

While Duran, still young, is liable to have bursts of stellar form, it still feels as though Watkins is the more consistent player in the long run. Football managers cannot depend on much in such a capricious business, and a back-in-form Watkins is a man Emery must know he can trust.

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Aston Villa have started talks with English midfielder Louie Barry, 21, over a new contract amid interest from Celtic. (Football Insider), external

Aston Villa have been approached by Galatasaray over the possibility of a deal for Brazilian Diego Carlos, 31. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Watch highlights and analysis from eight midweek Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Chelsea 2-2 Bournemouth

• Nottingham Forest 1-1 Liverpool

• Everton 0-1 Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to Match of the Day: "Very happy. A tough match. We played 90 minutes and competed very well.

"We had some clear chances in the first half and we tried to push and take even more control in the second but we couldn't, but we scored.

"This victory is very important. We have started the year winning at home, in the Premier League and in the FA Cup. Away, we were in a bad spell and had to break it."

On David Moyes' job at Everton: "It will take time to play in their style, but the players were the same players that we expected. To get three points is very difficult and we're very happy."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, speaking to Premier League Productions: "It's a big win. We knew beforehand we had to win and get through this drought away from home.

"It's such a tough place to come, and we were scrapping in the second half but those wins are sweeter than the ones where you win comfortably.

"My job is to provide and Ollie [Watkins] movement is so good. He is so good at holding the ball up in the channels and taking the pressure off.

"We defended the box really well. We had to be strong and resolute and we were outstanding defensively. We've got three wins in the new year and we will keep pushing on."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

There are four Premier League fixtures on Wednesday and we will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Aston Villa - listen on the BBC Sport website and app

• Leicester v Crystal Palace - listen on the BBC Sport website and app

• Newcastle v Wolves - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Arsenal v Tottenham (20:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Image source, Getty Images

After Aston Villa completed the signing of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund, we asked for your views on on the new forward.

Here are some of your comments:

Damo: One of those players who was hyped as a huge talent when very young but has seemingly stagnated a bit. Quotes from Dortmund make it clear their relationship wasn't great. Unai Emery tends to target players with good attitude and usually manages to get the best from them, so this is his big shot now in his prime years. If he can find form he will be an invaluable option across the frontline.

Peter: Malen is definitely an upgrade on Jaden Philogene who has never really lived up to the expectations. Malen can play anywhere across the frontline and once he gets acquainted with the Premier League I expect him to be a useful addition to the squad, but we really need to bolster our defence.

Carl: He is some player if you can get him consistently performing to the standard he is capable of getting to. Could be a bargain.

Zak: Seen him play in person - don't know if he is better than Ollie Watkins, though. As well as that, he isn't consistent.

Richard: Looks like a good signing and it appears obvious Villa are open to offers for Jhon Duran if the money is right. He is seen by the other players as a great talent, but too disruptive to the team as a whole (think Paul Pogba).

Luke: Fantastic value, especially in January. Proven international and Champions League player who is a clear and necessary upgrade on Philogene. Hopefully Emery can help with his consistency. Even if the effect from his joining is to make Leon Bailey play better (as Moussa Diaby did), it is a win.

Marty: I guess most of us will be asking Donyell who? Mind you, it seems that he knows where the net is and now going to be interesting to see if we offload Duran for big bucks. Duran would be a loss but he is too wild and we can't afford the time for him to grow up. Recent recruitment hasn't been great and we've got out of jail with Philogene, so in Monchi we have to trust!

David Moyes is back in charge of Everton and has a really tough job on his hands. In terms of firepower, he is armed with a water pistol.

He has taken over a team which did not score enough goals under Sean Dyche. That was their biggest issue, and it is hard to see how Moyes can solve it with the same players that Dyche had.

With Jordan Pickford, James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite, Everton have got players who can hold them together at the back, but Moyes' conundrum is to increase their attacking threat, and that is going to be a struggle, especially in these early days.

Armando Broja is injured again so maybe Moyes can get a tune out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but that is something none of the the past few Everton managers have managed to do, and I have even seen him being linked with a move away.

I have got Aston Villa's Emi Martinez in my Fantasy team, and I see him as the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, but they always seem to concede silly goals.

So it is possible to get at Villa, I just don't see Everton managing it.

I don't like talking about myself much but my last goal as a professional footballer was a clever header in a Villa win over a Moyes' Everton team at Goodison Park, and I am going for the same outcome here.

Sutton's prediction: 0-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa needed to sell players last summer to comply, having reported a loss of £119m in their accounts up to 31 May 2023.

At the time, Villa said the figures were "in line with the strategic business plan" and within PSR, set by the Premier League.

In the early summer scramble to be compliant before 30 June, they sold midfielder Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42m and Moussa Diaby joined Saudi side Al-Ittihad for £50m, while they also allowed Tim Iroegbunam to leave for Everton for £9m and Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m.

Yet Diaby's signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a reported £51m and Spain centre-back Pau Torres from Villarreal for £31.5m, in July 2023, are included in these accounts.

Villa made a profit of £300,000 in their 2021-22 accounts, helped by the sale of England midfielder Jack Grealish to Manchester City for £100m.

However, Maguire said profit from that sale will be lost on the next three-year cycle of 2022-2025.

Villa voted against the introduction of PSR rules - which came into force in 2015-16 - while in June, co-owner Nassef Sawiris said he was considering legal action.

Sawiris told the Financial Times in the summer: "Some of the rules have actually resulted in cementing the status quo more than creating upward mobility and fluidity.

"The rules do not make sense and are not good for football."

Read more on how Premier League clubs kept to spending rules

Aston Villa have rejected a bid in the region of £40m from West Ham for striker Jhon Duran. (Talksport, external)

Celtic are one of several clubs interested in signing Villa forward Louie Barry on loan. (Sky Sports, external)

keen on Nurnberg striker Stefanos Tzimas, 19, with the Greek forward potentially available for about £20m and also attracting interest from Chelsea, Brighton and Liverpool. (Sky - in German, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game at Everton (kick-off 19: 30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery confirmed Pau Torres, John McGinn and Ross Barkley are unavailable. McGinn needs another week before he returns to training, Barkley will be "two- to-three weeks" and Torres a further six-to-eight weeks.

• On Villa's aims in the transfer window: "We are trying to do some movement. We are alert, and we always want to be ready to improve our squad with the players and of course sometimes as well, some players want to leave for different circumstances."

• With David Moyes taking charge of Everton for the first time since his return as manager, Emery noted: "The crowd and Everton players will be very motivated. We have to try and focus on our match and our gameplan."

• On Villa's away form given they have won only three of nine Premier League games on the road this season: "Playing away [has been] more difficult. Our challenge is how we can compete away, because the last matches that we have played away in the Premier League, we didn't get any points."

• He said the game provides a chance "to try to change the bad results we have achieved".

• Emery said in order for Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen to sign for Villa, Jaden Philogene must leave. He said: "Of course, it's a change. A clear change. One player leaving, one player joining us."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Everton v Aston Villa on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra from 19:25 GMT on Wednesday

David Michael
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The last two weeks of January will play an influential part in shaping Aston Villa's season.

First, Villa must address their away form, which is fast becoming a glaring issue. Ranked 14th in the Premier League for points gained on the road, their five consecutive away league losses have highlighted vulnerabilities that need addressing.

This week's trips to Everton and Arsenal present an immediate opportunity to reverse their fortunes. If Villa are serious about securing European football next season, they will be targeting at least three points from the two games.

A third consecutive away trip sees them travel to Monaco in the Champions League, in the first of their two concluding group games this month.

Currently sitting fifth in the Champions League table, Villa must aim for a minimum of four points that will hopefully secure a top-eight finish and a coveted last-16 spot.

Not only would this guarantee an extra 10m euro (£8.4m) in prize money, but it would also free up February's schedule of Champions League commitments. Otherwise, a congested calendar - including a potential 48-hour turnaround between an FA Cup tie against Tottenham and a European play-off game - could complicate and potentially derail Villa's progress on multiple fronts.

The January transfer window is also finally heating up. A deal for Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen has been reported as a done, but Villa will also be hopeful that PSR can be navigated and a move for at least one much-needed defensive reinforcement can be completed.

With so much at stake, these next two weeks are a pivotal step to increasing the stakes at the business end of Villa's season.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

Aston Villa have agreed a £19m deal to sign Netherlands forward Donyell Malen, 25, from Borussia Dortmund. (Athletic - subscription required, external)

Villa have also opened discussions with Sevilla as they look to sign 24-year-old France defender Loic Bade. (L'Equipe - in French, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

There has been a lot of talk about FA Cup replays being scrapped, which was done because of the expanded European competitions.

But there are still potential problems.

Aston Villa have been drawn at home to Tottenham in the fourth round.

Spurs play the previous Thursday - 6 February - at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg.

In theory, that means the FA Cup tie at Villa Park should be played on Sunday, 9 February or Monday, 10 February.

But the midweek that follows is for Champions League play-offs. If Villa find themselves outside the top eight, they may have to play on 11 February.

Villa can deal with it by maintaining their current fifth spot.

But if they do not, they will not know when their play-off is scheduled for until Friday, 31 January.

The draw for the FA Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

Games will be played over the weekend of 8 February.

• Manchester United v Leicester

• Brighton v Chelsea

• Exeter v Nottingham Forest

• Coventry v Ipswich

• Blackburn v Wolves

• Mansfield/Wigan v Fulham

• Birmingham v Newcastle

• Plymouth v Liverpool

• Everton v Bournemouth

• Aston Villa v Tottenham

• Southampton v Burnley

• Leyton Orient/Derby v Manchester City

• Doncaster v Crystal Palace

See the full draw

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Friday's FA Cup tie between Aston Villa and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Davey: Slow start and dire first half, and Irons got out the traps quickly with the Graham Potter bounce. Second half we were on it and Amadou Onana made a difference in midfield. Ollie Watkins industrious as ever! Good win on our 150 years.

Richard: In some ways, a great Villa performance. Able to adjust tempo now, and clearly adapt to opposition. Ian Maatsen went well. Great to see Jacob Ramsey fit again, and really pleased for Robin Olsen, who often draws the short straw. Ollie grew into things too. Not sure a long cup run is needed, but who knows. Like the anniversary shirt too.

Jason: One corner was given and a previous one wasn't. These things happen. The best team won in the end. UTV.

West Ham fans

Bill: Thought that the West Ham performance was much better than of late. Think we should have at least ended in a draw and chanced our luck with penalties. Shame the ref and linesman got it wrong to allow Villa to get their equaliser but that's football for you. I'm optimistic that the Hammers can push on in the Premier League now.

Stpehen: A significant and immediate improvement. High press in first half was effective but may have affected the team's last 20 minutes. The team's younger talent shone through, though it exposed a couple of the older members who will be gone by the end of the season. Great evening for Oliver Scarles and Crysencio Summerville. Even Lucas Paqueta seemed reinvigorated. Score not that relevant in this instance. Importance of clear language and instructions so important with managers. Well done, Potter.

Garry: I've been a West Ham fan through the dark times and good but Friday I saw a lot of positives and it was a typical game of two halves. First half, West Ham were good but the injuries took the sting out of the game and Villa took control. Overall, for a manger who only had little preparation with the team, the signs look good.

Image source, Getty Images

The FA Cup third round is well under way, with Premier League sides Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa the clubs already booking their places in the fourth-round draw with wins on Thursday and Friday.

But for other sides hoping for a healthy cup run this season, when will the draw take place?

The draw will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer following the conclusion of the Arsenal v Manchester United tie, which kicks off at 15:00 GMT on Sunday.

It will include 32 teams - with all third-round matches this weekend settled on the day - and the resulting ties will be played over the weekend commencing Saturday, 8 February.