The Remarkable Rise of Aston Villa

Five years ago, Aston Villa had just lost a Championship play-off final and were facing a winding-up order from HMRC over a £4 million unpaid tax bill.
Since then, Villa have won promotion to the Premier League, they finished seventh and qualified for Europe under Unai Emery last season, and now they're building upon that with the signings of Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Youri Tielemans.
So in this video, HITC Sevens takes a look at the turnaround at Villa Park, Villa's ambitious and super rich owners, and whether they could actually disrupt the so-called 'big six' long-term.

[@nathanb286]

When Unai Emery is at a club with “Villa” in their name, it is a guaranteed European trophy (Sevilla, Villareal)

[@bababababababa6124]

I need this man at West Villaham 😭

[@txlmu]

I want him at Tottenham Villaspur

[@EagleEyes77]

Great observation!🎉

[@greysouljr8913]

@@txlmu not Hot anymore, the owner got Criminal cases today

[@Smellybridge99]

@@greysouljr8913 Jude tampering with money...

[@sarveshravichandraniyer9661]

Thank you so much for recognizing the crazy progress that we've made at AVFC. I've been supporting them since 2009, so you've also got to remember that a slow decline began when Matin O'Neill departed in 2010. Houllier was of a lower caliber, and McLeish was a joke. In came Lambert in 2012, who did well initially but regressed, and orchestrated some of the worst displays I've ever seen from any team. His teams had no goal scoring threat. Sherwood went from having a clue with Benteke and Delph on fire, to having no clue at all in our worst season 2015-16, a true reflection of the slow decline since 2010. It was swiftly followed by the second worst season, that dour 13th placed finish in the Championship with losses and thrashings galore. All this was accompanied by nonsensical owners like Randy Lerner and Tony Xia, and some comical appointments like Tom Fox (We have a plan to reach Europe in five years!), Hendrik Almstadt and Roberto Di Matteo. To say that Villa resurged from THAT crisis is indeed an achievement. That's not mentioning the fact that they were one point off the relegation zone when Gerrard was sacked. That's also not mentioning the women's team who finished fifth this year with a record points total, and have made some very astute signings since 2020, none more than top scorer Daly. It's a great time to be a Villa fan, made even better if you were supporting the club during the McLeish and Lambert and Remi Garde and Di Matteo years. Failures make the taste of success much sweeter.

[@adriel68]

“We” you’re NOT on the team bro 💀

[@Josuke217]

​@@adriel68Fans are part of the club. Without fans , the club would be nothing.

[@youssefhmidi]

I'll never forget when you beat us 7-2😭

[@Josuke217]

@@youssefhmidi 😢 why did you remind me

[@pierfrancescocosta6336]

Wait, what went wrong with Di Matteo? I didn't even know he coached Villa...

[@shannonkeys8594]

Arsenal may not have been the club for unai emery however as a arsenal supporter would love to see the villa challenging for trophies. Unai emery is proven capable of doing such

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Cheers mate. It was the wrong time for Emery at Arsenal, like Moyes at Utd.

[@Clive-j9x]

trophies noone else really wanted :)

[@shannonkeys8594]

@user-xn4dq6wo7p if i wasn't an arsenal supporter I'd be Villa. Emery is proven coach just didn't have much fan support either.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? Rome Roma Ramenten Rakuten

[@ric112]

Never been so excited as a Villa fan, except for winning the playoff final and the 1996 League Cup win. NSWE saved our club

[@liamreynolds1247]

As a Villa fan, I just wanted to say well done (and thank you!) for the amount of research that went into this. Everything is bang on. Great video.

[@ric112]

Agree, except for not mentioning the ridiculous goal disallowed vs Palace which cost us 2 points, and only mentioning the ghost goal vs Sheff Utd :D

[@Stealthycarper-h1z]

@@ric112 I did think that

[@Stealthycarper-h1z]

@@ric112 everyone who isn't villa....and even some that are forget that

[@colt2128]

​@@ric112just shu up and be happy to be in the pl for that goal🤫😉

[@DarylSpykerman]

I’m a Spurs fan and I love what’s happening at Villa. All the best to them!

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

You guys need to get rid of Levy ASAP. He's damaged your club so badly.

[@DarylSpykerman]

@@lordvadertheleftie9703 need a mad mad offer for ENIC/Levy to accept.

[@iamnanirandom2158]

Worry about your own crappy club

[@DarylSpykerman]

@@iamnanirandom2158 worrying doesn't help. I'd rather watch HITC.

[@Akssks584]

Don’t sell us harry Kane please

[@jameshoward-white2288]

That disallowed goal was football Karma, after a last-minute goal scored by Villa against Palace was unbelievably disallowed. Costing Villa a point... but no one remembers that.

[@WoodenChickenHead]

The Sheffield United incident was in the first half of our 29th game of the season. People now describe it as a reverse Aguerooooo moment. It’s weird how the lie becomes the truth sometimes isn’t it?

[@uriustosh]

A manager like Emery paired with smart recruiting and even a budget like Aston Villa should be able to do real damage. Will Villa become a permanent top 4 club under Emery? Maybe not, but 3rd-7th should be expected to remain consistent, with constant qualification to one of the European tournaments. More importantly than that, Emery brings any team he manages a serious shot at winning these European competitions, with a sterling, historic track record.

[@KyronBuggy-mb7og]

A budget 😂😂 were one of the Richest teams in the league and world 👍. Up the villa

[@John-f1e1h]

​@KyronBuggy-mb7og no where near being the richest in the league, definatly not the world 😂

[@John-f1e1h]

​@@KyronBuggy-mb7og10th richest pl club.. which means you're maybe top 50 richest clubs, before the Saudi league was approved to spend 13billion over the next 10 years, I'd say 60th 70th richest club in the world, behind West ham, Leicester [even after relegation]

[@timsmith1323]

⁠@@KyronBuggy-mb7ogyou could be the richest mate but unless you’re making enough to spend then it’s a moot point which it already is since villa have a mid table income

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Mate, anything in the top half is good. We're not the same team as we were under Little or Big Ron

[@ItsJesssee]

Villa has always been a big club but they were sleeping giants for years now Unai seems to be taking the club in the right direction

[@jordan_roadhouse4798]

Purslow is the real G here.

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

​@@jordan_roadhouse4798Purslow did do a good job tbf we've out grown him hence he's not at the club anymore but he did a good job just the Gerrard debacle really

[@temporaryuseraccount0012]

​@@dennisgoatimer1079 ... Exactly. Both he and Dean Smith did what was needed for the club, at the time. But they both took us as far as they could. The owners recognise when to step up to the next level, in order to continue to progress.

[@stevenmcguinness4751]

Villa a Sleeping Giant 😂😂😂😂😂

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

@@stevenmcguinness4751 we were one yes

[@joebees21]

As a Villa fan I'm not used to this at all. Long may it continue.

[@1780liam]

Alfie as a villa fan I loved the video! However, the Hawkeye non goal is very misleading that it kept us up.. it happened in the first half, a goal would of changed the game and no way to say we would of definitively lost. More importantly, the Lansbury last second goal Vs palace wrongly ruled out, described by eome pundits as “the worst decision ever seen in the prem”, literally robbed us of a point! So if the Sheffield united non goal gained us a point, the palace non goal lost us one. No advantage for us overall 👍

[@JohnLovesSpain]

Adsolutely bang on 100% correct comment. The media conveniently forget this fact. Cheers, from a Division one champions and European cup Villa fan veteran/ Fupported them since the late 60's as a kid. I am looking forward to the same success that we had in the early 80's again - UTV

[@leonleon3267]

I'm not a villa fan but you can see they made the right choice in manager in emery, the man has a good track record and villa have some good players it will be interesting to see what they can do in the coming season

[@mateoblesses5091]

Not a Villa fan or any club from the Prem for that matter but this video was unbelievably well made! Keep up the amazing work

[@minchin6924]

was at that playoff final loss and honestly it felt like that might’ve been the end at the time, but ever since it’s just got better and better. makes you think a lot about derby who we beat to get back to the prem who are more where we could’ve been

[@rafscrib]

I think it was a blessing in disguise that we didn’t get promoted against Fulham, because if we had tony xia would have still been owner and we would be no were,

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

It's a blessing in disguise with hindsight not only we wasn't ready but Tony Xia would be the owner and given what happened to him not to long after NSWE came in that's a big mess to put it lightly.

[@temporaryuseraccount0012]

It's crazy to think that Derby are now playing down in the 3rd tier of English football. Traditionally, they're a club which has spent most of their time between the top two divisions. They are currently going through one of their club's worst periods. I'm sure they'll bounce back eventually.

[@seandelap8587]

Aston Villa are surely the biggest club by quite a distance that haven't participated in the Champions league since 1993 if you take other clubs that are a similar size to them they all have played in the CL on at least one occasion but Villa have yet to do so which does show the scale of their underachievement

[@Clive-j9x]

forest havent obviously and have won it twice as often as villa, so thats just wrong

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

Even Everton finished top 4, we last did that in 1996

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

​@@Clive-j9xwe're a bigger club then Forest fella

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

​@@lordvadertheleftie9703they ain't bigger but cool

[@robfortune6]

I used to travel to school in a taxi and for a while the driver was an Aston Villa fan, he's a nice man and although I haven't seen him in years, I'm sure he's very excited at the moment, all the best to him

[@matthsewsmith]

Thanks alfie, I’ve been working a job that is tough on me mentally, and watching these videos In the morning really helps me to stabilize and breathe

[@ShaunHopkinsAVFC]

Damn right we’re back. Emery has the wheel and is steering us to the top. I’ve been waiting since 1990 for this to happen, and the ride has been fantastic so far

[@1307PSON]

Fantastic video mate! The last 5 years of being a Villa fan has been wild, looks like an exciting season ahead 💜💙

[@zachcomposto535]

As a Villa fan, a big reason for our success is Emi Martinez. Always in the right spot, and great at distribution and on ball skills for a goalie. The perfect goalkeeper for Unai Emery’s system

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

The key for me is the character of the players which goes back to Dean Smith picking personalities people with the growth mindset which does include Emi of course but basically all the lads were his signings or had some great gems from Brucey like McGinn

[@Ben_B_Artist]

and it just keeps getting better! UTV!

[@LiamJonesy]

I have never been more excited and confident in a manager more then Emery, hopefully some good years ahead

[@dvdv8197]

Astonishingly Villainous plans by those two billionaires!

[@bababababababa6124]

Oh lord 😂😂😂

[@aaanawaleh]

Good deep dive into Villa's rise. Hope they can sustain this over the next few years and pick up some silverware like the fa cup and conference league, will be a bit tough tho with all the big teams improving (besides city).

[@Thornz_1]

As a villa fan I am buzzing about next season, for years now it’s been so aggravating as we couldn’t ever build on any ‘progress’ we made. If when Gerard left last season you would have even offered me top ten I would have bitten your hand off but now we are looking for at least europa league but really champions league. In Unai we trust💙💜

[@ellejones2342]

As a spurs fan I'm loving villa atm, watched all there pre season games and they look very very good

[@revilo9725]

I never get carried away in the honeymoon periods. Next season will be telling for them. Definitely interested in seeing how Diaby does in the prem.

[@Clive-j9x]

absolutey agree. how many top 4 club players do they really have

[@lordvadertheleftie9703]

OMG! A video about us on HITC, I never thought I'd see the day. Thank you so much buddy, been following your channel for years - I remember when you first started

[@ogbmt]

Exquisite thumnail Alfie!

[@EagleEyes77]

13 years, and it took Unai Emery to take them there? That man is a great coach.

[@darrenwoolley8433]

Thank you for doing this I've really enjoyed watching this absolutely brilliant it's good to highlight how we have bounced back from our Championship years. UTV

[@F1Krazy]

In honour of the England U21s winning the Euros, can you do a "Where are they now" video for the England starting XI at the 2009 Euro U21s final? There's a fascinating mix of future England superstars, players who never quite made the full England team, and players I've genuinely never heard of.

[@Clive-j9x]

which england stars?

[@sithvsjedi9696]

Aston Villa are former European Champions. The top European title too. Forever they will be a special club. And no I'm not a Villa fan.

[@stevenmcguinness4751]

They were a one hit wonder though, never competed at the level before or since, relegated within 5 years of winning the European Cup.

[@MossyDoesComedy]

Nah Alfie that thumbnail is too much man! 😂

[@kimbob5]

As a Villa very I really appreciated this, well researched and very fair when given your own takes.

[@darthplagueis8886]

The Villa Park expansion which will take it to 50k plus stadium will be massive for their future.

[@J-CG]

Completely forgot they signed Tielemans! Torres, Diaby and Tielemans is insane really when you think that all 3 have been linked to some massive clubs over the last few years. No offence to Villa but you know what i mean. Hope they do well next season

[@gurururuwarararara8164]

The fact they will have Torres and Carlos in defence is insane. I think they will be really difficult to get past and score against, with Martinez in goal as well it's likely they won't concede a lot

[@qasimdin7438]

​@@gurururuwarararara8164Carlos wont play much most likely torres with mings/konsa

[@temporaryuseraccount0012]

We know what you mean alright ... Villa are MASSIVE!!! 😂

[@temporaryuseraccount0012]

@@qasimdin7438 We'll have to see as the season progresses and Carlos' recovery and fitness improves. Either way, it's a good problem to have ... finally, options and strength in depth.

[@arranmorgan]

HITC, you're better than that, the Hawkeye incident happened in the 42nd minute, Villa could have gone on to win that game 3-1, basic physics, and 3 late goals against Sheffield United isn't unprecedented. But when Henry Lansbury's goal at Crystal Palace was ruled out by Kevin Friend; it was virtually the last kick of the game.

[@Marshall3034]

The geezer doing the video sounds like a proper fuckin nerd man. That's tough.

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

I remember that daylight robbery the cheek of him to say it was simulation

[@007ryanwilliams]

Villa won Europe after all, where they are now is where their fans probably expect them to be. Easily in the top 10 biggest sides in England, and probably one of the most exciting sides rn, best of luck to them on building upon what they've got.

[@andrewhoward9096]

My favorite football KZbinr talk my favorite club, im so happy

[@flamesmg]

Great video! As a Villa fan couldn't be more excited to the future for them. UTV!

[@jacksmith5995]

Love this video bro nice to see someone talking about villa in more than an honourable mention style

[@batmanstoenail1160]

Really insightful video, top quality as always

[@Viewsonic61]

As a lifelong Villa fan it’s great to see such a thoughtful and well researched piece about our great club. With Unai Emery at the wheel the so called big 6 should be looking over their shoulder because once this juggernaut of a club starts rolling there will be no stopping us! I really don’t think top 4 is out of reach for us this season either. UTV

[@cfexplorations9583]

As a villa fan thanks so much for this video as we barely get a mention by most of the media and youtube.

[@ciaranwalshe_vocalist]

Thank you for this video. I’m a life long Villa fan and it’s nice to see some appreciation of just how much we’ve achieved in 5 years. I’m mixed on purslow. His decision to bring in 3 players to replace Jack, while not the wrong players per se, created a huge Amount of pressure on those players, and his appointment of Gerard is more than a blot, it is tactically inept. However you can’t ignore the incredible work he did to get us to this point and the Villa women’s team, but then there’s also the rumour that the BK8 sponsor was his deal. So mixed bag says it all. In the era of megarich trigger happy owners NSWE have proved themselves and done us proud, every decision except Gerard and BK8 has been thought through, considered with fans and legacy in mind and generous. We just have so much love to give for the club, and the expansion of the north stand looks so exciting. Big times ahead.

[@silvanow8768]

You’ve achieved fuck all you’ve just got European football for first time in a while despite spending £100 million a season on players since the 19/20 season that’s piss poor, Newcastle have done WAY better than Villa have

[@veego_utv]

Brilliant vid, covered to many topics with detail of our great club.

[@factus6]

Up the mighty VILLA! great analysis of recent years. I have been a fan since they had Guzan and I must say there is something amazing about this club!

[@deborahluck539]

A great video, as always. All the best from Las Vegas (Lost Wages)!!!!!

[@mayjowish]

Im convinced unai plays career mode, i signed all of them at one point playing career mode throughout the past 3 years.

[@kaihiggins725]

As a Newcastle fan we ain't looking over our shoulders nervously. Both us and Villa are here to smash the big 6 to pieces

[@geraldbutler5484]

I’m a Villa fan ole enough to know of the legend of Wor Jackie. He’s hoping we break the big six apart!

[@glennb6020]

Thought you Newcastle fans hated Villa in that weird one sided rivalry where the Geordies couldn’t take fan banter.

[@kaihiggins725]

@@glennb6020 I mean both fanbases don't like each other but I ain't arsed. Only clubs i hate are Sunderland, Leeds and Liverpool

[@kaihiggins725]

@@geraldbutler5484 totally. Spurs to be gone by clubs who may actually win stuff

[@deejay5224]

Well said. It's up us lot to shake things up.

[@sushilbhandari4068]

King of beautiful transitions

[@ozgerm]

Thank you for the great video. Really enjoyed watching it. UTV

[@ShaneRByse-ci7cb]

I am Absolutely looking forward to the next season .Emery's first full season with Aston Villa ,he really does do his homework on the opposition & the European success he has achieved is with mid ranked teams . He has been given full support by the owners .In the past there has been a lack of cohesive team-work / disagreement between owners & managers for example In the Martin O Neil era & Ron Saunders era they both did not get on with owners/Directors .But from what I am seeing here is very different . Also perhaps an interesting game was 4 ago in the Championship v Birmingham City ,Jack Grealish taking a punch from behind of a Birmingham fan ,then going on to score the only goal 2nd half. Prince William is a huge fan as well as Tom Hanks .

[@seandelap8587]

I've always regarded Aston Villa as the biggest sleeping giants in English football i mean they have a massive fanbase come from a huge catchment area and are the biggest club in their locality aswell unlike say Spurs for example so there's always been huge potential for success but apart from sporadic success since their early dominance of the game well over a century ago they have never quite reached the heights in the manner that you might have expected or had a sustained peried of success and whether that changes in the future is yet to be seen

[@aryamanmani4025]

Spurs are a London-based club such an awful comparison.

[@Clive-j9x]

thats daft. Forest are bigger in world footbal by quite a way

[@ParksandPosh]

Leeds, Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday would be to differ. Similar fan base sizes and all much more sleeping clubs than villa at the moment. Leeds went from champions league semi finalists to spending more time in league on than that prem in the past 20 years. Sheffield Wednesday (and derby for that matter) were pulling in 27,000 fans a game in league one. No other 3rd tier club in another country are close to that

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

​@@Clive-j9xthey ain't bigger

[@connor4435]

Love the video but my only note is that we are actually the 6th most successful if you only count major honours and ignore the community shield which is a glorified friendly

[@Darkheist8819]

just to clarify, he has no controling stake in the Portuguese club Vitoria SC. They bought 46% shares of the club, but later due to UEFA regulations for european competitions, they went down to 29% shares owned. Great video tho

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

Yea a joke if I must say but we ain't in the favourite column for UEFA

[@duarte48afonso]

Just a heads up, the correct name is not Vitória de Guimarães, it's Vitória Sport Clube. We are not really fond of when people call us that as our city isn't in the club's name. It would be like constantly referring to Arsenal as Arsenal London. Also Aston Villa's owners do not have a controlling stake in our club, they bought 46% of the club and getting 2/5 board seats, so not a majority. After we both qualified for the conference league UEFA forced them to reduce their share to 30% and to give up the board seats and forbid transfers between the clubs so now they have even less control now. Weird how they do that to us but Brighton and Union Saint Gilloise didn't have that issue, or the Red Bull clubs when they played against each other, shows how UEFA has double standards

[@ruthlessalbo6113]

Chelsea fan but been watching Villa play since 2017 and couldn’t be happier for them. Grealish had me cheering for them and still do

[@markhemming318]

No club has a history like the this wonderful club of ours. We created the concept of competitive football.

[@Clive-j9x]

thats just ignorant. Forest are what 30 miles away ? older, achieved more global branding , fame and trophies. how can you not be aware of thst lol

[@markhemming318]

@@Clive-j9x Who is the ignorant one? Forest haven't won more trophies, do your research properly. We are by far a bigger club in terms of geography and attendances. We have won more titles, more FA cups and as many League cups. If you're coming at me, come correct.

[@stevenmcguinness4751]

What an embarrassing comment, literally Man City won more major Trophies in the 22/23 than Villa have in the last 100 years, there are 6 clubs in England with bigger Trophy History. The idea Villa can claim a bigger History than Liverpool or Utd is insane.😂😂😂

[@markhemming318]

@@stevenmcguinness4751 You understand the concept of history, right? I'm not referring to modern day football. I'm stating the fact that we were the greatest club of the early era of competitive football . Villa Park, the favourite ground of many a player, even when empty still roars with the roars of all those Holte - Enders in the sky. And let me tell you this, nowhere in the history of Aston Villa is that name tainted. Without the foresight of that great man William McGregor, the teams you mentioned would have no trophies. Now go and google that name, you ignoramus!

[@jackpougher6866]

As someone who watches every Villa game, I find that stat about Watkins extremely surprising. He hits shots on target, but often right at or within the goalkeepers reach. He’s a very good striker, but in a sense I’ve always felt that he should actually put more chances away then he actually does even if the shot is on target.

[@villatrinity3518]

I agree, but wouldn't say he's a good striker, he's okay, misses too many for me I don't trust him to put the big chances away in tight games. Works hard for the team though.

[@jackwilcox5811]

I will argue that nongoal vs Sheffield united. We were denied a clear goal vs palace earlier in the season that would have drawn the game so we finished with the points we should have

[@47michaelcooper]

greatest thumbnail ever from this channel

[@zimcoder]

What a well put together video.. 👌

[@alexsmith6322]

For me, your comments at the end really nailed it there’s just too many other teams with too many resources for them to really breakthrough in the way that many would love to see. You mentioned Tottenham and Chelsea, having no Europe and showed Klopp on the screen lol that’s three teams that are all objectively better (maybe not chelsea they truly have so many unknowns right now) and can outspend them as well. Those squads are better equipped to compete on multiple fronts than villa are and they don’t even have that difficulty added this season. Unfortunately I don’t see them finishing any higher than 8th in the coming season, and with that being the upside, the downside is like 14th-15th or basically what they typically do over the last 10 years. I think that’s a real possibility, just based on variability alone, not even taking their performance into account, usually the 9-13 or 14th teams in the table are hardly separated by anything. Sure it’s possible that three big clubs underperform to the level that they did this season but that’s extremely unlikely, we’ve seen mass suckitude by big teams one other time in the last 10 seasons (the Leicester year). It just doesn’t seem likely that so many big clubs will drop points, or that even one of the three will drop *as many* as they did last season. The reality is just that for some of these teams to break through it necessitate the other club to drop out of work and I don’t know anyone who thinks that any of them, save for mayyyyyyyyyyyybe spurs, is truly at risk of that happening. And that sucks. But seems to be the way it is now

[@Lioness_UTV]

I agree that the competition is at its highest for not just top 4 but top 8 spots. No matter what anyone says though we are an interesting dark horse to keep an eye on. We have two main obstacles to navigate. First is managing the addition of Europe games. And second, having a squad deep enough and skilled enough to manage the addition games and Prem challenges. Speaking of challenges, we need to picking up where we left last season 3rd in table based on stats. I mention that as its the bar we will need to meet to have an opportunity at the top spots. As the great Ron Saunders said when we were the underdogs for the League "I wouldn't bet against us..."

[@GuitarJammerJohn]

Have you looked at how many players have left those teams though and Villa’s owners have very similar wealth to them. Half of Liverpool’s squad have left for the Saudi league Chelsea have sold so many players and are looking to bed in youth players to the team which will take time and Spurs will probably loose Harry Kane. Also the league position may not be as important if Villa win the conference league which there is a strong possibility they will.

[@aryamanmani4025]

A club would need some insane consistency to overtake the big 6. Spurs have made European football for 14/15 years, the same with Arsenal prior to this last season. They tend to find a way to always be there.

[@cage94123567890]

@@GuitarJammerJohn Owner wealth is irrelevant compared to revenue. There is no way Villa come close to Liverpool or spurs in that regard. If all it was about was owner's money, Newcastle would have already run away from the rest making it like the spanish league, just with "oil classico" instead of el classico.

[@GuitarJammerJohn]

@@cage94123567890 it is about wealth if it’s spent correctly Newcastle are already in the top 4 that’s pretty fast progression to me you can’t just buy everyone and get to the top anyway as we’ve seen from Chelsea it doesn’t work. That wasn’t really my main point though my main point is that I think all those teams look like they’ll be weaker this season not stronger. Though time may tell for the youth players at Chelsea and it might come good but we’ll have to wait and see.

[@HCpsycho]

Aston Villa will win the league cup and get top 6 this season, that is my prediction

[@filipnielsen1000]

I’m honestly worried they’re gonna slumb just like last time they splashed in the summer. Diaby could (hopefully) be a baller. He could also be another Bailey. Tielemans was underwhelming last year, and Pau Torres could have difficulties settling in the PL. I hope I’m wrong but this could be very good or very bad.

[@FariqSniff]

Unai Emeri the goat

[@Bulskee]

With the addition of Diaby and potentially Doku, that will take some of the pressure off of Watkins to score all the goals

[@richardlawes2697]

Villa didn't survive thanks to the goal line mistake. The league table without VAR showed we were done dirty many times, and would have finished 2 places higher

[@samdixon8418]

Spot on. The disallowed Lansbury goal against Palace was equally bad.

[@vrocco1395]

this might be the best thumbnail in hitc sevens history

[@jambo2502]

Ok fantastic round up, think you really understood our struggles well. Only thing I'd say, unless you're doing it to troll us a bit. The VAR decision didn't keep us up, truth is , it's impossible to say for or against that. It wasn't our final game, far from that. Therefore not really a valid point and something that will trigger many a Villa fan, especially given someone of the horrible calls against us even with VAR that season that cost us that same point at least.

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

Just a note that was Hawkeye not VAR nothing they could do just like nothing they could do with Kevin Fraud denying us a equaliser against Palace

[@RegiiSauce]

The one thing you have to ask yourself is where would Villa be if that goal had stood for Sheffield United but goal line technology was turned off 🤷‍♂️

[@jamie4754]

That thumbnail is a thing of beauty

[@Stratega1982]

Awesome video. Thanks Alfie.

[@Brickhazard]

Getting rid of that fraud scouser slippy G and bringing in one of the worlds best managers is what has caused the rise of Aston Villa who have always been a massive club. Bigger than plastic City and all the gear no idea Spurs anyway.

[@vh99_]

You got me with the genius Thumbnail 😉

[@JohnHarada17]

Who's into the Champions League now?! We have done it.

[@mariolis]

Well, as an Olympiacos fan, I wish you guys all the best in your champions league run, But personally, I would take winning the Conference League over participating in the Champions any day of the week ...

[@Agee1]

Still not convinced Villa will do much for the upcoming season. Conference league will take a toll

[@michaelfraser1073]

Emery’s job at Aston Villa has to be one of the best manager jobs of all time.

[@nathanjgtaylor1985]

Great video, UTV!

[@mertnnatzpage7314]

English game needs a strong villa good traditional English club side💜💙⚽

[@Rika101OfficialYT]

They have evolved since the day a certain Ghanaian called them Aston Village.

[@james1249]

This is the best video you’ve ever made

[@omarschrouder614]

Sevens making a villa video. I'm in heaven. UTV

[@SurferWilly]

I wasnt following Aston Villa. Then one day I checked the PL table and I really thought that the site crashed for seeing Aston Villa being amongst the top teams on the table. True story

[@gettobythesea]

Remarkable rise until they finish mid table this season and their best players move onto champions league clubs. That defensive high line they play will be the undoing of Emery IMO.

[@RayzaNC]

clueless

[@YouAimYourArrowsHigh]

I've been a Newcastle fan since the 06-07 season, and my resounding memory of Villa was them ruining their bedsheets to put on a Newcastle Relegation party in 09. At the time, there was literally no rivalry between the clubs, geographically or in terms of fighting for the same places in the table. Seemed very odd and the behaviour of a club with very little else to celebrate. The same thing happened in 2015 when they all brought beachballs to interrupt the game in a relegation six-pointer. I'm all one for banter but that all seemed very odd, like we were Birmingham City not some club hundreds of miles up the road. But in general, it's nice to see both teams at the other end of the table now; disrupting the status quo of the 'super league 6'. Matchday 1 promises to be a belter and a very tough game at St James'.

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

It was just banter take it as a compliment

[@andymurday4538]

Newcastle United will challenge. Aston Villa not so much.

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

@@andymurday4538 nice joke

[@YouAimYourArrowsHigh]

@@dennisgoatimer1079 combined Newcastle - Villa XI... GO!

[@dennisgoatimer1079]

@@YouAimYourArrowsHigh Martinez Mings Pau Konsa Moreno Luiz Kamara/Tielemans Diaby Watkins Ramsey not a single Newcastle player gets into the Villa squad

[@ebohjustin1016]

Love the thumbnail Alfie Great content as well

[@ajbrannigan4223]

Propagating the Shef Utd myth again. That happened in the first half of the game, not the last minute. For balance you would also have to highlight the goal ruled out against Palace for absolutely no reason that would have seen Villa 3 points better off.

[@HITCSevens]

What makes the hawk-eye different is that it wasn't just your usual bad decision, but something that it literally shouldn't be possible to get wrong now due to technology. Obviously decisions go for and against teams all season, and Villa wouldn't necessarily have been relegated had that goal counted, but I think that's what makes it stand out.

[@jeffrman777]

Not gonna lie, Villa looking really solid so far. Can't wait for this season to start.

[@heitaeek1089]

Pau Torres is an excellent player can't wait to see him play

[@paulgilliland2992]

Ming’s is a big lad . Didn’t think he was as tall and broad standing next to Emery he looks massive.

[@koffeebeanz]

Great video as per, UTV!

[@kurtmcfc1629]

I'm convinced Alfie slows down the audio to increase run time.

[@zioreturnsgaming]

Day 61 Dream OFC XI all the OFC teams played as one nation in international Football not giving up on this

[@SohamMajumderr]

Than You for this.

[@matthewwalters7110]

Brilliant video!

[@michaelfisher7159]

All time great thumbnail there 😂

[@CraigABuchanan]

Villa fan here… I wouldn’t call the sacking of Stevie G as “swift”. They gave him more time than they gave Deano… Purslow was pressured because the fans were so close to turning