Unai Emery delivered an early Christmas present for Aston Villa fans on Saturday, with a 2-1 win at Villa Park against a struggling Manchester City side. Listen in as Cole and Simon reflect on Saturday's victory, Jhon Durán's most complete performance in a Villa shirt and assess the true value of Emery's side.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A nearly complete performance for Aston Villa on Saturday; was that Villa's best performance of the season thus far?
• Jhon Durán's impact and complete performance.
• Just how good is Morgan Rogers?
• How mint is Youri Tielemans in the number 10 position?
• What should Villa fans make of Jack Grealish's hand gesture?
• Villa's smart transfer business and the evident benefits of it.
• Conor Hourihane's retirement; all the best to the Bandon Beckham!
• Right then folks; have a brilliant holiday season and we'll speak to you all again soon!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Champions League highs to lowly Premier League moments, it's been a mixed week for Aston Villa Football Club. Join Cole and Simon as the lads discuss the European/domestic balancing act that Villa continue to struggle with and try to figure out exactly why Emery's men continue to struggle defensively.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Nearly a perfect week, but it wasn't meant to be! What did the lads make of the week that was for Aston Villa?
• Will Villa figure out how to balance the Champions League and Premier League this season?
• Have Villa been found out in certain circumstances?
• Kamara's brilliance.
• Can Emery's men repeat last season's brilliant win over Manchester City at Villa Park on the weekend?
• This will annoy those Negative Nancy's on social media, but TRUST THE PROCESS!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The claret and blue machine is beginning to chug along nicely again ahead of yet another important week for the football club. With that in mind, Cole and Simon return after a brief spell on the sidelines to discuss the ebbs and flows of Villa's recent results, the Watkins/Duran 1-2 punch and the importance of Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Two wins in a row and Villa are back in the top 6! Funny old season, isn't it?
• The importance of maintaining perspective during the ups and downs of a season.
• Watkins and Duran, an underrated 1-2 punch!
• Mings and Kamara's importance to this Aston Villa side.
• Is Lucas Digne Villa's player of the season thus far?
• Anyone fancy a trip to Leipzig or Nottingham?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aston Villa are well and truly in a bit of a rough patch at the moment, with a self-inflicted loss to Brugge in the Champions League and a hard-fought loss to Liverpool in the Premier League. Join Cole and the returning Tom Nightingale as the lads try to put some perspective on Villa's recent form, look at the bigger picture, and try to decide which mythical claret and blue creature would win in a fight (yes, this was a debate).

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Well, Aston Villa are truly in a rut! How will they get out of it?
• From Mings' handball to conceding from your own corner-kick, what sort of mindset do the players currently have?
• The Watkins and Duran debate!
• Assessing Villa's consistently inconsistent wingers.
• Looking at the bigger picture, Unai Emery could turn this around potentially quickly, right?
• It's all about the mindset!
• Let's enjoy the ride this season, shall we?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In what will likely be the worst week of the season thus far from an Aston Villa perspective, Cole and Simon return to discuss Villa's dip in form as of late, squad rotation question marks, and look ahead to away trips to Brugge and Liverpool.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• 2 losses and 1 draw in the last three matches; what's gone wrong lately?
• Can squad rotation actually be a blessing and a curse?
• Aston Villa's winger conundrum.
• Should we be concerned about Matty Cash's ability to stay fit/healthy?
• Brugge and Liverpool away this week! How are we feeling?
• Let's enjoy the ride this season, shall we?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was yet another busy week for the mighty Aston Villa as Unai Emery's men improved to a 3-0 record in the Champions League and dropped two points against Bournemouth in the Premier League following a last second equalizer by the visitors. Listen in as Cole and Simon discuss Villa's balancing act between midweek and weekend fixtures, a worrying shift in mentality in the final moments of the Bournemouth match, and look ahead to another jam-packed week of Aston Villa goodness.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• 3-0 in the Champions League; who saw that coming, right?
• Should fans be concerned about Villa's weekend struggles following midweek matches?
• What really happened in the final moments of the Bournemouth match?
• Palace, Spurs, Brugge, and Liverpool up next! How confident are we feeling?
• Let's enjoy the ride this season, shall we?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another dreaded international break has ended and the mighty Aston Villa are back in business following a 3-1 win on the road against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Join Cole, Simon, and Seb as they discuss a healthy Villa squad, Youri Tielemans quietly churning out impressive performances, and look ahead to Tuesday's match against Bologna in the Champions League.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• It certainly wasn't an easy win on Saturday, but what did the lads make of the result at Craven Cottage?
• Aston Villa's best start to a Premier League season since 1998/1999; what can't Unai Emery do at this point?
• No slowing down for Morgan Rogers!
• Youri Tielemans' vital role in the Aston Villa midfield.
• A healthy squad, finally!
• How might Unai Emery approach Tuesday's match against Bologna?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

Sebastian Bacon: @SebastianBacon8

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's certainly been an interesting week for Aston Villa! Listen in as Cole and Tom return to discuss an emotional victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Sunday's sleepy draw against Manchester United, and reflect on strong start to the season for Unai Emery's men.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A real contrast in quality between the Bayern Munich win and Manchester United draw, but how do the lads feel about the week that was for Aston Villa?
• What does this draw against United say about this Villa team?
• Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League at Villa Park...does it still feel like a dream?
• The importance of matching expectations with reality.
• With injury bug popping up again, has the international break come at a good time?
• Let's just enjoy this brilliant Villa team, shall we?
• Let's remind ourselves how far this football has come under Unai Emery, shall we?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, Aston Villa certainily never do anything the easy way and Sunday's draw away at Ipswich Town was no different! Join Cole and Tom as they discuss Sunday's events at Portman Road, continuous defensive concerns, and look ahead to a massive clash against Bayern Munich at Villa Park on Wednesday.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Sloppy and defensive play mixed in with some moments of brilliance from Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers; what did the lads make of Sunday's draw?
• How should fans look at Aston Villa's defensive issues...blame injuries, defensive structure, the player's themselves?
• Why are Villa being sucked into opponents game plan's so easily at times?
• Shoutout to Rogers and Watkins!
• Bayern Munich on Wednesday...how massive will that game be at Villa Park?
• Should we expect to see any personnel changes on Wednesday?
• Let's remind ourselves how far this football has come under Unai Emery, shall we?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yet again, Aston Villa turn things around at Villa Park, with a 3-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Tune in as Cole, Tom, and Simon discuss Villa's impressive "Never say die!" mentality, Ross Barkley's impact, and the flexibility within the squad.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A first half to forget and a second half to savor! What did the lads make of events at Villa Park on Saturday?
• Is it safe to say that, in the early days of the season, Aston Villa truly are the real comeback kings?
• What can be made of Diego Carlos' first start of the season?
• Are Villa lacking control, especially from a defensive point of view, at times so far this season?
• It's time for a Ross Barkley love-in!
• How important has Villa's squad depth been so far and how important will it prove to be throughout this campaign?
• Onto Wycombe away! Who's feeling confident?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the first international break of the 2024/2025 season, Aston Villa returned to action with a thrilling 3-2 come from behind win over Sean Dyche's Everton. Listen in as Cole and Tom return to discuss Villa's defensive frailities, Jhon Durán's goal for the ages, and look ahead to Tuesday's visit to the Wankdorf in the Champions League.

You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in!

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• 15 minutes of defensive naivety lead to plenty of work to be done at the other end of the pitch; how concerning is Aston Villa's lack of defensive solidity?
• No Leon Bailey means a potentially big problem?
• Morgan Rogers' ruthlessness in front of goal will come!
• Youri Tielemans' impact
• A trip to the Wankdorf awaits in the Champions League!
• All of this and so much more! Enjoy the podcast and Up The Villa!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Tom Nightingale: @tdnightingale

EPISODE NOTES:

Thank you to our charity partner, Acorns Children’s Hopsice.

Donate today to support a fantastic charity: https://www.acorns.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.