Between a loss to AS Monaco and draw against West Ham United, it was a frustrating week for Aston Villa, with more questions than answers being posed. Join Cole, Tom and Simon as the lads reflect on Champions League priorities, centre-back concerns and Jhon Durán's future.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Aston Villa's Champions League/Premier League balancing act struggles continue, but what did the lads make of it?
• Importance of Jacob Ramsey's strike against West Ham.
• Goodbye Diego Carlos! Was selling the Brazilian the right call?
• With a potential injury to Tyrone Mings, how important is the January transfer window now?
• Can we safely rule out a sale of Jhon Durán this month and what does his future look like heading into the summer?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

Simon O'Regan: @SiORegan

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.

Aston Villa remain undefeated in 2025 following an away win over Everton and comeback draw against Arsenal. Join Cole and Simon as the lads discuss an important week for the football club, the brilliance of Ollie Watkins and the importance of the Lucas Digne/Ian Maatsen left-back rotation.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A massive week for Unai Emery's Aston Villa! What did the lads make of clashes against Everton and Arsenal?
• With only 2 losses out of the last 11 matches, are Villa already on a promising run of form?
• Is it fair to say that Villa look a bit more structured in 2025?
• Why is there always criticism around Ollie Watkins' performances?
• The importance of the Lucas Digne/Ian Maatsen rotation.
• What can Donyell Malen bring to the football club?

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 marked their 150th anniversary match with a win over West Ham United in the third round of the FA Cup on Friday and with that, perhaps the potential for a bit of cup magic seeps into the hopes and dreams of Villa fans alike. Join Cole and Seb as the lads reflect on a historic night at Villa Park, look ahead to a massive week and discuss the latest transfer comings and goings at the football club.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• Friday night's festivities at Villa Park certainly had mixed reviews amongst Villa supports, but what did Seb make of it all?
• An Aston Villa performance that certainly required patience; what did the lads make of it?
• Does Youri Tielemans need a rest and more importantly, can Villa afford to make that decision?
• Emi Buendia's impact.
• What could additions to Villa's right-hand side mean for Matty Cash and Leon Bailey?
• Ah, the magic of the FA Cup! How are we all feeling heading into the fourth round?
• With Everton and Arsenal coming up, how big of a week is this for the football club?

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

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.

Unai Emery's Aston Villa began 2025 with three points in the bag ahead of a busy month filled with Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup action. Listen in as Cole and Tom return to discuss an ugly, but important win over Leicester City at the weekend, Leon Bailey's redemption arc and look ahead to, what most Villa fans will hope is the start of a magical FA Cup run (we know how this usually goes, don't we?) against West Ham United on Friday.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A perfect start to 2025 in terms of points secured, but a less than convincing win; sometimes you just need to take an ugly win and move on, right?
• Ian Maatsen's instant impact.
• Leon Bailey's road to redemption and what this means for his Aston Villa career.
• Ross Barkley, an undervalued impact player?
• What is/should be Villa's biggest priority in the January transfer window?
• Villa haven't experienced much FA Cup magic in the last decade or so, but could that begin to turn around against West Ham on Friday?

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.

It certainly wasn't the end to 2024 that Aston Villa fans were hoping for, with a loss away at Newcastle United and a hectic draw against Brighton, which leaves fans heading into 2025 with more questions than answers. Tune in as Cole and Seb discuss officiating blunders, defensive concerns and try to look positively into a new year that surely will be filled with more Villa-related action.

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

WHAT DO WE DISCUSS?

• A difficult loss on the road and a frustrating draw at Villa Park to round out 2024; does the last few days perfectly summarize Aston Villa's season thus far?
• Officiating in England is just appalling, isn't it?
• Defensively, why are Villa such a mess?
• Tyrone Mings' impact and role in the team.
• Are fans relying on some January transfer magic a little too much?
• Looking ahead to, hopefully, a positive 2025!

STAY CONNECTED:

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @HoltecastPod

Cole Pettem: @TalkAstonVilla

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.

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.