Premier League Preview: The fans’ view – Aston Villa | OneFootball

Ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season we spoke to fans of all 20 clubs to get their views on the upcoming campaign.

Here, we chatted about all things Aston Villa.

What lessons need to be learned from last season?

That it’s a squad game. It’s no coincidence that our form picked up across the run-in, after improving our options with Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen.

A sticky point across the winter ultimately cost us Champions League football before the new arrivals added fresh energy. Sadly, business has been minimal over the summer…

What’s your view on the manager?

One of the very best in the business. It’s easy to forget just how dire things were when he took over. But for a dodgy decision on the final day, we’d have been celebrating Champions League football in back-to-back seasons. These are the best times we’ve had in a long time and he is the driving force behind it.

What’s your verdict on the transfer window so far?

Frustrating. It’s hard not to feel as if we’ve got our noses pressed against the Premier League’s glass ceiling when it comes to PSR. We’ve followed the Chelsea route in juggling around the women’s team to free funds but it still feels very much like our hands are tied.

Whether some want to admit it or not, PSR does have a purpose. I’m not quite as pitchforks out for the ‘Big Six Cartel’ as others, but there definitely needs to be some tweaks to the system allow ambitious clubs like ours a genuine chance to catch up.

That said, the recent recruit of Evann Guessand looks exciting. Having him and Morgan Rogers skipping past challenges could be a cheat code for Emery this season.

One player to watch from your club this season is?

Donyell Malen. The Dutchman seems to have the bit between his teeth in pre-season after last campaign’s snub from the Champions League squad. The arrival of Guessand has threatened his place again but he looks up for the fight.

The most underrated player at your club is…

Boubacar Kamara – but not by those inside Villa Park. Amid our PSR issues, I’m amazed that no club has tried their luck to sign him. Tying him down to a new long-term deal was our best signing of the summer. He’s crucial.

The game you’re most looking forward to is…

Newcastle United on the opening weekend. Not only is it the return of the Premier League, but a genuine match-up against a direct rival. We either roll them over or get battered in recent meetings, with no in between. Let’s hope it’s the former this time around!

What opposition player do you secretly admire?

Not much of a secret but I’ll go with Eberechi Eze. He was magnificent when Crystal Palace beat us in last season’s FA Cup semi-final.

This season your team will finish…

My heart says top four and head says top six. We appear more settled than a lot of the teams around us, so hopefully that bodes well. Champions League football back at Villa Park is what we all want. Getting there by winning the Europa League would be fine, too.

Read – Every new Premier League kit ahead of the 2025/26 season so far

See more – How many Community Shield winners go on to win the title?

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