Match Thread Aston Villa 0-1 Everton. Sunday 18th January 2026 @ 16:30

[Drico]

Old school goal poacher. After i typed that i gave it a bit more thought. Are there many of them about today given how its now a prefered lone forward. Even Gary lineker. The putting the ball in the net hasnt changed but what you have to do playing one up front has. Would lineker suit playing up front on his own.

Johan Cruyff thought he was best on the wing...

It's interesting how formations have changed over the years. When I grew up watching our 80s side, it was always two strikers - a partnership up front. We had Heath and Sharp, Gray and Sharp, and Lineker and Sharp. Cottee and McAvennie was the feared Hammers variant. Rush and Dalglish, of course, was legendary. Archibald and Crooks, Withe and Shaw, Mariner and Brazil...

I almost feel like I sleptwalked through the last 40 years. One up front would have been considered massively defensive in the days of peak Serie A when the greatest strikers in the world struggled to score. Indeed, there was a reason Maradona and Platini dominated the scoring charts in Italy rather than Rummenigge or Elkjaer. The front-man was marked to within an inch of his life. You needed to go further out the pitch to see any freedom. In England, this would have been considered cowardy defensive nonsense. Nowadays, few strikers in England score many goals. Most of the summer signings have flopped...for everyone.

I'm actually not convinced that one up-front is here to stay. I think, like long throws, two-men strike forces will slowly return...and be heralded as innovative tactical masterstrokes when they do...

 

[boothill]

Villa have only lost 2 league home games in 2 years and have the best league home win percentage across Europes 5 leagues. So I don't think it unreasonable for us to be confident for this game particularly as Everton won't be at full strength.
Disappointed to see so many don't like Villa comments, always liked Everton myself not quite sure what we ever done to make a lot of you feel like this

Ive always had a soft spot for villa, had their kit in the late 70s early 80s. I think SFX school played in villa colours too. Used to love my trips to the whitton end, some great days out

 

[chippy1722]

You'll have Super Jack back and that'll be enough. Don't forget DCL tore us a new one last season and we don't have Duran to save us!

We have the worst strikers in PL history though.

 

[villapark-resident]

Ive always had a soft spot for villa, had their kit in the late 70s early 80s. I think SFX school played in villa colours too. Used to love my trips to the whitton end, some great days out

Everton has a great new stadium, and a great fanbase without that sickening sense of entitlement and obnoxious arrogance levels of other clubs I could mention. whatever the ingredient you guys think is missing to go up another level where you belong, I really hope you can find it.
As for Villa we are as you'd expect living in football Dreamland at the moment and so fortunate to have Unai Emery.

 

[BoysPenLad]

We have the worst strikers in PL history though.

You mean since 1878?

 

[chippy1722]

Oh absolutely, even a get a draw and people will be kissing his feet. It’s partly why there’s no desire to win especially when the pressure is on, they know one or two decent results a season and it’s back to overhype.

Same repetitive behaviour patterns as before year after year.

Is Dyche allowed on this forum. What nonsense is this.

 

[Drico]

Everton has a great new stadium, and a great fanbase without that sickening sense of entitlement and obnoxious arrogance levels of other clubs I could mention. whatever the ingredient you guys think is missing to go up another level where you belong, I really hope you can find it.
As for Villa we are as you'd expect living in football Dreamland at the moment and so fortunate to have Unai Emery.

Emery was the choice of many on here when Moshiri took us over in 2016. Moshiri was believed to have wanted him and Monchi. Any man that could win as many Euro pots with big, but modest, clubs, always had his attractions for some of us. Then he went to Arsenal and bombed. You were very canny to appoint him. I'd love to see Villa poop the Arteta title party. A long-shot, maybe, but the kind of title chase fans of other clubs could really get behind...

 

[knowing your history]

Conor Gallagher being strongly linked with Villa tonight so he'll come into contention for this if he signs in time as they will have Kamara out and Amadou is having one of his annual two month "niggles" by the sounds of it.

Remember him taking about a minute on the ball last year before falling over and McNeill scoring which amused me before the inevitable collapse.

 

[HKContractDave]

Conor Gallagher being strongly linked with Villa tonight so he'll come into contention for this if he signs in time as they will have Kamara out and Amadou is having one of his annual two month "niggles" by the sounds of it.

Remember him taking about a minute on the ball last year before falling over and McNeill scoring which amused me before the inevitable collapse.

Not really now

 

[Tipp blue]

Villa have only lost 2 league home games in 2 years and have the best league home win percentage across Europes 5 leagues. So I don't think it unreasonable for us to be confident for this game particularly as Everton won't be at full strength.
Disappointed to see so many don't like Villa comments, always liked Everton myself not quite sure what we ever done to make a lot of you feel like this

I don't like Villa, No idea why, file under same as Newcastle for me.

 

[Drico]

Not really now

He seems the definitive Spurs player to me. Neat on the ball, promises more than he delivers, enjoys a waxing...

 

[blue61]

The job Emery has done in the last 2 years has been outstanding. The football they play is on a different level to ours, a real sign of progression and ambition. We'll be trying to scrape something, they'll be trying to win.

 

[RobYoung]

I'm actually not convinced that one up-front is here to stay. I think, like long throws, two-men strike forces will slowly return...and be heralded as innovative tactical masterstrokes when they do...

I was actually watching this on Saturday.
When Sunderland passed through midfield they always had 2 or even 3 players as high up the pitch as their forward.

When we had possession in midfield Dibling was doing nothing, Rohl didn't know what to do and McNeil was just McNeil.
We leave our striker so isolated it is almost untrue. Add our wide players slowing the game down as well and the lack of quality in both our strikers and we stand no chance.

 

[villapark-resident]

I don't like Villa, No idea why, file under same as Newcastle for me.

Well I guess there's worse things than not being liked by someone who doesn't know why he doesn't like you .

 

[smileychap]

A logic defying away win.

Unless they score.