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

[JLW]

This is exactly the type of game were Moyes pipes up and gets you back onside.

 

[peterw]

That's very unfair using tactics against us. Can someone make up something about our supposed tactics please to make @peterw nervous?

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!

 

[MACCA75]

From a Villa perspective...we're waiting on tenterhooks for the results of Kamara's knee scan which was done yesterday apparently. Him and Onana out will be huge losses would mean either bogarde/Tielemans in the 6/8 or McGinn/tielemans with barkley also being out. First half we will try to score in the first 10-15 minutes and if we don't we'll kill the game with possession trying to move you around and ture you out. it can be dull viewing for us never mind the neutral but its what we do at home. Second half we'll look at open up more to get one or two ahead, and again we'll look to kill the game. Teams we tend to find it more difficult to beat are those that play 3 at the back (can be a 4 with one of them pushing into midfield) and teams looking to flood the centre of midfield with Tottenham failed to do on Saturday.

We are beatable, but its amazing the amount of teams that sucked into allowing us to play our way, and getting out thought by Emery. We will make changes then in the second half to push home our advantage/chase the game when the opposition tend to have tired due to the first half and having to keep running around after the ball as we manoeuvre it from one side to the other. Its amazing that after 3 years none of the ex-player so called top pundits have cottoned on to what we do. We've done it for 3 years now.

High line? That's kind of back but we hardly used it last season. Pace? We don't have bags of it but enough. Tough nut top crack? We concede most games. We just keep going in the second half and that's where we tend to win. This Sunday? Could be anything but I think Moyes has been around the block enough times to know how we set up and how to try and counter it - 3 or 4 in centre midfield.

Good analysis.

We’ll be playing a 4-4-1-1. We are dangerous on both flanks, utilising the pace of McNeil on the right and the telepathic link up play of Mykolenko and Grealish on the left.

Up front will either be the dynamic strength of Barry or the technical quality of Beto. Both are a huge goal threat.

We play a high line because we have pace in abundance at the back, Tarkowski can easily race back to cover the likes of Watkins. Beware the passing range of Rohl and watch out for our set pieces. We even score from our goal kicks when Pickford and Tarks play them short to each other, we can slice teams open. We play one touch, high tempo stuff, so it should be a cracker.

Tell all your friends.

 

[villapark-resident]

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

 

[Daytripper]

Last time I was at Villa park was around 2016, they were terrible, many empty seats around the place and they were inevitably relegated that season.

They got their act together after sacking Gerard , brought in a good manager and signed good players, always looking to progress after being near the bottom again with Gerard and actually want to compete. What progress looks like.

 

[Drico]

This is exactly the type of game were Moyes pipes up and gets you back onside.

Not for me. As much as we need the win and the delight it would bring us, it would reinforce how infuriating he is in the matches that matter. We have blown Europe - more or less - in the league, and the cup exit has denied us the chance to get our best players back for the next round and strive for glory. A win at Villa would be marvelous, but too little too late as far as I am concerned. Out in the summer, please.

 

[MACCA75]

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

Got nothing against Villa tbh, similar club really. Proper club.

 

[JLW]

Not for me. As much as we need the win and the delight it would bring us, it would reinforce how infuriating he is in the matches that matter. We have blown Europe - more or less - in the league, and the cup exit has denied us the chance to get our best players back for the next round and strive for glory. A win at Villa would be marvelous, but too little too late as far as I am concerned. Out in the summer, please.

Think we can get a draw there but with Bipolar Davy who knows.

 

[Drico]

Only thing i'd say is the game has changed completely for forwards. Most if not all teams now play with the lone striker. Cottee played with Sharp/Newell here. And McAvennie at West Ham. Cottee up top on his own these days i doubt he'd get a kick.

True, but he was a proper finisher, an ideal off-the-shoulder man.

 

[Daytripper]

This is exactly the type of game were Moyes pipes up and gets you back onside.

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.

 

[Drico]

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.

If only people were as keen to win cups and qualify for Europe as they are to avoid relegation with a little comfort. That's basically the issue. Not enough people think we can do better faster. Not enough people disagree with the idea that our ceiling is seventh. Winning a cup is considered a pipe dream while finishing ninth is the dream.

 

[Daytripper]

If only people were as keen to win cups and qualify for Europe as they are to avoid relegation with a little comfort. That's basically the issue. Not enough people think we can do better faster. Not enough people disagree with the idea that our ceiling is seventh. Winning a cup is considered a pipe dream while finishing ninth is the dream.

I saw on X the fans are getting it today, predictably, again. A few arseholes booing players. Not a ground where that doesn’t happen yet it’s now the issue here.

Back to “Rome wasn’t built in a day” again in a few days.

 

[Eggs]

This is exactly the type of game were Moyes pipes up and gets you back onside.

….i think even for him it’s going to be very difficult, much depends how long we can keep them at bay because there’s very little chance of us scoring. At best, maybe we can force a goal from a set piece but it’s unlikely to be enough.

 

[judge]

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

It could be that it's the most played fixture in history and, inevitibly, you've won more of them than we have. But at least we're not bitter

 

[Gilbert..]

True, but he was a proper finisher, an ideal off-the-shoulder man.

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.