My Old Man Said — An Aston Villa Podcast

myoldmansaid.com
  • 4.8 (56)
  • Football
  • Updated Weekly

My Old Man Said is the independent Aston Villa podcast for supporters who want more than fan media hype, influencers and algorithms. Villa supporters have been at the centre of every conversation. That hasn't changed. For listeners who like their football analysis intelligent, their opinions considered and their humour dry. This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said and is a part of the talkSPORT Fan Network. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT. Become a MOMS Member — https://www.patreon.com/moms Follow @myoldmansaid on social media channels. #AVFC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. From Istanbul to the Transfer Catalyst — Aston Villa's 2025-26 End of Season Debrief

    2d ago

    From Istanbul to the Transfer Catalyst — Aston Villa's 2025-26 End of Season Debrief

    The season is done. The trophy is in the cabinet. The top-four finish is banked - literally. And now — with the confetti swept and the open-top bus parked — it's time for the honest debrief. This week's episode is a free-form end of season conversation covering everything from the new 2026-27 home kit to Ollie Watkins' late-season renaissance, from the tipsy final day at Manchester City to the question that will define next season before it has even started: does this summer's transfer window signal genuine ambition or cautious consolidation? There's also the numbers. A set of statistics on Emery's Clipboard that reframes the entire 2025-26 narrative, and they're not entirely comfortable reading despite the trophy and the top-four finish. When you look at how Villa performed against the teams they should be beating, the picture is rather different from the one the league table tells. On pricing, the annual conversation takes a sharper turn. The normalisation of a 5% rise — supporters beginning to treat it as expected — is identified as the real problem, not just the percentage itself. And the summer. What kind of signing changes the trajectory? What does a catalyst look like? Why does it matter for the players already in the building, not just the ones arriving? Europa League winners. Fourth in the Premier League. A UEFA Super Cup against PSG on the horizon. The MOMS end of season conversation has a great starting point. UTV Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out all the 2026-27 home kit options and new training range, here Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  2. Europa League Winners: Villa Conquer Europe Again in Istanbul

    May 23

    Europa League Winners: Villa Conquer Europe Again in Istanbul

    Aston Villa are Europa League winners. Three-nil against SC Freiburg on a rain-soaked Wednesday night in Istanbul, that ended in the early hours with a trophy cabinet that finally has something new in it. This post-mortem covers what actually happened — and what it means. From Youri Tielemans' opening volley, which settled every nerve in the ground the moment it hit the corner of the net, to a second-half of focused control. Three picture-perfect strikes. A goalkeeper who broke a finger in the warm-up and played on regardless. A fanbase that spent two seasons fluent in PSR and amortisation getting to remember what football is actually for. The show also gets into the detail: the jeopardy that never quite materialised, the Freiburg threat that had been flagged and was effectively nullified, and the moments where the game could have tilted differently — and didn't. There's a longer conversation about what winning a second major European trophy does to the meaning of the first one, why this squad's achievement is more improbable than it looks on paper, and what the summer now looks like through a completely different lens. Thirty years is a long time to wait. Istanbul was worth it. UTV Cover photo courtesy of Paul Stringer Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  3. The Freiburg Files - Are Villa the Bad Guys?

    May 19

    The Freiburg Files - Are Villa the Bad Guys?

    Aston Villa face SC Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday — and this week's episode is a full lowdown on the opponents, covering their history, their identity, their key players, and the tactical shape of what awaits. It's everything you need to know. The episode opens with a verdict that captures the problem succinctly: Villa have to shoot Bambi. Freiburg are 100% fan-owned, operate on a fraction of Villa's transfer budget, have the lowest squad turnover rate in the Bundesliga. The rest of the world will be rooting for the virtuous underdog. Freiburg have been shaped over three decades by two long-serving managers and a philosophy that puts sustainability at the foundation of their success. Going into the final though they have been hit by a key injury after Suzuki, their Japanese attacking midfielder broke his collarbone earlier this month and is out of the final. His absence strips away the dimension that made Freiburg genuinely difficult to track in the Europa League and makes them a more straightforward proposition. Still, their set piece threat is real. The show also lands on a clear position going into Wednesday: there is no alternative to winning. Champions League is confirmed. The pressure is gone. This one is for the trophy, and for the supporters who have waited thirty years. UTV Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min
  4. Aston Villa's Best Possible Istanbul Preparation as Watkins Fires Up and Champions League is Confirmed

    May 17

    Aston Villa's Best Possible Istanbul Preparation as Watkins Fires Up and Champions League is Confirmed

    Aston Villa beat Liverpool 4-2 at Villa Park on Friday evening, sealing Champions League qualification through the league and sending supporters into the Istanbul week in exactly the right frame of mind. The game that looked like a distraction turned into the best possible preparation. This week's My Old Man Said Post-Mortem opens with the moment that changed everything: the teamsheet. When Emery named the side that beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 in the European semi-final — essentially the expected starting lineup for Wednesday — the game instantly became something else. Not a Premier League fixture to be survived before the main event. The version of Ollie Watkins that turned up against Liverpool needs to be sent First Class to Istanbul. The aggressive one who fires up the crowd from corners, gives teammates a dressing-down when they get something wrong, and is sharp in front of goal. The version Villa supporters have been asking for all season. He produced a brace and an offside goal that said as much as the goals that counted. The main difference between the two teams was seen in the attitude of Alexis Mac Allister compared to John McGinn - one was cheaply rolling around feigning injury, while the other gave everything in a commanding performance. Champions League football is now sealed for Villa and Istanbul is set up nicely. The mood is right. The squad is sharp and firing. UTV Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  5. Aston Villa Ahead of Istanbul - The Aging Squad, the Liverpool Game, and What Happens Next

    May 15

    Aston Villa Ahead of Istanbul - The Aging Squad, the Liverpool Game, and What Happens Next

    Aston Villa face Liverpool at Villa Park on Friday evening — the last Premier League fixture before the Europa League final in Istanbul on Wednesday. Champions League qualification still isn't mathematically confirmed through the league. It should already be wrapped up. It isn't. And that shapes everything about how the Liverpool game needs to be approached — not as a send-off but as unfinished business. The reality is though, Unai Emery and his players will rest up, but will there be at least enough application to make a fight of the game? This week's main show of the My Old Man Said podcast covers the ground before and after the game. Amadou Onana is touch and go off for Istanbul, Victor Lindelöf likely steps in again, and there's a brief but unavoidable discussion of the Wes Edens extortion story that's currently generating more headlines than any transfer activity. Emery's Clipboard goes long on Ollie Watkins — who has just been named Aston Villa's Player of the Month for April, a month where he bagged his 100th Villa goal. The show sets that form against a wider argument: where have all the English strikers gone? The numbers go back to 1992-93, and the conclusion is pointed. The Liverpool preview is the centrepiece. An aging squad, Mohamed Salah's dramatic decline in output, the Trent departure mismanaged, and a team that doesn't work hard without the ball. The show finishes on the Aston Villa Existential Question: how many new players does this squad actually need in the starting eleven next season? Istanbul might be a full stop, for this team, with a new era to launch afterwards. UTV Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  6. From Forest High to Burnley Frustration: Villa’s Wild Inconsistency Problem

    May 12

    From Forest High to Burnley Frustration: Villa’s Wild Inconsistency Problem

    Burnley away. The home team had only one win during 2026 so far and hadn't scored at home in months. Villa needed a win to pretty much secure Champions League football. The 2-2 draw was bordering on predictable. The My Old Man Said post-mortem dissects a performance that tells you more about the bigger picture than the result: two goals from a corner and a long punt, a performance spectrum throughout this year that drops to low. Also, we take in Amadou Onana's latest injury and the familiar availability pattern that's plagued Villa across four seasons, Emery's recurring problem with complacency against the bottom three, and why those Forest highs only make the lows feel worse. With Istanbul eight days away, the league campaign is limping to a close. The floor needs raising. UTV Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  7. Villa Park at Its Absolute Best. Istanbul Europa League Final Awaits

    May 9

    Villa Park at Its Absolute Best. Istanbul Europa League Final Awaits

    Villa beat Nottingham Forest 4-0 at Villa Park to reach the Europa League final in Istanbul. Freiburg await. One more job to do to end 30-years of hurt. Some nights you have a feeling about before a ball is kicked. On a European night, not many English grounds can hold a candle to Villa Park on a European night. The atmosphere was electric and the players on the pitch also made sure they made it an unforgettable night, as well — four goals, a complete performance, and a European final earned in the most emphatic fashion possible. In this episode the show breaks down a night that had everything. Buendia's unpredictability unlocking the tightest defence in the Premier League's last six games. Watkins aggressive, physical, the version of himself that makes Villa a different team. McGinn having the time of his life, as the autumn of his career is hitting its highest notes. And the Victor Lindelöf decision, questioned beforehand, vindicated completely. There is also a broader conversation about what this moment means. Also, we look at Freiburg, Villa's silverware drought, and the prospect of a Super Cup, if all goes to plan. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  8. Two European Cup Winners. One Night to Bring Legacy Into the Modern Age

    May 7

    Two European Cup Winners. One Night to Bring Legacy Into the Modern Age

    Before the biggest night at Villa Park in years, a solo My Old Man Said show, with some personal memories and reflections back to 1994, and an honest assessment of what the second leg of the Europa League semi-final requires. In 1994, Villa were three-nil down at Tranmere in a League Cup semi-final first leg. The fanbase were feeling angry that the club were squandering a real good chance of silverware to put them back on the map, after a difficult decade. The build up to the second leg has parallels, as does the build-up to the final against Manchester United, when Villa's league form had dropped off a cliff before the trip to Wembley. It was all an example of what a team is capable of when it decides to be. Recorded in the hours leading up to the Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest, the show sets out what tonight requires — from Watkins, from Rogers, from McGinn and Tielemans, from the crowd, and from a manager who has four of these trophies already. The Onana absence. The Bogarde question. Whether Forest come to shut up shop or play with the freedom that has defined their recent form. And what it would mean - for the club, for its European legacy, for everything - to be talking about Istanbul tomorrow morning. No rally call. No clichés. Just the honest picture before the biggest night of the season. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Become a MOMS Member for ad-free & extra shows -  MOMS Membership Join the show’s listener Facebook group The Mad Few. Credits: David Michael - @myoldmansaid  | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
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4.8
out of 5
56 Ratings

About

My Old Man Said is the independent Aston Villa podcast for supporters who want more than fan media hype, influencers and algorithms. Villa supporters have been at the centre of every conversation. That hasn't changed. For listeners who like their football analysis intelligent, their opinions considered and their humour dry. This Podcast has been created and uploaded by My Old Man Said and is a part of the talkSPORT Fan Network. The views in this Podcast are not necessarily the views of talkSPORT. Become a MOMS Member — https://www.patreon.com/moms Follow @myoldmansaid on social media channels. #AVFC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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