Jacob Tanswell
@jacobtanswell.bsky.social
Aston Villa writer for The Athletic | #AVFC | Subscribe here: https://theathletic.com
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Ross Barkley interview: ‘I haven’t drunk since the summer. It created situations I don’t want anymore’
In a wide-ranging interview, Ross Barkley discusses the up and downs of his career from Everton to Villa and all in between
www.nytimes.com
Exclusive interview with Ross Barkley:
▪️Becoming teetotal
▪️Therapy
▪️A challenging upbringing
▪️Mental pressures and criticism
▪️Leaving Everton, Chelsea and frustrations
▪️Unai Emery’s “No bull***t”
➕More
@theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
▪️Becoming teetotal
▪️Therapy
▪️A challenging upbringing
▪️Mental pressures and criticism
▪️Leaving Everton, Chelsea and frustrations
▪️Unai Emery’s “No bull***t”
➕More
@theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
Ollie Watkins: Confidence, pressure, the knee issue, transfer uncertainty, the Maccabi Tel Aviv incident, Aston Villa's previous tactical limitations and the catharsis of Wednesday night.
Big read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Big read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Unai Emery said ‘the goals are coming’ for Ollie Watkins – and then they did
The Aston Villa striker scored twice against Brighton - as many goals as in 24 appearances before that
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Ollie Watkins: Confidence, pressure, the knee issue, transfer uncertainty, the Maccabi Tel Aviv incident, Aston Villa's previous tactical limitations and the catharsis of Wednesday night.
Big read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Big read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Unai Emery: "How we reacted is like the season. We started in August, so poor. Today we started not feeling good, and the first corner was not a corner. But we are adding experiences and at 2-0, it is not easy to come back like we did. Of course we needed some good luck" #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Unai Emery: "How we reacted is like the season. We started in August, so poor. Today we started not feeling good, and the first corner was not a corner. But we are adding experiences and at 2-0, it is not easy to come back like we did. Of course we needed some good luck" #AVFC
Four goals (inside the box, too!). The league feels inconsistent - one of #AVFC's great strengths under Emery has been the ability to churn out points, like in recent months. Here, they showed something going forward that they haven't all season, which is a very promising sign.
December 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Four goals (inside the box, too!). The league feels inconsistent - one of #AVFC's great strengths under Emery has been the ability to churn out points, like in recent months. Here, they showed something going forward that they haven't all season, which is a very promising sign.
FT: Brighton 3-4 #AVFC
A 6th straight win - may be Villa's most important. They just find a way, no matter the style or how the game goes. They win the big moments and passages. When their defence was dented, they had to respond by finding their attacking threat. Resilience.
A 6th straight win - may be Villa's most important. They just find a way, no matter the style or how the game goes. They win the big moments and passages. When their defence was dented, they had to respond by finding their attacking threat. Resilience.
December 3, 2025 at 9:30 PM
FT: Brighton 3-4 #AVFC
A 6th straight win - may be Villa's most important. They just find a way, no matter the style or how the game goes. They win the big moments and passages. When their defence was dented, they had to respond by finding their attacking threat. Resilience.
A 6th straight win - may be Villa's most important. They just find a way, no matter the style or how the game goes. They win the big moments and passages. When their defence was dented, they had to respond by finding their attacking threat. Resilience.
It has been a game where momentum has violently turned and, like Villa after getting a goal back out of nowhere, Brighton are now pushing again...
Bogarde and Buendia are coming on. #AVFC
Bogarde and Buendia are coming on. #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 9:18 PM
It has been a game where momentum has violently turned and, like Villa after getting a goal back out of nowhere, Brighton are now pushing again...
Bogarde and Buendia are coming on. #AVFC
Bogarde and Buendia are coming on. #AVFC
Tielemans' cross finds Watkins at the back post. He heads back, Guessand's header is then saved, but Malen is there on the rebound to turn the ball in.
4-2. #AVFC too strong, too imposing and genuinely brilliant in the second half. Everything you wanted to see going forward.
4-2. #AVFC too strong, too imposing and genuinely brilliant in the second half. Everything you wanted to see going forward.
December 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Tielemans' cross finds Watkins at the back post. He heads back, Guessand's header is then saved, but Malen is there on the rebound to turn the ball in.
4-2. #AVFC too strong, too imposing and genuinely brilliant in the second half. Everything you wanted to see going forward.
4-2. #AVFC too strong, too imposing and genuinely brilliant in the second half. Everything you wanted to see going forward.
December 3, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Ezri Konsa excellent again. Stepping in front of the striker, aggressive and noticeably more vocal than seasons previous. The team's spine has helped turn this game on its head. #AVFC pushing for a fourth.
December 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Ezri Konsa excellent again. Stepping in front of the striker, aggressive and noticeably more vocal than seasons previous. The team's spine has helped turn this game on its head. #AVFC pushing for a fourth.
Wow. From 2-0 down, #AVFC are 3-2 up. Have looked the bigger & more physical since they've started playing with more intent.Excellent deep corner from Cash to the back post and Onana heads in at the back post.
Emery doesn't take his coat off - he runs down the touchline instead
Emery doesn't take his coat off - he runs down the touchline instead
December 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Wow. From 2-0 down, #AVFC are 3-2 up. Have looked the bigger & more physical since they've started playing with more intent.Excellent deep corner from Cash to the back post and Onana heads in at the back post.
Emery doesn't take his coat off - he runs down the touchline instead
Emery doesn't take his coat off - he runs down the touchline instead
Despite only playing a half of football, this match has already produced #AVFC's third-highest xG of the season.
Villa look a threat going forward, especially with Watkins runs in behind.
Villa look a threat going forward, especially with Watkins runs in behind.
December 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Despite only playing a half of football, this match has already produced #AVFC's third-highest xG of the season.
Villa look a threat going forward, especially with Watkins runs in behind.
Villa look a threat going forward, especially with Watkins runs in behind.
HT: Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
Villa have somehow found their "resilience" Emery talks about. Have been below par and error-strewn, and with issues to fix at HT. Still, if some decisions had gone their way, they may have had a pen and avoided the first goal and could be leading!
Villa have somehow found their "resilience" Emery talks about. Have been below par and error-strewn, and with issues to fix at HT. Still, if some decisions had gone their way, they may have had a pen and avoided the first goal and could be leading!
December 3, 2025 at 8:26 PM
HT: Brighton 2-2 #AVFC
Villa have somehow found their "resilience" Emery talks about. Have been below par and error-strewn, and with issues to fix at HT. Still, if some decisions had gone their way, they may have had a pen and avoided the first goal and could be leading!
Villa have somehow found their "resilience" Emery talks about. Have been below par and error-strewn, and with issues to fix at HT. Still, if some decisions had gone their way, they may have had a pen and avoided the first goal and could be leading!
Emery throws his coat to the floor in celebration. What a mad few minutes. #AVFC thought they had scored from a corner, Brighton then break, and then Villa go back with a ball over the top. Great finish.
Both look so vulnerable to balls over the top. 2-2
Both look so vulnerable to balls over the top. 2-2
December 3, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Emery throws his coat to the floor in celebration. What a mad few minutes. #AVFC thought they had scored from a corner, Brighton then break, and then Villa go back with a ball over the top. Great finish.
Both look so vulnerable to balls over the top. 2-2
Both look so vulnerable to balls over the top. 2-2
Emery appears extremely irritated with Guessand. Has been going on for a few minutes.
Emery, in his rage, tried to take off his coat for a second, before doing some form of walking imitation and then shouting, again, at Guessand. Not happy with his work without the ball. #AVFC
Emery, in his rage, tried to take off his coat for a second, before doing some form of walking imitation and then shouting, again, at Guessand. Not happy with his work without the ball. #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Emery appears extremely irritated with Guessand. Has been going on for a few minutes.
Emery, in his rage, tried to take off his coat for a second, before doing some form of walking imitation and then shouting, again, at Guessand. Not happy with his work without the ball. #AVFC
Emery, in his rage, tried to take off his coat for a second, before doing some form of walking imitation and then shouting, again, at Guessand. Not happy with his work without the ball. #AVFC
Pau has been the player #AVFC have looked to to progress the ball upfield and he travels far into Brighton's half.
Then good work from Maatsen to shimmy his marker and cross into the box for Watkins to tap in. A second goal of the season and how badly he needed it. 2-1
#AVFC
Then good work from Maatsen to shimmy his marker and cross into the box for Watkins to tap in. A second goal of the season and how badly he needed it. 2-1
#AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 8:08 PM
December 3, 2025 at 8:07 PM
#AVFC haven't got off the coach yet. Brighton are flooding midfield and Villa are not sure whether to stick or twist, in going in with their direct opponents or holding positions.
December 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM
#AVFC haven't got off the coach yet. Brighton are flooding midfield and Villa are not sure whether to stick or twist, in going in with their direct opponents or holding positions.
Goal Brighton. A deflection off Pau. 2-0.
The goal comes from one of those balls over the top.
Moments earlier, Watkins was played in after good work from Rogers, but shot straight at the GK. #AVFC
The goal comes from one of those balls over the top.
Moments earlier, Watkins was played in after good work from Rogers, but shot straight at the GK. #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Goal Brighton. A deflection off Pau. 2-0.
The goal comes from one of those balls over the top.
Moments earlier, Watkins was played in after good work from Rogers, but shot straight at the GK. #AVFC
The goal comes from one of those balls over the top.
Moments earlier, Watkins was played in after good work from Rogers, but shot straight at the GK. #AVFC
Brighton, similarly as they did under De Zerbi, are all showing to feet, wanting #AVFC to step onto players/the ball. But they can then spin behind with the two fast wingers. Hurzeler is applauding every long ball over the top
December 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Brighton, similarly as they did under De Zerbi, are all showing to feet, wanting #AVFC to step onto players/the ball. But they can then spin behind with the two fast wingers. Hurzeler is applauding every long ball over the top
Bizot should do a lot better with judging the flight, but coming in at late notice (again for Martinez), it was always going to be difficut early on
Brighton's midfield rotations (wide 8s, RB inverting) is turning the tables on #AVFC's usual overload.Villa having to get to grips
Brighton's midfield rotations (wide 8s, RB inverting) is turning the tables on #AVFC's usual overload.Villa having to get to grips
December 3, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Bizot should do a lot better with judging the flight, but coming in at late notice (again for Martinez), it was always going to be difficut early on
Brighton's midfield rotations (wide 8s, RB inverting) is turning the tables on #AVFC's usual overload.Villa having to get to grips
Brighton's midfield rotations (wide 8s, RB inverting) is turning the tables on #AVFC's usual overload.Villa having to get to grips
Goal, Brighton. 1-0. Van Hecke scores after a corner goes over the head of Bizot (a big question as to whether it was a corner in the first place).
#AVFC wanted a free-kick on Bizot or a handball, but after VAR check, actually the ball came off Rogers' hand instead.
#AVFC wanted a free-kick on Bizot or a handball, but after VAR check, actually the ball came off Rogers' hand instead.
December 3, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Goal, Brighton. 1-0. Van Hecke scores after a corner goes over the head of Bizot (a big question as to whether it was a corner in the first place).
#AVFC wanted a free-kick on Bizot or a handball, but after VAR check, actually the ball came off Rogers' hand instead.
#AVFC wanted a free-kick on Bizot or a handball, but after VAR check, actually the ball came off Rogers' hand instead.
Interestingly, Rogers is the left No 10 today, with McGinn central. Emery already telling Watkins to spin into the space Dunk leaves when he steps onto McGinn. #AVFC
December 3, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Interestingly, Rogers is the left No 10 today, with McGinn central. Emery already telling Watkins to spin into the space Dunk leaves when he steps onto McGinn. #AVFC