Jacob Tanswell

Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez appears to be breaching FA’s gambling rules Argentinian sports betting website bplay announced Martinez as an ambassador in June 2024.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez appears to be breaching the FA's rules regarding promoting betting companies.

More from @jacobtanswell.bsky.social

Matty Cash underwent scans today after picking up a calf injury in #AVFC's 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea. Results indicate the feeling post-match - not expected to keep him out for too long, with the sense that Cash should be fit for Lille next week.

Aston Villa still in process of registering January signing Brian Madjo Madjo joined in a deal worth in the region of £10million from Metz but is yet to play for any of Villa's teams.

Aston Villa remain in the process of completing the registration of Brian Madjo.

Madjo signed in January but has not yet featured for any of Villa’s teams, having been technically able, as a 17-year-old, to play for the club’s youth, reserve sides and senior sides.

@jacobtanswell.bsky.social

Aston Villa still in process of registering January signing Brian Madjo Madjo joined in a deal worth in the region of £10million from Metz but is yet to play for any of Villa's teams.

#AVFC remain in the process of completing Brian Madjo's registration. 17yo signed for £10m fee in January but has not been able to play despite training with the senior squad. Villa frustrated with how long the process with FIFA is taking. @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Aston Villa’s structure, cohesion and confidence have deserted them. They look ragged Unai Emery has previously had a clear strategy but his team look muddled at the moment. Their dip has come at a bad time

For Chelsea's fourth, Martinez was stranded against Garnacho and Joao Pedro as distant teammates rushed back frantically. It was the clearest portrait of how Emery’s “structure” had crumbled. It all felt so unfamiliar and desperate. @theathleticfc.bsky.social #AVFC

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Emery: "I have to analyse the match because I'm not sure how we conceded four goals, but we can't concede four goals like we did today." #AVFC

Emery: "We are in a bad moment. Why? Maybe we lost our structure and our structure was so strong when we were being consistent.

“The objective we have in front of us, we still have time to recover it, but we need to recover our structure. Today we lost one opportunity." #AVFC

Aston Villa 1 Chelsea 4 – Unstoppable Joao Pedro, Villa’s flawed setup, big week ahead for Rosenior Joao Pedro was in imperious form as Chelsea hammered Aston Villa at Villa Park to move within three points of the Premier League’s top four. Villa started brilliantly, Douglas Luiz putting the h...

Not pretty viewing, but instant analysis from #AVFC's galling night, unpacking an absurd defensive display.

Piece @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

#AVFC did not press, but kept a ridiculous high line. They played on the break, but wanted to keep the ball. Missed chances don't help confidence, but you can't be that open and desperate so early on. For a team who've long been so tactically clear, this was so concerning odd

FT: #AVFC 1-4 Chelsea

Villa may point to Watkins' disallowed goal as a key moment; had it stood, may have given belief etc. But these are desperate times. Villa are in a CL race but it doesn't feel like that. It feels gloomy. Team looked mentally ragged, tactically confused

Garnacho should score to make it 5-1. And yes, it came from Chelsea playing easily through #AVFC before another diagonal pass out-wide and behind Villa's defensive line. Subs are trying to make a difference but Villa look mentally cooked

I assumed the gameplan was to stay compact and hit on the counter - the controlled, clinical gameplan you associate with #AVFC - instead those goals have been desperate, similar and so far from organised. Had to score when on top as confidence and composure looks affected now

Buendia, Douglas Luiz and Bailey come off. #AVFC

Loud groans as Watkins rounds Jorgensen but doesn't pull the trigger. It's such a chaotic game that #AVFC, even 3-1 down, feel still in this.

#AVFC have to dig deep, now. Martinez's parry, again, is questionable, but Villa struggling to cut through Chelsea, shown in initial giveaway.

Three changes on the way - Barkley, Sancho and Alysson are coming on.

3-1, Palmer.

Villa again done 2v1 out wide. Martinez pushes James' cross into the path of Palmer, who finishes. Comes from a cheap giveaway from Buendia. #AVFC

It's a man-to-man game. Both teams pressing high and both sense they can win the ball in a dangerous area. But if either plays out of the first phase of pressure, there is a lot of space to run/dribble into (looking at you, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins). #AVFC

Garnacho and Gusto seeing a lot of the ball in wide areas. Emery often solves this by dropping his wide players back in (6-3-1), but he clearly wants them in high positions to transition (Rogers & Bailey been dangerous in open spaces). So it's the risk Emery has to weigh up #AVFC

Chelsea maybe have to think about going short from corners or their corner ploy altogether. If they lose the ball (as what happened for Watkins' disallowed goal) #AVFC have a 4v3/2.

Frustratingly, Villa have not taken advantage of early goal and pushed their foot to the floor.

HT: #AVFC 1-2 Chelsea

Both carrying a threat but both fragile. Villa have not solved the issue out-wide and Chelsea's overloads. But do sense Villa will remain dangerous - Chelsea are inviting an open game with ball, leaving huge spaces - plays to Villa's transitional strengths

Joao Pedro scores. 1-2 Chelsea

#AVFC

#AVFC's defensive shape has been broadly good - blocking passes through midfield. But Chelsea had success over and around and if Villa's wide players don't stay switched on, deep runs from Chelsea's FBs can hurt. That's how the equaliser came

Joao Pedro scores. Konsa playing Gusto on. Always risky when there is no pressure on the ball and Villa are playing a high line. Gusto squares for the forward to tap in. 1-1

#AVFC

#AVFC scored early and started with impetus, but do feel they need another to settle completely. Chelsea doing well in overloading both flanks and Villa struggling to stop them progressing in wide areas, especially with Garnacho as the out-ball.

An in-form Watkins would relish this match and, in a way, he looks far more purposeful than of late. 1v1 against Fofana, Martinez looking to find him quickly and #AVFC are going long, but crucially, not aiming to his chest but into space for him to run onto.

#AVFC now keeping up four players from Chelsea's corners. Chelsea briefly only had three players back but quickly realised. Villa wanting to keep both Chelsea's big boys back and have (a lot) of players in areas to potentially break. A nice open feel to this

From an attacking standpoint, this game suits #AVFC. Chelsea give you a chance to steal in, transition into wide spaces and almost force a Villa team which had been slow into playing quick. Watkins is having a bit more space when dropping to pick up the ball and so is Bailey

Excellent sharp stop from Martinez to deny Joao Pedro from close range. Perhaps the striker should have scored but superb reactions from Villa's goalkeeper.

#AVFC are keeping three players up from Chelsea's corners

What a start. Credit to Bailey who doesn't cut inside - he is direct, confident and goes to the byline, putting the ball across the box for Douglas Luiz to tap in after a nice step over from Watkins. Great start for #AVFC, the atmosphere and some of the selection decisions.1-0

Morgan Rogers starts off the left, Emi Buendia in the No 10. Hopefully gets more success away from the congested midfield. #AVFC