Damian 20 August 2025
You probably thought I wasn't going to make it today, but here I am and it's six days in a row.
And it's actually quite nice, getting into a rhythm again. I've been thinking about this post all day but it's only now that my day is coming to an end and I'm home from the office, with a nice bottle of red that I can write. I think I've missed the writing and to write, you have to write about something you are interested in.
I've tried with Footballocracy, but writing there isn't something that is going to happen every day or that often. Whereas having a view on things happening at Aston Villa, I'm interested in. Also, I've remembered today how much I like fresh bread and butter.
So, to what's happened? Well, Bailey has gone. It's a loan and apparently they've paid some money. I think supporters will be split on this. He scored a few goals for us but he just didn't look interested last season and we'll probably never know why.
I hope he does well in Italy and I suspect he needed a new voice or felt that things were not the same as when he came. Change is good but not everyone can adapt. It will be interesting to see how he progresses in Italy. It's not always easy.
And that leads me on to another bit of news, connected to Italy and it looks like it's not worked out for Douglas Luiz as he would have hoped and there is a rumour that he might be joining Nottingham Forest and if true, he'll be an excellent player for them. But as I wrote about Ramsey the other day, once a Villan always a Villan.
Luiz would come home tomorrow and I'd love him at Villa Park, but has his time in Italy made him better or worse or maybe not of interest to the manager? I suspect we couldn't afford to spend the money in the middle of the park also without letting someone go or more to the point another team having an interest in one of our players that the manager would be happy to swap Luiz in for.
Either way, it's not worked for him in Italy. Maybe it does for Bailey.
And in the final bit of news, Rogers won the PFA young player of the year award last night for his performances last season and since that, rumours have started that both Arsenal and Chelsea are interested. Chelsea apparently wanting to use Jackson as a sweetener.
I'm happy for Rogers, but also and can I write this without getting a bit of stick, surprised that Cole Palmer didn't win it.
Anyway, day six done. I feel like I've joined a program. Until tomorrow.