Aston Villa manager Unai Emery looking frustrated at Villa Park
Max Wilkins
Tue 26 August 2025 16:31, UK Updated Tue 26 August 2025 16:48, UK
Aston Villa’s poor window have fed into a hugely disappointing start to the Premier League season.
Villa suffered a 1-0 defeat away to Brentford thanks to a dreadful away performance, adding to the frustration of a goalless draw against Newcastle on opening day at Villa Park.
This has only raised the annoyance of the transfer window, which has seen just Marco Bizot from Brest and Evann Guessand from OGC Nice come in to this point.
As a result, it is little surprise that fans are asking questions about the direction the Villans are going, especially after so many excellent years under Unai Emery.
The issue is that certain elements of the squad haven’t improved in years, so blaming financial limitations is starting to grate on supporters in B6.
Unai Emery unhappy at Aston Villa on the touchline during a match
Unai Emery and Aston Villa have had a poor transfer window (credit: Imago)
Aston Villa have huge echoes of Steven Gerrard remaining
There is no getting away from how poor the reign of Gerrard was in the Midlands, especially after the controversial sacking of Dean Smith.
Despite some initial promise, the former Liverpool man quickly became one of the most dislikable head coaches in recent memory on the Holte End terraces.
Gerrard took charge of 40 matches as Villa boss
The ex-England captain oversaw just 13 wins
He also took charge of eight draws and 19 losses in the Midlands
His 1.18 points per game ratio was enough to get him sacked
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As a result, any memory of his tenure in charge will come as a frustration to fans, although they can’t forget it with the current state of the squad.
This is due to the fact that the current backline under Emery is exactly the same as it was under Gerrard back in January 2022.
After signing Lucas Digne from Everton, a backline featuring the Frenchman, Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, Matty Cash and Emi Martinez was utilised by the ex-Rangers boss.
A graphic of the Aston Villa starting XI vs Manchester United 2022
Aston Villa starting XI vs Manchester United 2022
Three years later, that backline was utilised against Newcastle United, and despite keeping a clean sheet, it highlights how stale things are getting in B6.
A lack of evolution in the defence in over 1300 days has just added to the frustration at Villa Park, something which doesn’t look like changing.
Monchi and NSWE have transfer questions to answer
Every member of the claret and blue faithful understands the problems that both PSR and SCR have had on business in the market this summer.
With that being said, there have still been opportunities to make changes to the squad, and the defence in particular, over the last three years.
That isn’t to say that Konsa, Digne, Mings and Cash aren’t good enough, but change can have a positive impact regardless of the quality already available.
Pau Torres has come in, but based on his Brentford performance has issues and is also in need of fresh competition in the Midlands.
Stat vs Brentford Pau Torres
Dribble success rate (%) 0
Tackles win rate (%) 50
Defensive actions 2
Duels lost 4
Dribbled past 1
Pau Torres showed his worst Aston Villa form vs Brentford
Considering the fact that there isn’t even a week remaining in the window, it does feel as if change is unlikely, regardless of how much it is needed.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Nassef Sawiris, Wes Edens and Monchi can justify the lack of incomings outside of these monetary concerns.
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