My Journey Following Aston Villa 23/24
Alright, so this past season, 23/24, I decided to do something a bit different. Instead of just casually watching football, I picked one team to really follow closely, almost like a personal project. I landed on Aston Villa. Emery had a full pre-season, they made some interesting signings, and I just had a feeling something interesting might happen there. So, I committed to watching as many of their games as I could, really paying attention.
Getting Started
In the beginning, I just tuned into the games. The first few matches were a bit wild, remember that heavy loss early on? But then things started clicking. I began taking some rough notes during matches – nothing fancy, just jotting down things I noticed. Like how high their defensive line was, seemed risky but Emery stuck with it. I also paid attention to how quickly they tried to move the ball forward after winning it back.
Digging Deeper
As the season went on, I got more into it. I wasn’t just watching the game anymore; I started looking for patterns.
- Villa Park: It became obvious pretty quickly that Villa Park was turning into a fortress. They just played with so much confidence at home. I made a point to watch the home games especially closely to see what they did differently.
- Key Players: You couldn’t miss Ollie Watkins, could you? I tracked his goals, sure, but also his work rate off the ball. McGinn was everywhere too, real captain’s role. And Martinez in goal, always crucial moments. I kept a mental checklist of who was performing consistently.
- Tactics: Tried to understand Emery’s game plan. Sometimes they’d press high, other times sit back a bit more. It wasn’t always the same, which kept me guessing. The way Pau Torres brought the ball out from the back was also something I started noticing more and more.
The European Factor
Then there was the Conference League run. I made sure to watch those games too. It was interesting to see how they balanced playing Thursday nights in Europe and then back to the Premier League on the weekend. You could see the squad depth being tested, especially when injuries started piling up around the middle of the season. I remember thinking, “Okay, this is where it gets tough.” Keeping track of who was fit and who wasn’t became part of my weekly routine.
The Final Stretch
Towards the end of the season, the race for that Champions League spot got intense. Every game felt massive. I was properly invested by this point. Watching those final matches, seeing if they could hold off Spurs, it was genuinely exciting. I wasn’t just observing anymore; I was really pulling for them to get it done after following their journey all season.
Looking Back
So, what did I get out of this whole exercise? Well, I definitely have a much better appreciation for what goes into a full season for a Premier League team. Following Villa so closely, I saw the tactical shifts, the impact of individual players, the challenge of managing multiple competitions, and the sheer determination needed. Seeing them clinch that Champions League spot felt like a proper conclusion to my little project. It was impressive to watch Emery guide them there. Just my experience following one team closely for a season, and honestly, I really enjoyed digging in like that.
