The week in claret and blue

Back to life, back to reality.

Chris ‘Mr Tact’ Heck makes an odd statement where he says football supporters are a captive audience because football is so popular. He’s probably right but don’t rub it in, eh?

The international break continues and amidst the pointlesness Jhon Duran comes on as a sub for Colombia and scores, but you knew that would happen anyway. He and the rest of our international contingent return in one piece, which is something you definitely didn’t think would happen. Morgan Rogers also played what, if there’s any justice in the world, will be his last game for the England under-21s. They beat Azerbaijan 7-0.

It looks like we might be losing teenage scoring sensation Rory Wilson, who according to the Athletic wants first-team money even though he’s never got a sniff of getting there. Another case of someone believing their own publicity, or else an agent who wants a few bob extra. Whatever happened to Dan Crowley?*

It was Gary Shaw’s funeral on Wednesday. A crowd of his teammates and family, plus friends and supporters, which with Gary was much the same thing, were at Villa Park and the saying of celebrating a life rather than mourning a death was never truer.

Conor Hourihane, a genuine cult hero if ever there was one, has been interviewed for one of those podcast things about life under Tony Xia and the word he used a lot was “chaotic”. He’s got a point. He used a few other words, and he’s probably got a point with them as well

Ahead of the trip to Fulham Unai says he’s got a full-strength squad to choose from. Make a note of it – 19th October 2024, Fulham away; it’ll never happen again.

Then the match itself, and a welcome return to the league after far too much time off. We put out probably the strongest bench we’ve ever had, and there was still Tyrone Mings missing. We give them a goal start, which we tend to do a fair bit, then Morgan Rogers plays a lovely through ball for a Fulham defender to hit past their keeper. One of those daft committees who spend their time watching football on TV and getting paid for it will probably say it was an own goal, but in the meantime well done Morgan. Then Emi Martinez did what he’s good at, namely saving a penalty then pissing off the other team’s supporters.

In the second half Ollie Watkins scored a lovely header from a corner, they had a player sent off for trying to bring him down and we scored a genuine own goal. Jaden Philogene, who had come on half an hour earlier, got sent off near the end but it didn’t make much odds. Fulham are a decent team, they’ve caused a few problems already this season, yet we beat them without hardly trying. That’s what top clubs do; one day evryone else might realise just how good the Villa are.

Deano’s got Charlotte into the MLS play-offs thanks to a good late run. We’ve heard that before. And talking about former managers, Sunday marks two years since our second-best defeat to Fulham. Happy anniversary.

* He’s at Notts County.