1/ Alright, #AVFC 🟣🔵. Now that the news has sunk in regarding Bouba Kamara, I wanted to write a thread for two reasons. One is context and analysis (where to go from here), but the second - and perhaps most importantly - is a plea to invigorate certain pockets of the fanbase + 2/ add some much needed perspective in order to reinforce my sentiment of support and positivity. Let’s begin with the former. Kamara’s ACL is the third of the season, and not only that but it’s one on three key starters (Mings, Buendía and BK) —- not to mention that there have

1/ Morning, #AVFC 🟣🔵 fam. A disappointing night & current run, no doubt. But the GOOD news is that blips are exactly that: blips. They are fixable. Let’s begin w/ this from last night:

Eddie Howe got it spot on. Unai Emery - uncharacteristically - did not. Let’s focus on us: 2/ To start the exact the same team that played vs. Chelsea was a mistake. There was a passive, unfocused sense to it (hence the first two goals coming from corners) and if you’re going to start the same team, then the formation should have been different. Moussa Diaby…

1/ A year ago today, Aston Villa Football Club made one of the most significant decisions in club history & the most important managerial choice in the Premier League era.

A year ago today, #AVFC 🟣🔵 announced the arrival of Unai Emery Etxegoien & everything changed. 2/ Now, before we get into his impact, one that transformed all aspects of the club, it’s notable to remember that many doubted this move as criticism was also covered in xenophobia. The “good ebening” replies and constant addresses to his time at Arsenal (with actually was…

1/ Alright, #AVFC 🟣🔵 fam. Let’s talk about Diaby + our new players, this summer project, what’s to come and why to excited Villa fans - who deserve this after everything that happened before NSWE + Unai Emery - this is the most significant preseason in more than 30 years.



2/ Entering this summer, Unai Emery was clear on one thing. He wants Champions League football. He’s said it over and over, including to me, and he won’t be satisfied until it’s achieved. The arrival of Monchi emphasizes this as well Vidagany’s continued work with UE.

Wowzers.

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1653744708093452289

Jude Bellingham was no.1 in our list here for @ESPNUK, check it out

1/ Buenas, #AVFC 🟣🔵 fam. Mateu Alemany’s expected arrival is a massive statement, a significant step for the future + prosperity of the club + after Unai Emery, he becomes the most important person within Villa’s operations + NSWE. A thread from your friendly, neighborhood LME: 2/ In order to build a successful club, three pillars are fundamentally needed, no matter the size, financial or geographical status:

Economical management, operational excellence and an innovative, constantly evolving footballing vision.

Alemany’s arrival, from a footballing

(I’m still working next week. Promise) *MOSCOW MULE PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND*

#AVFC 🟣🔵’s fanbase has a fantastic, dedicated, good-natured, smart group of content creators. I know because I have joined them on shows plenty of times. It’s a shame that our club helps this kind of toxic nonsense w/ great access instead of nurturing our own.

https://twitter.com/aftvmedia/status/1626988527144632320

It’s also the continued frustration of why we don’t have an official Spanish-speaking account. That’s a Villa community desperate for representation 🟣🔵

1/ Alright, #AVFC 🟣🔵 fam. I’ve calmed down (and doing a hit on ESPN right after the game was not easy, let me tell you 😭) Here are my thoughts. They’re basically echoing Emery’s presser but I’ll give my own added notes. On the game itself, I thought it was the perfect example 2/ of how far we have come since UE arrived and how much more work we need to do. Positives are simple really. The two goals showed us that. There is a great sense of momentum when we have the ball and it’s showing. The second goal especially.

Individually: Watkins, Coutinho,

1/ Unai Emery's arrival to #AVFC 🟣🔵 is an incredibly exciting time. I've already talked about his resume and tactics (see below) so this thread takes the proverbial microscope and looks at specific areas where I think he - alongside his staff - will help

https://twitter.com/lmechegaray/status/1584612241240133632?s=20&t=BdPgxDj-TccEstL-emwzGA

2/ For a VERY long time now, Villa have been a team with either no identity or an inconsistent one. Most recently, Dean Smith's situation was a tough one because he was transitioning a Championship squad to the PL, with a heavy, heavy reliance on one player (Jack Grealish)...

Finally done with #HouseoftheDragon and I gotta tell ya, there are many things about it that make me like it even more than GoT. Part of it is the single focus on one family, which is very Sopranos like. Other factors such as how the power revolves around two women who had to fight so much to get what’s theirs. Performances: tremendous. As I’ve said before, all of them kick some serious ass, especially Matt Smith’s Daemon. Steals every scene. I will say, however, that Rhys Ifans’s Otto was marvelous. Emma D’Arcy kicks ass but i gotta say…

Copa America kicks off tonight as 🇧🇷 kick off a depleted 🇻🇪 and then 🇨🇴 face 🇪🇨.

Remember, the format is different. Two groups of 5, everyone plays four times and only 1 team of each group doesn’t make knockout [I know, I know] Obviously, the usual excitement of this tournament runs deep with me, always hoping for the best out of 🇵🇪. In 2019, along with SI, I co-hosted a show for Telemundo and had a BLAST. I love this tournament.

Since I started this career, one of the biggest things I’ve talked about in regards to the modern game is fatigue, both mental & physical. I truly believe we’re asking too much of these players, demanding incredible things w/ not enough recovery time.

Something needs to change. In terms of this game restarting: I commend both squads WISHING to play & carry on in honor of Christian, but I have to say that this is a situation where senior officials should have stepped in & say, “No. Listen. We appreciate the way you want to honor your teammate, but no.”

Copa América: As Brasil get ready to open the tournament on Sunday, their opponent Venezuela have confirmed 10 positive covid cases, which includes 5 players. The group waits for second test. + just to add, CONMEBOL has allowed unlimited replacement call ups for the tournament, knowing this kind of thing would happen…as we saw with Copa Libertadores and River Plate.

1/ The Donnarumma to PSG news is such a bewildering decision from Leonardo for obvious reasons, but once again - as I find myself doing it almost every season - I have to say it out loud:

It’s an absolute insult to Keylor Navas. 2/ I’m not even going to waste this thread with his resume to justify how good he is. Let’s be perfectly clear and keep it 100: Him being a brown Costa Rican is part of the reason cause you know damn well a white European doesn’t get treated with this type of disrespect.

1/ I purposely didn’t comment on the “Latino temperament” thing yesterday because if there’s one thing I’ve learned on this site, it’s that the worst type of discourse usually occurs immediately after something happens, followed by attacks and noise instead of a chance to learn. 2/ Don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% guilty of that, so I’m trying to do better & this situation called for it. I also teach a diverse range of journalism students every year & the one thing I always try and pass on, when it comes to conversations on social, is PRODUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT.