In our 150th season, and on a return to top-tier European football after 41 years, it’s been typically Villa that that promising early-season form has been overshadowed by unsavoury commercial decisions.
Whilst we should have been sweating over the availability of Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa, who withdrew before and during England’s recent fixtures, we have been digesting exorbitant ticket price hikes instead.
This has resulted in avoidable supporter unrest, a planned protest against Everton and a flawed public response from the increasingly derided Chris Heck. Indeed, Villa’s out-of-touch President of Business Operations’ attempts to navigate a simmering PR disaster have only served to enflame the situation.
Loyal supporters might have expected an apology or a concession from the club, instead, Heck has doubled down on the need for extorting supporters citing PSR. In an era where fact and fiction are increasingly one and the same, it has taken supporter groups and the press to reiterate that inflated ticket prices have negligible impact in terms of profit and sustainability rules (PSR).
It is important to state that vocalising one’s disapproval of the commercial direction of the club is separate from supporting the team on the field. The Villa Underground’s position is that the recent ticket pricing decisions are severely detrimental to the fabric of the club and if unopposed will exclude and alienate existing supporters and younger fans who ordinarily would stand to succeed them. This is not just an Aston Villa problem, it is a football problem.
On protest: Supporters are entitled to voice their views and protest in a peaceful, purposeful and manner which they see fit. Everyone’s views are not the same, but they should be respected. The one area we can and will all agree is that our support remains behind Unai Emery and the team in the campaign ahead, despite Chris Heck’s attempts to divide us.
EVERTON
And so we look to an Everton side that arrives at Villa Park in poor form and having collapsed spectacularly in the dying minutes to Bournemouth last time out. Sean Dyche cuts a beleaguered figure at Goodison Park, but whilst his options seem limited, the former Burnley manager is experienced and capable of plotting his way through a dogfight.
Emery on the other hand will be relieved that injuries to Watkins and Konsa have been overcome. The Spaniard will be acutely aware that Villa need to be on top form for upcoming Champions League commitments amidst facing the reality of 6 games in just 19 days. A win over Leicester corrected the loss against Arsenal, and a home win over The Toffees would serve to maintain momentum towards retaining a top four spot.
Everton arrive at VP bottom of the league, pointless, winless in 13 away games and not having beaten us since our return to the PL in 2019. The scene is set.