Married to Claret and Blue - an Aston Villa Podcast

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert discuss the incredible feeling of achieving CL qualification. What it means to them individually, how's it's so significant in the modern day of ownerships by Oligarchs, Private Equity funds and State owned premiership clubs. They discuss what it means for the Club and its finances  How it keeps the majority of the team in tact  Attracting better Talent  The Liverpool and Crystal Palace games  The rumour mill 

Husband and wife Team Rupert and Verna discuss the limp and insipid exit from the Europa Conference League semi Final. Well done Olympiacos but boy did Villa fail. Here's why? Fitness, Injuries, Form, Lack of Defence, Experience in Europe, Emery tactics, Predictably, Rotation, the Royal Doulton figure Diaby and Away form in Europe We love this club and this season is remarkable - Emery and the players have raised our expectations very high. But its still ok to call out our mistakes 

Husband and wife team Rupert and Verna discuss the strange Villa Performance against Chelsea. The highs, lows, very lows and then a mini high! Rodgers the only star performer. A lucky first half lead and then full on domination by Chelsea in the second half. VaR definitely a Villian. And now we have Olympiacos and Brighton to come - another incredibly important and exciting week to come.  Verna worried by depleted squad and more injuries, should we focus on 4th? Rupert annoying Verna at games 

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert talk about their adventures in Northern France and the incredible scenes they witnessed and the pride the feel in this group of courageous young men. They discuss the tired players - the 49 games and the time off given to Lille The cojones of the whole team, but particularly the 5 penalty heroes  They give the finger to the French media, the Lille Fans and the Lille President for their abuse of Martinez  Martinez stands out proud as Ole said in Argentina - "...like Qatar he beat them, shut then up and then he danced" And they save a special mention for the worst referee in Europe 

Wife is away so Rupert try solo to explain Villa's incredible away win of the season against the Gunners. No more written words just enjoy his stunned enthusiasm 

Husband and wife team Rupert and Verna discuss a very entertaining Euro conference Quarter final against an excellent Lille team. Some super stars - Martinez 10, Watkins 9 with Mcginn and Bailey always threatening and 8s. The dynamic and exciting forwards who seem to always score are mirrored by increasingly incompetent defence- another woeful performance from Diego Carlos, Konsa picked on by Lille and Pau inaccurate and unsolid. Say it quietly Douggie Luiz also been tired and out of sorts for over a month. Briefly touch on the Brentford 9 minutes of hell. UTV and another massive week to come away at both Arsenal/Lille and some much needed co-effcient comebacks needed to help race for 5th 

Husband and wife Rupert and Verna  slag off bullying Pep's public treatment of Grealish and could he manage Luton? Will the Villa, the team of the unloved scpaegoats take it to the world champions??  Can something so unlikely happen and CL qualification just about secured? Send for Duran and Zani 

Husband and wife team Rupert and Verna discuss Villa's comfortable win against Wolves. Could this be Emery's favourite game? After the first 20 minutes - and the one chance for the dogheads - it was total control from the Villa Boys. It was an masterclass from the students of the Unai-versity. This was a win for undesirables, the cast offs, the scapegoats, the unwashed and the unloved - the squad that people didn't believe we had come in and on to win the game.  Tillemans MOM  The Chaos brothers Duranizolo a joy to watch - release the fury Carlos solid  Diaby back in form  Bring on City 

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert are relieved to escape with a valuable point. They discuss how much they love Jhon Duran. Brave Emery tactics that didn't quite work 1st half. And how Diaby, Zaniolo and particularly Cash changed the game and a point secured.  Captain Mcginn missing, nay bother, the squad help to deliver a point after Spurs loss. 

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert discuss the capitulation against Spurs. Rupert compliments Spurs to a point where Verna is annoyed. Rupert then controversially blames Emery for the negative tactics  at home which started a chain reaction of long balls, spurs possession, low crowd engagement and eventually the Captain being sent off. Emery over thinking and doing at Pep.? Mcginn goes from hero to Villain. 29 minutes of lament and concern over the future sans SJM 

Husband and wife team Rupert and Verna discuss their absence for 2 games and Rupert pays tribute to his dear Aston Villa supporting friend Richard Chambers who passed away two weeks ago.  The team then discuss the rollercoaster ride of an evening at Kenilworth Road.  Dominant first half display with men against boys displays. Those men then turned into Jello as they lose the 2 goal advantage and with an unsatisfactory draw hurtling towards us up stands Petite Darby and Lucas Digne - the french two some to grab  all the points  They also  discuss. Is Olly Watkins now world class? Did anyone mention we are back to 11 points ahead of Utd? Ramsey injury, Daddy Longlegs and why Nanny Mcphee can,t now organise a defence from corners 

Husband and wife team Rupert and Verna  left speechless after Villa somehow fail to convert their complete dominance of Man Utd and a hatful of chances. MISERY LOVES COMPANY> So cheer yourself up by listening to Verna and Rupert try and mash up some postives  And this was before the Kamara news 

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert do 2 podcasts in one day. And boy was this one easier!! They enjoy the comprehensive thrashing of Sheff Utd and marvel at Leon Bailey, Luiz and Watkins. The first 30 minutes and 4 goals was a pure surprising pleasure! Just what was needed  and hugely enjoyable 

Husband and wife Team Rupert and Verna lament that their beloved Aston Villa are officially now in slump - its not a blip, they re not tired, yes there are even more injuries but we have to admit the last 9/10 games have been poor with only Martinez in consistent form. They discuss the game, the goals, the team selection, Diaby,  Pau Torres and why Emery appears to being out coached and how we might break out of this potentially very damaging period. But look we are still miles ahead of target 

Husband and wife Team Rupert and Verna decide not to discuss the Houthis attacks on ships in the Red Sea or Serena Williams recommending breast milk to help with sunburn, instead they would choose to talk about the scrappy, ugly, disjointed nil nil for Villa away at Everton. They discuss:  David Coote - the worst of a very poor bunch  The disallowed goal and McPhee deserves a bigger bonus  Diaby/Mcginn/Luiz out of form  Why playing Konsa at RB makes us more predictable  Watkins/Moreno/Kamara and Martinez the stars  and James Tarkowski is criminal  Two weeks off to recharge and Unai to find steam to get our rhythm back 

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert get annoyed with Villa's capitulation at Old Trafford. Was it tiredness, out of form players or Emery not being pragmatic? They agree that Emery's lack of game management and flexibility during the game finally cost Villa. Does Villa best coach ever have a flaw - the inability to change from the press/high line. Where has last years pragmatism and 6 man defence when leading gone. Roll on Burnley - we need 3 points to get Christmas back on track  

Husband and wife Team Ruper and Verna slightly forlornly discuss missing going top after only drawing 1.1 with Sheff Utd. The 15 game consecutive also ends  The married couple discuss: - The Amazon driver broken down in the road  - The optimism of going top  - The need to be positive and find perspective after a slight set back  - we hate VaR and the ref  was crap  - 3 pens and a disallowed goal  - Mathew Cash a new scapegoat?  Merry Christmas listeners

Husband and wife team Rupert and Verna discuss the eventually successful but extremely strange win at Brentford. Lots of patient sideways passing which seemed to be missing some creative force. Bee Mee changes the course of the match with a typical leg breaking tackle - Rupert thinks he is a danger to his fellow Pros! Verna hates Villa winning in this boring fashion and wants Man City win every week. Can Villa be No1 for Christmas? Jingle bells Jingles Bells. And then a long discussion, of course, on the brawl, fight or full scale player riot 

Husband and wife team Verna and Rupert discuss Villa's courageous win against Arsenal after beating Citeee only 3 days before. Verna highlights how tired but valiant the team were. I think they agree that Arsenal are vey good but missed their chances. But also they agree this is something magical happening. It wasn't the same as against Man City, but we still win with grit and guts !! And hats off to Deondonker  Rupert has too much to drink during & then after the game at a dinner - Villa becomes Willa  But lets rejoice with this result and 9 points against Spurs/Citeee/Arsenal - remarkable  15 consecutive home games in row - new record since 1874 

Husband and wife Verna and Rupert discuss Villa's domination of Pep's Triple winning Man City. On  an extraordinary night and performance the guys heap praise on the whole team and Emery's selection genius. The stats for the match completely ridiculous as Villa hound city players in 13 turnovers and rack up 22 shots against only 2 for City.  Records broken by Villa and Pep  Incredible scenes and result and a happy podcast to listen to if you love Aston Villa