So, Villa 2.0 is up and running and we’re finally starting to get some sense of what we’re working with. And as we’d hoped, it could be pretty good. Villa have gotten faster and younger, and most likely better. Wins have started accruing, one each in the Premier League, the Champions League, and Carabao Cup.

I saw a line that if Villa had known Jackson, Manzambi, Suzuki and Mbaye were coming in May, we’d have all been very excited, Villa staff included. And it looks as though their scouting and spending may have been on the mark.

Jackson is better on the ball than Ollie, strong and has better pace. Manzambi has already shown Rogers-like flashes and perhaps even greater tactical flexibility. Gomes is racking up strong numbers for his position and showing intelligence. Suzuki is somewhat of a revelation whose distribution definitely is an upgrade on Martinez’s, and his shot-stopping is looking to be at the same level. He’s growing in confidence commanding his area. Mbaye? Definitely got the quality and quick feet and showing good decision-making. Garnacho appears to have been relegated to an emergency back-up role. Talk of a January move for him doesn’t seem at all far-fetched.

Then you throw in Madjo, Alysson, Hemmings, Ruggeri, and Goretzka. Madjo, we’ll be waiting to see how he adapts to league play. Alysson is fast and tidy and doesn’t lack for confidence, either. Much better than bringing on Bailey. Since I was traveling, I didn’t see enough of Ruggeri in my catch-up viewing to render a real verdict, but given he’s been called up to the Italian side to deputize, you’d have too think he’s a decent player. Hemmings? Kid looks to have a real future.

Matches
Against Spurs, we finally got a league run-out with Jackson, Manzambi and Gomes together, and you can see why Emery values versatility: it allowed him tactical flexibility along with a mix of old and new heads. McGinn and Buendia were nominally ‘wide’ but inverted and narrow. No out-and-out winger. Manzambi with what often looked like a free or floating role, coming deep, wide, getting into the box and then combining with Jackson. More direct and central play, often a 4-2-1-2-1 or a 4-2-2-2. It gave Spurs’ midfield problems. With Suzuki thwarting Spurs’ early dominance, Villa were able to pounce and then build on it.

In time, the side may well be capable of breaking more effectively than the previous version, especially with improved distribution from Suzuki. The Jackson goal illustrated this perfectly.

The Coventry cup tie showed another version of the side and obviously could be considered a league match. There we saw Abraham lead the line, bag two, and Ross get another header. Hemmings and Mbaye wide showed a more traditional 4-2-3-1 setup, with both getting assists. Hemmings’ was a particularly cultured ball to set Abraham in. Mbaye’s assist with corner was a good delivery for Barkley who made no mistake, and Mbaye was a lively threat.

But it was against now-familiar Brugge where Villa finally got on track, and once again in the opening European fixture. First goal was a funny one, given Pau carried 50-60 yards to lay it off for McGinn who then stroked in a trademark curler to the far post. The second goal was interesting for how Jackson coolly backheeled to Gomes, who did a lot to wriggle free and set up Buendia. Jackson’s goal showed pace, strength, composure and quality. I hate saying it, but Ollie would not have scored that one or the one against Spurs. In the moment it seemed like window dressing, but Wan-Bissaka’s handball turned it into a winner. And it was another very direct goal with Pau pinging it to Jackson who ran on to it, cleverly evaded the keeper, held off defenders and slotted into the empty net.

So Villa have seemingly found their scoring boots, by and large.

If anything’s concerning, Villa seem a bit porous at the back. Some of it’s been bad luck, some of it’s being a step slow, some of it’s self-inflicted. At times Wan-Bissaka has looked comfortable, at others, not so much. Harwood-Bellis clearly is being worked in slowly. Before he was injured Maatsen was starting to look like he’d raised the defensive side of his game. And likewise, before he was injured, Pau had begun looking as comfortable as we’ve seen him. Konsa is looking to have been a bit of a loss regarding his pace and awareness, but we’ll see how the line settles down.

At the end of the day, winning 3-2 is pretty much the same as 1-0, but you would like to see clean sheets and being able to see out games where there aren’t many chances. 3-2 is fine when you’re scoring, but we all know often as not that seasons are defined by grinding out the 1-0s. I’ll take 3-1s all day, but Coventry could’ve had more. Forest, you hate that we were all over the shop at the back after Maatsen went out.

Funny thing, three goals in each victory against widely varying opposition, and 10 overall in four matches. A very good return, but there’s the six against to balance that out.

Overall Thoughts
Given that the opening slate of matches ended up constituting our preseason, it’s not been bad, though I’m still a bit upset about the Forest game and how that played out. Not only was it a lost point, maybe even three, but it was the rare occurrence where a poor professional foul injured a player, handed Forest an advantage, and undoubtedly influenced the outcome. It just wasn’t right in terms of sporting fairness and I don’t disagree with Emery’s red-card assessment.

Not much to argue about with the other results. Brighton and Arsenal were both tough opponents to open against given the upheaval, and Brighton’s handling of Arsenal casts our opener in a new light. Hull was disappointing but probably not terribly surprising. The Forest match, well, the less said the better. I’d have liked coming out of that and Hull with at least four points if not six. But again, context.

We’ve now had most of the newcomers make appearances and even if they’re not really integrated yet, they’ve managed to come together enough, and seem to be have enough football smarts to get the gist of Emery’s system. I’m okay with the timing of the break on the heels of our first league win and the fact it’s longer than usual. Gives everyone a chance to take a breath and spend more time together. Those on international duty are getting minutes, and Jackson has scored again for Senegal.

What comes next could well define our season, though. With a heavy slate of league and CL fixtures lined up, Villa will need everyone and will have to put the ‘coming together’ mindset behind them. Brentford, Fenerbahce, Newcastle, Viking, City, Bournemouth, Fulham, Barcelona, and Man U over the course of a month is a big ask. There’s opportunity in there, though, and we should have just about everyone available at some point during that run barring any setbacks. The only truly frightening fixture is the trip to Spain. We’ll soon find out how resilient the side really are.

The upside is that we’ve won two on the trot and bagged six in the process. Lots of room for improvement over 90 minutes, but there are goals in the side.

I could well end up eating these words, but once again I’m going to applaud Emery & Co. for being bold in the face of massive disruption and accepting the challenge of transforming the squad. On the one hand, they didn’t have much choice, but they’ve embraced the young talent on hand, and have likewise looked for the same profile on incomings.

They didn’t panic. They could’ve played it safer.

Turnover like this summer’s could unravel many clubs and managers, but I think it plays to Emery’s strengths. This is now truly his side and he’s got a lot of raw talent to mold. I’m only guessing, but my feeling is that this is an energizing moment for him. Having shown what he can do with an inherited side, he now gets to put his stamp on the club in a foundational way.

Without Purslow involved, the business in the wake of the Rogers windfall was guided by philosophy, structure, and a keen awareness that the profile of the side had to change and not just in terms of age. Having gone out and gotten Hemmings, Madjo, and Alysson, Villa showed the kind of anticipatory thinking that’s allowed Brighton and Brentford to stay competitive. Jackson, Manzambi, Suzuki, and Mbaye were all on others’ radar, but Villa were willing and able to do the deals.

Early days, but the players seem to fit together. It looks and feels like there’s coherence to it all.

Over to you.