Mike and Pete run the rule over yet another capitulation as Everton let a two goal lead slip away at Aston Villa; Defensive issues, fragile mentality and missed chances were all discussed, as well as the impact of the missing Jarrad Branthwaite on those around him; The show rounds off with a look ahead to this weeks Carabao Cup tie against Southamp…

After the first international break of the 2024/2025 season, Aston Villa returned to action with a thrilling 3-2 come from behind win over Sean Dyche's Everton. Listen in as Cole and Tom return to discuss Villa's defensive frailities, Jhon Durán's goal for the ages, and look ahead to Tuesday's visit to the Wankdorf in the Champions League. You can …

It's two consecutive wins on the road to start the season for Aston Villa and heading into the first international break of the season, there's plenty to be positive about! Join Cole, Simon, and Seb as the lads discuss a promising start to the season for Unai Emery's men, Villa's upcoming Champions League journey and look back at the summer transfe…

The lads are joined by Evertonian and musician James Brougham, as they try to put into words the scenes at Goodison Park against Bournemouth, as Everton threw away a two goal lead to lose the game; The nine minutes of mayhem is analysed, with a chat about who was to blame; They discuss the outstanding Iliman Ndiaye and his impact on the game before…

Fail to take your chances and eventually, you'll get punished! Aston Villa found that out the hard way against Arsenal on Saturday, however, there are still plenty of things to take encouragement from when it comes to Unai Emery's men. Join Cole and Tom as the lads reflect on a rusty Ollie Watkins, the incredible Morgan Rogers, and all things Aston…

The lads discuss the poor showing at Spurs, which saw Everton defeated for the second time in a row, the comments from Sen Dyche this week and post match about both the fans and performance on the pitch, as well as the importance of the coming week both on the pitch and in terms of potential recruitment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podc…

Aston Villa claim their first win away at West Ham since April 16th, 2011 and now look to make it three wins in a row against Arsenal on Saturday, With that in mind, listen in as Cole, Simon, Tom, and Seb reflect on a positive start to the season for Unai Emery's men. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in! WHAT DO W…

The lads are joined by Tom Mills to discuss the disappointing opening day defeat to Brighton; After a promising opening 20 minutes, everything seemed to go wrong from there, with the lads discussing the decision to start certain players over others; Mike brings up the relationship between Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Everton fans and whether what he w…

With Aston Villa returning to Premier League action on Saturday, it's time to look ahead to the new campaign with excitement and optimism. As a result, Aston Villa writer for The Athletic, Jacob Tanswell, joined Cole and Tom to discuss Villa's busy pre-season, transfer business, and what we could expect from Unai Emery's men this season. You can li…

Mike and Pete are joined by Jim Keoghan to discuss the draw with Roma, the injury concerns going into the first game of the season, a preview of the Brighton game at Goodison next weekend and their season expectations. Jim also discusses his new book, aimed at young Evertonians eager to learn more about our club. Learn more about your ad choices. V…

Mike is joined by Bill Gain from the Irish Football Blog to discuss the signing of Jake O'Brien; Bill gives the lowdown on Everton's fifth signing of the summer including his progression over the last 12 months, his main attributes and what his expectations for his first season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

Mike is joined by Anglo Italian Podcast host Adam Gipki, to discuss the signing of Danish international Jesper Lindstrom; Adam gives an insight into why Lindstrom struggled at Napoli; He also compares him to Dennis Rommedahl and explains what are his main attributes and how he will fit in the Sean Dyche system. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis…

Aston Villa's pre-season journey is underway and with that in mind, Cole, Simon, and Tom return to discuss the football club's latest transfer business, Morgan Rogers' bright future, and an absolutely epic home kit launch. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in! WHAT DO WE DISCUSS? What can be made of Jaden Philogene…

Mike is joined by Phill Hayward to discuss the disappointing news regarding the collapse of the takeover of the club by The Friedkin Group; The lads chat about the impact and where the club go from here; The transfer window is in full swing and the latest player on his way out of the club is Amadou Onana, with Mike and Phill discussing how that wil…

It's been a busy summer for Aston Villa and as a result, Cole and Simon return to reflect on the PSR juggling act, the comings and goings in the locker room, and the recent ticket price structure that has been put in place at the football club. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in! WHAT DO WE DISCUSS? What have the…

July 1st has proven to be a busy day for Aston Villa Football Club, with three new additions walking into Bodymoor Heath. With that in mind, Cole was joined by Ollie from The WALT (We Are Luton Town) Podcast to discuss what Villa fans can expect from Ross Barkley in what will be his second spell at Villa Park. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Appl…

Mike and Lee discuss the latest goings on at the club after the departure of Ben Godfrey to Atalanta; The lads discuss the impact of his move on PSR compliance before turning their thoughts to the latest transfer links, including multiple pacey wingers; The show rounds off with Chad from The Red Half of Sheffield Podcast giving Mike an insight into…

The transfer carousel has started to spin and as a result, Aston Villa have confirmed the departure of Tim Iroegbunam to Everton and the signing of Lewis Dobbin from The Toffees. As a result, Cole was joined by Mike Richards from The Unholy Trinity Podcast to discuss what Villa fans can expect from Dobbin and how he could fit into Unai Emery's plan…

Mike is joined by former Everton FAB member Paul McMonnies in the first part of the show, as they lead the tributes to the late Everton striker Kevin Campbell; With the FAB elections currently ongoing, Paul discusses his desire to be re-elected and highlights the work done in the last 12 months by the Board; The transfer window is well and truly op…

With the transfer chatter surrounding Douglas Luiz's potential move to Juventus only heating up, our Cole was joined by Youtuber and Juventus FC host/presenter, Giuseppe Bognanni, to discuss the Brazilian's pending move to Italy and what Aston Villa fans could expect from the likes of Samuel Iling-Junior and Weston McKennie. You can listen for FREE…

Mike and Lee are joined by BBC Radio Merseyside Sport Presenter and podcast award winner Giulia Bould; They discuss the ongoing takeover saga at the club, before delving into Giulia's career and rise over recent years; Talk turns to the hugely popular and award winning podcast "Nothing Will Be The Same" and the hard work that went into producing th…

BBC Radio WM host, Daz Hale, joined Cole and Simon to discuss what it's like to cover a variety of West Midlands football clubs on the radio, some of his favourite moments hosting the Football Phone-In, and the season that was for Aston Villa. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in! WHAT DO WE DISCUSS? From the persp…

Aston Villa writer for The Athletic, Jacob Tanswell, stopped by to chat with Cole, Simon, and Tom about covering the Villa during an incredibly special season, what Unai Emery is like in-person from his point of view, and what lies ahead for the football club, with the summer transfer window opening on June 14th. You can listen for FREE on Acast, A…

As Aston Villa's summer business begins to take focus, Cole, Simon, and Seb assess the futures of first team players under Unai Emery in what is expected to be a summer that focuses on increasing squad numbers and the overall quality of the team. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in! WHAT DO WE DISCUSS? Are there a…

With Aston Villa's 2023/2024 campaign now in the rearview mirror, the entire Holtecast team sat down to reflect on the season that was for Unai Emery's men — what was the moment that made us believe that Villa would finish in the top 4 of the Premier League? Who are our surprise performer(s) of the season? And everything in-between. You can listen …

The lads round the season off with a chat about the final game defeat to Arsenal; Dominic Calvert-Lewin once again showed his importance to the team, with a chat about how pivotal he is; This past week has seen new contract offers for players and also an announcement on those who are leaving, with the lads discussing those offers and what it means …

It's happened! Aston Villa have officially qualified for the Champions League following Tottenham Hotspurs' 2-0 loss to Manchester City on Tuesday evening. Tune in as Cole and Simon bask in the glory of the football club's incredible accomplishment and the pure ecstasy that this season has sparked. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, …

The lads are back to discuss a fifth straight home win, this time at the expense of Sheffield United; Despite the win, talk turned to the off-field issues at the club with a discussion about the future of Sean Dyche and a potential return of David Moyes, as well as the needs to raise money through player sales; The show rounds off with a look ahead…

Two frustrating and fatigue-led losses in the matter of a week for Aston Villa see's Unai Emery's men crawling towards the finish line when it comes to Champions League qualification and hoping for a miracle in Greece on Thursday. Listen in as Cole, Tom, and Seb return to reflect on the week that was for the Villa, the growing injury list, and look…

Mike and Pete are joined by Everton Fan Advisory Board member Paul McMonnies to discuss the latest in the 777 Partners takeover saga, after more frightening stories emerged; Paul reflects on the season from a Fan Advisory perspective and the hard work that has gone into their work; The lads discuss the recent draw with relegation threatened Luton, …

A valuable point gained or two lost? That'll be the question many Aston Villa fans are trying to answer following Saturday's 2-2 draw at Villa Park against Chelsea. Tune in as our very own Tom and Simon discuss Saturday's draw, the growing injury crisis at the football club, and try to put this fantastic season into perspective given the growing ex…

The lads are back to discuss Everton securing their top-flight status with their third win in six days, this time over Brentford; They reserve special praise for the manager and players who have navigated incredibly difficult waters to survive; They chat about how the fans have played their part, including the fantastic work done by The 1878's fan …

Mike and Lee are joined by Football Then and Now podcast presenter Chris Hulme, to discuss the incredible win over Liverpool; The magnificent atmosphere was discussed, with Goodison at its glorious best on the night; Dominic Calvert-Lewin's performance was singled out for special praise, with the striker scoring another goal and one of great signif…

Aston Villa take yet another step towards Champions League qualification with a 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Villa Park on Sunday. Listen in as Cole, Simon, and Seb return to reflect on what's been a brilliant 8 days for Unai Emery's side (including Simon's trip to Lille!), Ollie Watkins' dominance, and look ahead to Chelsea on Saturday. You can lis…

Mike is joined by Sport Witness journalist and Evertonian Sean Lunt, to discuss the hugely important win over relegation rivals Nottingham Forest; It was the perfect reaction after the defeat to Chelsea and one that Everton deserved praise for; The lads discuss the impact of the returning Idrissa Gana Gueye, including his vital goal; The show round…

It certainly wasn't a performance that will be spoken about for years to come, but Aston Villa squeek through to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League in dramatic fashion, beating LOSC Lille 4-3 on penalties. Tune in as Cole and For The Love of Paul McGrath Podcast's, Neil Dunworth, bask in the glory of Emi Martinez's brilliant shithouser…

Mike and Lee are joined by The Athletic's Greg O'Keeffe to discuss the disastrous defeat against Chelsea; The lads discuss how the set-up played into Chelsea's hands and the worrying aspects of the performance; Nott'm Forest fan Adam Hendry joins the lads for the second half, to look ahead to Sunday's huge relegation six-pointer at Goodison Park; T…

Aston Villa made it a clean sweep in North London for the 2023/2024 Premier League season, with a 2-0 away win against Arsenal on Sunday. Listen in as Cole and Seb reflect on a successful week for Unai Emery's men in Europe/domestically, the brilliance of Youri Tielemans, and look ahead to the trip to Lille on Thursday. You can listen for FREE on A…

Aston Villa blew a 2-0 lead and thanks to the brilliance of Ollie Watkins, rescued a point against Brentford on Saturday. Tune in as Cole and Simon reflect on Saturday's chaos at Villa Park, Morgan Rogers' impressive week, and Villa's defensive struggles. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - dig in! WHAT DO WE DISCUSS? We…

Mike and Pete discuss an Everton win at last; The win over Burnley ended the long winless run, but wasn't easy given the style of play adopted, with the lads discussing how difficult it was made; One positive besides the win was a second goal in two matches for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with the momentum a obvious factor in his improved performance; T…

A rough night in Manchester that, surprisingly enough, led to a few positives for Unai Emery's men! Tune in as Cole and Simon return to discuss Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, the importance of positivity heading into the weekend, and look ahead to Brentford on Saturday. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcast…

The final international break of the season is over, Aston Villa are back to winning ways, and the charge towards Champions League qualification continues! Listen in as Cole and Tom discuss Saturday's 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Villa Park, Ezri Konsa's brilliance, and look ahead to Wednesday's trip to the Etihad. You can listen for FRE…

The lads are joined by Max Carlyle to discuss yet another defeat for the blues, with them asking where is the next win coming from; They reflect on the players half-hearted showing and whether they are hiding, as well as Sean Dyche's lack of a plan B and one-dimensional set up; The show rounds off with a look ahead to the trip to Newcastle in mid-w…

Mike and Pete react to this week's shock news that Nott'm Forest only received a 4 point deduction for PSR breaches and the comparisons to Everton's first case; With Everton due back in front of another independent panel this coming week, the lads discuss what they expect and the lack of clarity behind punishments; The show rounds off with a look a…

Aston Villa left the London Stadium with an important away point on Sunday following a 1-1 draw against West Ham United. Listen in as Cole and Simon discuss Sunday's events in London, Nicolò Zaniolo's time at Villa, and Morgan Rogers' performances in a claret and blue shirt thus far. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - d…

Mike is joined by authors of The Unofficial Everton Timeline, Steve Dickinson and Lyndon Lloyd to discuss the publication of their book; Given the current situation at the club, the conversation surrounding Farhad Moshiri, his impact on the club and key events of his ownership are discussed in this latest episode of the podcast. Get your copy of th…

Cole, Simon, and Seb return to discuss Aston Villa's mentality heading into the final stages of the season, the positives and negatives of losing John McGinn for 3 league matches through suspension, and look ahead to Thursday's round of 16, second leg clash against Ajax at Villa Park. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify - …

Mike and Lee are back to review the recent loss to Manchester United, with Everton still without a win in 2024; The performance highlighted once again, the lack of attacking prowess and creation of quality of chances created; The right back position is up for discussion, with the lads mulling over the potential inclusion of Seamus Coleman in the co…

The first leg of Aston Villa's round of 16 tie in the Europa Conference League has come and gone, with Unai Emery's side leaving Amsterdam with a 0-0 draw. Listen in as Cole and Simon discuss events at the Johan Cruyff Arena and look ahead to Tottenham Hotspurs' trip to Villa Park on Sunday. You can listen for FREE on Acast, Apple Podcasts, and Spo…

It's three wins on the bounce for Unai Emery's men as Lucas Digne's 89th minute winner snatched all three points for Aston Villa away at Luton Town. Join Cole, Tom, and Seb as the lads discuss Villa's set-piece woes, the dynamic partnership between Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins, and look ahead to Ajax on Thursday. You can listen for FREE on Acast, …