Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner expects his side to lock horns with a remarkably familiar-looking Aston Villa team this weekend, despite Unai Emery’s squad undergoing a high-profile summer squad revamp.
Villa pulled out all the stops during the recent transfer window, welcoming 10 new faces through the door following a transitional summer. The influx of fresh talent came in the wake of significant departures, with the Villans losing more than half of the starting XI that featured in their grueling Europa League final against SC Freiburg back in May.
While heavy hitters like Ibrahim Mbaye, Leon Goretzka, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Johan Manzambi are still waiting in the wings to make their official debuts, other arrivals such as goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, midfielder Joao Gomes, and forward Nicolas Jackson have integrated straight into Emery’s first-team plans. However, Forest will catch a slight break on Saturday, as Gomes is sidelined while serving the final match of his three-game suspension for violent conduct.
Despite the heavy squad turnover dominating headlines, Glasner has deliberately downplayed the extent of the changes to Villa’s starting spine, pointing out that the foundational blocks of Emery’s tactical setup remain largely intact.
Unpacking the Familiar Framework at Villa Park
Speaking ahead of Forest’s short trip to Villa Park, Glasner broke down why he views Saturday’s opponents as a settled unit rather than a completely rebuilt side.
”They had many transfer activities, especially in their attack, but the defence is the same,” Glasner pointed out. Highlighting the defensive stability, the Forest boss noted that despite Ezri Konsa’s departure, the core remains rock-solid with Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings, and Pau Torres anchoring the backline alongside an unchanged right-back position and a top-tier new goalkeeper in Suzuki.
The midfield engine room tells a similar story of continuity. Although Amadou Onana is currently sidelined with an injury and Youri Tielemans has moved on, Boubacar Kamara—who has logged the bulk of minutes in recent seasons—remains a fixture. Even with Gomes suspended, veteran operator Ross Barkley stands ready to step seamlessly back into the fold.
”So all six, the back four and the two sixes, they were there last year. It’s Buendia and McGinn. They were there last year and starters,” Glasner added, emphasizing that the structural spine of the team is practically identical to last season.
Filling Big Boots in the Final Third
Naturally, Villa did face the daunting task of replacing two elite talismanic figures in Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins. Yet, the club heavily backed Emery in the market, splashing significant funds to secure a top-tier striker alongside other high-profile reinforcements.
While young standout George Hemmings has been trusted with regular minutes, the Villans also boast elite wide and central threats like Alejandro Garnacho and Alysson, ensuring the squad retains its trademark bite in the final third.
”It’s still a top squad. Unai Emery, he’s a top, top coach, and he will teach the group how he wants to play. You can see it now in every single game,” Glasner remarked, praising his managerial counterpart’s tactical clarity.
Analyzing Villa’s tactical footprint following their recent outings—including a polished display against Club Brugge—Glasner warned his players to prepare for a distinct, highly organized threat. Beyond their crisp possession structure and a goalkeeper in Suzuki whose distribution includes a devastating long-range pass, Villa remain exceptionally dangerous in transition.
As both sides prepare to lock horns, Glasner’s calculated assessment serves as a reminder that underneath the flash of summer spending lies a battle-tested core under Emery’s expert tutelage, setting the stage for an enthralling Premier League tactical chess match.
