Without reservation: You should be listening to Villa Review

A good recommendation is one of life's most pleasing things. Simply seeing what someone else says in earnest, trusting that they have your best interest at heart, and doing whatever it is that the recommended is both liberating and calming. Try it sometime at your favorite coffee shop. Once you get to know the barista (and they you), go one day and just order "whatever you feel like making." The results are always fantastic, and the feeling of just trusting someone else with your decision is lovely.

So with that in mind, allow me to offer one of my strongest recommendations. My only qualification here is that I, like you, am an Aston Villa fan. And I like well-reasoned yet passionate commentary on the only football team that I dearly love. And so with that in mind, I say to you: listen to Aston Villa Review. Hosted by Chris Nee and Steven Green, Aston Villa Review is, without question, the best Villa podcast around. And I say that as the co-host of what I think to be a pretty darn good Villa podcast myself.

Villa Review are currently on their 124th episode, and they are a no-frills podcast if ever there was one. Want to hear speculation on transfer rumours? Not going to happen. Want to hear gossip? Not here. Want to hear excellent breakdowns of the last match and upcoming opponents? These are your gentlemen.

Steve and Chris both have a deep and abiding love and knowledge of the sport in general and even more so of Villa in particular. They've got keen wits and are quick to criticise anyone or anything that let's down their beloved club.

Interestingly, I don't always agree with them. Their take on Fabian Delph, for instance, struck me as if they were taking things a bit personally. But you know what makes Villa Review stand out? I disagreed with something but I never once found myself thinking "well that's dumb." Most everything they say is well-reasoned and is always (at the very least) well-intentioned. They see the game in a way that is informed by history, and they see in in a way that is informed by the sort of passion that can only come from regularly being at Villa Park.

I can say without hesitation that Villa Review are my favorite source of Aston Villa analysis, chatter, banter, and insight to be found anywhere on the internet. At less than an hour a week if you love Aston Villa, you've got no reason not to be listening to these two. Find them on iTunes or wherever it is you get your podcasts. You'll thank us later.