Gm football fans.

Route One here, the football newsletter that makes you breakfast in bed and pours just the right amount of cordial.

Today’s briefing is a ~4 min read:

• Unai Emery is taking Halloween a little too seriously this year 🧛🏻‍♂️

• Chelsea fans get an unwanted Christmas present 🎁

• Extra time: the lamest doping ban excuse ever 💉

• Tottenham remain in pole position after comfortably winning 2-0 against Fulham at home. Son and Maddison scored. Spurs face Crystal Palace away this Friday to kick off Gameweek 10.

🗞️ Morning Brief

UNAI ENERGY… VILLA’S SCARY RESURRECTION 🧛🏻‍♂️

It’s been no secret that Villa’s boss looks like Dracula. 

But, this year, Unai Emery is taking Halloween a little too seriously, spooking anyone opposition who visits Villa Park.

After Villa’s 4-1 thrashing of West Ham at the weekend, the Villians are beginning to live up to their nickname.

This was Villa’s 11th successive home win.

What can explain the change in form?

• New signings Pau Torres and Moussa Diaby are impressive.

• In-form and confident players: Ollie Watkins, Douglas Luiz and Leon Bailey.

• Mature tactics from an astute manager who is obsessed with details (and long meetings and match debriefs… we’ve heard).

But, there’s one thing going under the radar: Villa’s hugely determined owners with a global vision.

They’ve put their hand in their very deep pockets to make key signings…

And if they want to maintain their performances this season, they’ll need to build squad depth in January’s transfer window.

• Fun fact: Villa have averaged 2.11 points per game in the Premier League this season. If they continue at this rate, that would see Villa finishing the campaign with a whopping 80 points.

THE UNWANTED CHRISTMAS PRESENT 🎁

Christmas is all about:

• Receiving presents you don’t want

• Begrudgingly visiting the in-laws

• Having an endless to-do list

And, Chelsea fans have one more thing to add to their list…

A 3-hour trip to Molineux Stadium on… Christmas Eve.

Yes, that’s right. The Premier League has proposed that the Wolves vs Chelsea fixture is to be played on Christmas Eve. Damn.

The last time this happened was in 1995 when Leeds beat Man Utd 3-1.

There are three issues with this:

• It’s Christmas Eve.

• It’s Christmas Eve…

• and it’s not a public holiday.

This proposal is strongly opposed by Premier League supporter groups.

And not for the first time…

In 2017, Sky wanted to broadcast games on Christmas Eve.

It was labelled “a new low point in putting the interests of football broadcasters over those of match-going fans.”

Apart from those Chelsea supporters who want to avoid the in-laws on Christmas Eve… there is no appetite for this.

“I was excited to see your dad’s new model train set but I’ve got to travel to Wolves…” 😬

Some traditions are best kept like my Cranberry sauce… preserved.

More updates on this as they come.

EXTRA-TIME ⏱️

Marc Guiu’s family burst into tears after the 17-year-old scored the winner for Barcelona. The academy graduate appeared as a late roll of the dice against Athletic Bilbao and broke the deadlock just 23 seconds later.

Papu Gomez blames 2-year Fifa ban on son’s cough syrup. Lamest doping ban excuse ever. A fall from grace after winning the World Cup last year.

The Special One taunting the opposition’s bench after a last-minute Roma winner. What else are you to do when you score in the 90th? Mourinho was subsequently sent off. Honestly, we miss Jose’s theatrics in the prem. 🤣

Despite West Ham’s loss, there’s a silver lining. Jarrod Bowen becomes the third player in Prem history to score in the first 5 away games of a season. Henry and Salah are the only two ahead of him. G’wan mi son.

Ligue 1 received ZERO bids for its TV rights. The French League’s TV presence is under threat as they can’t find a willing buyer to pay £693m to broadcast Ligue 1 and 2 games. The Saudi Pro League has double the viewers of Ligue 1 and 2 combined.

MEME 😂