Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Dave P on October 24, 2022, 09:15:21 PM
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We had a similar thread for Gerrard so why not Emery. This feels a lot more of a serious appointment so should the expectation be altered to suit?
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Long-term back in Europe and winning a cup. Lofty ambition clearly, but this is a big appointment.
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Top 10 and a cup run please.
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He's got to be a get to the top six appointment.
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Get us into Europe, keep us in Europe, end the trophy dought. Ideally, get us into the Champions League.
Short term, I'll settle for safe by March and at least two or three fun wins against the Sky Six wankers.
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A trophy. Please win a trophy.
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He's got to be a get to the top six appointment.
He himself won't be coming here to be a solid mid-table manager
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Is the right answer…
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Winning trophies.
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Put me in the "he's not here to fuck about" camp. A trophy inside two seasons. Including this one.
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Challenging for Europe within a couple of seasons assuming he is backed fully in the transfer market and a decent cup run.
He also needs to pick a better captain than McGinn, maybe Emi M whom he must know from their Arsenal days.
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Being best of the rest like West Ham and Leicester have been for the past few years. But first we have to stay up.
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Top 10 this season and then whether we finish in the top 5 or not we have to be challenging for it come the latter stages. There are a lot of clubs vying for Europe now so it will be some feat to get in.
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In the short term, make us credible, worthy of the Premier League. Within a couple of years, make us the envy of all the 'also rans', knowing that we will be the next big thing to turn the top six into the top 8, alongside the barcodes. Make us competitive, going into any game at all and believing that we stand a chance. Oh, then sit back and enjoy the 55 to 60 thousand crowds. Make us cup favourites please.
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I want a trophy and soon please Unai, preferably the FA Cup.
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Solidify us inside of the top 10 for multiple years with the possibility of qualifying for Europa then re-evaluate.
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Just do well. Ta.
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Top 6
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Long-term back in Europe and winning a cup. Lofty ambition clearly, but this is a big appointment.
This for me, some silverware in the next 3-5 years would be nice. If this appointment doesn't work out and is deemed a 'failure' then I really will start to believe that B6 is a managerial graveyard.
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FA cup, league cups year 1-2
UEFA qualification year 2
UEFA win year 3
European cup year 4
League year 5 and retain European cup
FA cup league double, European cup semi final year 6
Year 7 FA cip, League cup, League, European cup
Year 8 above plus world club cup.
Might as well dream big this week.
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This year, steady the ship, tilt at the top 10. Bonus: beat Man Utd and take us on a cup run. Next season: go for top 6 and a cup run, maybe even winning a cup. He would need to be backed in the transfer windows as has been stated.
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25/1 for the FA Cup and 20/1 League Cup.....
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25/1 for the FA Cup and 20/1 League Cup.....
500/1 accumulator for them both then. Free money!
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Long-term back in Europe and winning a cup. Lofty ambition clearly, but this is a big appointment.
This for me, some silverware in the next 3-5 years would be nice. If this appointment doesn't work out and is deemed a 'failure' then I really will start to believe that B6 is a managerial graveyard.
I've little doubt that like so many, many before him, this will be his last 'proper' job. If he fails here, nobody would want him. If he succeeds, he'll be here for donkey's, and his last act will be to give his blessing to the statue of him we've had commissioned.
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I might be biased, but if you're a serious manager of taste and distinction this is the job. Clough knew it. Crack this and you're a legend.
Unai gets it.
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Well, top half, clear progression, that sort of thing. But for the first time in ages we have someone with a genuine record in cup competitions, and last time I checked there are still a couple of those available this year.
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I might be biased, but if you're a serious manager of taste and distinction this is the job. Clough knew it. Crack this and you're a legend.
Spot on.
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This season, top half and a good run in at least one of the cups.
Next season, challenging for European qualification through the league and good cup runs.
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This season- consolidation in the league and a decent couple of cup runs.
Next season- league champions and FA and League Cup winners.
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I am still in shock. We have just got a proper elite manager. And not one on the way down. We have got a top class manager who is currently at the top and he is coming to us aged 50. It's just fantastic.
As for 'success'? By any metric we have had a bad 12 years. Get us into the top half to a point where we are serious contenders for Europe.
Achieve that by 2023-34 and then start dreaming really big.
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I am still in shock. We have just got a proper elite manager. And not one on the way down. We have got a top class manager who is currently at the top and he is coming to us aged 50. It's just fantastic.
As for 'success'? By any metric we have had a bad 12 years. Get us into the top half to a point where we are serious contenders for Europe.
Achieve that by 2023-34 and then start dreaming really big.
We had a good year or so with Smith.
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Let me rephrase, we haven't been where we want to be: we haven't been top half in 12 years. Smith's achievements were fantastic.
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Top 10 this season.
Europa qualification next season by any means...
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I’m in the camp that would like us to finish around 10th this season. Next season it would be great if we could get into any of the European competitions. A crack at one of the domestic cups would be an added bonus.
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Being best of the rest like West Ham and Leicester have been for the past few years. But first we have to stay up.
No!!! We have to aim higher
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I might be biased, but if you're a serious manager of taste and distinction this is the job. Clough knew it. Crack this and you're a legend.
Unai gets it.
Exactly
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This season, top half and a good run in at least one of the cups.
Next season, challenging for European qualification through the league and good cup runs.
This and the FA Cup at some point in the next few years, it would be everything
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F.A Cup for me first off, then I have seen us win everything we can, born in 1960 so missed the last one. I am running out of time to see it in my lifetime so this season would be fantastic.
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FA Cup
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I think if he can do an updated version of the milkman sketch I will be happy with that.
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FA Cup. The rest is irrelevant for now.
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This season, 9-12th. Stay up comfortably.
Next season 7-9th
Season after top 6
And a cup. Whenever, whichever. Just win is a cup.
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This season - comfortable lower to mid table, but more importantly to know his best team, identify the players to move on and who to replace them with. Essentially be in a position where we're finally over Grealish. A cup (run?) would be a bonus.
Next - upper mid table/Europa
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A proper Villa Park fortress to start with.
Top half of the table and ensuring other clubs like Newcastle do not progress faster than us.
A day at Wembley and a cup to take home.
If we get there in the next 3 years he will be a club legend.
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He's not here to piss about. If he didn't think he had a good chance of top six next season he wouldn't have joined.
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Top 10 this season. Right now we're 2 points off tenth. Hardly asking too much especially as I expect both Fulham and Brighton to fall down the table. I expect what we'll see at the end of the season and pretty much thereafter is a league table that reflects the money in the PL.
Next season should be closing the gap between those above us, not necessarily on position but on points. A cup win of any description, ideally you know what followed by the long awaited return of European football.
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Top 10 this season. Right now we're 2 points off tenth. Hardly asking too much especially as I expect both Fulham and Brighton to fall down the table. I expect what we'll see at the end of the season and pretty much thereafter is a league table that reflects the money in the PL.
Next season should be closing the gap between those above us, not necessarily on position but on points. A cup win of any description, ideally you know what followed by the long awaited return of European football.
Yes this season feels different in that everything is really bunched up. A couple of wins and you go shooting up the table, whereas a few defeats and you're sucked into the relegation spots. There's not the obvious whipping boys like Norwich either.
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This:Top 10. And a deep run in the cups.
Next: Top 8 and a Cup
After: Champions League places and Europe
Beyond: Everything
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I think I said last year when Gerrard took over that Top 10 was a realistic target for this season and anything lower than 13th would be disappointing. I think the same applies here, but I am much more confident that Emery can achieve this. (You can get around 7/2 on us finishing top half at the moment...)
It's really hard to assess how good our squad is at the moment. Was Sunday the outlier or a better reflection of our quality than what we'd seen previously? I fully expect Emery to get most of the squad playing better, which will hopefully result in much better results this season which we can build on year-on-year. I'd like a proper assault on the top 6/8 next year. As Dave said - he's not here to mess around.
But I must insist that he wins the FA Cup for us quite soon.
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Top 10 this season. Right now we're 2 points off tenth. Hardly asking too much especially as I expect both Fulham and Brighton to fall down the table. I expect what we'll see at the end of the season and pretty much thereafter is a league table that reflects the money in the PL.
Next season should be closing the gap between those above us, not necessarily on position but on points. A cup win of any description, ideally you know what followed by the long awaited return of European football.
Yes this season feels different in that everything is really bunched up. A couple of wins and you go shooting up the table, whereas a few defeats and you're sucked into the relegation spots. There's not the obvious whipping boys like Norwich either.
Rudy and Risso talking a lot of sense here, as is their wont.
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Top 10 this year. After that it’s got to be one of continuous improvement and a credible change of winning cups and European qualification. I’d also like to see some of our promising youngsters given the opportunity to show if they’re up to it or not.
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He’s going to get a shed load of money to make us a top 6 side. No reason why that cannot be achieved next season. This season top 8 is very achievable. Looking at the table today, Newcastle will be in the hunt for it and you have to think Liverpool will and West Ham. And don’t write off Leicester. But that has to be the goal and build from there. A cup run and win would be our best path to a successful season immediately so would be great to see that happen.
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This season top 10 - due to our shit start.
Next season 6-8
The following season (assuming he's well backed) 5-6
Chuck in some decent cup runs.
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I said at the start of the season that the current squad should be at least top 10 and with a bit of luck outside bet for the last European place. Our start probably means that the latter of these is gone, but 10th is still within our grasp.
There are also the two domestic cups to play for and either of those would be a mark of intent.
Going forward, we need to be regularly challenging 6th - 8th. If we're doing that after the last decade, I'll be delighted.
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This season? A decent mid table finish, 10th would be good. Run in both cups if we can get past Man U. Competing with teams above us, teams worrying about coming to Villa Park. A structure that suits the playing staff, bringing young talent through.
A bit of a clear out.
Next season be in the mix for Europe is a must. Make it about Aston Villa, not about the personalities there.
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I’d say 10th - 12th with a decent cup run. It all depends on who he brings in during January and if they adapt well. We are a season behind where we could’ve been because again we’ve had to appoint another manager. I get a feeling though that we’ve got this one right. I’m not saying top 6 but I think he’ll stabilise us, introduce something called coaching and have us well drilled. Next season I really believe we’ll develop into a top half team.
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Top 10 this season. Right now we're 2 points off tenth. Hardly asking too much especially as I expect both Fulham and Brighton to fall down the table. I expect what we'll see at the end of the season and pretty much thereafter is a league table that reflects the money in the PL.
Next season should be closing the gap between those above us, not necessarily on position but on points. A cup win of any description, ideally you know what followed by the long awaited return of European football.
Yes this season feels different in that everything is really bunched up. A couple of wins and you go shooting up the table, whereas a few defeats and you're sucked into the relegation spots. There's not the obvious whipping boys like Norwich either.
Agree.
The likes of Fulham, Bournemouth and to a lesser degree Nottingham Forest have shown they are not looking to emulate clubs like Norwich.
I think there will be a few surprises for relegation this season and by us acting now, along the pedigree of the manager, I am sure we won't be anywhere near the relegation zone.
So success for Unai for me is, if he is able to keep us out of trouble, along with installing the style and ethos of how he wants us to play going forward, I would be very happy with that for this season.
However, next season, with good investment, I would expect him to be challenging for a place in Europe, along with having a couple of good cup runs.
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Top 10 would be nice this season but really I want to see a consistent approach and style emerge. January and summer windows will help that. Next couple of seasons maybe top 8-10. Then Europe after that hopefully.
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Here we go again. More bloody optimism. (I include myself in this).
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Ave Emery has a pedigree for cup winners and finishing higher echolens of the league
That is success.
And would also be success for Villa too.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see us win one of the domest I cups this season.
Or we come very close to doing so.
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It's 26 years since we won a domestic trophy so to win one this year given who we're playing in the League Cup would be surprising x 10 given where we are now. Not wanting to dent your optimism Footy but a trophy this year is a stretch unless we get some real good fortune in the FA cup draws.
This season.. top 10
Next season... top 8 and a cup
3rd season.. FA Cup and top 6.
4th season... CL Qualification
5th..... World domination.
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While you can never guarantee cup wins, we should at least take them seriously. Always as close to full strength as possible, very much a focus within each season, not an unwanted distraction. To do this you need a team that can compete, then by its nature it should be a top 10/8 team.
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Take all Cups seriously
Have a proper go at the 'Big 6'
Play good football
Win games - mid to upper table ready to pounce if one or more big boys fold for a few months.
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If you can't win the league (and by January you should have a good idea) then you should go all out for the FA Cup.
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For me, it's the same bar that Gerrard had, and Smith before him.
This season, I expect a top half finish, putting in a challenge for the European places. Don't necessarily have to qualify, although that'd be great, but enough that we're able to attract high quality players in the summer.
Next season, qualify for the Europa League. We need to be in Europe. It's utterly ridiculous that the second largest city in the country hasn't played host to European football in ... I dunno how long now - must be over a decade though.
After that, see where we are. Ultimately, I want Villa to win stuff and play in the highest level of European competition, though.
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The aim should be to turn us into a properly competitive team that is taken seriously.
Finishing in the Top 10 shouldn't be an aspiration, it should be the barest standard - a bad season.
Winning the FA Cup would give automatic legend status, but even the League Cup or his speciality the Europa League would make him the best Villa manager since the 90s.
When we play the likes of Brentford, Palace, Bournemouth, Southampton, Brighton etc, we should be expected to be strong favourites to beat them, rather than them being even encounters.
And when we play the so-called Big 6 or Newcastle (who will eventually join or replace one of them); we should be competitive. It shouldn't be a walkover or a guaranteed 3 points for any of them.
That would be "success" in today's Premier League. If he somehow exceeded that, he'd be a truly legendary manager.
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I know Gerrard has to take some reponsibility for our position, but the players should bear their fair share, not one player in the squad have played to their potential for a long time, that can't be just about the way Gerrard structured the side. That is the new managers first task, to get players showing some positive consistency.
Bailey proved many wrong against Brentford, he is a player, but having shown what he's capable of needs to keep playing to that standard. Always thought that this squad should be in the top eight, if Emery can add a couple of quality players we could be top six.
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A trophy .preferably the FA Cup .....
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This season top 8. Next top 6. The one after top 4. And a cup or two.
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The aim should be to turn us into a properly competitive team that is taken seriously.
Finishing in the Top 10 shouldn't be an aspiration, it should be the barest standard - a bad season.
Winning the FA Cup would give automatic legend status, but even the League Cup or his speciality the Europa League would make him the best Villa manager since the 90s.
When we play the likes of Brentford, Palace, Bournemouth, Southampton, Brighton etc, we should be expected to be strong favourites to beat them, rather than them being even encounters.
And when we play the so-called Big 6 or Newcastle (who will eventually join or replace one of them); we should be competitive. It shouldn't be a walkover or a guaranteed 3 points for any of them.
That would be "success" in today's Premier League. If he somehow exceeded that, he'd be a truly legendary manager.
I agree with the sex wally.
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Are the domestic cups really that important? Last two seasons we reached cup finals, we barely escaped relegation on both occasions. A team consistently challenging the European spots via the league is surely the primary objective over the next 3 seasons.
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Are the domestic cups really that important?
Not sure if serious...?
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I don't remember last season's cup final.
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Are the domestic cups really that important?
Not sure if serious...?
I'd take the fucking Papa John's Trophy at present
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Play nice football.
Win a cup.
Regular European football.
Bring loads of the kids through the system and give them game time. No excuses with the 5 sub rule.
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Are the domestic cups really that important? Last two seasons we reached cup finals, we barely escaped relegation on both occasions. A team consistently challenging the European spots via the league is surely the primary objective over the next 3 seasons.
Of course they are. We haven't won anything since 1996. That's a stupidly long time for a club of our size and status not to have won anything. No-one under 30 will have any strong memories of us ever winning a trophy (other than the playoff).
We need to keep the next generations of Villa fans interested and invested in the club. Winning stuff creates and strengthens those connections.
Winning cups also qualifies us for Europe.
And finally, if we're not trying to win things, then what's the point of it all anyway?
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The aim should be to turn us into a properly competitive team that is taken seriously.
Finishing in the Top 10 shouldn't be an aspiration, it should be the barest standard - a bad season.
Winning the FA Cup would give automatic legend status, but even the League Cup or his speciality the Europa League would make him the best Villa manager since the 90s.
When we play the likes of Brentford, Palace, Bournemouth, Southampton, Brighton etc, we should be expected to be strong favourites to beat them, rather than them being even encounters.
And when we play the so-called Big 6 or Newcastle (who will eventually join or replace one of them); we should be competitive. It shouldn't be a walkover or a guaranteed 3 points for any of them.
That would be "success" in today's Premier League. If he somehow exceeded that, he'd be a truly legendary manager.
I agree with the sex wally.
I would hope our medium-term aim is to also replace one of those six clubs, too.
We need to keep it simple this season, however, with a top half finish and a cup run.
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I would be happy with finishing 10th or 12th this season and a cup run would be great.
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As a coach success for Emery will be seeing players improve individually and collectively with team making steady progress each season.
As a fan I’ll be happy if we just play well and win every game.
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Are the domestic cups really that important? Last two seasons we reached cup finals, we barely escaped relegation on both occasions. A team consistently challenging the European spots via the league is surely the primary objective over the next 3 seasons.
We got to our last two Finals despite being shit in the league. We weren't shit in the league because we were in those Cups and having to play an extra four or five games.
I want us to win stuff, and I can't help noticing a correlation between teams that win domestic Cups and those that do very well in the league. Of the clubs winning the FA Cup since the formation of the PL, only Everton, Portsmouth and Wigan have not also won the latter.
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I know Gerrard has to take some reponsibility for our position, but the players should bear their fair share, not one player in the squad have played to their potential for a long time, that can't be just about the way Gerrard structured the side. That is the new managers first task, to get players showing some positive consistency.
Bailey proved many wrong against Brentford, he is a player, but having shown what he's capable of needs to keep playing to that standard. Always thought that this squad should be in the top eight, if Emery can add a couple of quality players we could be top six.
Having read the article on The Athletic, one thing that leapt out at me was the players' feelings about him. He took time to speak to one in English, takes time to explain to players what he wants from each of them, coaches them, and understands them on a human level, not just as a commodity or player.
Smith did that, and had limited tactical flexibility, Gerrard seemed to have neither, whilst Emery appears to have it all. Having worked at Villareal with players out of form, discarded from other teams and without the high value. He's the real deal.
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I don't remember last season's cup final.
That's because we weren't in it.
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Are the domestic cups really that important?
Not sure if serious...?
I'd take the fucking Papa John's Trophy at present
I'd eat a fucking Papa John's pizza if it gave us a chance.
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Are the domestic cups really that important? Last two seasons we reached cup finals, we barely escaped relegation on both occasions. A team consistently challenging the European spots via the league is surely the primary objective over the next 3 seasons.
Oh you Millennials ;D
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All this, plus fans seeing an exciting balance between better buys, favourites staying; and home grown talent given chances. Never easy.
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1) Avoiding relegation this year - not messing. When Forest beat the scousers it shows how difficult this league is.
2) Top 10 - 2023 to 2024 season. Good domestic cup run.
3) Qualify for europe 2024 to 2025 season.
Patience, tis a virtue. :)
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Like Slippy I think Emery gets a free pass this season with a lower mid-table finish and a nice cup run a bonus. Next year is all out for the top 7 and getting into Europe somehow.
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I agree perhaps we shouldn't get too carried away this season given the mess we've been so far but he is coming in at pretty much the same time as Gerrard last season so is minimum expectation that he picks up more points than Gerrard did last season?
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If you can't win the league, which lets face it is extremely difficult for anyone but Oil City, then winning trophies on a regular basis has to be the next priority. If you win trophies on a regular basis then you start to attract better players, then you start to finish higher in the league and everyone's happy.
Top half and a good shout in both cups this season please. Win the F. A. Cup and legendary status assured.
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I think the cups vs league thing is interesting.
I want us to win things. I don't really care what Sky want me to think - you remember winning cups, not finishing bloody 6th in the league one season, or even finishing 4th. Who the hell aspires to be 4th best at anything?
All that said, with the way that football works now, playing in Europe is an absolute must be able to compete with those clubs, and as of such I want us to be in Europe, and think finishing 6th/7th is probably less of a jump than winning a cup competition, which is a bit down to luck of the draw & luck on the day*.
* which is, of course, the best thing about cup competitions - the fact that it's not a robotic calculation based on how your performances balance out over 12 months. It's a relatively small series of one-off games, where in those one-off games you may well end up getting lucky, playing mostly sides that you are better than, and then just maybe you get to the final and either play a side that's enjoyed a similarly fortunate route to the final (e.g. Leeds '96), or just put in the right performance on the day against a strong side (Bayern Munich '82, Manc Utd '94)
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Like Slippy I think Emery gets a free pass this season with a lower mid-table finish and a nice cup run a bonus. Next year is all out for the top 7 and getting into Europe somehow.
Sorry but I don't agree. Danks in one game showed what can be done. Emery, unlike Gerrard last season has the World Cup break to work with most of the players and get to work on a system. It's almost perfect timing, he'll be able to assess them and then have a couple more games before the window opens to strengthen the team.
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Like Slippy I think Emery gets a free pass this season with a lower mid-table finish and a nice cup run a bonus. Next year is all out for the top 7 and getting into Europe somehow.
Sorry but I don't agree. Danks in one game showed what can be done. Emery, unlike Gerrard last season has the World Cup break to work with most of the players and get to work on a system. It's almost perfect timing, he'll be able to assess them and then have a couple more games before the window opens to strengthen the team.
Let's see what happens this weekend. When we've played well, it's been at home, whereas in most games away we've stunk the place out. If we get an improved performace and result on Saturday then that'll be a big step forward.
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I think the cups vs league thing is interesting.
I want us to win things. I don't really care what Sky want me to think - you remember winning cups, not finishing bloody 6th in the league one season, or even finishing 4th. Who the hell aspires to be 4th best at anything?
All that said, with the way that football works now, playing in Europe is an absolute must be able to compete with those clubs, and as of such I want us to be in Europe, and think finishing 6th/7th is probably less of a jump than winning a cup competition, which is a bit down to luck of the draw & luck on the day*.
* which is, of course, the best thing about cup competitions - the fact that it's not a robotic calculation based on how your performances balance out over 12 months. It's a relatively small series of one-off games, where in those one-off games you may well end up getting lucky, playing mostly sides that you are better than, and then just maybe you get to the final and either play a side that's enjoyed a similarly fortunate route to the final (e.g. Leeds '96), or just put in the right performance on the day against a strong side (Bayern Munich '82, Manc Utd '94)
I think by that logic, cup competitions are our best bet any year. Half a dozen games at most, even if you get one or two difficult ties - it's less of a grind than a 38 game league season where we'd have to over-perform more than a couple of times to finish 6th.
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I think expectations this season need to be tempered - mid table, with clear signs of a defined style of play, coherent in game plan, effective substitutions, beating the poorer teams, being in games - would be progress. A quarter of the season has already gone by and it will take time to fix some of the issues he's inheriting.
Next season (with benefit of two windows, improvement this season, and a full pre-season) I'd expect us to be in and around 8th with a strong run at one of the cups.
To get beyond that and reliably compete with the big boys, a lot will depend on investment because its going to take a lot of money to consistently compete at the top table.
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As long as he keeps us up comfortably and there are visible signs that he's creating a team with an identity, I don't mind if he doesn't set the world alight this season.
He's a man with ideas, and it might take the players a while to absorb them and put them into practice.
Next season will be the one to judge him on.
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Job one: we haven’t finished inside the top 10 of the Premier League since 2011 which is, frankly, embarrassing. Let’s remedy that and kick on.
He’s got a good opportunity to assess what he has/have a mini-pre season during the World Cup with likely few players away, followed by a transfer window. This season isn’t lost yet.
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11 years outside the top half, that's just appalling, especially when you see which clubs have made it in thst period.
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Top 10 absolute minimum this season, we are 2 points off West Ham.
What I hope he does not do is repeat the mistakes of the previous manager regarding team selection and listen to Danks about why he is not starting Mcginn and Coutinho.
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It sounds like Emery likes very detailed tactics. He asks a lot of the players, giving them large amounts of information and very detailed instruction. Some find this tricky or don't enjoy it and goes against the mantra of some other coaches who worry abot information overload and have more of a mantra of 'keep it simple' (As Danks did against Brentford)
So im not sure if we'll see an immediate uptick in performance as some players may struggle with the structure. But one thing is for sure, we will go into each game with a plan and can expect in game managemet from the bench and that alone will be a refreshing change from the last couple of years.
It may be a slow burner, but I hope we've got enough for top 10 this season, particulalry now Kamara will be back very shortly.
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Top 10 absolute minimum this season, we are 2 points off West Ham.
What I hope he does not do is repeat the mistakes of the previous manager regarding team selection and listen to Danks about why he is not starting Mcginn and Coutinho.
From the multitude of podcasts and videos doing the rounds, I'm confident the team he puts on the pitch will have been watched, coached and assessed as fit for purpose.
Unless I've read everything wrong, players previous reputations will only be relevant for recruitment purposes, and not for match selection.
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Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.
Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.
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I think the cups vs league thing is interesting.
I want us to win things. I don't really care what Sky want me to think - you remember winning cups, not finishing bloody 6th in the league one season, or even finishing 4th. Who the hell aspires to be 4th best at anything?
All that said, with the way that football works now, playing in Europe is an absolute must be able to compete with those clubs, and as of such I want us to be in Europe, and think finishing 6th/7th is probably less of a jump than winning a cup competition, which is a bit down to luck of the draw & luck on the day*.
* which is, of course, the best thing about cup competitions - the fact that it's not a robotic calculation based on how your performances balance out over 12 months. It's a relatively small series of one-off games, where in those one-off games you may well end up getting lucky, playing mostly sides that you are better than, and then just maybe you get to the final and either play a side that's enjoyed a similarly fortunate route to the final (e.g. Leeds '96), or just put in the right performance on the day against a strong side (Bayern Munich '82, Manc Utd '94)
I remember seasons where we won most weeks and when we've had bloody good teams.
Almost winning the league in '93, finishing 4th in '96 (as well as winning the league cup and getting to the semi-final of the FA Cup) and finishing 6th under O'Neill.
I wouldn't dismiss league position because if you're amongst the European places, you've won a lot of games and those have been happy times. Chances are we like the team and individual players.
We all want the cup runs and Wembley trips but it's all part of the same thing for me, having a really good side.
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Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.
Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.
Clean slates all round as far as I'm concerned.
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Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.
Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.
Clean slates all round as far as I'm concerned.
I agree and I would imagine that the players will also see this as an opportunity to improve under a top manager.
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Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.
Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.
Clean slates all round as far as I'm concerned.
I agree and I would imagine that the players will also see this as an opportunity to improve under a top manager.
Yep, has to be. I trust this manager's knowledge and pedigree. The detail he goes to, he'll know way more than us. I'm sure we won't be getting any 'Look me in the eye' crap too.
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Well I hope this also applies to our French bombsquad member and his terminal sub-at-best compatriot.
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Momentum is key this year rather than a specific position this season. Next year top 9, year after a proper challenge for Europe.
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As long as he keeps us up comfortably and there are visible signs that he's creating a team with an identity, I don't mind if he doesn't set the world alight this season.
He's a man with ideas, and it might take the players a while to absorb them and put them into practice.
Next season will be the one to judge him on.
Agree, but even with a small amount of improvement, a top ten finish should be achievable this season.
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What does success look like for Emery? Getting his work visa!
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Are the domestic cups really that important? Last two seasons we reached cup finals, we barely escaped relegation on both occasions. A team consistently challenging the European spots via the league is surely the primary objective over the next 3 seasons.
We got to our last two Finals despite being shit in the league. We weren't shit in the league because we were in those Cups and having to play an extra four or five games.
I want us to win stuff, and I can't help noticing a correlation between teams that win domestic Cups and those that do very well in the league. Of the clubs winning the FA Cup since the formation of the PL, only Everton, Portsmouth and Wigan have not also won the latter.
A cup run can mask a lot, including a shit team. Winning the cup did little for the fortunes of those three clubs, I think Wigan were relegated that season. McLeish relegated Blues the same season, or just after, they won a domestic cup?
I'd prefer if the club was consistently good in the league, cup runs would then come with a chance of actually winning it. I'd actually forgotten MON took us to a cup final too, Vidic red not given etc
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Realistically we can't do better than 6/7th long term. We have been in the shit too long and ate too far behind to catch up.
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Newcastle were bottom three last season and now they are top 4. Leicester nearly went down and then won the league.
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Emery has said he wants to win a cup with Aston Villa.
He has said he wants to have Aston Villa in Europe.
He has also said that he wants to be here for a long time!
I like what he deems as successful and he's proven with other clubs to do that and every chance he will.
Imagine if we won a cup this season as well!
Wow!
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The FA cup will do.
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At least until we win that big european thingy again...
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The FA Cup!
Lets go Villa!
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Improvement in our play. That is all I ask. The rest will take care of itself.
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The FA Cup!
Lets go Villa!
Yeah, let's go El Maestro!
What are we left with then, a top half finish?
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The FA Cup!
Lets go Villa!
Yeah, let's go El Maestro!
What are we left with then, a top half finish?
The continued dropping of Martinez I reckon for Footy.
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The FA Cup!
Lets go Villa!
Yeah, let's go El Maestro!
What are we left with then, a top half finish?
Not much chance of that with some of these cretins playing for us
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We will finish in top half and that will be job done - then it’s all about the transfer business / budget over the summer
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Can we do a Gregory on it, 9 wins out of 11 and qualify for the Euro Conference Vase?
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Clearing out the shower of shit that makes up a large part of this squad.
Maybe one of the positives from last night was it happened in the transfer window.
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I feel this thread needs renaming or merging with the pictures of Emery thread.
What does success look like?
Picture of Unai Emery! :)
Our attitude and momentum were fantastic, and I can't wait for the next season fixtues and the transfer window to open where exciting things are to happen
Everyone feels good and it has been a long time coming! It was the first success of Emery and the optimism gauge is high!
The upcoming season will be thrilling!
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Next season.
3rd in the league.
Win all 3 cups.
Anything less than that and we should be on the phone to Big Sam before the end of the season.
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Wor Steve, surely 🤣🤣