Emi Martinez

[The Charmer]

I don’t think he’s been quite as good this season but I’d still have him over anyone else.
Best keeper we’ve had for donkey’s years.

Donkey's ears. Rhyming slang.

Well, well, well  -  I never knew that.

That would make sense and, as with alot of rhyming slang, why people only say the first word.

" He's the best keeper we've had for Donkey's  . . .  "

TIL

[rob_bridge]

As well as being a brilliant shot stopper, his distribution up field is amazing. The accuracy of his long kicks is superb.

I know the game has moved on eons in this space over the last 7 or 8 years but that is what sets him apart from so many others.
Good analysis by Redknapp and Dion last night to that point

[Dave]

It's also to his credit, as I remember a fair bit of talk when Emery joined us was about how he and Emi didn't get on, and how he booted him out of Arsenal because he was unhappy with how poor his distribution was.

And while that was probably bollocks - I think that it's fair to say that Emi's far better at that stuff now than he was when he was doing it under Smith and Gerrard.

[brontebilly]

That perma tanned clown on the Newcastle bench really should have addressed things tactically though. Martinez distribution was excellent as was Watkins movement but the gaps were so big between the Newcastle midfield and defence. Ollie had so much ground to run into and Martinez had big targets to put the passes through.

I thought Martinez hid on his line a bit for their goal. At his best he gets to that cross and sends their forward into next week. Konsa plays him onside to start with on the first ball and Maatsen should be stronger at back post. But Martinez at his best clears house at the back post. Just a small bit off his best this season.

[Mister E]

... I thought Martinez hid on his line a bit for their goal. At his best he gets to that cross and sends their forward into next week. Konsa plays him onside to start with on the first ball and Maatsen should be stronger at back post. But Martinez at his best clears house at the back post. Just a small bit off his best this season.

Agreed with that. He's still very, very good but not quite at his best (and that's being hyper-critical).

[paul_e]

That perma tanned clown on the Newcastle bench really should have addressed things tactically though. Martinez distribution was excellent as was Watkins movement but the gaps were so big between the Newcastle midfield and defence. Ollie had so much ground to run into and Martinez had big targets to put the passes through.

I thought Martinez hid on his line a bit for their goal. At his best he gets to that cross and sends their forward into next week. Konsa plays him onside to start with on the first ball and Maatsen should be stronger at back post. But Martinez at his best clears house at the back post. Just a small bit off his best this season.

Asensio was a big part of creating that gap. Newcastle play with 3 8s really, with none of them clearly the holding player. With a player like Asensio dropping into the midfield and drifting that lack of a dedicated defensive player gets exposed because whoever is holding follows him to easily and that creates gaps. We exploited the fuck out of that.

[Somniloquism]

A few tactics breakdowns all pointed out that Newcastle play man for man to try to stop anyone playing through them. However our players were really roaming and was testing the limits of how far we could move before they gave up, or if they followed had someone else exploit the space vacated. Even Watkins and Rogers were pulling them all over, not just Asensio. Then have a player like Tielemans who can slide rule the pass to the unmarked / space runner and they didn't know what to do.

[Exeter 77]

Emi was very confident in the pace of Ollie Watkins against the defender, mostly Schär, when playing the longer pass which was similar to how a ball to Rashford got the Brugge full back sent off.

[DrGonzo]

There was an interview before the 1st leg of the PSG match in which Emery said that Martinez had matured a lot since he was at Arsenal.  The implication was that Unai didn't rate his attitude during his Arsenal spell but had been won over by the new model Martinez.  He's a leader and his distribution is excellent, he makes some incredible saves and I think when he makes those mistakes they are more obvious because they are a real abberation.

[rob_bridge]

That perma tanned clown on the Newcastle bench really should have addressed things tactically though. Martinez distribution was excellent as was Watkins movement but the gaps were so big between the Newcastle midfield and defence. Ollie had so much ground to run into and Martinez had big targets to put the passes through.

I thought Martinez hid on his line a bit for their goal. At his best he gets to that cross and sends their forward into next week. Konsa plays him onside to start with on the first ball and Maatsen should be stronger at back post. But Martinez at his best clears house at the back post. Just a small bit off his best this season.

Asensio was a big part of creating that gap. Newcastle play with 3 8s really, with none of them clearly the holding player. With a player like Asensio dropping into the midfield and drifting that lack of a dedicated defensive player gets exposed because whoever is holding follows him to easily and that creates gaps. We exploited the fuck out of that.

Their front 6 have been very good this season. However

Our 1x6 + 2x8 > their 3 x 8.
Our 1x9 + 2x10 > their 1x11 + 1x9+1x7

Key difference in the match.

[PeterWithesShin]

I love you Emi but please stop being crap at times.

[aj2k77]

Shite season from him this year.

[andyh]

He’s starting to make me very nervous

[Stinkin_Thinkin]

Martinez is turning into a clown. wear the silly hat and do the dancing when you've won not before the match. Getting done by the first shot of the game all season. Another one shitting the bed in the big games. Mistakes against Paris and should of done better with the first at Man city.

[Somniloquism]

Some people just lose their minds after a Villa loss. Martinez doesn't worry me, even a "shit season" is on par with most of our best goalies season. People seem to forget some of the saves he made this season (Nottingham away, point blank header stopped on the line for example). Arguably kept us within touching distance of PSG in the first leg being beaten by two wonder strikes. The problem with keepers is they have to react faster then any player when across comes over AND any slight mistake is normally a goal.