Emi Martinez

[jwarry]

Here’s the thing, do you think Unai has never been keen on him? After all he wouldn’t pick him at Arsenal and I think I vaguely remember some uncertainty about his future here when Unai arrived - or am I imagining all of that?

[Dave]

I thought Barca was 800 million in debt and had also played ineligle players they are going to be in trouble about.     
I did think last night the only 'big team' with an average goalie was Barca . most the others have decent ones , as couldnt see him going Saudi.   

Fits the profile of the sort of player Bayern would sign and Neuer can't go on forever.

[RamboandBruno]

Emi has been below his best this year. He might get it back, he might not, who knows. He's not been terrible by any means, but he has made quite a few errors and been less assertive in coming for crosses, which was a very big part of his game for us. He also has been more tentative in his sweeping, which pulls our backline deeper at times, makes us more passive. Again, hardly terrible, we're talking rareified levels here, but not quite the keeper he was.

So he's the asset we have whose sale makes the most sense, if we have to. Which breaks my heart a bit, because I think he's my favourite current player and one of my top three across my lifetime. He's been our magnificent bastard and I love him. I'd love him to stay. But if our hand is forced, and we reckon we can replace him (lots of good keepers out there now!), so be it I guess. [weeping manfully]

Yea I’m here. Along with McGinn and Mings, epitomising everything good about this team over the last few years. Not just great players, but seemingly top people as well. Feels a bit odd at 51 to have footballing heroes but he’s definitely one of mine.
I think I’d rather he agitated for a move, maybe he has, but if he doesn’t really want to go that will be pretty heartbreaking.

[astonvilla82]

Do we retire his shirt?, can't think of any other club that has done it previously

[Sexual Ealing]

Do we retire his shirt?, can't think of any other club that has done it previously

I love him and really don't want him to go, but fuck retiring his, or anyone else's shirt. Let's never do that.

[Pete3206]

Do we retire his shirt?, can't think of any other club that has done it previously

No

[Brend'Watkins]

Do we retire his shirt?, can't think of any other club that has done it previously

I love him and really don't want him to go, but fuck retiring his, or anyone else's shirt. Let's never do that.

Very much this.

[PeterWithesShin]

It may be as simple as Emi wants to leave. He can still love the club but decide that at 32 and having had a short career at the top that he fancies either massively padding his finances for a few years in Saudi, or taking a shot at somewhere like Barcelona. The window for him to do either, especially the latter, is getting smaller for him.

[Beard82]

Don’t get me wrong - I’m sure he is happy with whatever is happening.

It’s just it seems that as he has 4 years left on his contract and is clearly happy here - we could keep him but need to sell for PSR reasons.

It just means that like this season we are forced to do a lot to just try and stand still and into the bargain we’re losing someone that we had a real connection with. 

I think this is more like when we sold grealish than dougie - and Doug ie effected us in the first half of the season.  But like grealish - we won’t get a replacement that’s as good as him

[KevinGage]

Do not sell. That is all.

[kippaxvilla2]

Why don’t players seem to want to stay with us no matter what.  It’s bloody frustrating.

[Eckybloke]

I will be absolutely gutted if he does go because he’s one of our players that everyone who follows football will know.

I was working with a guy in the States during one Lille game last year and mentioned my team was losing. When I said I supported Villa the guy was all “Emi Martinez is nuts!” because that was the only guy he knew about and you don’t get that with many keepers. I think we lose more than just a player when he goes.

[dave.woodhall]

Why don’t players seem to want to stay with us no matter what.  It’s bloody frustrating.

He doesn't want to go. We don't want to sell him.

[Olneythelonely]

Why don’t players seem to want to stay with us no matter what.  It’s bloody frustrating.

I’d say this has very little to do with whether he wants to stay.

If our whole squad wanted to stay “no matter what”, we’d be fucked with PSR.

[KevinGage]

I will be absolutely gutted if he does go because he’s one of our players that everyone who follows football will know.

I was working with a guy in the States during one Lille game last year and mentioned my team was losing. When I said I supported Villa the guy was all “Emi Martinez is nuts!” because that was the only guy he knew about and you don’t get that with many keepers. I think we lose more than just a player when he goes.

Was speaking to an Inter Milan fan when I was over in Athens last year. When I mentioned the Villa he smiled and said "Emi Martinez!"   And re-enacted that WC 2022 celebration.

Players like him, Mings and McGinn offer more than their own contribution on the pitch (as good as that usually is).  They make the players around them better n'all.   You don't mess with that sort of dynamic.