Emi Martinez

[frank black]

I think the not enjoying *this* team is those of us that are glass half empty are getting nervous.

The last 5 years have been amazing - some of the most fun following Villa.  I think few can disagree with that.

The nervousness is this another one of the nearly phases in our history.  We have blown UL and FA Cup final and the last season the conference league. 

But we keep having to sell our best players - how sustainable is it.  Are we going to look back at this in 10 years like the MON teams

Quite possibly, largely depends upon the patience/backing of our owners. We do seem to have a habit of nearly getting there…

[kippaxvilla2]

Our goals against during the last two seasons has been our Achilles heel.  I suspect it would be a shitload worse if it had not been for Emi's bailouts.

[Brend'Watkins]

I suppose the point is we have and can still improve from a standing start, both Spurs and Man Utd had Chamions League football and significantly higher incomes than us when Emery joined and it's not stopped us consistently outperforming them since.

The challenge as always is to mug them and and others like them repeatedly on transfers.

Agree. The higher up we go the more we demand for players and bit part players from our rivals.

[PeterWithesShin]

He was still right to go up for the corner against Arsenal, IMO.

Yep, we had lost the game whether he went up and we then conceded or not. Whilst rare a keeper causes a goal for in those circumstances, it is as rare as conceding after so take the risk for the point. If we were drawing and we lost because of it, I can understand the criticism. But for this to be a criticism 3 years later.......

As proved by our missing out on CL, a single goal can make quite the difference.

How many times does a keeper actually score when they go up for corners/free kicks in the dying seconds.

3 in the PL. Alisson is the only one in the last 20 years.

[cdbearsfan]

But still, worth taking a punt when it makes no difference if you concede. If you're in a mini-group or very close on goal difference to teams around you then maybe not. Although, having checked, our goal difference was only two worse than Tottenham's that season so might have been crucial. I've changed my mind. He's a twat and I'm glad he's going.

[kippaxvilla2]

Well according to one report Man United only want to pay £17m for him.  So on that basis he won’t be going anywhere.

[Somniloquism]

He was still right to go up for the corner against Arsenal, IMO.

Yep, we had lost the game whether he went up and we then conceded or not. Whilst rare a keeper causes a goal for in those circumstances, it is as rare as conceding after so take the risk for the point. If we were drawing and we lost because of it, I can understand the criticism. But for this to be a criticism 3 years later.......

As proved by our missing out on CL, a single goal can make quite the difference.

How many times does a keeper actually score when they go up for corners/free kicks in the dying seconds.

Doesn't have to score, just cause a potential goal because the defence suddenly have an extra person to deal with. Equalising goals scored last minute with keeper up in the box is probably not a stat Opta record, same with goals conceded because keeper had gone up into the box (or the more bizarre keeper injured running back to box).

As for us missing out on CL, we didn't miss out on one goal, we missed out by closer to 20. Your argument is actually more in favour of a keeper going up last minute when losing as one point would have made a hell of a difference.

[Dave]

Well according to one report Man United only want to pay £17m for him.  So on that basis he won’t be going anywhere.

Seems fair enough. As long that is "plus Rashford".

[PeterWithe]

And we do have a fair bit of security that he's only a year into a five year contract.

[aj2k77]

If he pushed for a move their he can stick that hand statue up his arse whilst standing under one of those leaky roof waterfalls at The Theatre Of Dives.

[Rigadon]

Well according to one report Man United only want to pay £17m for him.  So on that basis he won’t be going anywhere.

Seems fair enough. As long that is "plus Rashford".

Exactly this. 

[Ian.]

Maybe he was so pissed off with the powers that be and he was told before the Old Trafford game, we would be surplus to requirements, so he just didn’t give a monkeys anymore when he took out out Højlund. It was certainly a loss of control in his head.

[Dante Lavelli]

Are we going to look back at this in 10 years like the MON teams

Probably yes.  But that's not a reason to assume its already over. 

The optimist in me strongly believes that the current set-up will grow the whole club - making everything more sustainable - whereas MON only focused on immediate results (and his reputation).  Randy was well meaning but had no clue how to run a club.

[aj2k77]

Ian, if that was the case then he could fuck off forever and would be no better than a Hodge level ******. It won't be though.

[Beard82]

Are we going to look back at this in 10 years like the MON teams

Probably yes.  But that's not a reason to assume its already over. 

The optimist in me strongly believes that the current set-up will grow the whole club - making everything more sustainable - whereas MON only focused on immediate results (and his reputation).  Randy was well meaning but had no clue how to run a club.

Yeah they are all valid points.  In my rare optimistic times - I think that Villa is going to be Unai's master piece.