Leon Bailey (out on loan to AS Roma)

[Olof's Beard]

If I was seemingly giving less than 100% in my job I am sure I’d be open to question too. It seems we have a manager who can get the best out of him these days though.

Why do you think he was giving less than 100%? This is exactly the sort of strange assumptions I am on about. None of us have a clue what he does day to day really other than the praise he has received recently from Cutler and some players.

He was kept on by three managers and was considered one of the best in the business before he joined. He always seemed a weird target for people's frustration to me!

[Risso]

If I was seemingly giving less than 100% in my job I am sure I’d be open to question too. It seems we have a manager who can get the best out of him these days though.

Why do you think he was giving less than 100%? This is exactly the sort of strange assumptions I am on about. None of us have a clue what he does day to day really other than the praise he has received recently from Cutler and some players.

He was kept on by three managers and was considered one of the best in the business before he joined. He always seemed a weird target for people's frustration to me!

I don't know anything about his effort, but for a time (pre-Emery) his methods clearly weren't working. We were rubbish at both taking and defending set pieces. He also seemed to be a little but jumped up. When everything is going wrong, it's easy to look for people to blame I suppose. It also looked a bit funny that people like Cutler (who a lot of people thought was partly responsible for Emi's form) were let go but our long-haired roadie was kept on.

It's all good now though, obviously.

[Steve67]

He was very poor Olof, now he’s playing well. The team have galvanised and Bailey is doing his bit.

[Olof's Beard]

Are we still talking about McPhee or are we back to Leon now? Confused!

[Risso]

Are we still talking about McPhee or are we back to Leon now? Confused!

To bring them both in, do you remember when Leon took a throw in, think it was one of Gerrard's first games, Man City possibly. Literally the worst throw in that's ever been taken!

[KevinGage]

Think a lot of it depends on how much trust Carpethead had in someone other than his own appointees.  He was obviously a bit of a spoilt bastard and might not have been all that receptive to ideas coming from a guy who was a club appointment.

In contrast, Emery clocked he has something and just lets him at it.

[Bad English]

Were you telling us all that we were wrong about Catweazle back when we were shit Olof? Because it does come across as benefit of hindsight stuff otherwise.

[Toronto Villa]

Just lastly from me on AM, it is probably that it all needs to work together. That he’s a talented coach but when working with an imbecile then his work isn’t as effective or appreciated. But put him with a manager you can get the best out of him and challenges him to make what he does a critical part of the plan then everyone is elevated and his abilities become more apparent.

As for Leon, in much the same way, he has a manager who believes in him and has calmed the concerns he had as a player on his role. He has bought into what is needed as a starter or from the bench. It’s brilliant to see.

[Olof's Beard]

Were you telling us all that we were wrong about Catweazle back when we were shit Olof? Because it does come across as benefit of hindsight stuff otherwise.

I probably mentioned it on here if I can be arsed to look but I don't post much these days. Too busy being hunky.

I definitely mentioned it to people in the real world though. I genuinely always found it bizarre that he got so much shit, it was way worse on social media than here. He was just a weird target, nobody was having a pop at any of the other coaches.

[Bad English]

Well Austin is bostin' now. Won't have a word said against Jesus of Bodymoor.

[Risso]

Were you telling us all that we were wrong about Catweazle back when we were shit Olof? Because it does come across as benefit of hindsight stuff otherwise.

I probably mentioned it on here if I can be arsed to look but I don't post much these days. Too busy being hunky.

I definitely mentioned it to people in the real world though. I genuinely always found it bizarre that he got so much shit, it was way worse on social media than here. He was just a weird target, nobody was having a pop at any of the other coaches.

He was the only survivor though, and was also a lot more visible.

[Ian.]

It was odd as during Smith’s time at one point he was more vocal and a bigger presence than Smith. It was easier to target him than Smith when it all went a bit shit. Especially as  we heard talk of him being a set piece coach and our main trick was a huge throw-in from Cash. Then when Gerrard rocked up it looked like he had been sent to the naughty step.

Fair play to him, he’s obviously got something about him for him to last three managers and especially for someone like Emery to use his full worth and trust him, so it seems.

[dicedlam]

Well Austin is bostin' now. Won't have a word said against Jesus of Bodymoor.

Amen.

[Somniloquism]

Obviously we see Roadie's influence on some set-pieces when it is out of the normal thing (McGinn's recent jumping jacks thing), and I can't remember the last time we conceded from a corner which must also be down to him. But I wished we scored from more of them.

[Drummond]

Anyway Leon Bailey is clearly a confidence player. Emery and Ayestaran are smart enough to get the best out of every player and it's working. What's even better is that supporters are all behind him too.