Unai Emery

[Rory]

If he's still relying on Smith and Gerrard players, then maybe do a lot better in the transfer market. Moreno and Diaby were bought and sold again within a season, Maatsen was a hugely expensive luxury when we had far more pressing areas to fill, we overspent on Onana and the least said about the decision to bring Philogene back, the better.

*applauds* *clutches chest* *applauds*

Why would you clutch your chest and applaud at something negative?

I agree with Risso on some things and disagree on others - I share the sentiment that a good team doesn't ship two goals every fucking game, for example - but he never celebrates our failings. Reading through, it looks to me like you are less intetested in agreeing with Risso and more interested in winding up SE with that comment.

Yeah but he copied SE and that's hilarious. I think. Oh wait...

SE will be in a drug-induced coma right now.

I just hate celebrating negativity. Mainly because I'm a negative prick, myself.

Even at the best of times, my subconscious tells me that this will all end and it'll turn out that Unai is wanted for war crimes, Big Emi is a Mormon and SJM has a fake arse.

But I tell myself that is a product of my own diseased mind. Last thing I need is some ****** going "see, I told you SJM's arse was fake. And I was right. Praise me."

[eamonn]

Re Bailey being out of form hampering us so much - we were effectively playing with ten and a half men this time last year. Despite our dynamite performances and results, Zaniolo was offering so little - not much more than Philogene is now and on a par with Bailey.

Luiz and Kamara working in tandem and the novelty of Torres' distribution caught a lot of opposition by surprise last autumn to December. I think Emery has a point when he stated today that we're no longer a surprise package and it kind of chimes with the "It's harder to retain a title than win it the first time" adage.

I'd hoped that Ramsey and to a lesser extent, Buendia's returns this season might make-up for Luiz and Diaby's contributions last season (different roles, I know) but that hasn't happened for one reason or another (stop-start season in JJ's case, the possibility that Buendia's time has passed). We've had to rely on other sources such as Durán's magic which was never sustainable and Onana's knack from set-pieces but he's another with a worrying fitness record.

This season still feels like we lack cohesion with everyone being off-colour making it difficult to know what our best way of playing is. Ironic in a way because for a good hour on the opening day at West Ham we looked really locked-in and I think it's still the best we've played all season.

[ozzjim]

The forward line is the issue, but I've been saying for weeks it's massively to do  with how we're using Rogers. Emery is brilliant, and we must not panic with him, but he's got blind spots. Right now, Rogers needs taking out the team with Tielemans moving up to 10. From there you can build a more solid midfield base with Onana and Kamara, or Barkley and Kamara. Tielemans is much better at finding the ball before the final ball in that hole, he was outstanding there last season at times, and can't be trusted defensively further back consistently.

Once you make that call, Rogers has to then adjust to playing either from the left, or the bench. We miss 22-23 Ramsey terribly, but he's not coming back to that if he doesn't sort his fitness out. Rogers can play that role, just as well. Bailey isn't carrying any threat from the right, a genuine tricky, fast winger or 2 are totally vital in Jan to push sides back and beat the press, but getting Tielemans into the position further forward well help feed them in better areas to deliver.

Up top, sorry Ollie, time for a few games on the bench. Start Duran for 5-6 games, can't be worse. Ollie has been criminally wasteful this season for a player with his reputation and standing. Missed more big chances than any player in the league statistically. That's just not good enough.

[ChicagoLion]

If he's still relying on Smith and Gerrard players, then maybe do a lot better in the transfer market. Moreno and Diaby were bought and sold again within a season, Maatsen was a hugely expensive luxury when we had far more pressing areas to fill, we overspent on Onana and the least said about the decision to bring Philogene back, the better.

Some great points there. Sums up alot the errors made in the summer

Agree, it feels a bit like Smith and the Greasily money, that summer did for Smith and as Risso points out it looks like we have used up the budget to go backwards.

[PaulWinch again]

Well if you’re on going to put forward half the argument it makes sense I suppose:

Onana - no idea how anyone can make the assessment we overspent on him at this stage. When he’s been fit we’ve played pretty bloody well

Pau - might be the current scapegoat fir some, but absolutely critical in getting us into the Champions League

Rogers - tricky patch, but outstanding signing

Moreno - did a great job, we then upgraded to a younger version who played in the Champions League final. He hasn’t broken through yet, but that’s because Digne has been exceptional (notably better than he was under Gerrard).

Diaby - time has proven he played an important role and it was an error to sell him.

There are hits and misses but it’s not quite the picture presented.

[Accent Guy]

Well if you’re on going to put forward half the argument it makes sense I suppose:

Onana - no idea how anyone can make the assessment we overspent on him at this stage. When he’s been fit we’ve played pretty bloody well

Pau - might be the current scapegoat fir some, but absolutely critical in getting us into the Champions League

Rogers - tricky patch, but outstanding signing

Moreno - did a great job, we then upgraded to a younger version who played in the Champions League final. He hasn’t broken through yet, but that’s because Digne has been exceptional (notably better than he was under Gerrard).

Diaby - time has proven he played an important role and it was an error to sell him.

There are hits and misses but it’s not quite the picture presented.

Agree with all of this.

The notion that Torres is a poor player is absolutely bonkers imo. Centre backs are all about getting the pairing right and having trust in the full backs. Having a make shift RB and no consistent DM in front of him hasn't helped one bit.

I must say though, I am finding the Maatsen signing more and more baffling as the season goes on. Not only did we not need him, we needed 2 players on the right hand side and couldn't afford them after spending 35 mil on him.

Still, I fully expect Unai to get it right in the end.

[Demitri_C]

Well if you’re on going to put forward half the argument it makes sense I suppose:

Onana - no idea how anyone can make the assessment we overspent on him at this stage. When he’s been fit we’ve played pretty bloody well

Pau - might be the current scapegoat fir some, but absolutely critical in getting us into the Champions League

Rogers - tricky patch, but outstanding signing

Moreno - did a great job, we then upgraded to a younger version who played in the Champions League final. He hasn’t broken through yet, but that’s because Digne has been exceptional (notably better than he was under Gerrard).

Diaby - time has proven he played an important role and it was an error to sell him.

There are hits and misses but it’s not quite the picture presented.

Has he (onana) ? Started well then has been anonymous in some games. His fitness  record is a worry as he had issues at everton  and he is already having those issues here For 50m you would expect a player to be able to last 90 minutes most weeks.

Im glad we signed him but i think 50m was too much.

Agree about your points about diabs and pau though

[Drummond]

He was a fundamental part of the record run at the beginning of the season.

[SamTheMouse]

Diaby looked rubbish most of the time, but still contributed a fair number of goals and assists. We've lost those, and we've lost the outright, shit-off-a-stick pace that forces opponents to make allowance for it.

[Rico]

I am beginning to feel slightly concerned for Unai. First of all it shouldn't really need to be said that what he achieved last season was nothing short of miraculous, but he's supposed to be a master tactician isn't he? However, we are seeing no change in tactics week in, week out. On another thread, someone referred to it as "Walking Football" and I think they have a point. So often we play the ball sideways from Martinez to one of the defenders, who then pass it back and forth whilst barely moving forward. Against Palace, we passed the ball about twenty times only to lose it on the edge of the penalty area, thus putting us on the back foot and inviting the opposition to get a shot in. What is the point in all that possession if it amounts to the square root of bugger all? This is what is troubling me at the moment. I love Emery, and don't want us to lose him, but surely he must be able to see that this team is unable to play that way. We lose the ball so often in midfield that it keeps on putting us under pressure which invariably leads to a shot coming in. We all know that he hates losing possession of the ball, but sometimes you need to be pragmatic and accept that the midfield can't play the way that you want and adapt the system. Over to you Unai, let's see some tactical flexibility, because this won't be tolerated for too much longer.

[tomd2103]

I'd hoped that Ramsey and to a lesser extent, Buendia's returns this season might make-up for Luiz and Diaby's contributions last season (different roles, I know) but that hasn't happened for one reason or another (stop-start season in JJ's case, the possibility that Buendia's time has passed). We've had to rely on other sources such as Durán's magic which was never sustainable and Onana's knack from set-pieces but he's another with a worrying fitness record.

This season still feels like we lack cohesion with everyone being off-colour making it difficult to know what our best way of playing is. Ironic in a way because for a good hour on the opening day at West Ham we looked really locked-in and I think it's still the best we've played all season.

I think the point about Ramsey is a good one.  In Emery's first season, Ramsey was a key part of that great run and we haven't really had anyone else who has been able to plat that role as well as he was back then. 

[London Villan]

Possession with a purpose is good - last season it was all about dragging the opposition around the pitch and creating space to capitalise on. The peak of that was the goal against Arsenal.

This season without Luiz, Kamara and Daiby we have lost both the security on the ball and the pace to exploit the spaces that the possession creates. We are slow and predictable.

I have more faith in Emery, than any other manager in the last 30 years, to fix the issue... but he might be about to experience some negativity in the ground for the first time.

[Demitri_C]

Diaby looked rubbish most of the time, but still contributed a fair number of goals and assists. We've lost those, and we've lost the outright, shit-off-a-stick pace that forces opponents to make allowance for it.

I think diaby even at his worse looked better than philiogene.  Massive step down from diaby. I do kind of feel sorry for philiogene because he shouldnt have been put in this position. He is just not good enough right now.

We made a massive error there. I think philiogene will likely be moved on in summer ifhis performances do not improve. Maybe ipswich might still be interested if they go down for example

[London Villan]

19 goals and assists - plus the fact he forced teams to set up to combat his pace.

He was by no means a massive success, but the rotation with Bailey, worked for both of them and along with the lack of control we have in games now, after losing Kamara and Luiz, are the two core issues we have.

[ChicagoLion]

Well if you’re on going to put forward half the argument it makes sense I suppose:

Onana - no idea how anyone can make the assessment we overspent on him at this stage. When he’s been fit we’ve played pretty bloody well

Pau - might be the current scapegoat fir some, but absolutely critical in getting us into the Champions League

Rogers - tricky patch, but outstanding signing

Moreno - did a great job, we then upgraded to a younger version who played in the Champions League final. He hasn’t broken through yet, but that’s because Digne has been exceptional (notably better than he was under Gerrard).

Diaby - time has proven he played an important role and it was an error to sell him.

There are hits and misses but it’s not quite the picture presented.

Pau and Rogers were not signed in the summer, Onana has spent more time not playing.