Unai Emery

[Ianu]

To avoid quoteathoning, that's a interesting point.

Agreed. I'm going to assume Mellin's right. It'll help me sleep better tonight.

Me too, and I’ll try to forget the fact that Bournemouth beat city last season at the Vitality Stadium.

[Flamingo Lane]

I'm sorry, but he's potentially played a blinder. You could see what he was doing in his selection, his manner and his post-match interview. There are a lot of facets to this, the simple ones being we have Burnley to come and Bournemouth have Man City.

The main one is what it has done to Forest. They are now three points above the drop zone and have to go the Bridge tomorrow. That has to be full effort and they have us on Thursday. What they also have is Newcastle at home on Sunday, which is three games in six days. Where does the Europa League sit in Marinakis' priorities now, with that in mind? Even if he says go for it, they're gonna be tired and under pressure in the league.

Yes, it would've been nice to bury Spurs. Also, is it a risk? Definitely. But being a football manager is all about stacking the cards to benefit yourself as much as possible. I think he's done that today whilst considering BOTH competitions. Also, people have short memories. He did exactly the same thing in 23/24 and that influenced where the title went, but he was right.

There's accountability with it now. If we get both, great. If we get one, fine. If we get neither, problem. But what I like about Emery is he both sees it and has the mettle to follow up on his instinct. I respect that and pray it pays off.

I didn't really want to have to quote all of this, but just so I understand, you're saying Emery purposely set out to lose the game tonight?

[Mellin]

I don't think he tried to, I think he knew the team probably would and was okay with it, due to the above. He's basically taken some capital out the league and shifted it into the Europa. He still wants both, obviously. He's just made the latter more likely and the former less likely, but still pretty likely.

[Louzie0]

I read it as a gamble and determination on Unai’s part to ring fence three players who make things happen for Thursday and beyond, by making it impossible for Spurs to injure them.

With the way Spurs have been playing until very recently, this team and the Incentives in the PL and EC should have put up rather more of a fight, though. I don’t think he set out to lose, but wouldn’t have been unhappy with a draw.

[Brazilian Villain]

He's just made the latter more likely and the former less likely, but still pretty likely.

You say that, but we're now only 40/1 on to finish top 5. Let's face it, we've blown it.

[Mellin]

😂 Yeah, exactly. Fuck the rest of the league. What's best for Villa is all that matters.

[Flamingo Lane]

I don't think he tried to, I think he knew the team probably would and was okay with it, due to the above. He's basically taken some capital out the league and shifted it into the Europa. He still wants both, obviously. He's just made the latter more likely and the former less likely, but still pretty likely.

But what you were saying is that he didn't just rest players in order to keep them fit and fresh, what he did was to purposely concede points to Forest's relegation rivals in order to put pressure on Forest.

[Mellin]

Yep, I think he'll have considered that. You think he'd have been unaware of it?

[eamonn]

I would very much like to hear what he thinks about today I must say.

Bar a bit of defensiveness/pragmatism on his selection choice, it was the usual crediting the opposition and remindin us of how well we're doing this season. He's not the type to suck-up to/apologise to fans.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Today we faced a team that played fantastically and they competed fantastically. They needed the points, and they fought to get it.

"In the first half we didn't perform well. In the second half, we reacted, but it was not enough. In 35 games, things are very good, and we have the advantage to still be in the top five, but we must continue to be demanding.

"Maybe the points [for Champions League qualification] are not enough, and we must try to recover our form and do the things we were doing - there are still three matches to go. They [Tottenham] played fantastic, they pressed, they won duels, and we were not dominant in individual duels, and they beat us."

On making seven changes: "Last week we lost against Fulham and which players played against Fulham? We played against Nottingham Forest and we lost. Today we lost with different players."

On Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg: "It's a different match, a different competition. We're in the semi-finals and, of course, we are going to enjoy the match and enjoy the process. To play in the semi-final of the Europa League is fantastic. I don't play one match like this in three years here.

"The supporters forget we are having a fantastic season, and we are on the same points as Liverpool on 58."

[Dave P]

My concern  is trusting emery with big money. The signings he has made have generally been shit and signing aging players. He is making the same mistake as Gerrard  did

Despite today, we will surely have champions league with the cash and pull on players this brings. Plus possible further financial wriggle room by selling Rogers which I wouldn’t be against (I may still be angry and not mean the last comment next week!)

[Nev]

If tonight is a means to an end then all well and good but it was still appalling to watch.

Had we secured CL then perhaps it was in some way forgivable but I believe teams thrive on momentum. We have none whatsoever.

I love Unai but tonight's touchline display had me questioning him more than ever before but let's hope he shoves those words right down my throat.

[Dave P]

Also, and it’s been said plenty of times over the years, Emery is a genius and we would be nowhere near as successful without him, but he is not above criticism. Booing that result and performance today is fully justified.

[Dave]

To avoid quoteathoning, that's a interesting point.

Agreed. I'm going to assume Mellin's right. It'll help me sleep better tonight.

Me too. It's actually calmed me right down.

With the proviso that we're happy on Friday morning, otherwise it's Moscow but many times worse.

[Monty]

I would very much like to hear what he thinks about today I must say.

Bar a bit of defensiveness/pragmatism on his selection choice, it was the usual crediting the opposition and remindin us of how well we're doing this season. He's not the type to suck-up to/apologise to fans.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Today we faced a team that played fantastically and they competed fantastically. They needed the points, and they fought to get it.

"In the first half we didn't perform well. In the second half, we reacted, but it was not enough. In 35 games, things are very good, and we have the advantage to still be in the top five, but we must continue to be demanding.

"Maybe the points [for Champions League qualification] are not enough, and we must try to recover our form and do the things we were doing - there are still three matches to go. They [Tottenham] played fantastic, they pressed, they won duels, and we were not dominant in individual duels, and they beat us."

On making seven changes: "Last week we lost against Fulham and which players played against Fulham? We played against Nottingham Forest and we lost. Today we lost with different players."

On Thursday's Europa League semi-final second leg: "It's a different match, a different competition. We're in the semi-finals and, of course, we are going to enjoy the match and enjoy the process. To play in the semi-final of the Europa League is fantastic. I don't play one match like this in three years here.

"The supporters forget we are having a fantastic season, and we are on the same points as Liverpool on 58."

Yeah, pokerfaced it. Wasn't expecting any of that grandstanding 'I apologise to our GREAT FANS', any of that nonsense. But I did wonder if he would give away any of his genuine thoughts on why it went so badly.

[PaulWinch again]

I don’t mind him not really saying anything in pre or post match. I do expect as an absolute minimum the team look well prepared and give 100% effort. They did neither of those things tonight. That’s unacceptable, it just is. They need to be light years better on Thursday or they will get dumped out by Forest either with ease.