Unai Emery

[Percy McCarthy]

Just fucking hoof it up the pitch ffs.

Sick of this passing it at the back rubbish.

Probably down to statistical analysis that you're .034% more likely to score a goal if you keep possession from a goal kick or something stupid like that and so that's why teams do it.

If you're not Pep's Barca then don't bother.

I think it’s more to do with an increased chance of conceding goals if you give possession away cheaply with a hoof,  but I haven’t seen the stats.

I’m no tactician, but I thought it was about drawing the opposition up the pitch, so that there is more space to attack into. A long ball forward when the opposition is set is also much more likely to lose possession like you say.

Yes that as well I suppose. Just saw Newcastle’s goal, that came from a long kick by West Ham. But I doubt anyone will say they should have fannied around at the back.

[brontebilly]

I think Rodgers did a number on Emery, he identified our weaknesses in our inability to pass out from the back quickly and sprang presses on our midfielders time again.
He cut off the routes of our full backs which meant we kept giving slow ball from our central defenders.

Leicester wanted Konsa and Mings to step into midfield with the ball. Force them into a risky pass like just after half time. This is a fundamental weakness in our team in Emery's system. We really need Carlos back to put pressure on them.

I'm expecting a lot more from Kamara as to how to cover his centre back in that scenario. Positionally I think he has an awful lot still to learn. I thought Luiz was very good today but he needs to help more too.

[PaulWinch again]

He had a bad day, but positionally awful more generally? Give me a break.

[Footy-Vill]

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/arsenal/story/3599955/arsenals-unai-emery-playing-out-from-back-best-way

The only way is Emery.
August 2018

He'll have the same philosophy here so...

[Risso]

There's nothing wrong with the philosophy as such, we just don't have the players to make it a success, and at the age of nearly 30, I can't see Tyrone Mings suddenly turning into a reincarnation of Baresi. As such, it's absolutely idiotic to keep doing it every single time, and if we try it against Man City we'll get absolutely smashed.

[SoccerHQ]

Just fucking hoof it up the pitch ffs.

Sick of this passing it at the back rubbish.

Probably down to statistical analysis that you're .034% more likely to score a goal if you keep possession from a goal kick or something stupid like that and so that's why teams do it.

If you're not Pep's Barca then don't bother.

I think it’s more to do with an increased chance of conceding goals if you give possession away cheaply with a hoof,  but I haven’t seen the stats.

I’m no tactician, but I thought it was about drawing the opposition up the pitch, so that there is more space to attack into. A long ball forward when the opposition is set is also much more likely to lose possession like you say.

If you win a header/flick on the halfway line from a goal kick you can still get attacks/shots on goals unless I just imagined all the ones we did score from simple moves in the 80s/90s.

That Weimann winner years back v Man. City is a cracking example, couldn't get a more route one goal.

Of course football has changed so much in build up even in last 5 years but there's still a time and place for more direct play. We'll be seeing that for ourselves in a few weeks time at Goodison.

[Toronto Villa]

There's nothing wrong with the philosophy as such, we just don't have the players to make it a success, and at the age of nearly 30, I can't see Tyrone Mings suddenly turning into a reincarnation of Baresi. As such, it's absolutely idiotic to keep doing it every single time, and if we try it against Man City we'll get absolutely smashed.

Agreed. But by the same token smashing the ball back to them constantly and allowing them to have the ball all the time won’t end well.

[Mister E]

I'm expecting a lot more from Kamara as to how to cover his centre back in that scenario. Positionally I think he has an awful lot still to learn. I thought Luiz was very good today but he needs to help more too.

Luiz was good today, but I think Lesta did a number on Kamara - he has been our lynch-player in the last few games, and I think Rodgers briefed his team to smoother and press Kamara. They did - well.
They also had a great out-ball in Tete, who demonstrated to Bailey what being a quick winger should be all about.

[Footy-Vill]

Just fucking hoof it up the pitch ffs.

Sick of this passing it at the back rubbish.

Probably down to statistical analysis that you're .034% more likely to score a goal if you keep possession from a goal kick or something stupid like that and so that's why teams do it.

If you're not Pep's Barca then don't bother.

I think it’s more to do with an increased chance of conceding goals if you give possession away cheaply with a hoof,  but I haven’t seen the stats.

I’m no tactician, but I thought it was about drawing the opposition up the pitch, so that there is more space to attack into. A long ball forward when the opposition is set is also much more likely to lose possession like you say.

Yes that as well I suppose. Just saw Newcastle’s goal, that came from a long kick by West Ham. But I doubt anyone will say they should have fannied around at the back.

Anyone who exhibits similar attitude to some of the comments about playing style and things here that are actual players in the Villa squad in my opinion, will be let go by Emery.
Our players must adapt to El Maestro's style of play. I expect some may disagree or find it difficult to accept this way of football due to how they are coached as well as their own entitlement and ego, as many people can  do when put in a position of having to learn something new, to me its based on how they perceive the situation as it is developing more football ability.
Sometimes a person's attitude is the issue.

And with regard to the players, those who desire time this season to grow and learn will receive it, I hope the majoirty enjoy the fresh approach to the game of football. The project doesn't fit those who aren't receptive to it, and they must leave for the sake of their careers and an understanding that things aren't working out here and that's just football.

[Paul.S]

I'm expecting a lot more from Kamara as to how to cover his centre back in that scenario. Positionally I think he has an awful lot still to learn. I thought Luiz was very good today but he needs to help more too.

Luiz was good today, but I think Lesta did a number on Kamara - he has been our lynch-player in the last few games, and I think Rodgers briefed his team to smoother and press Kamara. They did - well.
They also had a great out-ball in Tete, who demonstrated to Bailey what being a quick winger should be all about.

I don’t think Bailey is quick. He had a lot of the ball in the first half and ran into their left back most of the time. Perhaps, as some have said, he would be better on the left.

[boozey182]

Today was frustrating, to say the least, but it would be strange to drastically change the way we've been playing for the last few months that has seen return more points than 90% of the league. We play it out from the back now. It's high risk - that's the point.

I think we do have to mix it up a bit and look for a longer pass every now and then, just to put a bit of doubt into the opposition, but I like it as a tactic. It's bold.

Not that it matters what I think, of course. This is how we play now, and it's not going to change. The players will get better at it, and the fans will learn to appreciate it. Unfortunately, on the way, we'll probably end up with a few more games like today. It feels like we're working towards something, though. There's a plan. A style. We just need to hold our nerve a bit, and have a bit more courage.

[Risso]

Today was frustrating, to say the least, but it would be strange to drastically change the way we've been playing for the last few months that has seen return more points than 90% of the league. We play it out from the back now. It's high risk - that's the point.

I think we do have to mix it up a bit and look for a longer pass every now and then, just to put a bit of doubt into the opposition, but I like it as a tactic. It's bold.

Not that it matters what I think, of course. This is how we play now, and it's not going to change. The players will get better at it, and the fans will learn to appreciate it. Unfortunately, on the way, we'll probably end up with a few more games like today. It feels like we're working towards something, though. There's a plan. A style. We just need to hold our nerve a bit, and have a bit more courage.

How many of our goals have cme from anything to do with it a tippy tappy pass out from the keeper though? I can't think of any. On the other hand, we've conceded one today, the goal against Brighton, one against Stevenage in the FA Cup and one against Man U in the League Cup, just by being really bad at it.

[boozey182]

Today was frustrating, to say the least, but it would be strange to drastically change the way we've been playing for the last few months that has seen return more points than 90% of the league. We play it out from the back now. It's high risk - that's the point.

I think we do have to mix it up a bit and look for a longer pass every now and then, just to put a bit of doubt into the opposition, but I like it as a tactic. It's bold.

Not that it matters what I think, of course. This is how we play now, and it's not going to change. The players will get better at it, and the fans will learn to appreciate it. Unfortunately, on the way, we'll probably end up with a few more games like today. It feels like we're working towards something, though. There's a plan. A style. We just need to hold our nerve a bit, and have a bit more courage.

How many of our goals have cme from anything to do with it a tippy tappy pass out from the keeper though? I can't think of any. On the other hand, we've conceded one today, the goal against Brighton, one against Stevenage in the FA Cup and one against Man U in the League Cup, just by being really bad at it.

I don't think there have been any. But I think it's very rare for any goal to be scored with a move that starts with the goal keeper, even if he kicks it up the pitch very hard.

I think the point is that it helps us move up the pitch, it creates gaps in the opposition's midfield and it gives us more control in the game (I'm already out of my depth trying to explain it - I'm not an expert at all).

When it goes wrong, it looks awful - there's no denying that. I think Man City lost the FA Cup semi final last year making fools of themselves playing it out. But Emery has made it work throughout his career, against better teams than we play most weeks. He'll make it work for us.

If you want me to be almost psychotically positive, today might help in the long run - our players will have learnt a harsh lesson and the opposition in future games will want to commit a bit more, as they think we'll be vulnerable. That's what we want them to do. We want them pressing really high, putting Konsa, Mings, Kamara and Doug under pressure.

All we have to do is hold our nerve.

[Steve67]

If he wants to play out from the back, he will need technically better players, simple as that.   It will take time to bring them in and get rid of some of the players we have.

[aj2k77]

4 times in 9 games we've shat the opposition a goal from hospital passes from the keeper to players with their backs to play. It's dumb.