Unai Emery

[andyh]

There were many occasions yesterday where we attempted to play out for the back, fannied around passing it sideways and backwards, standing on the ball for what seemed like ages and actually doing nothing, and then passing to Mings for a good old fashioned whack it up fields and see if it sticks.
A couple of times Mings sent it straight out for a throw in but most time Leicester actually won the ball.
Either way, we gave possession to the opposition.
Which begs the question, what is the point of all the pissing about at the back, whether the opposition play a high press or not, if we are just going to give them the ball anyway ?

[Percy McCarthy]

Wooosh

Ennit.

[Bad English]

As well as the problem that we are unable to hit the ball into the Chanel , I think Mings tried 3 times and found touch every time. So we don’t have an out ball.

You'd think our No. 5 could do better.

I should cocoa!

[tomd2103]

There were many occasions yesterday where we attempted to play out for the back, fannied around passing it sideways and backwards, standing on the ball for what seemed like ages and actually doing nothing, and then passing to Mings for a good old fashioned whack it up fields and see if it sticks.
A couple of times Mings sent it straight out for a throw in but most time Leicester actually won the ball.
Either way, we gave possession to the opposition.
Which begs the question, what is the point of all the pissing about at the back, whether the opposition play a high press or not, if we are just going to give them the ball anyway ?

That's what I don't quite get either.  I understand that Emery is trying to instil a certain way of playing, but at the moment, Martinez is playing the ball out to Mings and Konsa, who then end up hitting a long aimless pass upfield and we invariably lose possession.  It does beg the question - why not let Martinez just kick the ball out?

[tony scott]

I don’t understand when early in the game Leicester were pressing on the edge of our penalty area, we didn’t go long ,are we so wedded to playing out from the back that we play this way regardless, crackers.

[boozey182]

I'm a little surprised at the attention Mings is getting - he wasn't the main culprit yesterday. Far from it. In fact, he's been excellent since Emery took over, and certainly one of our better players this season. I've been very critical of Konsa as well, but he has looked a lot better since Unai came in.

Yesterday Kamara's mistakes just came at the worst possible times. At 1-0, we were in complete control and he really didn't need to take the risk that he did. Then the goal in injury just kicked the life out of us. I can't be too annoyed at Kamara, though, as I'm pretty sure he'll be one of the best players in the league in a couple of years, if not sooner.

I have no doubt that our defence will look very different after the summer. Our partnership will probably be Carlos and a new signing - but getting an upgrade on Mings will break out transfer record. And I'd certainly be keeping Mings and Konsa for as long as we can keep them happy.

[RamboandBruno]

There were many occasions yesterday where we attempted to play out for the back, fannied around passing it sideways and backwards, standing on the ball for what seemed like ages and actually doing nothing, and then passing to Mings for a good old fashioned whack it up fields and see if it sticks.
A couple of times Mings sent it straight out for a throw in but most time Leicester actually won the ball.
Either way, we gave possession to the opposition.
Which begs the question, what is the point of all the pissing about at the back, whether the opposition play a high press or not, if we are just going to give them the ball anyway ?

That's what I don't quite get either.  I understand that Emery is trying to instil a certain way of playing, but at the moment, Martinez is playing the ball out to Mings and Konsa, who then end up hitting a long aimless pass upfield and we invariably lose possession.  It does beg the question - why not let Martinez just kick the ball out?

Because those incidents referred to were 4 or 5 times during the game (too many granted), where the times we played it out from deep into midfield far outnumbered this, but is largely not remembered unless it leads to a clear chance. Hoofing it upfield hopefully, whether its Martinez or Mings, is largely pointless. You could feel it in yhe Holte midway through the 2nd half when Konsa passed it 5 yards back and there was a groan, those groaning presumably wanted a big old hoof and hope.

[hipkiss92]

I'm a little surprised at the attention Mings is getting - he wasn't the main culprit yesterday. Far from it. In fact, he's been excellent since Emery took over, and certainly one of our better players this season. I've been very critical of Konsa as well, but he has looked a lot better since Unai came in.

Yesterday Kamara's mistakes just came at the worst possible times. At 1-0, we were in complete control and he really didn't need to take the risk that he did. Then the goal in injury just kicked the life out of us. I can't be too annoyed at Kamara, though, as I'm pretty sure he'll be one of the best players in the league in a couple of years, if not sooner.

I have no doubt that our defence will look very different after the summer. Our partnership will probably be Carlos and a new signing - but getting an upgrade on Mings will break out transfer record. And I'd certainly be keeping Mings and Konsa for as long as we can keep them happy.

Indeed, not much Mings or Konsa could have done for the first goal particularly, which set the tone for the whole afternoon. If anything, watching again on MOTD, Kamara did have an opportunity to play a simple pass to Mings to get out of trouble.

[Chris Smith]

There were many occasions yesterday where we attempted to play out for the back, fannied around passing it sideways and backwards, standing on the ball for what seemed like ages and actually doing nothing, and then passing to Mings for a good old fashioned whack it up fields and see if it sticks.
A couple of times Mings sent it straight out for a throw in but most time Leicester actually won the ball.
Either way, we gave possession to the opposition.
Which begs the question, what is the point of all the pissing about at the back, whether the opposition play a high press or not, if we are just going to give them the ball anyway ?

That's what I don't quite get either.  I understand that Emery is trying to instil a certain way of playing, but at the moment, Martinez is playing the ball out to Mings and Konsa, who then end up hitting a long aimless pass upfield and we invariably lose possession.  It does beg the question - why not let Martinez just kick the ball out?

Invariably is over stating it a touch. Yesterday it was Kamara losing it not the centre halves as the ploy is for them to split and then to play it to the midfield. It wasn’t tactic that was wrong it was the individual at fault.

[ez]

In previous games where we have taken the lead we have gone to a back five to protect it for a while. Not a bad idea i thought. I notice we didn't do that yesterday either time we took the lead. Just an observation.

[eamonn]

Wooosh

Ennit.

I think FV might be taking-in agitators on here and quite successfully too.

[Drummond]

For various reasons, I believe we are better suited to facing Man City next sunday and coming out on top. That's very Emery of him to get the Win. Not only that, but Man City will be rotating and focusing on Arsenal on the  following Wednesday.

Similarly, against Arsenal on 18th at home, early kick off Emery will be determined to defeat them. And they would have just played that big Man City game on the Wednesday 15th.
So their energy and focus would be taken from that. And we saw the struggle for Arsenal early away at Everton.

He'll have a strategy in place for both matches, and I'm optimistic about the results.
Man City, in particular, I believe that this is a winnable situation due to the way the result against Leicester went. It's funny how football outcomes can go and it can occur when least expect it. Due to the inconsistency the expected win at home then instead transfers to the expected defeat away
This happens sometimes you know.

Wait, what! You’re saying that teams occasionally lose games they expect to win, and yet win games they expect to lose!!!!???

Where would we be without this level of insight.

The theory is based on both the lack of consistency of a team and gives the reasons why we enjoy/despair watching football, though it's hardly a high level of insight so think you're being a bit generous as I'm sure others would think we now end up unexpectedly winning the next game after the unexpected defeat yesterday.

 However, it presents a difficulty for me because I strongly believe that a victory vs Man City will happen after the loss to Leicester.
I already had a gut hunch, but given the philosophy behind football results, it's much stronger and that Man City play Arsenal on the Wednesday afterwards. Furthermore Man City are yet to play this week and couuld lose key players through injury or suspension though that would limit the rotation for next Sunday

So just maybe after Man City the next Sunday evening, we would feel considerably differently than we did after Leicester City.

I believe that when expected outcomes don't happen, these results are more likely to occur.
Especially so when a team is neither at the bottom or top of the league but even then, eventually, an unexpected result occurs over a 38-match (league format) season.  Predictable results reoccurring happen, though, for first at the top and 20th in last place, but that's stating the obvious, I guess.

Are you having a bet on us winning against ManC?

[brontebilly]

There's a decent thread on Twitter from some analytics guru. Some observations include Digne a bit too high on the left and the lack of pressing from the Villa front four. I thought Emery threw the kitchen sink at it far too early on Saturday. We ended up after half time with Buendia and Coutinho in the two (sort of) wide positions, Bailey and Watkins who to be fair puts a shift in. Moreno and even Luiz more interested in attacking than defending and Kamara having a stinker. While it was great for creating chances, any kind of turnover in midfield and they were nearly in.

I'm not sure what the solution is, maybe Luiz under strict instructions to stay in a block with Kamara and not to be caught ahead of the ball. Ideal time to try 4231 v Man City. Ramsey has played himself out of the team but I get the sense Emery wants to give Bailey every chance.

[mrfuse]

There were many occasions yesterday where we attempted to play out for the back, fannied around passing it sideways and backwards, standing on the ball for what seemed like ages and actually doing nothing, and then passing to Mings for a good old fashioned whack it up fields and see if it sticks.
A couple of times Mings sent it straight out for a throw in but most time Leicester actually won the ball.
Either way, we gave possession to the opposition.
Which begs the question, what is the point of all the pissing about at the back, whether the opposition play a high press or not, if we are just going to give them the ball anyway ?

That's what I don't quite get either.  I understand that Emery is trying to instil a certain way of playing, but at the moment, Martinez is playing the ball out to Mings and Konsa, who then end up hitting a long aimless pass upfield and we invariably lose possession.  It does beg the question - why not let Martinez just kick the ball out?

Invariably is over stating it a touch. Yesterday it was Kamara losing it not the centre halves as the ploy is for them to split and then to play it to the midfield. It wasn’t tactic that was wrong it was the individual at fault.

Yeah I agree, although I also lay some blame on Martinez for giving Kamara the ball knowing 2 players are on him so obviously someone else must have been free. But once Martinez has given Kamara the ball he should either give it straight back to Martinez or once hes turned he still had the opportunity to pass it out.

[aj2k77]

Surely the players realise or need to be made to that there's a time and a place for following an instruction to the letter and playing balls to midfielders inside the box with their backs to play and surrounded by the opposition is neither. I really struggle to understand how you can be so foolish.