Unai Emery

[Pete3206]

controversial pov: I think if DOL had MONs cash, he'd have done better.

I agree

[SamTheMouse]

BFR was the one. That coat. Those shades. That tan.

What a fucking man.

[Ian.]

I’d certainly select Taylor first, then Little and Big Ron third. I always liked Gregory, wish he never left Little’s side really, it seemed to help knock the wheels off Little’s run.

McLeish was a lovely man, who I’ve met in his Aberdeen days down here in Dawlish. The team were based here one summer and got really friendly with everyone involved with Dawlish Town FC. My mom even washed the kit for them in between their matches against Dawlish, Exeter and Torquay. So I always had a soft for McLeish, I just wish we never approached him. The football was shocking.

MON gave me such huge hope we were onto something. I believed he was the next Clough and fell for the illusion of genius he seemed to hold. How wrong I was. I know a fair few on here were never on board with him, but I never doubted him until quite late. He absolutely helped ruin us for years.

DOL was just a bloody horrible man which shown through come the end. Bruce was just well Bruce, he does exactly what says in the tin, time and time again. Why so many owners have fallen for him I’ll never understand.

I was too young and didn’t understand football to appreciate Saunders, I had the kit and loved playing footy, but that was all. I had no idea how good we were and it wasn’t until the mid 80’s before I enjoyed watching football matches.

[SoccerHQ]

Probably in the minority but I wasn't a big fan of Houllier coming at all (although more to the first hints that Lerner and co didn't really have a clue what to do post O'Neill).

For many getting him at the time was similar to Emery coming here, proven trophy winning european manager but he was just past his best and in semi retirement so no different to signing likes of Ginola and Pires, oh la la indeed.

Everything about it seemed very lax and instant accepting of lower standards, from him actually taking two weeks to actually come and manage a game because he still had some gig at French FA, admitting he wasn't that bothered about losing to Liverpool 3-0 which cause a meltdown on here and then putting out a weakened team at Man. City in the cup to rest players for Bolton away three days later (we lost both).

We had a late rally that season but that was after he was taken ill in the April.

Was frustrating as we'd finished 6th thrice and still had some very good attacking players in the squad so certainly shouldn't have been slumming in bottom six up to start of May 2011.

He tends to be a footnote in our demise from May 2010 because we appointed even more illogical managers straight after but night and day compared to Emery who generally is at his managerial peak and has kept all of the squad nicely onside since he came aswell even if a few probably won't be here in 12 months.

[Percy McCarthy]

Probably in the minority but I wasn't a big fan of Houllier coming at all (although more to the first hints that Lerner and co didn't really have a clue what to do post O'Neill).

For many getting him at the time was similar to Emery coming here, proven trophy winning european manager but he was just past his best and in semi retirement so no different to signing likes of Ginola and Pires, oh la la indeed.

Everything about it seemed very lax and instant accepting of lower standards, from him actually taking two weeks to actually come and manage a game because he still had some gig at French FA, admitting he wasn't that bothered about losing to Liverpool 3-0 which cause a meltdown on here and then putting out a weakened team at Man. City in the cup to rest players for Bolton away three days later (we lost both).

We had a late rally that season but that was after he was taken ill in the April.

Was frustrating as we'd finished 6th thrice and still had some very good attacking players in the squad so certainly shouldn't have been slumming in bottom six up to start of May 2011.

He tends to be a footnote in our demise from May 2010 because we appointed even more illogical managers straight after but night and day compared to Emery who generally is at his managerial peak and has kept all of the squad nicely onside since he came aswell even if a few probably won't be here in 12 months.

He drove me mad with his bullshit. Awful manager.

[Rory]

I was a Villa fan during Little & Gregory, but didn't know enough about things to have much of a view. So of our managers since then, just my opinion:

SGTII - I had been made aware of his first spell, so his legacy was cemented and this was just a period of sadness, really.

O'Neill - divisive, but I always liked him. I suspect there was a lot of back-and-forth between him & Lerner in 2010, and he felt a deal had been reneged on, so let his ego get the better of him and walked. If it weren't for that arrogance then hiring him wouldn't have been a big deal (because we sure as shit didn't get him in for his tactics or squad-building).

Houllier - I never warmed to him. Maybe he tried too much too quickly, but he was pretty much retired and it was largely an unenjoyable experience.

McLeish - as an ex-Rangers and ex-SHA manager, proof that 'you never wanted him because he came from x' is bollocks. Tried his best, but probably knew he was lucky to get the job and so his conservative nature went into overdrive. Seems a good bloke and I have no problem with him.

Lambert - I thought it was a good appointment, and it might've worked if he'd had backing early on. He survived what should've been an unsurvivable winter, went on far too long, and in the end, was the only Villa manager whose sacking I celebrated.

Sherwood - should've been thanked for what he'd done, then binned as graciously as possible after the cup final.

Garde - we were already doomed, and I don't even remember what he looked like.

Di Matteo - we were lost, he was lost. Mismatch from the start.

Bruce - stabilised us but in a very frustrating way. Spent a lot of money. Should've done better, could've done worse. The game had moved on and as has been said countless times, going up with him & Xia would've been a fucking disaster. No ill will from me.

Smith - I was nervous at first, thought he was a no-mark with a massive head from Scott Arms, but he brought back the feel-good factor, even with some rubbish runs thrown in. Achieved everything he set out to, we outgrew him, and he is one of the few recent managers we can look back on with largely fond memories.

Gerrard - hated him as a player, hated him as Rangers manager, didn't want him. He won me over a fair bit in his first few months, but there was just no development. Tried his best, always said the right things, whether he's a good manager that we appointed too early in his career, I don't know, but my estimation of him (admittedly from a very, very low base) has improved since he was our manager.

Emery - so far, I ❤ him and I am excited for the future. Nothing more to add.

I am aware I missed one out. Ahem.

O'Leary - to quote General Melchett, the crowning turd in the water pipe. An absolute gobshite, who frankly ground all of the fun and optimism out of this young fan. Each win was spit in the eyes of those mean old supporters, and each dog shit performance and loss was to be expected because we're only Villa. Every second he was our manager was charity work to him. In my time as a supporter, I've never known anybody with such a knack for demoralising our support and denigrating our club. A charmless, pig-faced limpet clinging to the gooch of his profession.

[Meanwood Villa]

Good summary Rory, lovely description of DOL. Only bone of contention is the morsels of credit given to the two Liverpool fans we appointed.

[Chris Smith]

BFR was the one. That coat. Those shades. That tan.

That racism?

[RamboandBruno]

BFR was the one. That coat. Those shades. That tan.

That racism?

In my time, my first game was Ron Saunders last I think I think up at Old Trafford in Feb 82, so pure legacy stuff with for, same with Barton really, as only went to a handful of games as a youngster in those couple of seasons.

Even as a teenager Graham Turner felt an underwhelming appointment coming from Shrewsbury. Still i had eternal hope as ever and my first season ticket was as a 12 year old on 86-87, that went well. Never disliked Turner though, just way out of his depth. Glad he did ok at Wolves after.

Mcneil, did really well for about 3 games, stuff i read about after from former players like Keown, was that he just didnt give a shit and clearly didnt want to be there.

SGT, wow really. He brought back hope where there was none. Miracle getting us back up in one go. Within 2 years of his appointment we were unbelievably challenging for the league, its hard to explain how exciting that season was as a 16 year old as it felt like it literally came from nowhere. Not playing style but there are definitely shades of Emery here for me, in terms of wanting to shape a whole club and having the will to do it. SGT also brought God to the club.

Venglos. Right man wrong time, move on.

BFR. Very very exciting times, show bizz football, should of won the league, did win a cup, was gutted when he got the boot, but in hindsight might have been the right thing. Still really find of him, but find it hard still to fathom the racism.

Little: loved that period, was at Uni so unfortunately for me went less than normal in a peak period for us, but just behind SGT and BFR for me.

Gregory. Loved his brashness for a while, but the none show in the 2000 cup final was unforgivable for me, Chelsea we’re there for the taking.

O’Leary: sigh, its all been said above.

O’Neil: i was so excited when he was appointed, it felt like something was going to happen and for a while it did. But the ending sours it all and it was the beginning of almost a decade of awfulness.

Houllier: didnt want to be there, felt like he thought he was better than the club. Touching the sign at Anfield with watery eyes and playing a weakened side in the cup QF at a beatable Man City, unforgivable.

Mcleish/Lambert/. The lost years, awful, difficult circumstances for both but the face of gloom.

Garde: if they were the face of gloom and decay, his was the face of a club that had given ip. Felt sorry for him.

Sherwood: always speaks well of us. Total chancer in my view. (Wrong way round with Garde).

Di Matteo: meaningless appointment.

Bruce: stabilised the club, should of gone straight after the play off defeat, awful ending, poor football. Thank God we didnt get promoted with him, sliding doors moment.

Smith: loved him, felt quite emotional at his first game, as felt like for the first time in a generation we’d made the right appointment and someone who cared about the club. I will never forget that 10 game run and experiencing it with my kids. Pivotal in our re-emergence and was really sad when he went. The working relationship with Grealish helped and ultimately finished him off. Behind SGT, BFR and Little in fourth for me.

Gerrard. I defended him for too long on here. Dreadful in every way, no tactics no man management, could of been the most disastrous of appointments but for the intervention of Nas.

Emery. I believe we have the real deal here, i think we are going places with this man at the helm and i think we will win something next year.

[Brend'Watkins]

I think I'm going to like Unai more than any other manager we've had apart from Saunders. Nothing won yet but in a short space of time he's shown what can be achieved with a plan and some coaching...good owners helps too. I think everyone is buying into it including the fans.
 
If we're using Saunders as the starting point for me it goes...

1.a)Saunders b)Barton
2.BFR as a manager great, as a person, not really.
3.SGT brilliant manager loses 2nd spot for taking the England Job, what could have been?
4.Sir Brian gave his all.
5.Smith, knew what was needed and carried it out successfully.
6.Gregory, got results for a while, over achieved with a swagger then really underachieved.
7.MON. All that good work he did ruined by a moment of spite.  It cost us dearly.
8.Sherwood, should be erased from my memory but that FA cup semi was unforgettable.
9.Bruce. Nice bloke but largely dire football.
10.McLeish, tried his best out of his depth.

These could be in any order.
11. D O'L, thought he was too good for us.
12. Gerrard, thought he was too good for us.
13. Lambert, just awful.
14. Di Mateo, daft experiment.
15. Garde, dafter experiment.
16. Venglos, an experiment.
 

   
 

[Somniloquism]

I think the reason for the shock and dismay with the BFR racism was because he has such a big hand in playing black players and bringing them through the ranks. Didn't we have a full outfield of black players one match under his watch with only the GK being white? Still doesn't give him the right to say what he said and he was rightly denigrated for it.

[pablo_picasso]

I would like to make a shout to Gary Mcallister for a despised coach to go along with these managers too. He has been at the club in one coaching capacity or another with at least two managers & has failed to make us look like anything other than my old six a side team when we first started playing back in the day. We were beyond shit when we first started playing & looked like we had never seen a football, never mind each other & once lost 17-0. We did get much better over time. Mcallister Never has...

[pauliewalnuts]

I would like to make a shout to Gary Mcallister for a despised coach to go along with these managers too. He has been at the club in one coaching capacity or another with at least two managers & has failed to make us look like anything other than my old six a side team when we first started playing back in the day. We were beyond shit when we first started playing & looked like we had never seen a football, never mind each other & once lost 17-0. We did get much better over time. Mcallister Never has...

He got Houllier's team playing better after Houllier got ill.

[hilts_coolerking]

I think the reason for the shock and dismay with the BFR racism was because he has such a big hand in playing black players and bringing them through the ranks. Didn't we have a full outfield of black players one match under his watch with only the GK being white? Still doesn't give him the right to say what he said and he was rightly denigrated for it.

I think that's right.  We didn't get David James until after BFR left.

[VILLA MOLE]

I would like to make a shout to Gary Mcallister for a despised coach to go along with these managers too. He has been at the club in one coaching capacity or another with at least two managers & has failed to make us look like anything other than my old six a side team when we first started playing back in the day. We were beyond shit when we first started playing & looked like we had never seen a football, never mind each other & once lost 17-0. We did get much better over time. Mcallister Never has...

I remember hearing a story from a referee who in a game complimented him on a piece of skill

and his remark was " what the f**k has it got to do with you" ,  silly but always  puts me off him