Unai Emery

[eamonn]

I liked De Zerbi's final words in his BBC post-match interview.

"Aston Villa is a historic club. Emery is one of the most important coaches in the world. The Aston Villa stadium is amazing. And if you finish one place higher than Aston Villa, you can understand the incredible target we achieved."

[pablo_picasso]

The bit about the fact De Zerbi didn't start the season with Brighton makes it more impressive really got to me. Yeah? Well try starting in November in 17th place, and which manager again has beaten fanny face twice this season?

A pox on them, maybe Jonathan Wilson will do a piece on us soon if he can remove himself from Pep's arse

Weren't they 6th or 7th in the league when De Zerbi joined?

[Lastfootstamper]

The bit about the fact De Zerbi didn't start the season with Brighton makes it more impressive really got to me. Yeah? Well try starting in November in 17th place, and which manager again has beaten fanny face twice this season?

A pox on them, maybe Jonathan Wilson will do a piece on us soon if he can remove himself from Pep's arse

Weren't they 6th or 7th in the league when De Zerbi joined?

4th.

[Somniloquism]

4th but early enough that one match lost or won could move you several places. And he definitely lost more then he won in the first 8 or so matches he was there.

[Risso]

Each Premier League team/manager reviewed in the Telegraph:


7. Aston Villa
By John Percy

Player of the year
Douglas Luiz. An outstanding season from a player who is flourishing even further under Unai Emery.

Breakthrough star
Nassef Sawiris. For sacking Steven Gerrard and appointing ‘Super’ Unai Emery.

Manager grades: Steven Gerrard D, Unai Emery A+
It has been a staggering transformation in results and performance since Emery’s appointment.

Overall season grade: B
Marks lost because though Villa fans would prefer to forget, those three months under Gerrard really were turgid.

Champagne moment
The 3-0 thrashing of Newcastle was Emery’s vision in high definition and a total schooling of a team who went on to clinch Champions League football.

Ambition for next season
Emery needs a productive summer transfer window and can then make a serious assault on the top-six.

[Beard82]

Each Premier League team/manager reviewed in the Telegraph:


7. Aston Villa
By John Percy

Player of the year
Douglas Luiz. An outstanding season from a player who is flourishing even further under Unai Emery.

Breakthrough star
Nassef Sawiris. For sacking Steven Gerrard and appointing ‘Super’ Unai Emery.

Manager grades: Steven Gerrard D, Unai Emery A+
It has been a staggering transformation in results and performance since Emery’s appointment.

Overall season grade: B
Marks lost because though Villa fans would prefer to forget, those three months under Gerrard really were turgid.

Champagne moment
The 3-0 thrashing of Newcastle was Emery’s vision in high definition and a total schooling of a team who went on to clinch Champions League football.

Ambition for next season
Emery needs a productive summer transfer window and can then make a serious assault on the top-six.

Perfect review.  A big well done to Nas.  Sometimes, just sometimes, you think these billionaires know how to make good decisions.

Think the D for Gerrard is only that high for his role in getting in Kamara.

[paul_e]

Yep, hard to argue with any of that.

[Goldenballs]

D is very generous for Gerrard, he was a complete failure this season.

[olaftab]

Perfect review.  A big well done to Nas.  Sometimes, just sometimes, you think these billionaires know how to make good decisions.

I would think billionaires make good decisions most of the time. There is a clue in the word billionaire.

[Somniloquism]

I don't know, some billionaires invested in Theranos, others offered to buy twitter at a stupidly high price.

[Steve67]

Good stuff from John Percy.  Very accurate and FWIW, I honestly cannot see Steven Gerrard managing again unless he goes back to Scotland or takes a second tier team.

[Toronto Villa]

Aston Villa was the best job so many managers have had before the wheels came off for one reason or another.

[Steve67]

I liked De Zerbi's final words in his BBC post-match interview.

"Aston Villa is a historic club. Emery is one of the most important coaches in the world. The Aston Villa stadium is amazing. And if you finish one place higher than Aston Villa, you can understand the incredible target we achieved."

Great to get the recognition and I hope we are entering an era where we are respected and thought of as a real threat to the top 4. 

[Beard82]

Perfect review.  A big well done to Nas.  Sometimes, just sometimes, you think these billionaires know how to make good decisions.

I would think billionaires make good decisions most of the time. There is a clue in the word billionaire.

We all know the easiest way to be a billionaire, is to be born a trillionaire

[Beard82]

Aston Villa was the best job so many managers have had before the wheels came off for one reason or another.

Yeah - 100% this.  I think probably Villa is one of the most difficult jobs in world football.  Much better managers than Gerrard would have ended up in the same place. 

If you leave without a trophy, you're a failure.   If Unai ever leaves, which Im kinda hoping he won't, I'm pretty confident he'll be only the second manager in my lifetime to go onto something bigger (although, clearly, not better). 

But, if you achieve success, you'll be remembered through the ages. 

A case in point is the number of posts on various platforms thanking Dean for starting this.  He could manage for another 20 years and pretty sure whatever he achieves, he'll be remembered for what he achieved at Villa.