Unai Emery - our manager

[Brazilian Villain]

It’s good of people to give our tactics away to everyone prior to the new season.

I know some lads who played and saw the board, they said it was more of the inspirational rather than tactical.

I think he’s on about the article further on in the thread. As you say, there was nothing tactical on the dressing room poster.

I'm also sure all clubs are aware of each others tactics without needing to read an article on the web.

I have to admit I was a little concerned at seeing "Roll up wor sleeves (it's a metaphor)" on the board.

[olaftab]

Does anyone know if the Treehouse Bielsa built at Bodymoor Heath Road is still there?

[edgysatsuma89]

It’s good of people to give our tactics away to everyone prior to the new season.

I know some lads who played and saw the board, they said it was more of the inspirational rather than tactical.

I think he’s on about the article further on in the thread. As you say, there was nothing tactical on the dressing room poster.

I'm also sure all clubs are aware of each others tactics without needing to read an article on the web.

I have to admit I was a little concerned at seeing "Roll up wor sleeves (it's a metaphor)" on the board.

In all seriousness I would love to see his tactics written down, I need a good laugh.

[Demitri_C]

First manager post grealish thats been able to mould a team to play successfully

It was very hard at first without grealish but emery has shown how elite he is by having players that are not even his and get the best out of them

I love him

[john e]

I also love him

Talking to an Arsenal fan at the weekend
Arteta did very well this season, but I told him I wouldn’t swap managers

Arteta might be a good fit for Arsenal right now, but Emery is the perfect fit for Villa and I honestly reckon over the next couple of seasons the one they got rid of will prove to be a better manager than the one they have

[Smithy]

Arteta has done a decent job there.  But let's not forget, he inherited a team in 10th in December, finished the season in 8th, and in two and half years has turned them into league runners up.

Emery inherited a team in 16th, and got us to 7th and into Europe in less than three-quarters of a season.  Let's see how the two compare after he's had another two full years in the job.

EDIT: Arteta has won them the FA Cup though, which is a BIG plus...

[eamonn]

I thought we were 17th, out of the relegation zone on goal difference only. It's what grandkids are being told this summer.

[Lastfootstamper]

I thought we were 17th, out of the relegation zone on goal difference only. It's what grandkids are being told this summer.

That was when Gerrard got the heave-ho. We sneaked up a bit with the 4-4 aggregate draw in the two before Emery took over.

[pauliewalnuts]

Arteta has done very well, no getting away from that.

It wasn't his fault they fell at the last this season, it was simply that their squad wasn't strong enough. Having to use the likes of Rob Holding when City have the squad they have is going to hobble any manager.

Don't get me wrong, it was funny seeing them run out of steam, but - and I will temper this by saying he's an irritating twat - not really the fault of Arteta.

[Smithy]

I thought we were 17th, out of the relegation zone on goal difference only. It's what grandkids are being told this summer.

I could almost certainly be wrong, I thought we were one point above the relegation places when he joined?

[pauliewalnuts]

I thought we were 17th, out of the relegation zone on goal difference only. It's what grandkids are being told this summer.

I could almost certainly be wrong, I thought we were one point above the relegation places when he joined?

This season seems insanely long, it's hard to believe that wasn't several seasons ago, it feels like it.

[Risso]

I thought we were 17th, out of the relegation zone on goal difference only. It's what grandkids are being told this summer.

I could almost certainly be wrong, I thought we were one point above the relegation places when he joined?

17th and out of the bottom three after the Fulham game, ahead of Wolves on goals scored.

On 1 November when Emery officially joined after his work permit was sorted, we were 16th. Level on points with Southampton and Leeds and one point ahead of Leicester in 18th.

[eamonn]

Yes, I'd forgotten Neil Cutler's beautifully symmetrical record as manager. Shouldn't have as the Brentford game was the only one I managed to see at VP all season. And he posted our biggest win of the season!

[Risso]

Yes, I'd forgotten Neil Cutler's beautifully symmetrical record as manager. Shouldn't have as the Brentford game was the only one I managed to see at VP all season. And he posted our biggest win of the season!

Danks, surely.

[eamonn]

Jesus, yes. Sorry Aaron/Neil!