Unai Emery

[Risso]

There is also the big difference in recruitment strategy of Emery v O'Neill.  The former doesn't start and end his search with Aiden McGeady if he is after a new winger for example.  I also suspect he wouldn't replace a whole back four two seasons running.

Emery's probably prepared to look outside of the English and Scottish Premier Leagues full stop.

[Drummond]

There is also the big difference in recruitment strategy of Emery v O'Neill.  The former doesn't start and end his search with Aiden McGeady if he is after a new winger for example.  I also suspect he wouldn't replace a whole back four two seasons running.

Emery's probably prepared to look outside of the English and Scottish Premier Leagues full stop.

Ah, but will he look outside of Spain......

[OCD]

Leicester?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Martin's biggest fan is still Martin. His only regret after all these years is he can't lick his own balls.

[Diablo]

Martin's biggest fan is still Martin. His only regret after all these years is he can't lick his own balls.

I believe you can have an operation to rectify this issue. 

[Dogtanian]

Martin's biggest fan is still Martin. His only regret after all these years is he can't lick his own balls.

I believe you can have an operation to rectify this issue.

Or just outsource the task.

[dave shelley]

Martin's biggest fan is still Martin. His only regret after all these years is he can't lick his own balls.

That reminds me of a very old joke:

Two old lads sitting in the pub having a pint.  One of them has his dog with him and the dog is quietly lying at his master's feet.

The dog decides to get up, have a stretch and then proceed to lick his balls. As the dog does this, the other old boy says to the dog's owner 'By gum 'Arry, I wish I could do that'. to which his mate replied 'Well give him a biscuit and he might let ya'.  An old joke but still amuses me.

[Dante Lavelli]

The difference with O'Neill is that this feels strategic and more structured, rather than a power play to sooth someone's ego. We have a genius in charge, we need to give him all the tools he wants to get to work effectively. Now's the time to really go for it.

Martin O'Neill had no time for Directors of Football etc. (and still doesn't according to a recent interview) and I suspect held / holds the slightly antiquated view that a manager should run the club from 'top to bottom' (influenced no doubt by the views of a certain former manager of his!).

Unai Emery clearly sees the need for such positions, but apparently wants to have some influence in the appointments.  I think that is a pretty major difference - I suspect MON was very suspicious of people in those roles and didn't want them 'interfering'.  UE on the other hand, sees the merit of those roles and acknowledging that importance, wants people in there who he can trust and work with. 

Well put.  MON wanted full control whereas Emery has seemingly asked for Monchi to be appointed above him. Consequently MON had to do all his own scouting so you end with aging pros from the same league.  Emery has delegated that responsibility to Monchi so we have a much bigger pond to fish in..

[eamonn]

Yeah, poor Marty, taking on all that extra work himself. I'm reading Champagne Football, about the crooked FAI chief exec John Delaney, at the moment and O'Neil doesn't come across well in that (during his time as Irish manager) either.

[Scott Nielsen]

Well put.  MON wanted full control whereas Emery has seemingly asked for Monchi to be appointed above him.

The org chart doesn't matter. Our two owners excepted, there is no way in hell Monchi or anyone else sits above Emery.

[Brend'Watkins]

Well put.  MON wanted full control whereas Emery has seemingly asked for Monchi to be appointed above him.

The org chart doesn't matter. Our two owners excepted, there is no way in hell Monchi or anyone else sits above Emery.

It’s set up to function like a properly organised operation. Emery looks after the playing/coaching side and Monchi player recruitment guided by Emery’s requirements. I’m fairly sure the final say would be from Emery after a detailed analysis of what any potential recruit would bring to the squad. Emery will not be having players forced on him.

[tomd2103]

The difference with O'Neill is that this feels strategic and more structured, rather than a power play to sooth someone's ego. We have a genius in charge, we need to give him all the tools he wants to get to work effectively. Now's the time to really go for it.

Martin O'Neill had no time for Directors of Football etc. (and still doesn't according to a recent interview) and I suspect held / holds the slightly antiquated view that a manager should run the club from 'top to bottom' (influenced no doubt by the views of a certain former manager of his!).

Unai Emery clearly sees the need for such positions, but apparently wants to have some influence in the appointments.  I think that is a pretty major difference - I suspect MON was very suspicious of people in those roles and didn't want them 'interfering'.  UE on the other hand, sees the merit of those roles and acknowledging that importance, wants people in there who he can trust and work with. 

Well put.  MON wanted full control whereas Emery has seemingly asked for Monchi to be appointed above him. Consequently MON had to do all his own scouting so you end with aging pros from the same league.  Emery has delegated that responsibility to Monchi so we have a much bigger pond to fish in..

I might be being unfair, but I’m not sure him and other managers of his ilk would have even done that much scouting to be honest.  I remember watching a podcast with a player called Rowan Vine who Steve Bruce signed when he was at Blues.  Bruce totally froze him out after a few months and when Vine asked him why he even signed him in the first place Bruce apparently said “well you’ve done well when you’ve played against my teams”.

[Dante Lavelli]

Well put.  MON wanted full control whereas Emery has seemingly asked for Monchi to be appointed above him.

The org chart doesn't matter. Our two owners excepted, there is no way in hell Monchi or anyone else sits above Emery.

Okay independent of Emery then.  If Emery left I think Monchi’s role would continue whereas Emery would take his coaches.

[KevinGage]

I love what Emery has done so far and am very excited for the future.  But giving a manager this much control doesn't always end well.  We do seem to be putting all our eggs in one basket and if it does go wrong it feels like we'd be in post O'Neil territory.  Are there any other clubs where the manager has this much influence?

A reasonable concern.  Makes sense if Emery is consulted on the appointment. You wouldn't want to select someone he's previously fallen out with, for example. But giving him his pick tilts the balance too far the other way.

Most managers are only five defeats away from the tin tack. Will Emery loyalist Monchi work so well with the next guy?

Hopefully we don't find out for at least five to six seasons. By which time Unai has delivered two or three of those big European pots and our eighth FA Cup.  No pressure.

[Smirker]

I don't see the problem with Emery selecting the President of whatever it is. Surely his guy will be more in turn with what Emery wants and will work better with him as a result.

Unai is hardly setting budgets and controlling every part of the club from top to bottom? I don't see how he has too much control or even close to it.