Unai Emery

[pauliewalnuts]

What Danks and McPhee do is what we’ve just seen, provide continuity across managerial appointments.

[dave shelley]

Danks is a tricky one.  Highly regarded but before the Brentford game I imagine most of us would have asked what he actually does.  He seems a good sort and hopefully Emery can make use of him in the 1st team set up, but if not then unless he moves to working with the youth teams I can't see much point keeping him on if he's just a spare part.

It may be a case of what he was allowed to do by the previous manager Chris particularly as he wasn't a Gerrard appointee.

[usav]

"I totally understand," at the bottom. It's not like BirminghamLive to make a sensation out of nothing.

Could also be that he's not allowed to?  If that is considered "work" then it might jeopardize his work permit?

[jwarry]

"I totally understand," at the bottom. It's not like BirminghamLive to make a sensation out of nothing.

But surely a friendly phone call would be ok wouldn’t it?

Could also be that he's not allowed to?  If that is considered "work" then it might jeopardize his work permit?

[Baldy]

How are people feeling in general now that Emery is in charge? Are they happy and excited, but also cautious given what happened when he previously managed in England? He was outstanding in Spain, and I believe he will need to bring in a number of players who will complement his philosophy. In my opinion, he is more qualified and experienced than Steven Gerrard.

Some of the players' adaptation may be excessive, but some will also succeed. Therefore, I'm hoping for improvement this season along with a more disciplined and established style of play, identity, and teamwork, though there may occasionally be a mix of these things.
Having said that, all indications are very encouraging. My concerns are less with the manager and his coaching staff and more with the squad as a whole, specifically with regard to their ability to play consistently well and their players' demonstration of the necessary football intelligence skills.

McGinn and Cash, in my opinion, could be replaced because they lack football intelligence and I believe Emery may not be completely sold on them as players.
McGinn especially isn't much use for Villa in my view and must be upgraded and given a far less prominent role within the squad.

Thanks Footy-Ville, I agree 100%. You said it more eloquently than I could.

'Football intelligence skills' is what some of our players have always been lacking. Either too much brawn and not enough brain (McGinn, Konsa, Mings, Ramsey, Watkins, Cash) or sometimes, too much brain and not enough brawn (Coutinho). Emery will be looking to get this balance right for all of his players. It could involve  better concentration levels, better awareness, better positioning, composure under pressure, being streetwise in the tackle and much, much more.

We will only get better under Emery when our current players get better. That will not happen overnight and some players will be for the chop. Probably two transfer windows will be required before Emery is fully happy with his squad and we see the style of football he wants to play.

I expect an immediate improvement in effort and commitment from all players but the 'football intelligence skills' will take a lot longer for some and others will fall by the wayside.

I am excited by his appointment but I think we all know that 'Rome wasn't built in a day'. 

[john e]

I don’t understand or know much about FFP but listening to people on social media and also on here about how the owners Net spend over the last three seasons hasn’t been that high I’m presuming we can now go out and blow the cash like Viv Nicholson in her prime without any worries

[Goldenballs]

I'm mega excited, can't really believe we've bagged a manager of his pedigree.

If we somehow manage to be unsuccessful with this manager under these owners, then I don't really know what else to suggest.

[usav]

"I totally understand," at the bottom. It's not like BirminghamLive to make a sensation out of nothing.

Could also be that he's not allowed to?  If that is considered "work" then it might jeopardize his work permit?

But surely a friendly phone call would be ok wouldn’t it?

Could also be he's not being 100% honest.

[Lastfootstamper]

I'm mega excited, can't really believe we've bagged a manager of his pedigree.

If we somehow manage to be unsuccessful with this manager under these owners, then I don't really know what else to suggest.

We really have left ourselves with zero excuse wiggle room, haven't we.

[Matt C]

Given the tricky nature of work permits now I’d wager even if a conversation has taken place, declaring it in a press conference wouldn’t be a great idea.

[Monty]

That can't be right. Like, even if I don't get a work permit, I'm allowed to phone someone and give them advice, or tell them what I'd do if I were to become their boss. If he doesn't get a work permit, he enacts nothing so it changes nothing - what's the difference?

[dave.woodhall]

Ultimately, does it really matter? Emery's bringing his own coaching team in, Danks knows he'll be down the Job Centre on Tuesday.

[OCD]

He wasn't when Gerrard brought in a dozen coaches.

[TonyD]

How many people were actually part of Gerrard’s circus?   

[pauliewalnuts]

How many people were actually part of Gerrard’s circus?   

Critchley
Gary Mac
Tom Culshaw
Jordan Milson
That other one.