Unai Emery

[Risso]

I can't be arsed to list out which teams have finished in the top 10 of the PL in the last 10 years, but it probably includes the likes of Burnley, Watford, Norwich, Sheff Utd. etc'

Burnley, Sheffield United, West Brom, Southampton, Bournemouth, Wolves, Leeds, Stoke (Stoke, three time in fact!), Swansea (Swansea, twice!)

[SoccerHQ]

20 league games left, no distractions.

after 18 games last season, we were 11th with 22 points.

after 18 games this season, we are 11th with 22 points...

we finished 14th with 45 points.

the barometer is year-on-year improvement.

for me, anything less than a top half finish for emery would be a disappointment.

50 points should be the target. If we beat Leeds we're actually right on target for it despite having a terrible start to the season under Gerrard.

Worry though after yesterday we'll mess up as usual the decent run of games we have right up through to the March international break and it will be the usual scramble to 40 points.

We should be better than that by now.

[Risso]

I see Emery finished 7th 3 seasons running with Villareal. How is that viewed over there, above or below their general expectations?

[oldhill_avfc]

It's been mentioned here several times in the recent past that you learn more from your defeats than victories.  So what do we hope Emery picks up from this?

I'd argue that the squad players are essentially mid table championship level.   When they were up against a 4th division team that is going well and likely to be promoted then the gap wasn't that wide.  Yes, the selection should have been enough, but when the cup is all we have to play I'd hope Emery would think the risk would be too great.

Secondly I hope he sees that there aren't any hidden gems.  You might argue a case for Dendonker and Sanson being useful backup, but when the starters are only mid table then players like this are unlikely to take us forward.

Talking of forward(s), we mostly accept the attacking starters aren't exactly pulling up trees at the moment and need replacing with better quality.  I'd hope Emery realises by now that Ings, Coutinho and Bailey are not the answer. 

[AlexAlexCropley]

I really thought we'd see some exciting cup runs at least.Atm I'm too inconsolable to focus,but if he delivers an FA cup in the next two years then the league is immaterial to me.

[SoccerHQ]

I see Emery finished 7th 3 seasons running with Villareal. How is that viewed over there, above or below their general expectations?

Always a good season for them.

Top 3 is fixed with Barca and the two Madrids these days so they're in the mix with Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Betis and sometimes Valencia for the spots below 3rd.

Ironically this season is probably their best chance of CL in some time given Sevilla were in the bottom 3 until yesterday, Valencia are bottom half and Atletico Madrid aren't as good as last decade so they'll be clinging onto 4th.

Left all that to try to guide us to 10th this season.

[London Villan]

And £4m a year.

[Ad@m]

6/7 games in and he’s blotted his copybook, Jesus wept.

He absolutely has.  He's piled so much unnecessary pressure on himself for Friday to get a result.  I've just watched his post match interview and he doesn't even look that bothered about today's shambles

He really hasn’t. Your reaction in terms of the manager specifically are miles over the top.

I think we have right to expect our manager to take the only two competitions we have any chance of having a run at seriously.  Yet in both cup games, he has decided to sabotage both, weeks after claiming he wanted to win a trophy.  What his pedigree in the past is irrelevant - both him and the players have effectively stuck two fingers up to the fans.

Crikey.

I don't think picking a team full of internationals who are miles better than each of their respective opposite numbers is "sabotaging" our cup hopes.  Yesterday was on the players and whilst nothing can excuse yesterday's result, working through that starting 11 it's clear why we're struggling to break in to the top 10 of the Prem:

• Olsen - not at fault yesterday but nowhere near Prem quality
• Cash - runs around a lot but beyond the half way line he's a liability
• Bednarek - I know we panicked when Carlos got injured but I'd rather have one of the kids alongside Chambers than him
• Dendonker - had looked decent up until yesterday but should be going for a scan today to see if they can find a brain
• Coutinho - a waste of a shirt
• Bailey - see Coutinho
• Ings - fails to get involved far too much

The ones missing from the above list are ok as squad players but Emery's got a hell of a job on his hands to turn this squad into a top half one.

[Risso]

Olsen, not at fault? Apart from the crap pass out to Dendoncker and getting hopelessly beaten at his near post for their second?

[Drummond]

Olsen, not at fault? Apart from the crap pass out to Dendoncker and getting hopelessly beaten at his near post for their second?

He was at fault but not solely to blame.

[Risso]

Olsen, not at fault? Apart from the crap pass out to Dendoncker and getting hopelessly beaten at his near post for their second?

He was at fault but not solely to blame.

I didn't say he was, just responding to a post that said he wasn't at fault.

[Ad@m]

Olsen, not at fault? Apart from the crap pass out to Dendoncker and getting hopelessly beaten at his near post for their second?

When Olsen passed to Dendonker the nearest opposition player to him was 15 yards away.  That goal had sod all to do with Olsen.

2nd one, sure, he maybe could've done better, but you might also expect the 9 players in front of him wouldn't allow their striker to pick up the ball on the edge of the box from a corner and move 10 yards in to the box completely unchallenged to drill the ball wherever he wanted.

If you're looking to blame someone for last night, Olsen's way down the list.

[brontebilly]

Really good comments from Emery. He's identified a big problem for us in last decade so now he must act on it.

I always remember after Newcastle away last season Gerrard let rip on how bad we are.....and then played pretty much the same team the next week v Watford when we were even worse.

From press reports at the time some of the players were amazed they weren't dropped for a few weeks after that game.

For a start I'd be starting Sanson v Leeds just to see what he's like in a high tempo prem game under Emery. It might not work but at least that will show a message to the squad.

I'm not usually a fan of managers mouthing off post game about their players. So unlike Gerrard, let's see if Emery will actually make some changes for Friday night. Sanson would be a good one. Seems like we will have a lot of players unavailable so might not have many other options. New left back coming in suggests he has identified a problem there.

It's a good game to test the mettle of some of our players. Any kind of slow start and the crowd won't be long getting on the players backs so will take plenty of character to perform. Martinez, Konsa, Young, Mings, Kamara, Watkins...that's a completely new spine of the team from yesterday.

Tactically I think we do need to change away from the narrow midfield 4. It worked fine in a couple of games but Buendia back at 10 in a 4231 might give us a bit more structure. Bailey and Coutinho have played themselves firmly onto the bench and Buendia might just be fortunate he didn't play.

[cdward]

I can't be arsed to list out which teams have finished in the top 10 of the PL in the last 10 years, but it probably includes the likes of Burnley, Watford, Norwich, Sheff Utd. etc'

Burnley, Sheffield United, West Brom, Southampton, Bournemouth, Wolves, Leeds, Stoke (Stoke, three time in fact!), Swansea (Swansea, twice!)

Thanks.

[ChicagoLion]

Olsen, not at fault? Apart from the crap pass out to Dendoncker and getting hopelessly beaten at his near post for their second?

When Olsen passed to Dendonker the nearest opposition player to him was 15 yards away.  That goal had sod all to do with Olsen.

2nd one, sure, he maybe could've done better, but you might also expect the 9 players in front of him wouldn't allow their striker to pick up the ball on the edge of the box from a corner and move 10 yards in to the box completely unchallenged to drill the ball wherever he wanted.

If you're looking to blame someone for last night, Olsen's way down the list.

Not on my list, just below the manager then its a tie for 3rd Bailey Dendonker Coutinho Ings