Unai Emery

[LeeB]

Dunno where to leave this but I think Unai should go for Jadon Sancho. Not working at MU but he is a potential world class player. We could get him I reckon, wages may be an issue however. Maybe we need a thread for out of window transfer talk/speculation.

Potentially filed with Ireland, Bentley, Walcott, Welbeck, Dele-Alli, etc etc

Welbeck seems a harsh choice there he’s had a pretty solid career.

Blighted by injuries, not his fault

[eamonn]

Scores an amazing goal once in a blue moon and you briefly think he's under-rated.

[Villa Lew]

Sky Sports are showing, an extended interview they've had with Unai, on Sunday from 10am.

[brontebilly]

Tactics becoming a bit of a problem for me. Conceding far too many chances and wide open down the left flank especially. No idea why he waited until 60 mins to make changes yesterday, hopefully the team (and formation) are changed a lot for the Arsenal game. Both Moreno and Duran look decent additions though.

[Risso]

Tactics becoming a bit of a problem for me. Conceding far too many chances and wide open down the left flank especially. No idea why he waited until 60 mins to make changes yesterday, hopefully the team (and formation) are changed a lot for the Arsenal game. Both Moreno and Duran look decent additions though.

The tactics weren't great and most of the first halves so far under Emery have been quite poor. He's not getting a tune out of Buendia consistently, and is getting nothing whatsoever out of Ramsey or Bailey, who seem ill at ease at where they're being asked to play in a 4-4-2. Far too many errors being made in defence, and 7 goals conceded in two games is the worst for two consecutive games since October 2021 in the run that led to Smith being axed.

[Villan82]

Man City and a resurgent Leicester though. Leicester just stuck four past Spurs the week after they put four past us.

It's not really a 4-4-2. It's more of a sort of 3-5-1-1 with the left back bombing forward, the right back tucking in, a double pivot and the right sided striker pulling wide.

I resolved to fully embrace Emery because his CV and what he has won makes me drool. We haven't won anything in 27 years and I am desperate for this to work because, quite frankly, I don't know where we go if he doesn't work out.

[ChicagoLion]

The new manager bounce seems to have gone. I really hope we are not into another round of picking players out of form and suffering the inevitable results of doing so.

[Footy-Vill]

There probably has to come a bit of an overhaul so we have the right types of players for Emerys ball whereas some may stay under a different manager think Unai is looking fot specifically players who retain possession,  keen to learn and have a good attitude on and off the pitch.
Spainish speaking helps

[Risso]

The new manager bounce seems to have gone. I really hope we are not into another round of picking players out of form and suffering the inevitable results of doing so.

That certainly seems to be the case at the moment.

[Hookeysmith]

Dunno where to leave this but I think Unai should go for Jadon Sancho. Not working at MU but he is a potential world class player. We could get him I reckon, wages may be an issue however. Maybe we need a thread for out of window transfer talk/speculation.

Yet another vanity project with an over inflated price tag generated by over hype in the media. United tracked him for a long time as traction was made with their pathetic fan base and they had to keep going to get him.

I would not want anyone of their lot

[Clampy]

I'm fairly relaxed about it. He's trying to put his own stamp on it and that won't happen overnight. It will also need some players of his own for it to work so hopefully the summer will bring that.

[brontebilly]

Big game I think for our coach at the weekend. Would be a great one to win for him personally too. I thought our tactical setup in the first 60 mins v Man City were a joke so looking forward to some changes in personnel and team setup.

[eamonn]

The new manager bounce seems to have gone. I really hope we are not into another round of picking players out of form and suffering the inevitable results of doing so.

That certainly seems to be the case at the moment.

He still gave minutes to all 5 senior subs on Saturday. McGinn, Coutinho and Duran will be pushing for starts on Saturday.  And the competition for both full back places is pretty clear, either play in each position could play.

[Footy-Vill]

Big game I think for our coach at the weekend. Would be a great one to win for him personally too. I thought our tactical setup in the first 60 mins v Man City were a joke so looking forward to some changes in personnel and team setup.

I can understand that sentiment regards 60 min set up BronteBill
I can't get too dismayed though as it was partly due to the quality of the opposition, but it was not what we expected from our side in terms of making a game and attempting to score.

I felt like the players had to concentrate on their information as well as play the game, if that makes sense, and because the Man City set up was different from what Emery expected, it threw the players off.
Spent 60 mins sticking to a plan which wasn't working in the attacking sense and was looking to contain in a defensive sense.

I think many of us are on the same page that if Villa had played the way they did for the last 20 minutes, or indeed with the momentum Watkins' goal gave us from the outset, we would have been happier in some ways even if we lost the match. I wasn't totally disappointed, but I had hoped to give their defence a lot more trouble in the first half.
 
The early goal was not ideal and that did not help. Fully hope Emery has a plan for Saturday as Arsenal have a set way and predictable line up (though may have some changes)
 
Emey has never managed to win against Guardiola and seems to struggle against him.
Hoping next season Emery vs Guardiola is a better 90 min contest
 
 

[pablo_picasso]

I'm fairly relaxed about it. He's trying to put his own stamp on it and that won't happen overnight. It will also need some players of his own for it to work so hopefully the summer will bring that.

I am becoming less relaxed by the game tbh.

I allowed myself to think he might possibly be the start of something that might resemble 'the answer'...

...ever since, we have been gradually getting worse.

You would think 40 years being a Villa fan would have given me the experience to hold my hopes & expectations.