Unai Emery

[LeeB]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

The last time i remember us being tipped as potential dark horses for the title, was when all the pundits on football focus  had to say who their picks were and Bob Wilson picked us. That was before the first game of the 86-87 season, that ended well.

One of either Shoot or Match magazine had us down to finish 2nd that season

[Clark W Griswold]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

[Rigadon]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative.  Spurs have acted like a big club since Redknapp got them into the top 4.  Everton had that period where they had Ancelotti etc.  Newcastle have in recent years been 'everyone's favourite second team' and now are obviously filthy rich. 

I hope Emery is finally the man to shake this cloak of insignificance off, because there is no reason whatsoever that Villa can't be a massive club globally once again.  We need an identity that respects the history but is not defined by it.

[algy]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative.  Spurs have acted like a big club since Redknapp got them into the top 4. Everton had that period where they had Ancelotti etc.  Newcastle have in recent years been 'everyone's favourite second team' and now are obviously filthy rich. 

I hope Emery is finally the man to shake this cloak of insignificance off, because there is no reason whatsoever that Villa can't be a massive club globally once again.  We need an identity that respects the history but is not defined by it.

Maybe if we acted like a big club since we last finished in the top 4, the media & world at large would see us as a club with a higher stature.

[Hookeysmith]

There's a good article in the Athletic about why Emery was so pissed off.

Why was Unai Emery so angry at Aston Villa on Saturday?

When Unai Emery last lost three league games in a row, his Arsenal team subsequently missed out on Champions League football and the setback played a part in his eventual sacking.

It was April 2019 when Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City all found ways to out-manoeuvre Emery’s side during a painful and season-defining period.

Not since May 2016 when the Basque was manager of Sevilla had he experienced such a bad run of domestic results, and even then he quickly made amends by seeing off Liverpool to win the Europa League in the same month. Never during his two and-a-bit seasons at Villarreal did his side lose three on the bounce in La Liga, and every year they had European football to contend with, too.

Perhaps that goes some way to explaining why Emery was so angry after Aston Villa’s 4-2 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend. And let’s get it right, he was raging.

Such are the high standards he expects — even at a club of Villa’s stature — that defeats to the two outstanding teams of the season, Arsenal and Manchester City (plus Leicester), cut deep. So deep, in fact, that he got stuck into his players both publicly and privately to remind them that a run of defeats like this is unacceptable.

The 51-year-old, who has plans to work his team longer and harder this week, did not hold back, saying he was “embarrassed”. Yet the core of Emery’s frustration isn’t so much with the defeats, but how Villa are losing. He says his team are not brave enough in possession, not taking enough risks and failing to stick to the game plan.

This is what needs to change because, after a brilliant start, Villa are in danger of losing momentum before games against four of the sides beneath them in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s third goal made Emery’s blood boil. So what happened?
Villa were drawing 2-2 and already into the third minute of stoppage time when they coughed up a third goal to Arsenal.

Yes, the manner was cruel — the ball hitting the bar and bouncing in off Emiliano Martinez — but it was still a gift, presented via a long, aimless ball pumped forward by Boubacar Kamara. It was this that sent the Villa manager into a rage. Emery is asking his players to be brave in possession and pick the right passes in the moments when they are trying to see out games, but one careless ball on this occasion was costly.

Here, you can see Kamara receiving a pass from Matty Cash in the 92nd minute.

But rather than keeping possession with a simple pass nearby, Kamara opts to clear it upfield. That gave possession back to Arsenal and within seconds they were 3-2 up.

“That long ball is an example of what I do not want to create and build here,” Emery said afterwards.

Harsh on Kamara? Yes. But look at what happened in the 15 minutes before…
It has been a tough month for Kamara, but to single the Frenchman out for the most recent defeat would be unfair.

He actually recorded his highest passing accuracy figure (93 per cent) for the season and it was his long ball that set up Leon Bailey for a late opportunity that crashed off the crossbar. How things could have been different had that gone in.

What Emery deemed as a late mistake (the 92nd-minute long ball) was, in fact, one of only two passes he misplaced all game. The real source of annoyance was a frantic final 15 minutes where Villa lost their cool and forgot to follow the game plan.

Here’s a breakdown of what happened.

After 80 minutes, Ezri Konsa kicked it long and immediately gave the ball back to Arsenal. Emery says he is asking his players to retain possession in these moments.

In the 84th minute, Martinez initially looked like he was going to play a goal kick short to either Konsa or Tyrone Mings. This is what Emery wants.

… but instead, the goalkeeper received a booking for time-wasting and then kicked it long. Villa quickly lost possession again and gave Arsenal another chance to build an attack.

On 85 minutes, Bailey dropped back to cover in defence but was careless and kicked the ball out of play to concede possession again.

A little more than sixty seconds later, Martinez again went long and Villa lost possession.

After that, John McGinn won possession but then tried a long ball that was cut out.

On 88 minutes, Martinez again kicked it long and Arsenal win possession.

Seconds later, Konsa passed the ball back to Martinez in a way that Emery likes.

… but the goalkeeper again kicked it long and Villa quickly lost possession.

On 91 minutes, Jacob Ramsey won possession deep into his own half and played a good pass to Jhon Duran, who shot straight at Aaron Ramsdale when the sensible option perhaps would have been to take it into the corner and run down the clock.

Then came Kamara’s misplaced long ball and the relentless pressure proved to be too much for Villa to withstand, even if the decisive goal came through a huge slice of bad luck.

And that was just the final 15 minutes!

So what needs to change?
Emery is asking his players to work on their combination play and think carefully about the best way to retain possession and build out from the back.

Scoring goals has not been a problem and ironically, the best-worked sequence of the season came on Saturday when Philippe Coutinho finished off a fine move that started with Martinez.

Finding consistency is fundamental, though, and it requires total buy-in from the players to get it right. Martinez, for example, recorded his lowest passing accuracy of the season (46 per cent) and that made it difficult to gain any real authority in the game, especially in the second half.

After finding a way to successfully hold onto leads under Emery in the early games, Villa have started to wilt too easily again. The shape they hold when defending is good as Kamara often drops in as a third centre-half, the full-backs tuck inside and two midfield players add support in wide areas. The problem is in possession and Villa had just 33 per cent of it against Arsenal, while also giving the ball away 111 times from just 489 touches.

“The manager wants us to stick to a game plan and try to outplay opponents,” says Ollie Watkins. “We know we can do it but we haven’t been playing out from the back well enough yet.”

Defending low for too long
When Emery was asked to take over from the failing Steven Gerrard in October, he watched every game Villa had played this season and some from 2021-22.

One of his findings was that Villa were defending too low for too long in games. His first plan was to find a way to change that and certainly, since the World Cup break, Villa have, at times, played with a much higher defensive line.

The risk, of course, will always be allowing teams to find runners in behind and both Leicester and Manchester City were quick to take advantage. There are strengths and weaknesses in every formation, though, so this is an area that perhaps Emery himself should consider adjusting if the losing run continues.

Villa's revolution under Emery: Long video sessions, meticulous detail and clever in-game changes

So how long will this take?
When The Athletic asked Emery if he could accept losing if his team stuck to the exact plan he had set out, he replied: “Of course. We have to be consistent in the idea we want to win.”

It’s why he believes the previous mistakes made when playing out from the back — Douglas Luiz at Brighton, Leander Dendoncker against Stevenage and Kamara against Leicester — should be used as building blocks.

“We have to work to break lines and stick together with the more difficult things.”

It took his Villarreal side months to find the right formula and it all came together during the run to the Champions League semi-finals and most notably during the quarter-final double-header with Bayern Munich.

When holding onto the lead, instead of lobbing long balls into space, Villarreal tried, as often as they could, to pass between themselves in triangles and pick the right moment only to release the ball forward.

Unai Emery wants to change Aston Vila’s style of play (Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Of course, this was just one match, but Emery’s ability to get the better of superior opposition with a well-rehearsed plan is one of the reasons he has enjoyed so much success in Europe over the years.

A demanding week at Bodymoor Heath working on shape and building out from the back is already underway as Villa prepare for Saturday’s trip to Everton at Goodison Park.

The players already know to expect long, detailed weeks, often with a specific focus on new opponents, but on the back of defeats, the intensity is cranked up further.

Emery’s meticulous attention to detail has been felt since he first arrived, but the players and the press saw a different side to him at the weekend as he made his feelings clear; it’s his way only.

“I will demand them to play better and demand myself to push them to do more.”

Hard to argue with any of that - great article

[Rigadon]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative.  Spurs have acted like a big club since Redknapp got them into the top 4. Everton had that period where they had Ancelotti etc.  Newcastle have in recent years been 'everyone's favourite second team' and now are obviously filthy rich. 

I hope Emery is finally the man to shake this cloak of insignificance off, because there is no reason whatsoever that Villa can't be a massive club globally once again.  We need an identity that respects the history but is not defined by it.

Maybe if we acted like a big club since we last finished in the top 4, the media & world at large would see us as a club with a higher stature.

Absolutely, that's what I was trying to say really.  We've brought it on ourselves to a large degree through a prolonged period of average / shit results.

[Footy-Vill]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Gregg Evans is beyond competent
He's more ITK than people think. That doesn't have to be all of the comings  in terms of transfers even he did want to share but be does have relevance an ear and sound contacts at AVFC on what's going on within the club, dressing room, gym, physio room and on the training ground. He's professional with info he shares and offers good written and audio content.

[ChicagoLion]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative.  Spurs have acted like a big club since Redknapp got them into the top 4. Everton had that period where they had Ancelotti etc.  Newcastle have in recent years been 'everyone's favourite second team' and now are obviously filthy rich. 

I hope Emery is finally the man to shake this cloak of insignificance off, because there is no reason whatsoever that Villa can't be a massive club globally once again.  We need an identity that respects the history but is not defined by it.

Maybe if we acted like a big club since we last finished in the top 4, the media & world at large would see us as a club with a higher stature.

Absolutely, that's what I was trying to say really.  We've brought it on ourselves to a large degree through a prolonged period of average / shit results.

It’s difficult to find one aspect of our operation that would define us as a big club.

The Websit, transport,catering merchandise ,ticket scheme ,access to the ground, hospitality, marketing , communications. That’s before you look at what happens on the footballing side, allowing a 4th division team to knock us out the cup at home, surrendering leads under the slightest bit of pressure, pissing money up the wall on on journeymen  and once in a lifetime pay cheques. Big club?

[pauliewalnuts]

Support, history, stadium, fame.

[pauliewalnuts]

And also, FFS, who has stolen your login details and cause utter chaos with the commas?

[Toronto Villa]

As well as being misguided it’s a grammatical disaster.

[Clampy]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative.  Spurs have acted like a big club since Redknapp got them into the top 4. Everton had that period where they had Ancelotti etc.  Newcastle have in recent years been 'everyone's favourite second team' and now are obviously filthy rich. 

I hope Emery is finally the man to shake this cloak of insignificance off, because there is no reason whatsoever that Villa can't be a massive club globally once again.  We need an identity that respects the history but is not defined by it.

Maybe if we acted like a big club since we last finished in the top 4, the media & world at large would see us as a club with a higher stature.

Absolutely, that's what I was trying to say really.  We've brought it on ourselves to a large degree through a prolonged period of average / shit results.

It’s difficult to find one aspect of our operation that would define us as a big club.

The Websit, transport,catering merchandise ,ticket scheme ,access to the ground, hospitality, marketing , communications. That’s before you look at what happens on the footballing side, allowing a 4th division team to knock us out the cup at home, surrendering leads under the slightest bit of pressure, pissing money up the wall on on journeymen  and once in a lifetime pay cheques. Big club?

What have the Villa ever done for us?

[KevinGage]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative...

I'm less worried when barbs of that nature come from an Olbiyun fan looking to raise a chuckle from his trampy Tesco bag mates.  If you're an Olbiyun fan entertainment is short on the ground, so they grasp around where they can.

It's a dim fanzine-eque quip to put in an article like that and is at odds with the rest of it.  Which makes me think his boss outsourced the deeper analysis to a Spanish correspondent. Gregggg doesn't seem capable, based on previous. 

There's prob a few reasons beyond £ (seeing as most Prem clubz have that now) why we're able to sign Argentinian and Brazilian internationals + a manager of Emery's pedigree in the first place. So our stature in English football is fine, thanks.

[aj2k77]

I don't really mind who Gregg supports, his pieces tend to be alright.

I also ... he worded it clumsily, but we've not qualified for Europe for a decade or more and haven't looked much of a force for about 25 years. We haven't been talked about as title contenders for longer than that. We've also spent time in the second tier recently. So 'a club of Villa's stature' ... he's unfortunately probably right there. A terrible indictment on the people who have run the club for the 35 years leading up to 2018, but that is where we are.

Its the suggestion that he should almost be applauded for making the effort whilst he's at the Villa rather than sitting on his arse and going through the motions because we're not worth bothering with. We are a club of stature anyway, just not in recent years as you rightly say. What were Man City before the billions came in, or Chelsea for that matter. I suppose if he was at Tottenham it would be worth it for him, even though they've won less than us in the past 50 years (i think, without researching it!).
I've always thought he's a tit anyway to be honest.

Funny, when I read that line I caught myself thinking that other clubs of similar 'stature' (Spurs, Everton, Newcastle) don't seem to suffer this narrative.  Spurs have acted like a big club since Redknapp got them into the top 4. Everton had that period where they had Ancelotti etc.  Newcastle have in recent years been 'everyone's favourite second team' and now are obviously filthy rich. 

I hope Emery is finally the man to shake this cloak of insignificance off, because there is no reason whatsoever that Villa can't be a massive club globally once again.  We need an identity that respects the history but is not defined by it.

Maybe if we acted like a big club since we last finished in the top 4, the media & world at large would see us as a club with a higher stature.

24 different clubs have finished in the top 10 since we troubled it. It's no wonder others see us as much of a nothingness now when even West Brom have had a higher finish in the last 10+ years.

[Percy McCarthy]

There’s a good interview with UE on the BT Sport podcast.