Unai Emery

[boozey182]

Great listen. I'm willing to give Unai as long as it takes. His worth ethic and hunger are something this club hasn't had in decades.

So am I.

He's absolutely a proven top level manager, I'll give him whatever it takes.

I'm trying not to get too concerned about our current form, because it does feel different. Take the Arsenal defeats at home, this season compared to last season. On paper, last season was the better result, a 1-0 defeat compared to 4-2. But they couldn't have been more different. I remember leaving the ground last year being utterly deflated - everything I had feared about Gerrard was coming true. No direction, no plan, no idea.

Last week was so frustrating, but mainly because I thought we deserved something out of the game. Maybe this is pushying it a bit, but I thought the Leicester first half was the best we've played under Emery as well - it's just little mistakes, rather than fundamental issues., which are holding us back at the moment.

[WarszaVillan]

I like  how in his press conferences, after being asked a question, he takes a really long intake of breath through his nostrils, with an expression that looks like he's smelled a fart.

[LeeB]

Reminds me a bit of O'Neill's first season, his hands had been tied a bit regarding shaping the squad because of the takeover and he had to wring what he could out of the existing squad. We struggled and results were up and down until a bit of a late flourish, I think we'll see the same with a late run pushing us top ten as the team better adapts to his methods.

[Drummond]

I'm not concerned at all about his ambition, ability and drive, and as a knock-on, about Sawiris because it was he who appointed him. I've got faith.

The way we are playing, the shape we adopt, the goals he has, the frustration he shows when things don't go to plan. He cares too.

My only concern was the approach to the cups and weakened teams. However, that is countered by him being so new, giving players a chance and of course the perspective that we just shouldn't have lost that cup game.

We will see am overhaul of the squad, and players are improving already. There are clear playing systems in place that work until you get the individual errors. I wonder of those errors come as a result of mental fatigue, because they have to think more, and do more every week.

Hopefully that will pass soon as they all get used to it.

[Clampy]

I dont think the club is in such the sorry state that one of two seem to want us to believe. On the pitch, I think it will start to look better once he has more of his own players in, especially in midfield and at the back. That'll be the summer now and I'm happy to wait to see what develops.

[brontebilly]

I think our defeats against Arsenal and Leicester were a bit unfortunate but on the flip side wins against Soton and Leeds were unconvincing too. The balance of the team without the ball is wrong for me especially down the left side where we are wide open at times. Every manager makes poor team selections occasionally, Emery has been the same. But I do think there is method behind what he is trying to do which there wasn't under Smith or Gerrard. I still think we can finish the season strongly though, our squad depth is good and Watkins is in great form.

[PaulWinch again]

I dont think the club is in such the sorry state that one of two seem to want us to believe. On the pitch, I think it will start to look better once he has more of his own players in, especially in midfield and at the back. That'll be the summer now and I'm happy to wait to see what develops.

That’s fair enough but I think it’s reasonable for people to be sceptical. Not so much in Emery, but in terms of him getting what he needs. Sorting the goalkeeper, defence, midfield, and actually the attack is quite a big job. Doesn’t mean all our players are terrible or anything, but they need to be able to play his way. Also in the short-term we do need to start winning games again.

[pauliewalnuts]

I dont think the club is in such the sorry state that one of two seem to want us to believe. On the pitch, I think it will start to look better once he has more of his own players in, especially in midfield and at the back. That'll be the summer now and I'm happy to wait to see what develops.

Sorry state is a bit of an exaggeration.

The fundamental problem is, largely as you said, too many players who are not good enough for what we want to do, many of whom have been here several seasons and had plenty chances to show us they can do it but still haven't.

re the cups thing - that Stevenage match we clearly should never have lost, but it'll no doubt have proved useful when Emery saw us commit exactly the same error as we did for their winner last week with Zinchenko's goal.

I think it's more than likely that event which lead to his "not doing what I asked them to do" comment after the match, far more revealing than his comments about Martinez which are the ones which got traction in the media and here.

What won't be enough this summer is 1 or 2 new faces, we are going to need a proper clear out.

Appreciate you can't always get the players you really want, but in that case, we need to have a list of potentials for each role we want a new face in and properly go for it.

[Risso]

I think our defeats against Arsenal and Leicester were a bit unfortunate but on the flip side wins against Soton and Leeds were unconvincing too. The balance of the team without the ball is wrong for me especially down the left side where we are wide open at times. Every manager makes poor team selections occasionally, Emery has been the same. But I do think there is method behind what he is trying to do which there wasn't under Smith or Gerrard. I still think we can finish the season strongly though, our squad depth is good and Watkins is in great form.

What is his method though? Trying to play it out from the back when you haven't got the players to do it properly seems like shooting yourself in the foot to me. Over, and over again.

[Clampy]

I dont think the club is in such the sorry state that one of two seem to want us to believe. On the pitch, I think it will start to look better once he has more of his own players in, especially in midfield and at the back. That'll be the summer now and I'm happy to wait to see what develops.

Sorry state is a bit of an exaggeration.

The fundamental problem is, largely as you said, too many players who are not good enough for what we want to do, many of whom have been here several seasons and had plenty chances to show us they can do it but still haven't.

re the cups thing - that Stevenage match we clearly should never have lost, but it'll no doubt have proved useful when Emery saw us commit exactly the same error as we did for their winner last week with Zinchenko's goal.

I think it's more than likely that event which lead to his "not doing what I asked them to do" comment after the match, far more revealing than his comments about Martinez which are the ones which got traction in the media and here.

What won't be enough this summer is 1 or 2 new faces, we are going to need a proper clear out.

Appreciate you can't always get the players you really want, but in that case, we need to have a list of potentials for each role we want a new face in and properly go for it.

I meant what one or two have bought up off the pitch. I should have been a little clearer really.

[Dave P]

I think our defeats against Arsenal and Leicester were a bit unfortunate but on the flip side wins against Soton and Leeds were unconvincing too. The balance of the team without the ball is wrong for me especially down the left side where we are wide open at times. Every manager makes poor team selections occasionally, Emery has been the same. But I do think there is method behind what he is trying to do which there wasn't under Smith or Gerrard. I still think we can finish the season strongly though, our squad depth is good and Watkins is in great form.

What is his method though? Trying to play it out from the back when you haven't got the players to do it properly seems like shooting yourself in the foot to me. Over, and over again.

I take your point but I'm a lot more relaxed about it given we are 11th and so obviously looking long term.  I wouldn't be happy 'experimenting' with this if we were 18th.  I am mightily fucked off it's knocked us out of both cups though.

[Clark W Griswold]

Reminds me a bit of O'Neill's first season, his hands had been tied a bit regarding shaping the squad because of the takeover and he had to wring what he could out of the existing squad. We struggled and results were up and down until a bit of a late flourish, I think we'll see the same with a late run pushing us top ten as the team better adapts to his methods.

Sheff Utd at home on the last day, 3-0, absolutely danced around them and Ashley Young was completely unplayable. Gave real hope for the following season but then a few of the summer signings raised a bit of an eyebrow and not in a good way.

[pauliewalnuts]

Reminds me a bit of O'Neill's first season, his hands had been tied a bit regarding shaping the squad because of the takeover and he had to wring what he could out of the existing squad. We struggled and results were up and down until a bit of a late flourish, I think we'll see the same with a late run pushing us top ten as the team better adapts to his methods.

Sheff Utd at home on the last day, 3-0, absolutely danced around them and Ashley Young was completely unplayable. Gave real hope for the following season but then a few of the summer signings raised a bit of an eyebrow and not in a good way.

Wasn't that also the match with the 1982 team on the pitch pre-kick off?

We'd have beaten absolutely anyone after that, I reckon.

[algy]

I think our defeats against Arsenal and Leicester were a bit unfortunate but on the flip side wins against Soton and Leeds were unconvincing too. The balance of the team without the ball is wrong for me especially down the left side where we are wide open at times. Every manager makes poor team selections occasionally, Emery has been the same. But I do think there is method behind what he is trying to do which there wasn't under Smith or Gerrard. I still think we can finish the season strongly though, our squad depth is good and Watkins is in great form.

What is his method though? Trying to play it out from the back when you haven't got the players to do it properly seems like shooting yourself in the foot to me. Over, and over again.

I take your point but I'm a lot more relaxed about it given we are 11th and so obviously looking long term.  I wouldn't be happy 'experimenting' with this if we were 18th.  I am mightily fucked off it's knocked us out of both cups though.

Yeah, I'm fine with it. We need to find out which players are capable of playing the way Emery wants and which ones aren't. Another thing is that if we keep putting off playing out from the back until we have players good enough to do it, it'll never happen.

We just have to get on with things now. Play the way we ultimately want to play, see which players aren't up to it, replace the worst offenders, repeat.

I'm full of confidence in Emery and think he'll take us where we need/want to go as looking as we adequately support him in the transfer market.

[Clark W Griswold]

Reminds me a bit of O'Neill's first season, his hands had been tied a bit regarding shaping the squad because of the takeover and he had to wring what he could out of the existing squad. We struggled and results were up and down until a bit of a late flourish, I think we'll see the same with a late run pushing us top ten as the team better adapts to his methods.

Sheff Utd at home on the last day, 3-0, absolutely danced around them and Ashley Young was completely unplayable. Gave real hope for the following season but then a few of the summer signings raised a bit of an eyebrow and not in a good way.

Wasn't that also the match with the 1982 team on the pitch pre-kick off?

We'd have beaten absolutely anyone after that, I reckon.

It was May 07 so would have been 25 years so yes probably was. I remember thoroughly enjoying the afternoon anyway. Then O Neill took us to 6th the following season despite not really ripping it up in the transfer window. Just shows what a top manager can do and I’m hopeful Emery will do similar.