Unai Emery

[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.

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.

It was, and yes I believe Emery will follow a similar path but hopefully without cente halves at full back and another couple of centre halves signed just in case.

I recall it wasn't until we won at Blackburn in April that I felt we were safe.

[OCD]

Listened to the Podcast. 10 hours analysing each game? Blimey.

[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.

It was, and yes I believe Emery will follow a similar path but hopefully without cente halves at full back and another couple of centre halves signed just in case.

I recall it wasn't until we won at Blackburn in April that I felt we were safe.

:-)
Yes some of his choices in the transfer window weren’t the most logical all through his time here and it was probably the reason he just came up a bit short in the end. Hopefully Emery will have a more varied approach. As I’ve said before we need to back him with the big bucks if necessary too.

[eamonn]

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.

I thought it was Paddy Berger who was unplayable that day. We still fcuked him off that summer though.

[Duncan Shaw]

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.

I thought it was Paddy Berger who was unplayable that day. We still fcuked him off that summer though.

Berger was amazing that day.  It was the Euro parade and also the first time Ron Saunders came back.  It was also the day Randy gave us all a "Proud History, Bright Future" scarf.  I still wear it and I'm still waiting........

But I think this fella will get us there and like others have said, I'm willing to give him all the time he needs.

[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.

I thought it was Paddy Berger who was unplayable that day. We still fcuked him off that summer though.

Berger was amazing that day.  It was the Euro parade and also the first time Ron Saunders came back.  It was also the day Randy gave us all a "Proud History, Bright Future" scarf.  I still wear it and I'm still waiting........

But I think this fella will get us there and like others have said, I'm willing to give him all the time he needs.

Are you sure Saunders was there?

I definitely remember him on the pitch and waving prior to a match against Man United, and that it was his first time back in ages.

I might be getting confused mind

[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.

I thought it was Paddy Berger who was unplayable that day. We still fcuked him off that summer though.

Yes he was great too and always was when he played. I think the fact that he played maybe half a dozen times over the season though was the reason he went. Major injury crock.

[Martin Carruthers]

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.

I thought it was Paddy Berger who was unplayable that day. We still fcuked him off that summer though.

Yes he was great too and always was when he played. I think the fact that he played maybe half a dozen times over the season though was the reason he went. Major injury crock.

Didn't MON fall out with him after he said Barry should go?

[Risso]

Didn't MON fall out with him after he said Barry should go?

Yep that's how I recall it.

[Dave P]

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.

I thought it was Paddy Berger who was unplayable that day. We still fcuked him off that summer though.

Berger was amazing that day.  It was the Euro parade and also the first time Ron Saunders came back.  It was also the day Randy gave us all a "Proud History, Bright Future" scarf.  I still wear it and I'm still waiting........

But I think this fella will get us there and like others have said, I'm willing to give him all the time he needs.

Are you sure Saunders was there?

I definitely remember him on the pitch and waving prior to a match against Man United, and that it was his first time back in ages.

I might be getting confused mind

Yes Saunders was there v Man U in the December.  It was the players (and I think close reletives of Tony Barton IIRC) before the Sheffield United game.

[Footy-Vill]

Listened to the Podcast. 10 hours analysing each game? Blimey.

My kind of guy. That's part of why Unai is so : good attention to detail.
Hopefully, the players are able to pay attention in the meetings and really know their opponents in the one-on-ones.
There are going to be players who are willing and accepting to show a dedication to their profession, and some who will not be comfortable, have an attitude, or not follow instructions.

Be gone the disruptive influences who what to coast. Where we are going, we want those who want to fine tune and learn new methods and think of how football is to play and how to analyse both their own game and the opposition. Be obsessed to be better. Strive.

Of course, some footballers aren't totally able to do this way of learning, and they too have to be helped to try and understand things better from a football intelligence point of view.
They can only do the best they can, but demonstrating things on the pitch of what Emery wants is the way. Otherwise, get going on the highway!

Up the Villa

[Risso]

I don't think we've got any players who are disruptive, Footy, we've just got too many who can't play the way that Emery demands, and who are too inconsistent.

[chrisw1]

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 don't know the answer to this, but how many goals have we lost from playing out the back?  How many goals have we scored because of the space created from playing out the back?

You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs.  If Emery's preferred style is playing out the back I think I'd rather we get on with it now, work out who can and can't hack it and make the relevant changes in the summer, rather than stumble along with a hybrid style he doesn't want and have to start over again in the summer.

[Footy-Vill]

I don't think we've got any players who are disruptive, Footy, we've just got too many who can't play the way that Emery demands, and who are too inconsistent.

It takes time to develop consistency. Some of the characteristics of players on and off the field interfere with the learning process.
If players stop playing Emery's way at any point in the game and just do whatever they think is best outside of the plan and instruction, that, to me, is not attempting consistency. It is disruptive when players lack discipline,

Emery, the coaching staff , and all of us followers will all have  more time for players when they have tried to demonstrate composure even with errors rather than a player who shows little composure as a whole, for this is reckless and careless and such behaviour is a hindrance.
To me, that is definitely a disruption in this context of football.
And I do think we have players who aren't getting it or willing to play ball

[Footy-Vill]

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 don't know the answer to this, but how many goals have we lost from playing out the back?  How many goals have we scored because of the space created from playing out the back?

You can't make an omlette without breaking a few eggs.  If Emery's preferred style is playing out the back I think I'd rather we get on with it now, work out who can and can't hack it and make the relevant changes in the summer, rather than stumble along with a hybrid style he doesn't want and have to start over again in the summer.

100% Chris I agree with you. And very well put. Act now with the support of both players and fans. The style may not appeal to all players and supporters, but that is how it will be.

We can't guarantee it will be a success because all variables can arise, but it's a plane I'm willing to board, and that's the most important thing for the players anf fans :to board that plane.

Almost every manager mentions buying into them and their philosophy in some way. Especially a manager or coach with a clear vision and identity. The manner in which such managers deliver instruction and communication is critical.
That is why I believe having a plethora of Spanish-speaking or previous incumbent of football or similar profile and understanding context of the football system to be played will aid in the progress and process.

There is hope for anyone, but it would be naive to expect all players to succeed. That all will choose to believe in this way. And that not all Aston Villa mens football players and us the supporters are willing to adapt/learn to think  differently in how football is now going to be played under Emery.

Not all players are motivated to truly get better. And some will just not want to accept or comprehend the current means of how the instructions and communication is being given to them.

It is a process.