Unai Emery

[IFWaters]

Is it just me but does Unai have more than a passive resemblance to Count Dracula? The intense stare, slick black hair and apparently he avoids garlic at Bodymoor Heath. Get rid of that Hugo Boss thing and wear a black cloak to patrol the touchline Unai...

[Exeter 77]

Is it just me but does Unai have more than a passive resemblance to Count Dracula? The intense stare, slick black hair and apparently he avoids garlic at Bodymoor Heath. Get rid of that Hugo Boss thing and wear a black cloak to patrol the touchline Unai...

Not just you. Mrs Exeter makes the same observation every time she sees him on TV.

[Tayls_7]

Dracula had grey hair.

[mrfuse]

Is it just me but does Unai have more than a passive resemblance to Count Dracula? The intense stare, slick black hair and apparently he avoids garlic at Bodymoor Heath. Get rid of that Hugo Boss thing and wear a black cloak to patrol the touchline Unai...

Not just you. Mrs Exeter makes the same observation every time she sees him on TV.

Not sure about Dracula but im surprised he hasn't been burnt at the stake for acts of pure witchcraft.

[Brazilian Villain]

Is it just me but does Unai have more than a passive resemblance to Count Dracula? The intense stare, slick black hair and apparently he avoids garlic at Bodymoor Heath. Get rid of that Hugo Boss thing and wear a black cloak to patrol the touchline Unai...

Not just you. Mrs Exeter makes the same observation every time she sees him on TV.

Let's hope we don't draw Helsingborg again in Europe.

[Londonvilla]

Warning this is a long read, only for those who are not Mindful. (If you don't know what mindfulness is all about, go Google it.)

This post is designed for those people who just can't enjoy living in the moment. So if you're the sort of person who isn't happy with our position in the table because you are concerned that we won't get into Europe, or can't, celebrate a scoring run from our striker because you feel we need better if we're going to challenge for a top four, then this was produced for you. (It's also for those people who played football manager and feel that just because they were able to get the Villa into the champions league, they know all about tactics and if things would have panned out differently, they know they would have been a great football player and an even better manager.)

What I've learnt since Unai Emery rocked up at the Villa. (Apart from the fact he's got lovely, well-conditioned hair)

I always thought there were two distinct styles of football; the first is systems football or positional football, where the manager has a style of play characterised by having very detailed tactics where the players are drilled repeatedly to perform within the system. The structure is everything in this style of football. The other is relationship football, where the manager has a basic structure and a group of intelligent, skilful players who can work things out on the pitch. So when it works well, you have Manchester City, who play a systems-based football and Real Madrid, who play a relationship style of football. ( A team full of galacticos .) At the other end of the scale, Sam Allardyce played a systems base football style, and Steve Bruce (with his policy of only buying players who had captained clubs in the past) played a relationship style.

Unai Emery seems to have created something different by identifying those players with character, getting them to work in a systems/positional style in defence and midfield and using chaos theory in the final third to score goals. Chaos theory is based on the fact that most goals are scored because of a mistake that the opposing team has made in either their defensive shape or from an individual player error. So in the chaos theory, you need to keep possession of the ball for an extended period of time, waiting for players to close down the man on the ball, resulting in space opening up, or hitting teams on the break when their defensive shape is at its weakest. You also press high and go man for man in midfield. Basically, you make the opponent make mistakes and exploit them.

Question: So, what does the eye test tell me about Unai Emery's management style?
Answer: He's a space invader; everything revolves around the player's relationship with space, their ability to create space to move into space to occupy space, to drag opposing players into space, to run into space. (I could go on, but you get the point)

So what are the Top 14 things we have learned about Unai Emery? Yes, I had a list of 13 but thought it would be unlucky, so I added one to make it 14.

1.   He is tactical, flexible, versatile and adaptable to different playing styles.
2.   He deploys a double pivot in midfield to provide defensive cover while allowing quick transitions.
3.   He focuses on controlling possession, creating numerical superiority in midfield, and exploiting the space given up by the opposition.
4.   The left-back plays high up the pitch, meaning that when we are attacking, we play with three at the back.
5.   The right-back tucks in to become the third centre-back when we are attacking
6.   Unai Emery prioritises possession, midfield control, and quick transitions.
7.   Our goalkeeper has developed a chipped pass to beat the press, enabling him to distribute the ball to the fullbacks.
8.   He uses zonal marking to defend set pieces.
9.   He is happy to change formations depending on the opposition and the specific game situation.
10.   Defensively, we are well-organised and disciplined.
11.   He builds attacks from the back, with the goalkeeper and defenders heavily involved in the passing game. Passing triangles all over the pitch. (These triangles are a thing of beauty.)
12.   He plays with a high-pressing line to win the ball back quickly and create counter-attacking opportunities.
13.   Emery likes to control the midfield, focusing on retaining possession and playing short, quick passes.
14.   Our teams are well-drilled defensively and capable of playing various formations depending on the opposition. (Three, Four, Five, or Six at the back)

Is it all about P & P (Pace and Power, ) or what can we expect when Unai Emery has a few transfer windows behind him? Or what qualities can we expect him to look for in a player?

You must have at least four of the qualities listed below from his past transfer activities to play in his team regularly.

1.   Attitude: Emery places a strong emphasis on teamwork, discipline, and a positive attitude.
2.   High work rate: Emery expects his players to work hard both on and off the ball, pressing high up the pitch to win the ball back and tracking back defensively when necessary.
3.   Technical ability: It looks like he places a high value on players who are comfortable on the ball and can play short, quick passes to retain possession.
4.   Tactical intelligence: Emery's tactical flexibility requires players who can understand and execute complex game plans, adapt to different formations, and make quick decisions on the field.
5.   Versatility: Emery's willingness to change formations means that he values players who are capable of playing in multiple positions and adapting to different roles within the team.
6.   Physicality: Emery's teams often play with high intensity, requiring players who are physically fit and able to sustain a high level of effort throughout the match.

The question is, how many of our squads have three or four of these qualities or can develop into Emery players?

I reckon it's about five or six of our first team, which is shocking, considering how well they are doing in the league. This means it will be two years (with four first-team players coming in per year) before we have a team built in Emery's own image with his own players. (I was going to do a post going through which players will still be here at the start of the 24/25 transfer window, but I decided I'll save that for another day. However, I'd be interested to know who you think will be here in two years' time.)

What will we find out at the end of the season?

1.   Does Leon Bailey have the football intelligence to play in an Emery team?
2.   Does Matty Kash get replaced with an orthodox centre half, making the transition from four at the back to a three at the back easier?
3.   Does Lucas Digne have the physical attributes to fit into an Emery starting 11? So far, he doesn't appear to play with inverted fullbacks.
4.   Does Ashley Young get an extension to his contract because of his football intelligence and what that brings on and off the pitch?
5.   Will he look to recruit technical players from Spain, Portugal and Brazil?
6.   Do we keep our loan army at Bodymoor Heath so they can be drilled in the Emery way, or do we send them out to play men's football?
7.   Do we bring in three or four players from the youth team to the first team to bolster the squad for a European adventure, or do we try to integrate six or seven new players?

Summary

The difference between the best players and the rest is consistency. As a result, Emery's style may require us to move on more players than most people would like because even though he has improved many of them, they have a maximum ceiling. Elite managers want elite players, and we now have an elite manager.

Up the Villa.

[Somniloquism]

Is it just me but does Unai have more than a passive resemblance to Count Dracula? The intense stare, slick black hair and apparently he avoids garlic at Bodymoor Heath. Get rid of that Hugo Boss thing and wear a black cloak to patrol the touchline Unai...

I would state more of a Latin Gabriel Byrne myself.

[Axl Rose]

Dracula had grey hair.

I thought he was just a massive bat.

[jwarry]

Looking at our remaining 9 fixtures six months ago I would be saying Forest on Saturday is a must win as I can’t see where are going to get another point, now I’m thinking they’re all winnable.  Thank you Mr Emery you have restored my faith

[Clampy]

Could have done without the unneccesary first paragraph really.

[Drummond]

I'm looking forward to Saturday.

I'm also worried about how we'll all feel when we lose a couple, because every team does. I do wonder though, whether there's enough credit building in the bank for Emery (and the players) for it to not be too much of an issue

[Monty]

Yeah the first para has more than a whiff of better-than-yow about it...

But broadly good stuff I think! Emery is one of the guys at the forefront of the space invaders thing, along with Klopp, Spalletti etc.

Few disagreements though. Firstly, just because the left-back tends to push higher it doesn't mean the right-back is effectively a centre-half - after all, he's not picking Chambers when Cash is out or not preferred, he's picking Young, basically a wing-back.

Secondly, that's not what chaos theory means!

But thirdly, and relatedly, inducing mistakes is actually a fairly normal strategy, even if the tactics we use to do so are relatively new.

[Nev]

It's passing resemblance isn't it? Not passive?

[Risso]

He doesn't really employ a double pivot, does he?

[LeeB]

It's passing resemblance isn't it? Not passive?

Can you point to a pacific example?