Unai Emery

[Rigadon]

I think the comparisons with Taylor's personality are interesting and I know what you mean.  It's just so difficult to compare the modern game with 30 years ago - the game is almost unrecognisable now.

It's a bit easier to look back 10-15 years.  There was a feel good factor with MON but the football was not multifaceted - bit like Newcastle really.  We had good players playing one way, which was to their strengths.  I think Emery is on a whole different level in terms of tactical awareness and his track record of actually winning stuff is demonstrably better.  We play each game with a plan tailored to the opposition and all the players know what they are doing in any given situation.  It's really impressive and something we've lacked in the modern era (including MON's days).  He's fucking ace!

[olaftab]

Unai, 18 league games, 12 wins.
Gerrard, 38 league games, 12 wins.

Yes but the stat is not closed , not until Unai wins another game however Stevie is on the brink of being humiliated.

[SamTheMouse]

I'm such a pessimist, I almost worry that Emery bringing in new players might somehow "break the spell".

Nonsense, of course, but that's the sort of Stockholm Syndrome effect that the Villa have exerted on me in recent years.

In reality, there's every reason to be quite ridiculously excited about next season, whatever happens in the next few weeks.

[Dante Lavelli]

The players followed Gerrard’s tactics to the letter often against their natural instincts.  They’re an obedient bunch, they’re now lucky that they have a top top class coach in charge.  If they also mirror emery’s work ethic then they will all improve.

[PeterWithesShin]

Emery has shown that despite what was said earlier in the season it never was down to the ability of the players. They've shown they have both the ability and intelligence to follow instructions and follow them well. And importantly, seem eager to learn. They just needed a good coach and hey presto, we've gone from only 1 player a lot deemed as good enough to be in the top 10 to a team full of them.

I also think that the majority, if not all, of the senior squad players we sent out in Jan are the ones that weren't up to doing what Emery wants.

[Chris Smith]

I'm such a pessimist, I almost worry that Emery bringing in new players might somehow "break the spell".

Nonsense, of course, but that's the sort of Stockholm Syndrome effect that the Villa have exerted on me in recent years.

In reality, there's every reason to be quite ridiculously excited about next season, whatever happens in the next few weeks.

I know what you mean,Sam. I found myself thinking last night “what if this is it, that we’ve peaked and this as good as it gets”. It didn’t last, I remembered that this is a different Villa with serious, competent and ambitious owners and an elite coach who knows exactly what it takes to win trophies.

[PeterWithesShin]

Another 'fun' fact. We've taken more points from our last 7 games than we managed all season in 2015/16.

[Simon Page]

The players followed Gerrard’s tactics to the letter often against their natural instincts.  They’re an obedient bunch, they’re now lucky that they have a top top class coach in charge.  If they also mirror emery’s work ethic then they will all improve.

I've loved watching the intelligence of our players come through. It's another reason why I warm to them as individuals. They've shown what I always suspected, that if you can earn your living in the Premier League you are already ridiculously talented. If you also have adaptability and smartness, you can stand out even among the best.

Love what Emery does. Love even more that we have a squad who can perform to Emery's standards.

[OCD]

Gerrard came in and tried to implement a system that didn't use wingers. One irony for me is that Emery has done what Gerrard tried and failed to do.

[LeeB]

Emery has shown that despite what was said earlier in the season it never was down to the ability of the players. They've shown they have both the ability and intelligence to follow instructions and follow them well. And importantly, seem eager to learn. They just needed a good coach and hey presto, we've gone from only 1 player a lot deemed as good enough to be in the top 10 to a team full of them.

I also think that the majority, if not all, of the senior squad players we sent out in Jan are the ones that weren't up to doing what Emery wants.

You'd be loving it as a player, he's going to change the lives of some of these players that may otherwise been cast off and seen their careers drift.

[Gerrin]

Gerrard came in and tried to implement a system that didn't use wingers. One irony for me is that Emery has done what Gerrard tried and failed to do.

I'm not really familiar with what UE's preferred formation was at his previous clubs. Is the way we are set up now his preferred choice? Or can we expect the acquisition of wide players in the Summer?

His decision to sell Ings seemed odd at the time, but has been totally vindicated.

[bob]

Gerrard came in and tried to implement a system that didn't use wingers. One irony for me is that Emery has done what Gerrard tried and failed to do.

I'm not really familiar with what UE's preferred formation was at his previous clubs. Is the way we are set up now his preferred choice? Or can we expect the acquisition of wide players in the Summer?

His decision to sell Ings seemed odd at the time, but has been totally vindicated.

There was a Spanish journalist on the BBC Football Show this week who suggested Emery doesn't actually have an absolute preference for set up, rather that it is one of his best attributes that he is so good at setting up teams according to his players' strengths, so I guess we will have to wait and see.

[bob]

It also had Hannah from the utv podcast on who is always well worth listening to.

[Gerrin]

Gerrard came in and tried to implement a system that didn't use wingers. One irony for me is that Emery has done what Gerrard tried and failed to do.

I'm not really familiar with what UE's preferred formation was at his previous clubs. Is the way we are set up now his preferred choice? Or can we expect the acquisition of wide players in the Summer?

His decision to sell Ings seemed odd at the time, but has been totally vindicated.

There was a Spanish journalist on the BBC Football Show this week who suggested Emery doesn't actually have an absolute preference for set up, rather that it is one of his best attributes that he is so good at setting up teams according to his players' strengths, so I guess we will have to wait and see.

Thanks, sounds interesting. The fact he persisted with Bailey in Kamara's absence, and bringing Bertie back from loan, seems to suggest he likes using width. I can see us spending big in the Summer.

I definitely thought he changed the tactics yesterday. Very little messing about passing it around at the back, knowing Newcastle would press high.

[bob]

Yes, hope so mate! Can't wait to see what he has planned!