Unai Emery

[Nunkin1965]

This is pretty good

https://x.com/jayvtid/status/1719062811941212486?s=46

Wonderful.

Oh wow.
Simply amazing time in our history.

[stevo_st]

there's a good piece in the telegraph on emery's first year - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/10/23/aston-villa-unai-emery-year-charge-champions-league-watkins/

cut and pasted, due to paywall

Unai Emery's year at Aston Villa: Meticulous planning, a ruthless streak and poaching doctors

……Hand-picked scouts are scattered all across Europe searching for future signings, while Emery has even transformed the medical department. The latest key appointment is Arnaldo Abrantes as Head of Medicine, appointed from Nottingham Forest and replacing long-serving doctor Ricky Shamji.

European campaign being used as trial for fringe players
Emery’s regeneration of the squad is also a……

Has Ricky left the club? Or have we given him a new role?

[john2710]

Following on from the ludicrous link to replace Hag at the dying dynasty Man Utd. Emery's name now being pushed as a successor to Klopp.

He's going nowhere anytime soon & is creating his own dynasty right here.

[Risso]

People haven't quite worked out that we're not a small club like Fulham having an unusually good season. Gone are the days when we have to sell our best players or worry about the manager leaving. People had better get used to the fact that we're back, and we mean business. I'm hoping that the upcoming games against Spurs, Man City and Arsenal strongly reinforce that point.

[Brend'Watkins]

Following on from the ludicrous link to replace Hag at the dying dynasty Man Utd. Emery's name now being pushed as a successor to Klopp.

He's going nowhere anytime soon & is creating his own dynasty right here.

His experiences at Arsenal replacing Wenger and the expectancy for continued success in the same vein should be enough to steer clear of any advance from Liverpool.  ManU is a basket case so more chance there but even so, Emery doesn't strike me as the sort that leaves a job half done.  There was a ceiling to what could be achieved at Villareal there's no ceiling to what can be achieved at the real Villa.

He's ours now and for ever more.

[SaddVillan]

From The Athletic

UNAI EMERY IS TAMPING DOWN ASTON VILLA EXPECTATIONS - BUT ANTICIPATION IS GROWING

There were wry smiles. Aston Villa had just beaten Luton Town 3-1, their 12th straight home win and moved briefly into the top four.

Head coach Unai Emery, arms folded, leaned forward on his chair. He was asked if Villa were now contenders for the Champions League spots.

“Not really,” he replied. “It’s the reality. We have to be demanding to focus on each match.

“We are between another seven teams who have shown their power. If we are working like this process, we can progress. Chelsea, Manchester United and Brighton are not in the top six (at the moment), but they are contenders to get into the European positions like us.

“We played against Newcastle United and lost 5-1, we played against Liverpool and lost 3-0. They were better than us; that is the reality. When we lost both games, I told the players, ‘I want to reduce that distance when we play them at home’. Those matches will show if it is possible or not.”

Emery pouring cold water over Villa’s aspirations is not a surprise. It is why the club staff who sat next to him when the question was asked smiled — they knew what his answer would be.

Going back to the first press conference of the season, Emery spoke about aiming to break the monopoly of the top seven, with Newcastle joining the ‘Big Six’.

While there were mitigating circumstances that contributed to the implosion at St James’ Park, it further strengthened Emery’s feeling that his side had some way to go to be considered among the elite. This was then reaffirmed at Anfield three weeks later when Villa’s collective failings were illuminated.

Emery is a process-based coach, focused on the present and his next 12-hour day at Bodymoor Heath. Although publicly he puts Villa into the chasing pack, name-checking Brighton, West Ham and Fulham, he left Villarreal, Europa League winners the season before to win silverware in the Midlands.

But to achieve that objective, he does not set long-term targets over a season. Concentration pivots on the short-term, essential in — as he repeats constantly — “the idea” of how his team wants to play.

“When you win games, the manager almost makes it feel like we have lost when we come in and have meetings,” says Matty Cash. “That’s the ambition he’s got. You win the game and you are onto the next one and it’s like it has been forgotten about. That is why we are doing so well — we come in from a win the next day and it is done.”

But ‘the idea’ of Emery is becoming more cohesive — and he knows it. The players feel it too. With Newcastle, Villa are the Premier League’s joint top scorers (26). Underlying expected goals (xG) data is also the fourth highest (19.3), highlighting Villa’s form is not through an anomalous set of results or that, sooner rather than later, luck will run out and fortunes will nosedive. A year after being appointed, Villa have accrued 71 points from 35 games — the league’s fourth most and a deeper sign of sustained progress.

The difference now, though, is Villa are being mentioned as contenders. National attention came following last week’s 4-1 win over West Ham, with the game being the only Sunday match televised — naturally drawing more eyeballs. Columns were written, sections dedicated on TV and Villa’s hashtag flooded social media. Yet, in truth, sitting fifth should not come as a shock — the previous 12 months have shown a continued ascent under Emery.

Comparisons have been drawn to Brighton and how both clubs attempt to balance European football with breaking the league’s glass ceiling. The respective projects, however, are contrasting. Brighton are designed to identify players ahead of the recruitment curve and polish them into jewels.

Villa, with Emery’s eminence in Europe, are geared towards the here and now, signing players of experience and continental pedigree and recruiting a large backroom staff built by the head coach. Even if Emery insists breaking into the top seven is the aim, the club have grander, more ambitious plans.

And though he remains cautious on this season’s targets, Emery, tellingly, has begun to voice “his dream” of winning the Champions League of late.

“I think Villa can match (my ambitions),” says goalkeeper Emi Martinez. “That’s why I’ve decided to stay here. It’s a club which wants to be in the Champions League and win a trophy.

“The main conversation with Unai was how do we get there. There are plans to extend Villa Park as well. Like I said when I joined, I’m not here to waste time. Since then, we’ve been moving forward. That’s why I want to put Aston Villa in a Champions League place and try to win silverware.

“If you look at my first interviews, it has always been about winning the Champions League and winning a trophy. I believe that I will leave this club one day with silverware or winning Champions League.”

As it stands, Villa sit fifth in the league which would likely be enough to qualify for Europe’s revamped tier-one competition, with UEFA increasing the number of teams from 32 to 36.

For those sitting on the periphery of qualification, such as Villa or Brighton, the rule change feels pertinent. Given the current dysfunction of Chelsea and Manchester United compared to Villa’s relative stability, they unquestionably have a chance to capitalise on the flaws within the Big Six.

Uncertainty encompasses Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge and is in contrast to the buy-in Emery has from supporters and players. ‘Project Emery’ means this is firmly his club to lead.

“He’s electric,” says Martinez. “He’s one of those managers who likes to talk, he’s very demanding and that’s probably what we need here at this club. He loves meetings. He loves training, we can train for one, two or three hours and he will train. He’s the right manager for the club.

“It was a surprise (he was sacked from Arsenal) because he reached the Europa League final. He then went to Villarreal and he was superb there. He won the Europa League — one of the main reasons I like to play with him is because he’s probably the most successful manager in Europe.”

Emery and European football are indelibly linked with one another. He has competed and managed among the elite. Tamping down expectations is understandable, but the anticipation around Villa Park is only growing.

[Hookeysmith]

Not since runners up with Atkinson, the 96 season with Little have i ever been so in love with this football club and every minute counting down until we play again.

All down to these owners and this Manager - long may it continue

[IFWaters]

The media, not just talkshite, are fundamentally lazy. They don't do their homework, they don't know the man, or our players or club. So what they're saying is natural and lazy. They see our form as a temporary thing, our players and manager as a chocolate box for the big boys to take their pick from. But, if we can make the CL places that will change, but until then it's something we will have to deal with.

[Footy-Vill]

"We played against Newcastle United and lost 5-1, we played against Liverpool and lost 3-0. They were better than us; that is the reality. When we lost both games, I told the players, ‘I want to reduce that distance when we play them at home’. Those matches will show if it is possible or not.”

Back-to-back tests at home against Arsenal and Manchester City are going to also give an indication. We have Spurs away before then.
If we win at least two and do not lose the other, we will be in great shape.
Personally, I'd want to see us beat Manchester City.
Arsenal will be a top priority for both Martinez and Emery due to personal reasons.

In addition to recently defeating Arsenal on multiple times with Deano, we also went to Spurs and won with Dean and Emery, thus the actual significant sign then to me of next level and breaking our and Emery hoodoo is beating Guardiola and Man City.

Certainly, I simply hope Arsenal and Manchester City don't beat us again. And the players have learned.
I want us to dream, but overcoming those two will be difficult but not impossible. At Villa Park, we are capable of beating anyone.
 
And regards the tests at home again against Liverpool and Newcastle Well, we have had memorable victories against both and a strong home record against Newcastle. I'm optimistic about the results at Villa Park against both of them and Spurs. I feel Arsenal and Manchester City are the games to use as a benchmark.
And seeing us at our best Man City is the next stage and step.

Vamos Emery
Let's go Villa Let's s go !

[sid1964]

Hopefully Unai will achieve all his ambitions for our club - he is a fantastic Manager

[andyh]

Pretty much everything about the team and Unai makes you smile.
That’s a wonderful thing.

[BC Villain]

The media, not just talkshite, are fundamentally lazy. They don't do their homework, they don't know the man, or our players or club. So what they're saying is natural and lazy. They see our form as a temporary thing, our players and manager as a chocolate box for the big boys to take their pick from. But, if we can make the CL places that will change, but until then it's something we will have to deal with.

Two things about Man United fans I hate.  "Essex" Reds and the sheer conceit.

Andy Goldstein manages to combine them both

[steamer]

He is the Man

[VILLA MOLE]

The media, not just talkshite, are fundamentally lazy. They don't do their homework, they don't know the man, or our players or club. So what they're saying is natural and lazy. They see our form as a temporary thing, our players and manager as a chocolate box for the big boys to take their pick from. But, if we can make the CL places that will change, but until then it's something we will have to deal with.

Two things about Man United fans I hate.  "Essex" Reds and the sheer conceit.

Andy Goldstein manages to combine them both

He thinks he so fookin funny and cool .  How they got the afternnoon show?

[tomd2103]

The media, not just talkshite, are fundamentally lazy. They don't do their homework, they don't know the man, or our players or club. So what they're saying is natural and lazy. They see our form as a temporary thing, our players and manager as a chocolate box for the big boys to take their pick from. But, if we can make the CL places that will change, but until then it's something we will have to deal with.

Two things about Man United fans I hate.  "Essex" Reds and the sheer conceit.

Andy Goldstein manages to combine them both

He thinks he so fookin funny and cool .  How they got the afternnoon show?

I don't mind Darren Bent, but I find Goldstein unlistenable, especially when he was on air with that other tosspiece Jason Cundy.  The way he talks to people on air, I can imagine that he is thoroughly unpleasant off air as well.