Unai Emery

[PaulWinch again]

I still maintain - as good of a creative player as he is - if you are looking to control the midfield Tielemans isn’t great in that deep role. He either looks for a killer pass - which is inherently high risk - or when he does try to hold onto it he gets flustered and regularly is bundled off the ball. I think it creates a big issue for us, and to get the most out of him we need him further forward.

[villa for life]

I still maintain - as good of a creative player as he is - if you are looking to control the midfield Tielemans isn’t great in that deep role. He either looks for a killer pass - which is inherently high risk - or when he does try to hold onto it he gets flustered and regularly is bundled off the ball. I think it creates a big issue for us, and to get the most out of him we need him further forward.

Don’t think anyone would disagree with that. We signed an injury prone player for a record fee for that role, and also another one who was immediately sent on loan hence occasionally having to ask Tielemans to play on that position.

[eye digress]

I still maintain - as good of a creative player as he is - if you are looking to control the midfield Tielemans isn’t great in that deep role. He either looks for a killer pass - which is inherently high risk - or when he does try to hold onto it he gets flustered and regularly is bundled off the ball. I think it creates a big issue for us, and to get the most out of him we need him further forward.

Made this point a while back, but we always seem to want Tielemans playing further forward when he’s at the base, or further back when he’s up top.

Strangely, it’s quite a compliment for him and underscores his importance to the team.

[PaulWinch again]

Weirdest thing is throughout his time here I feel like I could say what our identity as a team is/was, or at the very least some key components of that identity (e.g. the high line, dynamic fast breaks etc). At the moment we feel very muddled - we’re neither particularly coherent going forward or focused on solid defence. We just seem to spend a lot of the time reacting to what other teams are doing. Perhaps it’s a necessary building block for a future state (hope so!) but it’s been lacking something for a while.

[eamonn]

Cheers T.

[PhilVill]

He's pissed me off a few times this season and today the decision to put Digne at CB was 'surprising' at best . However, it was less than ten years ago that we were a laughing stock of a team, so I the fact that I think am pissed off shows how far we have progressed. I think we will progress again in summer but some familiar faces will be moved on, and maybe some who have not been here so long.

[brontebilly]

I still maintain - as good of a creative player as he is - if you are looking to control the midfield Tielemans isn’t great in that deep role. He either looks for a killer pass - which is inherently high risk - or when he does try to hold onto it he gets flustered and regularly is bundled off the ball. I think it creates a big issue for us, and to get the most out of him we need him further forward.

Made this point a while back, but we always seem to want Tielemans playing further forward when he’s at the base, or further back when he’s up top.

Strangely, it’s quite a compliment for him and underscores his importance to the team.

Or the reverse....he's not really nailing either spot. He was a liability last 20-30 mins today, clearly fatigued and lost pretty much every duel. Not a good time for Onana and Barkley to be injured. Luiz has been an incalculable loss, we have no control in midfield since he left. Set piece delivery has gone to pot too.

[Somniloquism]

Weirdest thing is throughout his time here I feel like I could say what our identity as a team is/was, or at the very least some key components of that identity (e.g. the high line, dynamic fast breaks etc). At the moment we feel very muddled - we’re neither particularly coherent going forward or focused on solid defence. We just seem to spend a lot of the time reacting to what other teams are doing. Perhaps it’s a necessary building block for a future state (hope so!) but it’s been lacking something for a while.

Unfortunately it seems to be give the ball to Rogers and see what he can do. And if that fails, give the ball to Rogers and see what he can do.

[dorsetvillian]

Uni really needed to rotate more for both Monaco and West Ham. Not starting Duran in either in light of the importance of the Celtic game is really odd.

[Olneythelonely]

Weirdest thing is throughout his time here I feel like I could say what our identity as a team is/was, or at the very least some key components of that identity (e.g. the high line, dynamic fast breaks etc). At the moment we feel very muddled - we’re neither particularly coherent going forward or focused on solid defence. We just seem to spend a lot of the time reacting to what other teams are doing. Perhaps it’s a necessary building block for a future state (hope so!) but it’s been lacking something for a while.

That’s exactly how I’d describe us this season, muddled. It’s definitely not Duran’s fault but he clearly feels like he has to get him on. I understand why but it means we’re not getting much of Watkins against tired defenders. We gave up the high line and now play really, really slow in an attempt for more control but we’re just not getting it.

Lots of our team look overworked physically and mentally. Pressure seems to be building up on all of them.

[Beard82]

Weirdest thing is throughout his time here I feel like I could say what our identity as a team is/was, or at the very least some key components of that identity (e.g. the high line, dynamic fast breaks etc). At the moment we feel very muddled - we’re neither particularly coherent going forward or focused on solid defence. We just seem to spend a lot of the time reacting to what other teams are doing. Perhaps it’s a necessary building block for a future state (hope so!) but it’s been lacking something for a while.

That’s exactly how I’d describe us this season, muddled. It’s definitely not Duran’s fault but he clearly feels like he has to get him on. I understand why but it means we’re not getting much of Watkins against tired defenders. We gave up the high line and now play really, really slow in an attempt for more control but we’re just not getting it.

Lots of our team look overworked physically and mentally. Pressure seems to be building up on all of them.

I agree with both of you.  Clearly a few times this season we havent excuted the plan Unai expected us to with has been part of the problem.  I often feel like im watch memento - and just not bright enough to peice it all together. 

I also think there is an element of him not being able to legislate for form.  I.e. bailey's has been awful - but his role is key to the way we play.  Watkins is brilliant - but then we have this wildcard who may well be a generational talent. 

That combined with the injuries, I get the impression he feels like its often 1 step forward, 1 back

[Demitri_C]

Sorry if this comes across negative, but the summer recruitment this year has not been good enough unai.  The luiz deal if it wasnt for PSR was poor for both clubs. Juve got nothing out of it and we have nothing out of it. Two players out on loan who havent helped us this season.

Onana  cant get fit, and maatsen looks defensively  awful. Summer unai and the recruitment  team get more players that can help us now not just the future. Think we missed a trick this summer

[PeterWithesShin]

I actually like a lot of our summer business, and I think we'll benefit longer term both on the pitch and financially. Problem is a lot of it doesn't benefit us here in Jan with players injured and out of form.

[ChicagoLion]

Weirdest thing is throughout his time here I feel like I could say what our identity as a team is/was, or at the very least some key components of that identity (e.g. the high line, dynamic fast breaks etc). At the moment we feel very muddled - we’re neither particularly coherent going forward or focused on solid defence. We just seem to spend a lot of the time reacting to what other teams are doing. Perhaps it’s a necessary building block for a future state (hope so!) but it’s been lacking something for a while.

I said the same about identity at the game. I am not sure what we are trying to do. Today was a repeat of when teams start to get some even of cohesion we look all over the place defensively, then reactive and erratic  if we manage to win the ball on the counter.
Its a bit if a mess and I am not sure what he needs to do to fix it.

[Villan82]

Sorry if this comes across negative, but the summer recruitment this year has not been good enough unai.  The luiz deal if it wasnt for PSR was poor for both clubs. Juve got nothing out of it and we have nothing out of it. Two players out on loan who havent helped us this season.

Onana  cant get fit, and maatsen looks defensively  awful. Summer unai and the recruitment  team get more players that can help us now not just the future. Think we missed a trick this summer

Yes, there has to be question marks over some of the decisions we made. I would be looking beyond Unai, however, and the recruitment team. Surely we could have lived without the deal we did with Chelsea? Moreno was a good alternative to Digne, maybe Kellyman could have went on loan and whatever we had spare could have gone on a right back/centre back alternative to Carlos/Cash?