Unai Emery

[LeeB]

Don’t go bacon my heart.

I couldn't if I fried.

[Clampy]

Don’t go bacon my heart.

I couldn't if I fried.

Oh, honey if I get restless
Baby you're not that rind

[tomd2103]

It will be interesting to see who is on the bench on Sunday, as both of Rashford and Asensio will start.

Not sure they will start, but would imagine they will both feature at some point. 

[kippaxvilla2]

Don’t go bacon my heart.

I couldn't if I fried.

Oh, honey if I get restless
Baby you're not that rind

You tell me you love me, then all you do is grill (me).

[Sexual Ealing]

Don’t go bacon my heart.

I couldn't if I fried.

I'd like to declare a brief ceasefire in the butter wars to say I really enjoyed this.

That's done now. Back to hostilities.

[Drummond]

Don’t go bacon my heart.

I couldn't if I fried.

I'd like to declare a brief ceasefire in the butter wars to say I really enjoyed this.

That's done now. Back to hostilities.

Me too, but let's not butter him up.

[Steve67]

When Unai tapped his temple, meaning that he didn't think that some of the players at his disposal have the right mentality, I think he turned a corner with these players and will have a good clear out in the summer.  The transfer window was seismic in terms of the incoming players, only one of which may be protected a little due to his lack of experience at this level in Garcia.  The rest will be thrown in as direct replacements.  I am expecting players like Bailey, McGinn and potentially, the likes of Digne, Konsa to be allowed to go if we get the right money for them.   

[eamonn]

Surely Meatball has the best mentality of all our players?

[LeeB]

When Unai tapped his temple, meaning that he didn't think that some of the players at his disposal have the right mentality, I think he turned a corner with these players and will have a good clear out in the summer.  The transfer window was seismic in terms of the incoming players, only one of which may be protected a little due to his lack of experience at this level in Garcia.  The rest will be thrown in as direct replacements.  I am expecting players like Bailey, McGinn and potentially, the likes of Digne, Konsa to be allowed to go if we get the right money for them.   

I completely agree Steve, I think the rubicon has been crossed here for a few stalwart.

We've seen good and very bad often in the same games this season and one of the many comforts our manager brings is that one where he sees what we're seeing out there, doesn't hide from it or try to dress it up.

I think the 4 subs at half time Saturday was one indication and the subsequent transfer moves were certainly another. He's always on about not wasting time and he's right, we have to capitise the gains we have made and there's no room for sentimentality, deliver the goods or fuck off.

[john e]

When Unai tapped his temple, meaning that he didn't think that some of the players at his disposal have the right mentality, I think he turned a corner with these players and will have a good clear out in the summer.  The transfer window was seismic in terms of the incoming players, only one of which may be protected a little due to his lack of experience at this level in Garcia.  The rest will be thrown in as direct replacements.  I am expecting players like Bailey, McGinn and potentially, the likes of Digne, Konsa to be allowed to go if we get the right money for them.   

No way he’s wanting McGinn gone, he’s fantastic

[London Villan]

I think Duran was on that list too. Bailey and Mings also spring to mind from that performance.

[Chris Smith]

When Unai tapped his temple, meaning that he didn't think that some of the players at his disposal have the right mentality, I think he turned a corner with these players and will have a good clear out in the summer.  The transfer window was seismic in terms of the incoming players, only one of which may be protected a little due to his lack of experience at this level in Garcia.  The rest will be thrown in as direct replacements.  I am expecting players like Bailey, McGinn and potentially, the likes of Digne, Konsa to be allowed to go if we get the right money for them.   

I completely agree Steve, I think the rubicon has been crossed here for a few stalwart.

We've seen good and very bad often in the same games this season and one of the many comforts our manager brings is that one where he sees what we're seeing out there, doesn't hide from it or try to dress it up.

I think the 4 subs at half time Saturday was one indication and the subsequent transfer moves were certainly another. He's always on about not wasting time and he's right, we have to capitise the gains we have made and there's no room for sentimentality, deliver the goods or fuck off.

You’re probably right. If anything this squad has probably exceeded expectations - qualifying for Europe in his first half season, Champions League in his second and top in 8 in it this year. To take the next step though it’s clear we need a deeper squad to give the manager the ability to rotate without obviously weakening us.

[Drummond]

Emery will know the limitations of his squad fully now. The weaknesses in ability are clear , mindset probably less so for us as supporters and I see Emery wanting changes on that front too.

[paul_e]

I think it's really hard to gauge the mental strength of the squad.

On one hand we concede too many early goals and we 'coast' too much when we take the lead.

On the other hand we've been very good at getting back into games after we've gone behind and we do really well at sticking to our game plan.

[boozey182]

When Unai tapped his temple, meaning that he didn't think that some of the players at his disposal have the right mentality, I think he turned a corner with these players and will have a good clear out in the summer.  The transfer window was seismic in terms of the incoming players, only one of which may be protected a little due to his lack of experience at this level in Garcia.  The rest will be thrown in as direct replacements.  I am expecting players like Bailey, McGinn and potentially, the likes of Digne, Konsa to be allowed to go if we get the right money for them.   

I hadn't really thought about it like this, but I think you're absolutely right. He's been getting visibly more and more irritated during matches, which I guess is what led to his touchline ban. He needs the players to offer more than they are offering at the moment, and he's taken action to ensure that we get new players in that he thinks will come in and do what he asks.

Our (lack of) ball retention is probably something that winds him up (it certainly frustrates me!), so players like Asensio will help there. We're not clinical enough either, so he's bought in players like Malen and Rashford that have hundreds of career goals between them. They're more direct, they run at players and they twat the ball at the goal. We don't do that enough. Also, playing the ball forward out of defence - we're too slow to do it. My dad pointed out to me about 18 months ago that Konsa rarely passes the ball forward, and now I can't unsee it. I honestly think that he holds us back more than any other of our back four, even though he is probably our best defender - our build up play is so predictable, and you can see teams giving Konsa more time on the ball, because they know he won't hurt them with it. Then they can charge at Pau or Tyrone. Hopefully Disasi can help us move the ball quicker.

All of these factors aren't down to ability, necessarily, it's mentality. Protecting the ball and being positive with it.

As LeeB said, it's so nice to have a manager that sees what we see, and does something about it.