Unai Emery

[RamboandBruno]

I think Pau, Mastsen, Bogarde, Sancho, Elliot all to come in for Thursday, with Mings, Digne, McGinn (possibly), Rogers, Beundia dropping out. Watkins could also do with dropping, but unless he outs Guessand up there, not sure who can come in for him.
Id think Unai is in a negative mindset, hence his negative selection today (like Everton). He needs to snap out of it and take back some control. Being furious is fine but being constantly furious, must br both exhausting for him and probably has diminishing returns in terms of motivating the players.
He’s called some of them out for being lazy ***** now, he needs to follow this up with positive attacking changes, to show those dropped how its done.

[OzVilla]

It’s more on the players thus imo. Emery looks frustrated as we are. I think we might have some bag apples emerging.

[PeterWithesShin]

I miss this

[cdbearsfan]

He's out with personal issues.

[usav]

We badly need Tielemans back.

We also need to not play Buendia, he’s just not good enough and never will be. 

Rogers could do with a spell out of the team, maybe for Elliot.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

We badly need Tielemans back.

We also need to not play Buendia, he’s just not good enough and never will be. 

Quite frankly, he never has been.

[eamonn]

If they’re thinking about 4 games to save his job I think they’ve got to be pretty stupid. I’m very frustrated with the collective balls up that has been made since the end of last season - but if sacking Emery has even entered their minds at this point it’s nuts. I say that as someone who thinks he needs to sort out what he’s doing. But he is still absolutely the right manager.

You've wanted him to change tactics and approach for weeks but it doesn't happen. What makes you think that it will?

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Emery was only going in early to wrap his hands properly for the boxing gloves.

His quote digging out Elliott this early in his time with us seems pretty harsh (and odd), and also for him just trying to be positive with his passing. Bollock the people not making the runs please, Unai.

[Skipper_The_Eyechild]

Apologies if this has been posted already. I thought most of this was decent, PWA will like the Torres mention (which I agree with):

Tactical analysis: Emery's pragmatism perhaps to his detriment
Umir Irfan, BBC Sport football tactics correspondent

Villa's problems this season under Emery come from remaining too static in a number of departments.

Comparing their build-up play from 2023-2024 to this season shows little difference - there has been a continuous league-wide improvement in how well teams press so a largely unchanged build-up can be nullified more often. Predictable build-up play without ball-playing defenders like out-of-favour Pau Torres add to Villa's difficulties in possession.

When Emery's side were in good form, they faced deep defences less often, instead attacking quickly against teams pushing up.

Teams are aware of Villa's preference to attack quickly and have set up in compact defensive shapes deeper. This has prevented Villa playing in a way that suits striker Ollie Watkins. Newcastle played in this way earlier this season and their system exposed Aston Villa's weaknesses well.

With Marcus Rashford, Leon Bailey, Marco Asensio, and Jacob Ramsey leaving the club, Villa are severely lacking in the wide areas. Emery has used central midfielders Emi Buendia, John McGinn, and Morgan Rodgers as their wide players this season.

Eddie Howe's men set up in a centrally compact 4-5-1. Sunderland blocked the centre of the pitch, too, in their 5-3-1 shape following the red card. The wide players mentioned above like to move into central areas so both midfield set-ups blocked the space they would typically move into.

If there was any space, it was in the flanks, with Matty Cash and Lucas Digne the players given the most time and space to attack. More natural wide attackers here would improve Villa against stubborn defences.

Emery's pragmatism has been on show this season, perhaps to his detriment as he has been reluctant to use more natural wide players in Harvey Elliott or Ian Maatsen.

Following the draw with Sunderland, Emery also branded his players "lazy". There are clear tactical questions that require answers but there is a concern that some players are becoming less receptive to the Spaniard's method too.

[Baldy]

'Analysis paralysis is the tendency to get stuck overthinking and overanalyzing a situation, leading to inaction and an inability to make a decision. It stems from a fear of making the wrong choice or missing a better one, often exacerbated by having too much information or too many options. This can result in missed opportunities, delays, and feelings of inadequacy'.

Beginning to think some of our players are beginning to suffer from information overload. Unai loves his statistics and seems to be choreographing every pass!!

Perhaps, Unai needs to take a step back and let our players use their own instinct and natural ability more often.

Just a thought.

[ChicagoLion]

I am glad he has come out and said it.
None of this, “ I thought we were great” or “ we’ll be there or thereabouts “
Maybe he has been giving them some time to prove themselves whilst getting Guessad , Elliot , Sancho up to speed.
But after this outpouring,if he plays the same team with the same approach on Thursday, we know he has lost the plot.

[sid1964]

Hopefully Unai solves the issues that we have - we need him to stay!

The players need to start to take responsibility- yesterday most looked as though they could not be bothered to try - if they are still upset by what happened in the summer and the sale of Ramsey then they are a bunch of wasters - who look to blame everyone else but themselves.

[Crown Hill]

His comments after the game rather indicate he’s doubling down on his tactics and the new players won’t be coming into league games any time soon.

I guess they may get a go on Thursday.

I fear he’s not going to adapt to this one.

[Ads]

The other 19 teams tactics of course, being a total secret.

[ChicagoLion]

His comments after the game rather indicate he’s doubling down on his tactics and the new players won’t be coming into league games any time soon.

I guess they may get a go on Thursday.

I fear he’s not going to adapt to this one.

I think he as suggesting that they are not following his tactics.