Unai Emery

[eye digress]

In Guillem Balague's book he reports that '"there is no other coach who would turn a player's supposed weakness into their motivation for signing them", Roberto Olabe admits. it was as though he identified with their flaws and sought to coach them whilst harnessing their strengths.'
When I read that, I immediately thought of Guessand and wondered what weakness it was that Emery sought to improve.
To Pat's earlier post, I agree that he sees the non-core players as open to selling, and he seems to constantly be seeking to improve.
A fascinating character.

Quite. Maybe this fast trial-by-error turnover is just what’s required to get the next Rogers through the door? Up the right, he’s been burning through candidates at pace - Diaby, Bailey, Philogene, Guessand, even Malen… I mean, Emery identifies the base characteristics, but the alchemy of transforming potential into stardom is something not even he has a proper handle on. Hence the (apparently sincere) attempts to turn Philogene and Guessand - flying in the face of all evidence - into gold. And equally the acceptance that after 3/4 months (for the young pros) and a year (for the established) with inconclusive results, it’s time to cut and run.

[Stu]

I reckon he’ll be off elsewhere in 18 months or so. Some of my doom brain for yers.

The greatest favour he’s done us - even if he does go sooner than we’d all like - is elevating the club so we’re a big job for serious managers when we’re looking for a replacement. We will not be Harry Kane’s first PL job after he’s won the league cup with St Mirren.

Yeah and there are structures in place for continuity apparently.

[Dante Lavelli]

In Guillem Balague's book he reports that '"there is no other coach who would turn a player's supposed weakness into their motivation for signing them", Roberto Olabe admits. it was as though he identified with their flaws and sought to coach them whilst harnessing their strengths.'
When I read that, I immediately thought of Guessand and wondered what weakness it was that Emery sought to improve.
To Pat's earlier post, I agree that he sees the non-core players as open to selling, and he seems to constantly be seeking to improve.
A fascinating character.

Quite. Maybe this fast trial-by-error turnover is just what’s required to get the next Rogers through the door? Up the right, he’s been burning through candidates at pace - Diaby, Bailey, Philogene, Guessand, even Malen… I mean, Emery identifies the base characteristics, but the alchemy of transforming potential into stardom is something not even he has a proper handle on. Hence the (apparently sincere) attempts to turn Philogene and Guessand - flying in the face of all evidence - into gold. And equally the acceptance that after 3/4 months (for the young pros) and a year (for the established) with inconclusive results, it’s time to cut and run.

To extend Pat’s theory further… The peripheral players are also easier to shift because their price point is within most clubs’ reach.  Our top players can only be sold to a handful of clubs, so if we want a profit and a manageable turnover of players then the ‘first sub’ type players are probably the best to sell.

[Garyth]

In Guillem Balague's book he reports that '"there is no other coach who would turn a player's supposed weakness into their motivation for signing them", Roberto Olabe admits. it was as though he identified with their flaws and sought to coach them whilst harnessing their strengths.'
When I read that, I immediately thought of Guessand and wondered what weakness it was that Emery sought to improve.
To Pat's earlier post, I agree that he sees the non-core players as open to selling, and he seems to constantly be seeking to improve.
A fascinating character.

Quite. Maybe this fast trial-by-error turnover is just what’s required to get the next Rogers through the door? Up the right, he’s been burning through candidates at pace - Diaby, Bailey, Philogene, Guessand, even Malen… I mean, Emery identifies the base characteristics, but the alchemy of transforming potential into stardom is something not even he has a proper handle on. Hence the (apparently sincere) attempts to turn Philogene and Guessand - flying in the face of all evidence - into gold. And equally the acceptance that after 3/4 months (for the young pros) and a year (for the established) with inconclusive results, it’s time to cut and run.

This is fascinating idea - a lot of signings seem to have specific physical attributes and many take a while to bed in. Onana springs to mind.

Presumably a character trait they 'filter' for, is willingness to learn.

Guessand appears well off the required level at the moment, but if his touch (and decision making?) could be improved he'd offer so much more to the team.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

It's been a consideration in academies for years to consider the extent to which a young player can be coached, i.e., their propensity and motivation to learn.

It's a key factor in trying to establish what their 'ceiling' is. There is no reason to not also consider this when recruiting older players. UTV