Unai Emery

[Ian.]

The biggest mistake he made last night (apart from selecting one or two in rhe starting line up) was taking Luiz off.

Yep, strange that. He has to start Maatsen too. He’s got pace, which we lack and try’s to make positive things happen. I’m not convinced with Buendia and Rogers without the energy of McGinn or influence of Tielemans either, but I don’t know what the answer is for that one. Maybe Bogarde next to Onana and play Dougie as ahead of them?

[SamTheMouse]

The biggest mistake he made last night (apart from selecting one or two in rhe starting line up) was taking Luiz off.

Yeah, I was saying the same. A big hole immediately opened up and they scored from it.

Insane decision.

[Clampy]

The biggest mistake he made last night (apart from selecting one or two in rhe starting line up) was taking Luiz off.

Yep, strange that. He has to start Maatsen too. He’s got pace, which we lack and try’s to make positive things happen. I’m not convinced with Buendia and Rogers without the energy of McGinn or influence of Tielemans either, but I don’t know what the answer is for that one. Maybe Bogarde next to Onana and play Dougie as ahead of them?

I suggested that a few days ago and one or two disagreed and I can understand why.

I was just shocked when I saw Luiz walking off. It just didnt make any sense.

[PeterWithe]

I wish he'd stop fucking off down the tunnel before shaking hands, it's basic respect and manners to not do that.

Did that definitely happen? I didn’t see them shake hands but thought maybe the camera missed it? If so I agree, it’s shit.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah didn’t get that he was the one midfielder trying to do something.

 I might be wrong, but I get the impression that on occasion Unai’s incredible attention to detail - which is a massive strength - does become a hindrance and he needs to step back and reset. He always does that, so I’m sure he will. But at the moment it feels like he’s making tweaks, when a fundamental pivot in approach is needed.

[algy]

I doubt anyone from Madrid is now watching us.

Maybe it’s all part of a cunning plan by the players to ensure Real Madrid stay well away from our Unai.


We’ve come a long way in the last 3 and a bit seasons. Think it’s worth just having faith that, maybe things aren’t working out right now, but Emery is a great manager and he’ll get us out of this slump.

[London Villan]

The one pivot he is trying is ollie and tammy up front, which needs service, which it doesn't get.

Wednesday i would have tammy, barkey, lindlof and allysson all starting.

[eamonn]

I wish he'd stop fucking off down the tunnel before shaking hands, it's basic respect and manners to not do that.

Did that definitely happen? I didn’t see them shake hands but thought maybe the camera missed it? If so I agree, it’s shit.

He did it at Arsenal the other week. Being a bad loser is one thing but he never goes over to the away fans to acknowledge their efforts. I mean, he never shakes the hand of anyone else but the opposing team's manager either (ie never their assistants) and always has that strange hurried efficient walk after games to get down the tunnel.

Maybe it's a tic in his personality like with the constant face-touching when watching the game or in interviews. He might just be an odd fella who lives to work.

[Goldenballs]

I doubt anyone from Madrid is now watching us.

Maybe it’s all part of a cunning plan by the players to ensure Real Madrid stay well away from our Unai.


We’ve come a long way in the last 3 and a bit seasons. Think it’s worth just having faith that, maybe things aren’t working out right now, but Emery is a great manager and he’ll get us out of this slump.

The problem is will he get us out of it quickly enough before we bottle top 5?

Finish 6th and Rogers is probably sold, making all the more impossible to finish Top 4 or 5 next season, and so it continues.

It's shit or bust (not literally) this season.

[WarszaVillan]

I wish he'd stop fucking off down the tunnel before shaking hands, it's basic respect and manners to not do that.

Did that definitely happen? I didn’t see them shake hands but thought maybe the camera missed it? If so I agree, it’s shit.

He did it at Arsenal the other week. Being a bad loser is one thing but he never goes over to the away fans to acknowledge their efforts. I mean, he never shakes the hand of anyone else but the opposing team's manager either (ie never their assistants) and always has that strange hurried efficient walk after games to get down the tunnel.

Maybe it's a tic in his personality like with the constant face-touching when watching the game or in interviews. He might just be an odd fella who lives to work.

Unai can shake hands with whom and whenever he chooses.

[Chris Harte]

Maybe it’s all part of a cunning plan by the players to ensure Real Madrid stay well away from our Unai.

I'm sure the above was said in jest.

I'm not convinced that all the murmerings, mostly on social media, about Real Madrid sniffing around Unai have any basis in fact. In fact, I reckon Unai is here for the loug-haul.

He knows that there is work to be done. If, as some are claiming because it suits their narrative that we are a mid-table side that is massively overperforming, then it's obvious that if Unai can keep getting performances out of this side, to continually qualify for Europe, and to build 'the brand', gain the exposure, attract the tourists, attract the bigger commercial deals that the increased exposure brings then a mid-table side has the opportunity to become more of a true top-six side, in spite of the ever-changing financial rules hamstringing us.

Unai knows that this is a long term project, so do the owners. There will be bumps on the route. We hit a  massive bump last night, or at least it felt massive because the team who it happened against have a fanbase who have forced a rivalry over the last eight years when it has suited them (having been silent of the thirty-five years plus previously).

I'm convinced Unai will learn from this. Things will change, but only within the constraints of whats available. If he's got a choice between Bailey or Sancho on the right he's unlikely to pick one of the untested kids there for the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the Premier League. And while I feel, for instance, Watkins needs withdrawing for his own good, Unai has to make that decision - he sees them day-in day-out whereas we don't.

Anyway, I think the point of this post was just to say Unai's going nowhere and I'm glad that's how it is.

[RamboandBruno]

I don’t think he’ll be here next year if we don’t get champions league. Bit of a chicken and egg as we need him to get the players over the line, but if we don’t get there, I can’t see him wanting another season of trying to raise the game of the Beundia’s and Sancho’s of this world after having to sell Rogers.

[ChicagoLion]

I don’t think he’ll be here next year if we don’t get champions league. Bit of a chicken and egg as we need him to get the players over the line, but if we don’t get there, I can’t see him wanting another season of trying to raise the game of the Beundia’s and Sancho’s of this world after having to sell Rogers.

But think of the war chest.

[brontebilly]

Very hard to think what that something different is. Our front four in that first half were impossibly bad. That shape just isn't working without McGinn. Luiz not as sharp distributing the ball forward like Tielemans and Rogers crowded out in the middle. Since we beat Newcastle away, only the first half at home v Newcastle in the cup have we performed.

Emery is really struggling too. The players available aren't that bad. We have gone from Torres to Mings and back again with no improvement. Crazy changes in the cup game and again last night.

Key for me is getting Rogers back on the left to give him more space. Ollie and Buendia need to come out for their own good. I'd give Alysson a go v Chelsea. More of a 433 with Bogarde to sit on Palmer and free up Luiz to push forward more. Push Alysson and Rogers up a bit higher near Tammy and see how we go.

[Villa Lew]

I wish he'd stop fucking off down the tunnel before shaking hands, it's basic respect and manners to not do that.

Did that definitely happen? I didn’t see them shake hands but thought maybe the camera missed it? If so I agree, it’s shit.

He did it at Arsenal the other week. Being a bad loser is one thing but he never goes over to the away fans to acknowledge their efforts. I mean, he never shakes the hand of anyone else but the opposing team's manager either (ie never their assistants) and always has that strange hurried efficient walk after games to get down the tunnel.

Maybe it's a tic in his personality like with the constant face-touching when watching the game or in interviews. He might just be an odd fella who lives to work.

He's the exact opposite to Dean Smith, who's the last one to go down the tunnel after he's shaken hands with every player of the opposing team, now that's class.