What does success look like for Emery?

[algy]

I think the cups vs league thing is interesting.

I want us to win things.  I don't really care what Sky want me to think - you remember winning cups, not finishing bloody 6th in the league one season, or even finishing 4th.  Who the hell aspires to be 4th best at anything?

All that said, with the way that football works now, playing in Europe is an absolute must be able to compete with those clubs, and as of such I want us to be in Europe, and think finishing 6th/7th is probably less of a jump than winning a cup competition, which is a bit down to luck of the draw & luck on the day*.


* which is, of course, the best thing about cup competitions - the fact that it's not a robotic calculation based on how your performances balance out over 12 months.  It's a relatively small series of one-off games, where in those one-off games you may well end up getting lucky, playing mostly sides that you are better than, and then just maybe you get to the final and either play a side that's enjoyed a similarly fortunate route to the final (e.g. Leeds '96), or just put in the right performance on the day against a strong side (Bayern Munich '82, Manc Utd '94)

[Drummond]

Like Slippy I think Emery gets a free pass this season with a lower mid-table finish and a nice cup run a bonus. Next year is all out for the top 7 and getting into Europe somehow.

Sorry but I don't agree. Danks in one game showed what can be done. Emery, unlike Gerrard last season has the World Cup break to work with most of the players and get to work on a system. It's almost perfect timing, he'll be able to assess them and then have a couple more games before the window opens to strengthen the team.

[Risso]

Like Slippy I think Emery gets a free pass this season with a lower mid-table finish and a nice cup run a bonus. Next year is all out for the top 7 and getting into Europe somehow.

Sorry but I don't agree. Danks in one game showed what can be done. Emery, unlike Gerrard last season has the World Cup break to work with most of the players and get to work on a system. It's almost perfect timing, he'll be able to assess them and then have a couple more games before the window opens to strengthen the team.

Let's see what happens this weekend. When we've played well, it's been at home, whereas in most games away we've stunk the place out. If we get an improved performace and result on Saturday then that'll be a big step forward.

[eamonn]

I think the cups vs league thing is interesting.

I want us to win things.  I don't really care what Sky want me to think - you remember winning cups, not finishing bloody 6th in the league one season, or even finishing 4th.  Who the hell aspires to be 4th best at anything?

All that said, with the way that football works now, playing in Europe is an absolute must be able to compete with those clubs, and as of such I want us to be in Europe, and think finishing 6th/7th is probably less of a jump than winning a cup competition, which is a bit down to luck of the draw & luck on the day*.


* which is, of course, the best thing about cup competitions - the fact that it's not a robotic calculation based on how your performances balance out over 12 months.  It's a relatively small series of one-off games, where in those one-off games you may well end up getting lucky, playing mostly sides that you are better than, and then just maybe you get to the final and either play a side that's enjoyed a similarly fortunate route to the final (e.g. Leeds '96), or just put in the right performance on the day against a strong side (Bayern Munich '82, Manc Utd '94)

I think by that logic, cup competitions are our best bet any year. Half a dozen games at most, even if you get one or two difficult ties - it's less of a grind than a 38 game league season where we'd have to over-perform more than a couple of times to finish 6th.

[gpbarr]

I think expectations this season need to be tempered - mid table, with clear signs of a defined style of play, coherent in game plan, effective substitutions, beating the poorer teams, being in games - would be progress. A quarter of the season has already gone by and it will take time to fix some of the issues he's inheriting.

Next season (with benefit of two windows, improvement this season, and a full pre-season) I'd expect us to be in and around 8th with a strong run at one of the cups.

To get beyond that and reliably compete with the big boys, a lot will depend on investment because its going to take a lot of money to consistently compete at the top table. 

[SamTheMouse]

As long as he keeps us up comfortably and there are visible signs that he's creating a team with an identity, I don't mind if he doesn't set the world alight this season.

He's a man with ideas, and it might take the players a while to absorb them and put them into practice.

Next season will be the one to judge him on.

[Matt C]

Job one: we haven’t finished inside the top 10 of the Premier League since 2011 which is, frankly, embarrassing. Let’s remedy that and kick on.

He’s got a good opportunity to assess what he has/have a mini-pre season during the World Cup with likely few players away, followed by a transfer window. This season isn’t lost yet.

[Drummond]

11 years outside the top half, that's just appalling, especially when you see which clubs have made it in thst period.

[ChicagoLion]

Top 10 absolute minimum this season, we are 2 points off West Ham.
What I hope he does not do is repeat the mistakes of the previous manager regarding team selection and listen to Danks about why he is not starting Mcginn and Coutinho.

[chrisw1]

It sounds like Emery likes very detailed tactics.  He asks a lot of the players, giving them large amounts of information and very detailed instruction.  Some find this tricky or don't enjoy it and goes against the mantra of some other coaches who worry abot information overload and have more of a mantra of 'keep it simple' (As Danks did against Brentford)

So im not sure if we'll see an immediate uptick in performance as some players may struggle with the structure.  But one thing is for sure, we will go into each game with a plan and can expect in game managemet from the bench and that alone will be a refreshing change from the last couple of years.

It may be a slow burner, but I hope we've got enough for top 10 this season, particulalry now Kamara will be back very shortly.

[Neil Hawkes]

Top 10 absolute minimum this season, we are 2 points off West Ham.
What I hope he does not do is repeat the mistakes of the previous manager regarding team selection and listen to Danks about why he is not starting Mcginn and Coutinho.

From the multitude of podcasts and videos doing the rounds, I'm confident the team he puts on the pitch will have been watched, coached and assessed as fit for purpose.
Unless I've read everything wrong, players previous reputations will only be relevant for recruitment purposes, and not for match selection.

[eamonn]

Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.

Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.

[OCD]

I think the cups vs league thing is interesting.

I want us to win things.  I don't really care what Sky want me to think - you remember winning cups, not finishing bloody 6th in the league one season, or even finishing 4th.  Who the hell aspires to be 4th best at anything?

All that said, with the way that football works now, playing in Europe is an absolute must be able to compete with those clubs, and as of such I want us to be in Europe, and think finishing 6th/7th is probably less of a jump than winning a cup competition, which is a bit down to luck of the draw & luck on the day*.


* which is, of course, the best thing about cup competitions - the fact that it's not a robotic calculation based on how your performances balance out over 12 months.  It's a relatively small series of one-off games, where in those one-off games you may well end up getting lucky, playing mostly sides that you are better than, and then just maybe you get to the final and either play a side that's enjoyed a similarly fortunate route to the final (e.g. Leeds '96), or just put in the right performance on the day against a strong side (Bayern Munich '82, Manc Utd '94)

I remember seasons where we won most weeks and when we've had bloody good teams.

Almost winning the league in '93, finishing 4th in '96 (as well as winning the league cup and getting to the semi-final of the FA Cup) and finishing 6th under O'Neill.

I wouldn't dismiss league position because if you're amongst the European places, you've won a lot of games and those have been happy times. Chances are we like the team and individual players.

We all want the cup runs and Wembley trips but it's all part of the same thing for me, having a really good side.

[Risso]

Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.

Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.

Clean slates all round as far as I'm concerned.

[Chris Smith]

Meatball will either be exposed by Emery for having a fat arse and relying on the Hollywood (lofted) pass too much or he'll finally be coached to become the McGinniesta we always dreamed of.

Coutinho will get a cuddle and a kick up the arse, hopefully he'll also respond.

Clean slates all round as far as I'm concerned.

I agree and I would imagine that the players will also see this as an opportunity to improve under a top manager.