Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo (AKA Monchi)

[Steve67]

Why is this guy so important to us right now? Surely we have identified all of our targets already? And have already made moves? I presume this guy is the bollocks at negotiating and that’s why we want him in pronto?  Or is this to do with the gap that Purslow leaves behind?

[jwarry]

Martin Samuel in The Times today

“Monchi to Aston Villa could be the signing of the summer

West Ham have shown what it means to win the Europa Conference League - and Villa have every chance of triumphing next season with the much sought after sporting director set to join them.

Arsenal wanted Monchi, Barcelona wanted Monchi. He would appear to be going to Aston Villa. And to think there were some who continued doubting the worth of the Europa Conference League.

The best value ticket in the Premier League next season? It may well be found at Villa Park. Oh sure, the most beautiful football will no doubt still be played by Manchester City and the liveliest at Liverpool; who isn’t fascinated by what’s going to happen at Chelsea; and the rise of Arsenal and Newcastle United is compelling.

Yet Villa? They have an excellent head coach, an increasingly impressive team and a serious crack at winning their first trophy in 28 years. And no, it won’t be the European Cup as in 1982; it may not even be the FA Cup as in 1957. Yet anyone who saw the scenes after West Ham United’s victory in Prague last weekwill be only too aware of how the third-biggest competition in Europe can feel to a club the size of Aston Villa. Not that Villa plan on staying small for long.

Hence Monchi. He’s the man credited with transforming recruitment at Emery’s former club Sevilla, the serial Europa League winners, and through that, increasingly regular participants in the Champions League. That is, of course, Villa’s aim, too. And there is plenty of competition. Yet next season, their fans can afford to dream.

Stan Collymore wrote at the weekend about packing his flag and preparing for an European tour. He sounded as excited as any fan and had already booked a hotel room in Athens in hopeful anticipation of needing it come the final on May 29. A friend told me about social media accounts where Manchester City versus Inter Milan in the Champions League final was discussed purely in terms of how it could affect Conference League coefficients and seedings. This is what dreaming does for a club.

There were Villa supporters who didn’t get it, who thought the berth in the Conference League could prove a distraction from the more serious business of Premier League survival, or consolidation. They wanted Villa to not qualify. “Imagine,” said my friend, “if we had done, and then we’d seen what it meant to West Ham.”

Imagine Monchi, too. He turned down Arsenal in 2019, thanking the club for their interest in making him director of football, and committing further to the Sevilla project. If he comes to Villa it is because he sees a burgeoning venture there, too. Not one with the resources of, say, Newcastle, but one that can deliver consistent success on their own level. Sevilla haven’t won the league since 1945-46 or the Champions League ever, but since 2005-06 they have collected 11 trophies, including seven Uefa Cups/Europa Leagues. In the same period, Atletico Madrid have won eight pieces of silverware.

Monchi has spent 21 years building the modern Sevilla over two spells (he had two years at Roma from 2017-19) and is believed to be disappointed the club are asking for a £1.7 million release fee. For a suitor of Villa’s stature, however, that’s nothing, roughly half of what they paid Roma for the 33-year-old reserve goalkeeper Robin Olsen in 2022. Monchi, potentially, is the best value of the summer. Think what he might have saved Chelsea. And, yes, to followers of those clubs who dream of big pictures, of Trebles and Super Leagues, this may all seem rather small-time — but it’s not. Villa will now share a competition with Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv, Fenerbahce, Partizan Belgrade, Hajduk Split . . .

For them, it is the only place to be.”

[chrisw1]

I can definitely understand our fan base being cautious about any appointment the club makes. It’s only a few years back we since we nearly lost the club and it’s entirely understandable to question things.
What I would say is that the owners we have are experienced owners of sports clubs. They haven’t got to where they are by letting people walk over them and as we’ve seen won’t hesitate to pull the trigger if needed. I’m very comfortable with what’s going on because I can see the owners are competent and if needed, ruthless. This is going to be a very exciting time for our club and I can’t wait.

The point is, if and when they do pull the trigger there will be nothing left.  The entire staff including the sporting Director will be Emery's people.  It's great whilst it works, but if it stops working we're screwed.

It's the polar opposite of what we have been trying to do - set up a structure that a head coach can come in and work with, with the safety net of continuity.

I'm massively excited about the next few seasons, but feel that if it goes wrong, the fall will be a hard one.

[Ads]

If Emery failed, then who could make us succeed.

[Ger Regan]

I can definitely understand our fan base being cautious about any appointment the club makes. It’s only a few years back we since we nearly lost the club and it’s entirely understandable to question things.
What I would say is that the owners we have are experienced owners of sports clubs. They haven’t got to where they are by letting people walk over them and as we’ve seen won’t hesitate to pull the trigger if needed. I’m very comfortable with what’s going on because I can see the owners are competent and if needed, ruthless. This is going to be a very exciting time for our club and I can’t wait.

The point is, if and when they do pull the trigger there will be nothing left.  The entire staff including the sporting Director will be Emery's people.  It's great whilst it works, but if it stops working we're screwed.

It's the polar opposite of what we have been trying to do - set up a structure that a head coach can come in and work with, with the safety net of continuity.

I'm massively excited about the next few seasons, but feel that if it goes wrong, the fall will be a hard one.

It's not true that the entire staff are emery's people, though. It's fairly normal for a manager to have his own backroom team to work with (and the structures for the underage setup are entirely separate), as well as MacPhee still being in the first team setup. It did not take long for them to get in Emery's coaches and from everything i've seen from the owners so far, if the unthinkable happened, they'd act quickly to replace them. Lange and Mackenzie are still at the club, so even if the likes of Monchi and the newer scouts left with Emery there are still others around that could step in to those roles as well. We've finally got a modern, world class manager here, I kind of get the concern, but i think there's a much bigger risk in not giving Unai the supports he wants to make a real go of things.

[LeeB]

Martin Samuel in The Times today

“Monchi to Aston Villa could be the signing of the summer

West Ham have shown what it means to win the Europa Conference League - and Villa have every chance of triumphing next season with the much sought after sporting director set to join them.

Arsenal wanted Monchi, Barcelona wanted Monchi. He would appear to be going to Aston Villa. And to think there were some who continued doubting the worth of the Europa Conference League.

The best value ticket in the Premier League next season? It may well be found at Villa Park. Oh sure, the most beautiful football will no doubt still be played by Manchester City and the liveliest at Liverpool; who isn’t fascinated by what’s going to happen at Chelsea; and the rise of Arsenal and Newcastle United is compelling.

Yet Villa? They have an excellent head coach, an increasingly impressive team and a serious crack at winning their first trophy in 28 years. And no, it won’t be the European Cup as in 1982; it may not even be the FA Cup as in 1957. Yet anyone who saw the scenes after West Ham United’s victory in Prague last weekwill be only too aware of how the third-biggest competition in Europe can feel to a club the size of Aston Villa. Not that Villa plan on staying small for long.

Hence Monchi. He’s the man credited with transforming recruitment at Emery’s former club Sevilla, the serial Europa League winners, and through that, increasingly regular participants in the Champions League. That is, of course, Villa’s aim, too. And there is plenty of competition. Yet next season, their fans can afford to dream.

Stan Collymore wrote at the weekend about packing his flag and preparing for an European tour. He sounded as excited as any fan and had already booked a hotel room in Athens in hopeful anticipation of needing it come the final on May 29. A friend told me about social media accounts where Manchester City versus Inter Milan in the Champions League final was discussed purely in terms of how it could affect Conference League coefficients and seedings. This is what dreaming does for a club.

There were Villa supporters who didn’t get it, who thought the berth in the Conference League could prove a distraction from the more serious business of Premier League survival, or consolidation. They wanted Villa to not qualify. “Imagine,” said my friend, “if we had done, and then we’d seen what it meant to West Ham.”

Imagine Monchi, too. He turned down Arsenal in 2019, thanking the club for their interest in making him director of football, and committing further to the Sevilla project. If he comes to Villa it is because he sees a burgeoning venture there, too. Not one with the resources of, say, Newcastle, but one that can deliver consistent success on their own level. Sevilla haven’t won the league since 1945-46 or the Champions League ever, but since 2005-06 they have collected 11 trophies, including seven Uefa Cups/Europa Leagues. In the same period, Atletico Madrid have won eight pieces of silverware.

Monchi has spent 21 years building the modern Sevilla over two spells (he had two years at Roma from 2017-19) and is believed to be disappointed the club are asking for a £1.7 million release fee. For a suitor of Villa’s stature, however, that’s nothing, roughly half of what they paid Roma for the 33-year-old reserve goalkeeper Robin Olsen in 2022. Monchi, potentially, is the best value of the summer. Think what he might have saved Chelsea. And, yes, to followers of those clubs who dream of big pictures, of Trebles and Super Leagues, this may all seem rather small-time — but it’s not. Villa will now share a competition with Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv, Fenerbahce, Partizan Belgrade, Hajduk Split . . .

For them, it is the only place to be.”

I'm not a fan of Samuel but this is the kind of shit I want to read

[algy]

I can definitely understand our fan base being cautious about any appointment the club makes. It’s only a few years back we since we nearly lost the club and it’s entirely understandable to question things.
What I would say is that the owners we have are experienced owners of sports clubs. They haven’t got to where they are by letting people walk over them and as we’ve seen won’t hesitate to pull the trigger if needed. I’m very comfortable with what’s going on because I can see the owners are competent and if needed, ruthless. This is going to be a very exciting time for our club and I can’t wait.

The point is, if and when they do pull the trigger there will be nothing left.  The entire staff including the sporting Director will be Emery's people.  It's great whilst it works, but if it stops working we're screwed.

It's the polar opposite of what we have been trying to do - set up a structure that a head coach can come in and work with, with the safety net of continuity.

I'm massively excited about the next few seasons, but feel that if it goes wrong, the fall will be a hard one.

I dunno - I think if you have a look at who'd be left if Emery packed up his bags tomorrow, it doesn't look so bad:

Scouting/analysis - I know Emery's brought in a couple of scouts, but it's still largely Lange's domain, and he isn't likely to go on the basis of Emery getting sacked.

Commercial - No way is Chris Heck an Emery appointment, or likely to keep/lose his job based on what Emery does

Coaching - This is far more Emery's domain, but you'd still have the prog rock roadie knocking about for some continuity

Youth development - This is Mark Harrison's area, again unlikely to leave based on what Emery does - likewise anyone else there - Jedi etc

I dunno, it just seems to me that - as influential as Emery has been here - it's mostly in that one area, but if he left then the people to replace would mainly be ones that a new, incoming manager might want to be replaced anyway.  Maybe with the exception of Monchi, but then he seems to be a highly coveted person and one that might realistically be kept on if we got rid of Emery anyway.

[Nunkin1965]

Martin Samuel in The Times today

“Monchi to Aston Villa could be the signing of the summer

West Ham have shown what it means to win the Europa Conference League - and Villa have every chance of triumphing next season with the much sought after sporting director set to join them.

Arsenal wanted Monchi, Barcelona wanted Monchi. He would appear to be going to Aston Villa. And to think there were some who continued doubting the worth of the Europa Conference League.

The best value ticket in the Premier League next season? It may well be found at Villa Park. Oh sure, the most beautiful football will no doubt still be played by Manchester City and the liveliest at Liverpool; who isn’t fascinated by what’s going to happen at Chelsea; and the rise of Arsenal and Newcastle United is compelling.

Yet Villa? They have an excellent head coach, an increasingly impressive team and a serious crack at winning their first trophy in 28 years. And no, it won’t be the European Cup as in 1982; it may not even be the FA Cup as in 1957. Yet anyone who saw the scenes after West Ham United’s victory in Prague last weekwill be only too aware of how the third-biggest competition in Europe can feel to a club the size of Aston Villa. Not that Villa plan on staying small for long.

Hence Monchi. He’s the man credited with transforming recruitment at Emery’s former club Sevilla, the serial Europa League winners, and through that, increasingly regular participants in the Champions League. That is, of course, Villa’s aim, too. And there is plenty of competition. Yet next season, their fans can afford to dream.

Stan Collymore wrote at the weekend about packing his flag and preparing for an European tour. He sounded as excited as any fan and had already booked a hotel room in Athens in hopeful anticipation of needing it come the final on May 29. A friend told me about social media accounts where Manchester City versus Inter Milan in the Champions League final was discussed purely in terms of how it could affect Conference League coefficients and seedings. This is what dreaming does for a club.

There were Villa supporters who didn’t get it, who thought the berth in the Conference League could prove a distraction from the more serious business of Premier League survival, or consolidation. They wanted Villa to not qualify. “Imagine,” said my friend, “if we had done, and then we’d seen what it meant to West Ham.”

Imagine Monchi, too. He turned down Arsenal in 2019, thanking the club for their interest in making him director of football, and committing further to the Sevilla project. If he comes to Villa it is because he sees a burgeoning venture there, too. Not one with the resources of, say, Newcastle, but one that can deliver consistent success on their own level. Sevilla haven’t won the league since 1945-46 or the Champions League ever, but since 2005-06 they have collected 11 trophies, including seven Uefa Cups/Europa Leagues. In the same period, Atletico Madrid have won eight pieces of silverware.

Monchi has spent 21 years building the modern Sevilla over two spells (he had two years at Roma from 2017-19) and is believed to be disappointed the club are asking for a £1.7 million release fee. For a suitor of Villa’s stature, however, that’s nothing, roughly half of what they paid Roma for the 33-year-old reserve goalkeeper Robin Olsen in 2022. Monchi, potentially, is the best value of the summer. Think what he might have saved Chelsea. And, yes, to followers of those clubs who dream of big pictures, of Trebles and Super Leagues, this may all seem rather small-time — but it’s not. Villa will now share a competition with Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv, Fenerbahce, Partizan Belgrade, Hajduk Split . . .

For them, it is the only place to be.”

I'm not a fan of Samuel but this is the kind of shit I want to read

Same here but thats a good piece.

[Nev]

The only bit I'd argue with is beautiful football being played at Stockport City. There's nothing beautiful about that dreck.

[Duncan Shaw]

I think it's a little bit condescending in places, but overall OK.  I think we will spend as much as Newcastle this summer.

[AV82EC]

I think it's a little bit condescending in places, but overall OK.  I think we will spend as much as Newcastle this summer.

I’m not so sure, like us after the last couple of seasons they do have some FFP headroom and they have that CL income boost so I’d be surprised if they didn’t outspend us quite considerably.

[pauliewalnuts]

Martin Samuel in The Times today

“Monchi to Aston Villa could be the signing of the summer

West Ham have shown what it means to win the Europa Conference League - and Villa have every chance of triumphing next season with the much sought after sporting director set to join them.

Arsenal wanted Monchi, Barcelona wanted Monchi. He would appear to be going to Aston Villa. And to think there were some who continued doubting the worth of the Europa Conference League.

The best value ticket in the Premier League next season? It may well be found at Villa Park. Oh sure, the most beautiful football will no doubt still be played by Manchester City and the liveliest at Liverpool; who isn’t fascinated by what’s going to happen at Chelsea; and the rise of Arsenal and Newcastle United is compelling.

Yet Villa? They have an excellent head coach, an increasingly impressive team and a serious crack at winning their first trophy in 28 years. And no, it won’t be the European Cup as in 1982; it may not even be the FA Cup as in 1957. Yet anyone who saw the scenes after West Ham United’s victory in Prague last weekwill be only too aware of how the third-biggest competition in Europe can feel to a club the size of Aston Villa. Not that Villa plan on staying small for long.

Hence Monchi. He’s the man credited with transforming recruitment at Emery’s former club Sevilla, the serial Europa League winners, and through that, increasingly regular participants in the Champions League. That is, of course, Villa’s aim, too. And there is plenty of competition. Yet next season, their fans can afford to dream.

Stan Collymore wrote at the weekend about packing his flag and preparing for an European tour. He sounded as excited as any fan and had already booked a hotel room in Athens in hopeful anticipation of needing it come the final on May 29. A friend told me about social media accounts where Manchester City versus Inter Milan in the Champions League final was discussed purely in terms of how it could affect Conference League coefficients and seedings. This is what dreaming does for a club.

There were Villa supporters who didn’t get it, who thought the berth in the Conference League could prove a distraction from the more serious business of Premier League survival, or consolidation. They wanted Villa to not qualify. “Imagine,” said my friend, “if we had done, and then we’d seen what it meant to West Ham.”

Imagine Monchi, too. He turned down Arsenal in 2019, thanking the club for their interest in making him director of football, and committing further to the Sevilla project. If he comes to Villa it is because he sees a burgeoning venture there, too. Not one with the resources of, say, Newcastle, but one that can deliver consistent success on their own level. Sevilla haven’t won the league since 1945-46 or the Champions League ever, but since 2005-06 they have collected 11 trophies, including seven Uefa Cups/Europa Leagues. In the same period, Atletico Madrid have won eight pieces of silverware.

Monchi has spent 21 years building the modern Sevilla over two spells (he had two years at Roma from 2017-19) and is believed to be disappointed the club are asking for a £1.7 million release fee. For a suitor of Villa’s stature, however, that’s nothing, roughly half of what they paid Roma for the 33-year-old reserve goalkeeper Robin Olsen in 2022. Monchi, potentially, is the best value of the summer. Think what he might have saved Chelsea. And, yes, to followers of those clubs who dream of big pictures, of Trebles and Super Leagues, this may all seem rather small-time — but it’s not. Villa will now share a competition with Juventus, Dynamo Kyiv, Fenerbahce, Partizan Belgrade, Hajduk Split . . .

For them, it is the only place to be.”

I'm not a fan of Samuel but this is the kind of shit I want to read

Totally agree.

I really, really can't stand certain journalists, but when they write nice stuff about us, they're bang on the money.

[Gareth]

I think it's a little bit condescending in places, but overall OK.  I think we will spend as much as Newcastle this summer.

I’m not so sure, like us after the last couple of seasons they do have some FFP headroom and they have that CL income boost so I’d be surprised if they didn’t outspend us quite considerably.

Watching sky last night one of the reporters who covers Newcastle was suggesting they could ‘only’ do 75/80m this summer due to FFP :-)

[OCD]

Plenty of condescension in places in that article.

Instead of worrying about how things might end, think of how much progress the club has made in the past 9 months and how much we could make over a number of years. Man Utd and Arsenal had big changes to make after Ferguson and Wenger left but look at how much they won over those years.

As Gareth says, I think Newcastle have FFP constraints this summer. That's why Heck has an important role to play for us in building the commercial side.

[Smithy]

Plenty of condescension in places in that article.

Instead of worrying about how things might end, think of how much progress the club has made in the past 9 months and how much we could make over a number of years. Man Utd and Arsenal had big changes to make after Ferguson and Wenger left but look at how much they won over those years.

As Gareth says, I think Newcastle have FFP constraints this summer. That's why Heck has an important role to play for us in building the commercial side.

Newcastle have spent the best part of £300m (that's net) in the last three windows alone. That can't continue indefinitely. To put that into context, that's almost exactly our own net spend since we got promoted in 2019, and they've done that in 18 months.  Now, they HAVE got the team into a Champions League position, so you could say they've got pretty good value for that spend, but they simply can't keep doing it at that level - at least not until they're champions league regulars and increasing their global revenues.  I'd be very surprised if they spent over £100m net this window.