ferguson1

I’m 47 and remember the Ron Atkinson times well and some of the football back then was sublime. The Deano times were also good in large parts, especially getting out of the Championship. However, this is different in the sense of we appear to have someone now that is very tactically astute. Can hold his own in the company of elite managers. The future looks very bright for us.

Great question! Don’t think there has been one, especially playing for Villa at the time? As someone has already pointed out, perhaps a winner who has then signed for us after?

I wonder if he’ll be lifting the World Cup? They have a decent chance and wouldn’t it be wonderful for him.

The players were doing as instructed under Gerrard simple as that. He was strangling them in a restricted set up that never deviated. He was inexperienced, naive and unfortunately a little clueless. Polar opposite Emery, clearly has a plan but it’s fluid and changes constantly. It’s refreshing watching a master at work.

We clearly have an unbalanced squad/first eleven. A pacy right sided forward player would be good in January but it’s an incredibly difficult window to get the right person and get value.

We’ve certainly put ourselves into the mix haven’t we? A top ten finish just a month ago would have seemed unthinkable, but now anything is possible when we return after the break.

LIVE FOOTAGE - Still pointing at the Amex

A fantastic and massive result. Final 30 minutes we obviously had to dig in but overall how many saves did Martinez have to make? Can only remember Brighton having a couple of shots. Posession is pretty pointless unless you do something with it and Brighton lacked ideas in the final third. This was no fluky result. Master Emery earned his money today. His game management is fantastic. Playing a flat back six for the final 30 minutes was mastery. Shut the game out. Using his subs at the right time, shithousery was great. We’re wanted this for so long. Everyone deserves praise today. Just brilliant.

Evening game (17:30) Boxing Day, we’ll have Villa Park absolutely rocking. Emery will have had 4/5 weeks of good work drilled into the players. I’m confident.

Happily see them drop with all the idiots at work and in my street. Gone very quiet the last couple of weeks though

Now anyone miss this wee fella?

Can we name the new North Stand after him?

Technically one of our best players. Once 100% fit he’ll be amazing.

8 points above Wolves 5 points above Forest Close the thread.

Professor Emery

6-4-0 formation. You have to love it, it’s the future

Can’t put two passes together. Awful start from us.

More likely pass us to death and a case of holding out. Make our set plays count.

Jeez, it’s going to be backs to the wall today. Would take a boring 0-0 right now.

Frank could be next to go I reckon. It’s then made for Dyche to go in surely?

For all the debate, it’s pretty clear that the new badge/crest is an improvement on our current version. I think most of us will grow to like the new one over time.

I think finally using Dendoncker, having Kamara back and knowing how to set us up correctly will help us to bring results sooner, rather than later. Using McGinn, Luiz and Ramsey as a three without much deviation has unquestionably cost us points.

Spot on really. I’ve said a couple of times since last night that Emery will have learned a lot from this performance. Our back up/second choice options aren’t great really. We probably have 14/15 players who are good enough to use consistently but the rest are very average. We do clearly have a soft underbelly but hopefully this can be worked on over the next six weeks and with a transfer window or two. We should have at least taken it to pens after going 1-2 up but again, Emery will have seen first hand now our frailties. Think we’ll still see some dodgy performances until the end of the season but I’m confident in Emery and his ability to rectify this over time.

Really really tough game. Brighton flying high and doing really well this season and to get anything at all, we’ll need to be at our very best. Dendoncker comes back in as he’s fresh but Kamara is very close and could start in place of Buendia perhaps? Kamara and Luiz together will be mouthwatering eventually. Martinez Cash Konsa Mings Digne Dendoncker Luiz Buendia Ramsey Bailey Watkins Subs: Olsen, Young, Chambers, Augustinsson, Kamara, McGinn, Sanson, Ings, Archer Think we’re starting to realise that some of our back up options aren’t that great. Could be a really tough afternoon, but will try and be positive and say if we’re at it for the 90 minutes, we can obtain a point. 1-1 UTV

Probably impact sub now or should only start when playing a weaker side.