Tubby

Nah, it's mathematically improbable at this point. My team would have to out score @maqroll by 200 points to get in A disappointing conclusion, but the record doesn't lie. Too many missed opportunities and freak weeks against. Congrats to the six that made it, I'll be playing to win the consolation playoffs from here on.

This week is going right to the wire between myself and @rhyscartwright_avfc a Buccs faceoff! Week 14 is going to be very interesting if it stays as is! I've never known it to be so competitive.

Sorry, but I didn't see you all the way... Down there! Besides, Jax winning didn't secure you top spot for the week at the final moment.

Play of the week!

Given that you have two players remaining this week I'm certainly not going to plant my flag on the half way line just yet, but in readiness, "thank you for your generosity kind sir".

Najee Harris has finally shown up... and of course he is sat on my bench!

Welcome all of our new Spanish fans to the 'Villa real'

I count one whole week that you have been awaiting the perfect moment for this Well played

I couldn't care. I want to see the manager of my club kicking every ball.

This is absolute gold, and how every manager should be.

...and has been for the past few windows.

In the post match media, many of them mentioned how hard they had worked this week and how much they had had to learn. It's a good sign (i.e. "this gaffer actually knows what he's on about and is communicating it").

I've got a feeling that we will see Digne play less forward over time and his average position to become more like Cash. Wing backs are certainly a part of Emery's style, but only as a way to open up a sustained attack and not as a primary attacking method a la Gerrard.

He who owns all the RBs! You beat me to both Pierce and Stevenson this season. It might have been very different... I'm not bitter.

At least allow the rest of us a chance to win something this season!

They acted fast indeed

"So I said to the lads, kick it long and good luck"

I disagree with the comments suggesting that he doesn't have an identity. I posted the below in the tactics thread. Emery uses a range of formations but they all fit within a philosophy of how the team plays together as a unit. His teams play a high line, are compact and purposeful. I also shared a link to this video of him explaining how Sevilla tactically defeated Liverpool. The guy is a tactical master.

I have done a bit of reading on his tactics and the ability to adapt is what excites me most. Playing a base formation of 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 seems to be the most common but he has also played 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-1-1 depending on the situation. He changes the tactics to create overloads in attack and to solidify the team defensively dependent on the opposition and even more granularly, during transitions (i.e. we might have one or two formations going forward and a different one going backwards). I also like how the team, despite the formation, works as a unit to compress the opposition when playing without the ball - something that would have helped us in games where we have been overrun by inferior teams this season. A high defensive line, the whole formation shifting width ways, closeness between all 10 outfield players, trigger points on who and when to press; everything has a purpose and a plan. I can't wait to see this team play with an identity again. I've added some links below that are interesting reads, but also a video where the man himself describes it so well. Some links to reads: https://totalfootballanalysis.com/team-analysis/villarreal-202223-scout-report-tactical-analysis-tactics https://themastermindsite.com/2020/11/14/unai-emery-villarreal-tactical-analysis/ https://www.coachesvoice.com/cv/unai-emery-psg-arsenal-villarreal/ This video about Sevilla tactically defeating Liverpool is pornographic:

Josh Jacobs form at present fml

Note that, almost no other player on my team scored points! Mark Andrews FFS!

My team is very Jekyll and Hyde so I'm not getting my hopes up!

All I ask is that the next manager is actually qualified to make decisions that can influence a game. Be it before or during. I don't want another ex footballer who is mates with the board, I want a grown up that can make difficult decisions and organise a team.

Not because we want that, but because we need that