duke313 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 31 minutes ago, CVByrne said: What is so exciting about Emery is he has adapted his formations and style of play at each club he's been at. He has focussed on a double pivot in various formations primarily the 4 2 3 1 and 4 4 2. I like his 4 4 2 at Villareal where it becomes a diamond in attack with the wide midfielders moving a bit narrow and one 6 moving into 10 role (I think Luiz will be superb in this system beside Kamara). He also uses his full backs in attack, but interestingly they join the attack when they are prolonged attacks, not as the primary width in a slow build up (ala Gerrard). Emery's teams have always employed counter attacking and pressing which I think is key for this squad and a team in our desired position of a consistently top 10 side. The fact he is a cup specialist, he can set up teams specifically to maximise chances of progression by coming up with specific game plans for the opposition. We can hope to win a domestic cup under him. My gut tells me Emery will start out with the 4 2 3 1 and then adapt to his 4 4 2 as an option and we might see a 3 at the back formation in time but not regularly. I like that he gets 3 games before the World Cup, twice against United and once away to Brighton. I hope there is a big new manager bounce / continuation of Danks ball to get us to that break with some positivity. The fact we have such a large talented squad lends itself to high energetic pressing game with use of all 5 subs as players tire. The 4231 really suits the squad currently, pity Gerrard couldn't see that. The width provided by Bailey and Watkins gave Buendia so much more room in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 39 minutes ago, duke313 said: The 4231 really suits the squad currently, pity Gerrard couldn't see that. The width provided by Bailey and Watkins gave Buendia so much more room in the middle. Gerrard got the job with his 5 hour long interview where he in detail said he would turn Aston Villa into a possession side able to dominate matches. Everything he did up until the 4th game this season he was still focussed on that. He probably couldn't tear up all that work and completely go back to 4 2 3 1 as it was as big a change as there could be from his set up. He failed for many reasons but the primary one was he failed at what he set out to do and turn Villa into the possession team who can dominante marches. He was in part doomed to failure the moment the ly hired him to carry out that change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powehi Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 This would be my squad until Kamara and Carlos return: * 4-2-3-1 * Players in form or high quality in the team * Solid hardworking 5 in midfield/AM * Has our main three out of form players (and Gerrard favourites) slowly integrated back into the team - and hopefully form - through sub appearances * Accommodates Ings and Watkins Then Kamara, Carlos, Iroegbunam, Traore, Kesler all to come back in between January and pre-season. And not even including new signings. Funny how a few days can change things... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IrishVilla10 Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) https://instagram.com/stories/astonforza/2956702530428286721?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= “Be wide and to stretch their back line and create space in the middle for Buendia”. Gerrard was absolutely clueless. 48 hours was all it took Danks. Edited October 25, 2022 by IrishVilla10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tubby Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 (edited) 4 hours ago, CVByrne said: What is so exciting about Emery is he has adapted his formations and style of play at each club he's been at. He has focussed on a double pivot in various formations primarily the 4 2 3 1 and 4 4 2. I like his 4 4 2 at Villareal where it becomes a diamond in attack with the wide midfielders moving a bit narrow and one 6 moving into 10 role (I think Luiz will be superb in this system beside Kamara). He also uses his full backs in attack, but interestingly they join the attack when they are prolonged attacks, not as the primary width in a slow build up (ala Gerrard). Emery's teams have always employed counter attacking and pressing which I think is key for this squad and a team in our desired position of a consistently top 10 side. The fact he is a cup specialist, he can set up teams specifically to maximise chances of progression by coming up with specific game plans for the opposition. We can hope to win a domestic cup under him. My gut tells me Emery will start out with the 4 2 3 1 and then adapt to his 4 4 2 as an option and we might see a 3 at the back formation in time but not regularly. I like that he gets 3 games before the World Cup, twice against United and once away to Brighton. I hope there is a big new manager bounce / continuation of Danks ball to get us to that break with some positivity. The fact we have such a large talented squad lends itself to high energetic pressing game with use of all 5 subs as players tire. 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: Edited October 25, 2022 by Tubby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 This time around we might actually get team shape & tactics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 That total football analysis link above was very insightful. In the 4 4 2 it switches to a 4 2 2 2 in possession. This frees space up for the full backs to move up the pitch and with two central strikers there are 4 in attack in same way there are in a 4 2 3 1 I can see Coutinho, Ramsey, Buendia even McGinn operating on the flanks in such a formation. A 4 2 2 2 where in form Buendia and Coutinho are behind Watkins and Ings would work where Gerrards 2 1 with Watkins alone up top failed. All of this anchored by 2 CBs and 2 No6s and full backs who move forward to overlap when the wide Midfielders move into the central half spaces. The key here is they start wide and move in. They can provide the width for quick counter attacks or space for an overlap. I think how they build from the back would suit us so well. With Luiz and Kamara anchoring modified, the CBs set up split as decoys not as the first receiver. The two bed passers and most press resistant players receive the ball first which starts the opposition press which creates space upfield for direct passes. I can see Martinez to Kamara, this triggers the opposition press on Kamara and Luiz, Kamara plays to Carlos or Digne who then play direct to either flank for our wide players or our CFs. The directness of this to beat the opposition press fits with our squad well. The flaws with the 4 4 2 are always in central Midfield where a 3 man opposition can overrun the 2. So some adaptability to move to a diamond or for a CF to drop into Midfield to help needs to be how Emery reacts to this. Finally, the roles the players are being asked to play in the system are relatively simple. There is no delicate balance as was required by full backs and 8s under Gerrards system. Full backs decide when to overlap by the fact the wide players have cut in. One of the 6s can get forward and the other holds etc.. I can see all our squad fitting into this system. Key for me is having 4 attacking players in the pitch and Watkins and Ings in the same team. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reivax_Villa Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Very good watch despite his early blunder.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 One further thing to add. Emery often has had one out and out winger on one side of Midfield and more of a 10 on the other side. So in possession left mid goes centrally in front of the 6s. Right Midfielder makes runs into attack and one of the CFs drops deep into Midfield. So Say Buendia on left, Bailey on right and Watkins and Ings up front and Kamara and Luiz in CMs. We would have lots of movement where Buendia moves from the left mid into 10, Ings drops deeper from CF to give him a slightly more advanced 2nd striker and then Bailey from right mid runs beyond Ings into CF space he was operating. The movement of those wide players in frees up space for full backs to run down the flanks giving the width. So ball get to Buendia in this way, he will have Young behind him moving into space he's vacated. He has Ings dropping deep for a pass to his feet, this can draw a CB with him and give space for a pass in behind to Bailey who's made the run or he can pass out to the right touchline for Cash to run onto. Movement movement movement. Starting position and movement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CVByrne Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 8 minutes ago, Reivax_Villa said: Very good watch despite his early blunder.. Holy shit, he's basically saying the same as what I said above. This is exactly it. 4 4 2 is just 4 4 2 out of possession. It's a hybrid 4 2 2 or 4 2 3 1 type attack 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomC Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 18 hours ago, CVByrne said: What is so exciting about Emery is he has adapted his formations and style of play at each club he's been at. From what I've read, he doesn't just change by club...he often changes from match to match, or sometimes even within a match. I suspect he will start with 4-2-3-1 just because it looked so good on Sunday and because it fits the players, but as he and the players become more familiar with each other, we'll see more variation. Did anyone see Man U and Chelsea last weekend? Each team switched in response to the other...expect that with him. I look forward to seeing him match wits with Pep, Klopp, Potter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powehi Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 OK so long boring day at work, so I thought I would take a deep dive into our total squad to see where they might land now that we have a proper manager and a likely shift to a fluid 4-2-3-1. Goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez - will be first choice as long as he's here, and I expect to see him get back to his unstoppable best under Unai. Robin Olsen - very much dependent on Sinisalo but I suspect we will see him as number 2 again next season. Jed Steer - I think he'll be off at the end of the season. So long Jed, and thanks for all the fish. Viljami Sinisalo (on loan to Burton Albion until June 2023) - Not really ripping it up on loan, but he may want to stay here next season and fight for the number 2 slot. Right-backs Matty Cash - he's shown flickers of his form last season and I expect him to kick on again with some proper coaching and positional work. Should be good to stay as first choice until we reach that next level and even then, he'd be welcome as a backup/rotation option if he was OK with that. Frédéric Guilbert - oh Freddie. I like him, but he's undoubtedly limited. I think bringing him back into the fold and giving Cash some competition would be the right move, but I think he will and should be sold at season's end. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (on loan to Huddersfield Town until June 2023) - we know the sky is the limit for KKH and a full season out on loan was actually a good move from the previous idiots in charge. In the first team squad next season, play the cups and lesser teams at home in the league, let's see what he's about. Sell and buy a new RB if he's not as good as we hope and think he can be. Left-backs Ashley Young - at this stage, who knows? Two months ago, I'd have said a quiet exit at the end of the season, but he keeps proving most of us wrong. I trust him to know whether he can continue after this season, but I'd suggest a player/coach role, with the likelihood of 1 or 2 sub appearances given the wealth of different positions he can play. Certainly right now, the shirt is his to lose. Lucas Digne - a clean slate awaits after the Gerrard tactical debacle, I think he can definitely come good for us. Keep. Ludwig Augustinsson - loan return is inevitable now you'd think, given a 37-year old is being picked ahead of him. No hard feelings. Centre-backs Ezri Konsa - it is hard to forget the truly dreadful early season performances but if he continues his recent improvement then a backup CB slot is his I feel. Tyrone Mings - back to his imperious best recently and certainly first choice until the end of the season. I'm not sure his rather agricultural style fits where Emery will want us to eventually go, but low on the list of replaceable players. He certainly will be one of the four CBs next season. Calum Chambers - hmm this one is tough. I think he's good, but he may be the one to drop out next season if Emery brings in a new CB. Keen to see how he responds with more game time this season. Jan Bednarek - useful loan while Carlos is injured, I'd be amazed if he was here by the time pre-season rolls around. Loan return. Diego Carlos (injured) - Emery being appointed is the best possible outcome for him to stick around once the manager who signed him departed. They know each other and I have every faith that if he isn't completely buggered by his injury, that he will become our rock and the best centre-back we've had since Laursen. Kortney Hause (on loan to Watford until June 2023) - controversial, but I think Kortney is the platonic ideal of a fourth-choice centreback. Never complains, rarely gets injured, insanely good in the air when trying to close out a game. Bring him back and make him fourth choice again, I say! Centre/Defensive Midfielders Leander Dendoncker - well he looks better than we thought, didn't he? If he keeps this up, no issue with him being one of the 5 this and next season. Douglas Luiz - watch him fly under Emery. Will be world-class within 2 seasons. First choice for the foreseeable. Marvelous Nakamba - he'll be off once Tim returns. No hard feelings. Morgan Sanson - the most difficult one to assess. I'll put down as sell at the end of the season, but don't count out him actually being good once he gets some gametime. Boubacar Kamara (injured) - our best and most essential player by this time next year. He and Luiz in the middle under Emery's management is mouth-watering. Tim Iroegbunam (on loan to Queens Park Rangers until June 2023) - a good loan for all parties, I expect him back and fighting for games at the start of next season. Finn Azaz (on loan to Plymouth Argyle until June 2023) - another loan I reckon, but 2024/25 could see him wearing the claret and blue. Wingers/Inside Forwards Ollie Watkins - clean slate under Emery, I'd keep playing him out on the wings and cutting in. Always a threat from Martinez's long balls. Jacob Ramsey - needed some time out of the starting lineup but the kid still has huge potential. A gradual integration back into the first team and a new position could see the JJ we know he can be return Leon Bailey - clean slate under Emery, I think he and Buendia could be a lethal combo. Give him a consistent run, and I reckon he will flourish Philippe Coutinho - needed some time out of the starting lineup, but it remains to be seen whether he will be happy being an impact sub. Sell if possible at the end of the season if he doesn't want that. Bertrand Traore (on loan to İstanbul Başakşehir until June 2023) - bring him home asap and get him coming on for the last 20 minutes in games. Never should have been loaned out. Jaden Philogene-Bidace (on loan to Cardiff City until June 2023) - sadly it's a sell for me. Aaron Ramsey (on loan to Norwich City until June 2023) - maybe one more loan but then 2024/25 could be his time. Attacking Centre-Mids Emiliano Buendía - our second best and most essential player by this time next year. Allow everything to go through him and we will be unstoppable. John McGinn - keep as backup to Emi for the rest of the season and keep as captain for when he does come on to minimise drama, then quietly sell to Bournemouth or Celtic at the end of the season. Let us never speak of him playing every game as a defensive mid again. Strikers Danny Ings - keep as backup/rotation for next season if he's happy with it, sell with no hard feelings if not. This is only because of buying a new world-class number 9 and the emergence of.... Cameron Archer - keep gradually integrating and then let him duke it out with a new world-class number 9 next season. Kid's got it in him, but we'll need guaranteed goals next season Wesley (on loan to Levante until June 2023) - sell Keinan Davis (on loan to Watford until June 2023) - sell Indiana Vassilev (on loan to Inter Miami until November 2022) - sell/release Louie Barry (on loan to MK Dons until June 2023) - sadly, sell Buy at season's end New LB New winger/inside forward 75% of budget on a 30 goal striker 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nepal_villan Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 My Arsenal friends who are admirers of Emery say the one criticism they have of him is he chopped and changed his lineups too much. Even when they had a winning formula going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson1 Posted October 26, 2022 Share Posted October 26, 2022 4 hours ago, nepal_villan said: My Arsenal friends who are admirers of Emery say the one criticism they have of him is he chopped and changed his lineups too much. Even when they had a winning formula going. Difficult one this. For too long, especially under Smith we had a very predictable line up and formation. When doing this, does it give the opposition an advantage? Does it make us one dimensional and limited? Changing a winning side is always going to be controversial but it’s exciting picking a side that you think is best suited to beating the opposition. Seems like he picks a side that is very fluid anyway and will change during games. It’s like a game of chess for some of these guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicRic Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 This is how i would like us to look under Unai Emery after the January window We can attract these level of players due to having the pull of Unai too. Buendia and Pino further forward of course but that would be an excellent line up to charge up with moving into the second stage of the season 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted October 27, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2022 Young instead of Digne for me. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston_Villan4 Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 20 minutes ago, RicRic said: This is how i would like us to look under Unai Emery after the January window We can attract these level of players due to having the pull of Unai too. Buendia and Pino further forward of course but that would be an excellent line up to charge up with moving into the second stage of the season Only thing would be Young over Digne. He’s earned that spot and Digne will have to win it back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicRic Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 13 minutes ago, Aston_Villan4 said: Only thing would be Young over Digne. He’s earned that spot and Digne will have to win it back. Yeah i would say young too but thought everyone might go against it but yeah with you on that one 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted October 27, 2022 VT Supporter Share Posted October 27, 2022 53 minutes ago, RicRic said: This is how i would like us to look under Unai Emery after the January window We can attract these level of players due to having the pull of Unai too. Buendia and Pino further forward of course but that would be an excellent line up to charge up with moving into the second stage of the season Embarrassingly I don’t know who Neuhaus or Pino are 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aston_Villan4 Posted October 27, 2022 Share Posted October 27, 2022 (edited) 5 minutes ago, alreadyexists said: Embarrassingly I don’t know who Neuhaus or Pino are Neuhaus (25) from Gladbach and Pino (20) from Villarreal. Edited October 27, 2022 by Aston_Villan4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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