Unai Emery

[Teale's 'tache]

A week ago, this forum was a pretty grim place to be, there was very little optimism going in to that Fulham game, we kind of knew it was going to be a horror show and we just hoped it would all be over soon, all we had was that hope.

Now?

Gerrard is gone, we absolutely walloped bogey team Brentford, we have a world class coach incoming, key players looking to return from injuries early, and the sky's the limit.

One thing to keep in mind though is that even though some things can change quickly in football, not everything does, some things are only changed by hard work and repetition on the training ground, over a period of time. We aren't suddenly going to beat everyone 4-0, we aren't suddenly an impeccably coached and tactically flexible team just because a good coach has arrived, it takes time.

We have the ingredients (the players), and now we have a world renowned chef(Emery), let's give him time to cook us up something special... (Balti Pie)

[TRO]

3 minutes ago, Teale's 'tache said:

A week ago, this forum was a pretty grim place to be, there was very little optimism going in to that Fulham game, we kind of knew it was going to be a horror show and we just hoped it would all be over soon, all we had was that hope.

Now?

Gerrard is gone, we absolutely walloped bogey team Brentford, we have a world class coach incoming, key players looking to return from injuries early, and the sky's the limit.

One thing to keep in mind though is that even though some things can change quickly in football, not everything does, some things are only changed by hard work and repetition on the training ground, over a period of time. We aren't suddenly going to beat everyone 4-0, we aren't suddenly an impeccably coached and tactically flexible team just because a good coach has arrived, it takes time.

We have the ingredients (the players), and now we have a world renowned chef(Emery), let's give him time to cook us up something special... (Balti Pie)

My thoughts to a tee.

We still have to do it.....I am still shocked, by the turn around against Brentford, maybe pent up frustration helped along with the system change.

I am not expecting too much, too soon......but gradual improvement would be nifty.

[Gompedyret]

9 minutes ago, Teale's 'tache said:

A week ago, this forum was a pretty grim place to be, there was very little optimism going in to that Fulham game, we kind of knew it was going to be a horror show and we just hoped it would all be over soon, all we had was that hope.

Now?

Gerrard is gone, we absolutely walloped bogey team Brentford, we have a world class coach incoming, key players looking to return from injuries early, and the sky's the limit.

One thing to keep in mind though is that even though some things can change quickly in football, not everything does, some things are only changed by hard work and repetition on the training ground, over a period of time. We aren't suddenly going to beat everyone 4-0, we aren't suddenly an impeccably coached and tactically flexible team just because a good coach has arrived, it takes time.

We have the ingredients (the players), and now we have a world renowned chef(Emery), let's give him time to cook us up something special... (Balti Pie)

You wise man, you.

[The_Steve]

17 minutes ago, HKP90 said:

Exactly. You don't sign a manager in 2 days, it's just shown up all of the media outlets who were touting names as speculative chancers.

99% of media stuff is hot air. Try my best to ignore it all. 

[Teale's 'tache]

2 minutes ago, TRO said:

My thoughts to a tee.

We still have to do it.....I am still shocked, by the turn around against Brentford, maybe pent up frustration helped along with the system change.

I am not expecting too much, too soon......but gradual improvement would be nifty.

The performance against Brentford was very cathartic for those players I felt, I've rarely seen a Villa team so obviously pumped up and motivated from the first whistle to the last, I think it's unlikely we'll see that every game going forward, and it would be unfair to expect Emery to motivate them to those same levels, as the circumstances allowed and created it and circumstances change, but it was certainly needed, a few more performances like that and the disconnect between players and fans will certainly be no more. 

[lapal_fan]

Yea, I'm worried a part of our fan-ship are now expecting top 4/6 form over the season.

We won't get that.  We'll still lose shit matches and play crap, we'll probably see a lot of individual mistakes costing goals at both ends too, we know our players - they've been here a while.

But, we do have someone who can change that culture, we have someone who has a proven track record of improving performance and squads, but we need to give him time, if that's what it takes.  This is as bigger appointment Villa have made in my lifetime (35).  If this doesn't work out, I fear not a lot will.  I hope the players buy into it because their form towards the end of Gerrard's reign really plummeted and it wasn't enjoyable whatsoever.  

I hope Villa Park understand sometimes it's ok to retain possession and go backwards without being audibly moaned at.  I hope we can suck up a few losses, I hope we can deal with losing to "so-called rivals" like Newcastle and ignore the "banter" that goes with it.  

If Unai can come in and get this squad firing on all cylinders, then he'll have far exceeded my expectations, but we have to give him the remainder of this season to work with the players and experiment.  

I DO however, hope that this squad can be competitive against most teams, like we've shown against City, like we showed in the first half against Chelsea.. I hope we can beat a few teams and our forwards can start to look like they are a team and not a bunch of individuals.  I hope we make Emi Martinez look like the Emi Martinez of 18 months ago where nothing felt like it would get past him.  Or Konsa starts to play well enough we start to moan at Southgate for not giving him a chance, like 18 months ago. 

We've got the owners, we've got the infrastructure, we've got the fans, we've got a decent team and seemingly - we now have a manager, who apparently works really hard at his job.  

It feels good.  Fingers crossed! 

[Talldarkandransome]

I can't wait for his first presser

[stewiek2]

5 hours ago, ciggiesnbeer said:

dunno if this has been posted. 40  mins of emery style training session . Bloody hell he certainly is hands on. As in he is running on the pitch all the time clip board in hand directing players. very impressive.
 

 

 

What is this witchcraft?

Vocal, leading the training. Training looks meticulous but not too intense it over-works the players.

Look at that compared to Gerrard standing round like a wet fart being anything but a leader in training. And he had the nerve and bare-faced cheek to label himself as "head coach".

Total fraud compared to Unai, who really is a HEAD COACH!

[TRO]

49 minutes ago, lapal_fan said:

Yea, I'm worried a part of our fan-ship are now expecting top 4/6 form over the season.

We won't get that.  We'll still lose shit matches and play crap, we'll probably see a lot of individual mistakes costing goals at both ends too, we know our players - they've been here a while.

But, we do have someone who can change that culture, we have someone who has a proven track record of improving performance and squads, but we need to give him time, if that's what it takes.  This is as bigger appointment Villa have made in my lifetime (35).  If this doesn't work out, I fear not a lot will.  I hope the players buy into it because their form towards the end of Gerrard's reign really plummeted and it wasn't enjoyable whatsoever.  

I hope Villa Park understand sometimes it's ok to retain possession and go backwards without being audibly moaned at.  I hope we can suck up a few losses, I hope we can deal with losing to "so-called rivals" like Newcastle and ignore the "banter" that goes with it.  

If Unai can come in and get this squad firing on all cylinders, then he'll have far exceeded my expectations, but we have to give him the remainder of this season to work with the players and experiment.  

I DO however, hope that this squad can be competitive against most teams, like we've shown against City, like we showed in the first half against Chelsea.. I hope we can beat a few teams and our forwards can start to look like they are a team and not a bunch of individuals.  I hope we make Emi Martinez look like the Emi Martinez of 18 months ago where nothing felt like it would get past him.  Or Konsa starts to play well enough we start to moan at Southgate for not giving him a chance, like 18 months ago. 

We've got the owners, we've got the infrastructure, we've got the fans, we've got a decent team and seemingly - we now have a manager, who apparently works really hard at his job.  

It feels good.  Fingers crossed! 

good resume.....I concur.

As a club, we have spent many years, of not getting things right, when you analyse down Managers records with us, it endorses that.

As you rightly say, we are getting some things right, but we need to get more right, and Lets hope UE is key to that.

I remember for years before Ron Saunders, the gloom, and the overall view, we was destined to  be "also rans"....Ron bought in his philosophy of the day, his Mantra transformed us, we had some talented players ( many struggled for international fame) but, our team was never held in high regard against the ipswich's, the Liverpool's...The darlings of the football purists..... but we knew how to win, we were balanced, we were durable and still had the wherewithal to be effective in front of goal.

Aston Villa in those days was gaslighted, (pardon the pun) by the media, for relying heavily on workrate, and running, but eloquently endorsed by Bill Shankly's famous quote " any team that can win 26 games in a season, deserves the Title"....spot on Bill.

Is'nt it amazing, and ironic that with all that emphasis on workrate, 14 players, managed the season......sure the pressing and niggly contact was not around then, but the pitches were poor and heavy, but still an enormous feat.

My overall point is.....I agree, with what you allude to..............We are not destined to failure at all, but we do need to get right, at the club, more than we get wrong.

Winning trophies and gaining wins, is not magical or fantasy, its aligning all the ducks, and getting things right......it is doable, we Villa fans need to know, It can be done, old farts like me, have seen it for ourselves.....Newcastle now are showing signs of it, despite NOT spending huge sums, yet...we didn't spend huge sums in relative terms in the 70's/80's.....but we bought right and they blended in to a unit

I was naturally, disappointed after the last, appointment after investing much thought in him getting it right, but Fulham was the last straw......I am not looking back now, only forward...and I have no less enthusiasm for UE to get it right, but we must temper our expectation and allow him to get his thoughts across and moreover our players to digest and execute those plans.

It could be exciting times.....but as we all know, the rhetoric, won't stop, we all deserve a fillip......but only results and performances will suffice.

I wish him, all the best, he is joining a truly great football club, steeped in history, and revered by many.....his winning record is equally impressive, the stars align and its B*i*n*g*o

Its all there Unai, to fill your boots with, the sleeping Giant who awaits.......Go finish, what you started, the last time you was here, Unai......and show em all.

UTV

Edited October 27, 2022 by TRO

[Hank Scorpio]

8 minutes ago, Talldarkandransome said:

I can't wait for his first presser

Do we think it will be on the 1st?

[HKP90]

6 minutes ago, stewiek2 said:

 

What is this witchcraft?

Vocal, leading the training. Training looks meticulous but not too intense it over-works the players.

Look at that compared to Gerrard standing round like a wet fart being anything but a leader in training. And he had the nerve and bare-faced cheek to label himself as "head coach".

Total fraud compared to Unai, who really is a HEAD COACH!

We certainly need the first exercise badly, as our one touch play has been rubbish.

[Talldarkandransome]

1 minute ago, Pissflaps said:

Do we think it will be on the 1st?

I'm guessing there will be some unveiling with him saying a few words. The first proper presser won't be until before the Man U game

[Villan_of_oz]

I am highly optimistic of what Unai can achieve here, but I also fully expect us to still finish bottom half this season.

There will be no miracles with his methods, but with building blocks in place and good business in the transfer windows, injured players fit again and returning to a normal season. It will all be there for him next season.

His remit should be keep us up and go to work to son, strip it back bare and rebuild it. Take the pain, finish 13th but you'll be seeing the signs of change.

In Unai I trust!

[Demitri_C]

2 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is that we were valuing the likes of Potter and Pochettino over Emery.

Was listening to a podcast, and the bloke is more successful than both, as well as even the other competitors who managed at PSG as well.

He actually did a better job an PSG them.

His " failures" still eclipse their successes.

Just shows how heavily influenced people are by " fashionable " candidates despite actual fact and performance.

( Myself included )

 

I wholeheartedly agree with you JC

I just hope fans are patient and give him time. Its critical we give him time. He has been a success at most places and we  need to behind him

[maqroll]

It seems like they'd opened talks with Emery well before the Fulham game...which makes the timing of the Gerrard sacking right after his post match presser look almost spiteful. I wonder if Gerrard was ultimately widely disliked throughout the club, all the way to the top (minus Purslow).

...

[sparrow1988]

31 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

I wholeheartedly agree with you JC

 

[osmark86]

8 hours ago, AJ said:

If so, then I question his training methods.

shit, this made me burst out laughing at the office. damn you! XD

[osmark86]

4 hours ago, AJ said:

He comes across as an absolute gentleman, and I think we have been blessed to get him.

Also, he does look a bit like a slightly deceased Austrian pop star from the 80s.

y'all got zombies?

[Didiersix]

3 hours ago, HKP90 said:

I think my post came across wrong. I didn't mean to necessarily lambast Bielsa, I was trying more to say that it was a reflection of good character on the part of Unai to go out of his way to learn and use the language. 

I also think that managers like Klopp, whose use of English is better than many natives, don't perhaps get as much credit as they should in this regard.  

100% this. As someone who has learnt Spanish later in life (40+) I can tell you first hand that learning languages as an adult is very difficult. Any and every effort should be applauded and not denigrated/mocked.

[nick76]

Didn’t the TheTrees say that it looks like Wes met with Villareal and Emery in Vienna on the 12th October, so maybe it was delayed because the beloved VP died but the offer was there.  The reason to keep Gerrard in the mean time was to keep stability until it was completed but even NSWE got too fed up after Fulham so thought we’d wouldn’t be worse without a manager for a few weeks.

As for sacking straight after the game.  It doesn’t matter when you get sacked or made redundant it still sucks but unless you left under a cloud you generally want to say goodbye to people you work with.  I don’t think any way you do it is good but in football it happens more than in real life and he gets a real big pay off and while money shouldn’t be a factor it is.  Also it looks like he got sacked face to face which is more honourable than other ways I’ve heard of.