Unai Emery

[tinker]

29 minutes ago, TRO said:

it is a part of the problem. The other part is not having a Des Walker or Kyle walker to recover.

Be nice to have that type of player but we need to stop the problem at its root and that's the losing of possession cheaply when we shouldn't be. If we can do that then we are halfway there.

At least we have a style of play, we just need players to understand their roles in that system and the most important parts of that system......high press 'don't lose possession cheaply' especially around the half way line 

[TRO]

6 hours ago, tinker said:

Be nice to have that type of player but we need to stop the problem at its root and that's the losing of possession cheaply when we shouldn't be. If we can do that then we are halfway there.

At least we have a style of play, we just need players to understand their roles in that system and the most important parts of that system......high press 'don't lose possession cheaply' especially around the half way line 

I agree.

but we didn't press.

[tinker]

6 hours ago, TRO said:

I agree.

but we didn't press.

When we are in possession we play with our defence high up the pitch,  is probably a better explanation of what I'm seeing. 

[CVByrne]

We need a Keeper who the Defence are confident will make the right decision. We need a keeper who will run out and clear the danger when balls are played in behind the defence. 

I think Mings is our fastest CB and in a partnership with Carlos who is also quick and Martinez in goal we should be ok for now. Carlos has to take the burden of playing out from back as he was signed for. 

Emery will probably need one or two of his own defensive signings in the summer too. 

[Vive_La_Villa]

I read that Emery managed a record 16 games unbeaten with Villareal. Now I know it’s a different league but it does suggest once the players understand what he wants from them we will become a hard team to break down.  Out of interest What’s the longest we’ve ever gone unbeaten in the top flight ?

[YLN]

48 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

I read that Emery managed a record 16 games unbeaten with Villareal. Now I know it’s a different league but it does suggest once the players understand what he wants from them we will become a hard team to break down.  Out of interest What’s the longest we’ve ever gone unbeaten in the top flight ?

Ooh ooh i know this. 11 games under Gregory at the start of the 98/99 season starting with a draw against Everton 0-0 and finishing with a loss against Liverpool 4-2. I've watched Gregory's Graduates 100 times

[Vive_La_Villa]

14 minutes ago, YLN said:

Ooh ooh i know this. 11 games under Gregory at the start of the 98/99 season starting with a draw against Everton 0-0 and finishing with a loss against Liverpool 4-2. I've watched Gregory's Graduates 100 times

Good times!!

[TRO]

4 hours ago, tinker said:

When we are in possession we play with our defence high up the pitch,  is probably a better explanation of what I'm seeing. 

Yes you are right on that.....but we have games where we do and don't press.

[Stephen_Evans]

1 hour ago, YLN said:

Ooh ooh i know this. 11 games under Gregory at the start of the 98/99 season starting with a draw against Everton 0-0 and finishing with a loss against Liverpool 4-2. I've watched Gregory's Graduates 100 times

If you've watched it that many times, surely you noticed it was 12 games unbeaten! 

[YLN]

1 hour ago, Stephen_Evans said:

If you've watched it that many times, surely you noticed it was 12 games unbeaten! 

Oh dear.. In my defence I had it on tape, and haven't owned a tape player for 20 years.

[Made In Aston]

4 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

I read that Emery managed a record 16 games unbeaten with Villareal. Now I know it’s a different league but it does suggest once the players understand what he wants from them we will become a hard team to break down.  Out of interest What’s the longest we’ve ever gone unbeaten in the top flight ?

Emery went 22 games unbeaten with arsenal as well. 

[Vive_La_Villa]

4 minutes ago, Made In Aston said:

Emery went 22 games unbeaten with arsenal as well. 

That ain’t too shabby either!

[eholm]

On 28/12/2022 at 14:25, TRO said:

I agree, with that and it puts things in perspective.

However, can we remind ourselves, coaching is not the elixir to all ills.......There is a reason why most teams in the Prem, have big units at Centre Back and Goal keeper.......and its also hard to coach, lack of pace.

Teams have to have attributes, weapons to hurt teams with......we currently have a very similar bunch.

I accept UE will in time make a difference, how much, without additions weapons to come in, I am unsure.

For me, right now.....We need a centre forward, with height, to help win aerial balls, we need a centre back with height and muscle to accompany his defending talent, and we need a winger, with pace, who can beat a full back.

Agree with you here. Physicality especially in the spine of the side is essential. We’ve rightly had this chat many times re the centre mid and although that ‘unit’ never really arrived, having a specialised CDM has obviously improved us - I’d still love a CM of a good size however with Dendoncker and hopefully Tim we are in a good place. 
A more physical CB is desired although we also need better ball players there - hopefully Carlos can be both. 

A powerful CF who can finish would significantly improve us and we are desperate for more pace throughout the side - it’s fine pressing quite high but we must have the pace to exploit the turnover when it happens. 
 

Maybe it’s wishful thinking that UEs coaching can improve the group enough despite  these uncoachable attributes being absent but I think his hand will be slightly forced with limited scope to recruit in Jan and the need to shift a number out - both of which will be easier in the Summer. I’m not expecting full transformation from coaching alone but maybe, just maybe, he improves a couple of the current crop that will pleasantly surprise us. Here’s hoping

[Steero113]

13 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

I read that Emery managed a record 16 games unbeaten with Villareal. Now I know it’s a different league but it does suggest once the players understand what he wants from them we will become a hard team to break down.  Out of interest What’s the longest we’ve ever gone unbeaten in the top flight ?

I don’t know the actual answer, but at times in my near 30 year support of Villa it feels like 2 games. 

[the_eristic]

15 minutes ago, Steero113 said:

I don’t know the actual answer, but at times in my near 30 year support of Villa it feels like 2 games. 

We had a few fairly long unbeaten runs under MON. Lots of draws and usually followed by awful runs, but still.

[TRO]

I was very interested to hear Unai mention, the abandonment of the game plan, after the first goal went in on Sunday....It was clear by his reaction, it was not expected.....and I believe him.

I also remember, distinctly, Dean Smith reacting to a prickly question, after a Villa Game and saying " Do you think I asked them to play like that"

and I don't think SG expected that display at Fulham either, or did the owners.

Now this is not a loaded question/observation.....but it does leave me, asking myself questions.....How much discipline, belief, Nous or the ability to adhere to instructions is in this team?

I think as time unfolds, we will see.....because I don't think, like the past.....This manager will accept it.

I don't think Unai is a bawler or shouter, but I do get the impression, if you are not a winner, you won't last long, with him....He won't suffer fools.

I honestly think there will be some surprises, to some( exits) along the way.

Edited December 30, 2022 by TRO

[MaVilla]

4 minutes ago, TRO said:

I was very interested to hear Unai mention, the abandonment of the game plan, after the first goal went in on Sunday....It was clear by his reaction, it was not expected.....and I believe him.

I also remember, distinctly, Dean Smith reacting to a prickly question, after a Villa Game and saying " Do you think I asked them to play like that"

and I don't think SG expected that display at Fulham either, or did the owners.

Now this is not a loaded question/observation.....but it does leave me, asking myself questions.....How much discipline, belief, Nous or the ability to adhere to instructions is in this team?

I think as time unfolds, we will see.....because I don't think, like the past.....This manager will accept it.

I don't think Unai is a bawler or shouter, but I do get the impression, if you are not a winner, you won't last long, with him....He won't suffer fools.

I honestly think there will be some surprises, to some( exits) along the way.

this fits with what i said a few days ago in another thread, i said:

 

"i really dont care if Emery keeps X, Y, Z player or offloads/replaces them, i have personally had enough of this group of players flattering to deceive, talking the good game and not delivering time after time, or turning it around for a few games just to slip back in to the old habits.

If they do step up and improve under Emery, thats great and i welcome it, but if they dont, tbh im behind Emery, not the players, at least for now, if he wants to shoot any of them off in a cannon and replace them, im ok with that, if they cant do it under Emery, thats on them as far as im concerned.

I really think this is the first time, in a long, long time, that you really cant question the CV of our manager, so the players need to step up or move aside tbh."

 

I agree with your points in general, i honestly do agree that we have players who can turn it on and play as requested for a short time, then it just goes out the window randomly, we saw it with both Deano and Gerrard, i agree that the footballing IQ of some of our players is lacking, along with some quality also.

Hopefully Emery is the man who will/can fix it, as i guess it will take replacing at least 1/3rd of the team to make actual improvements with regard to what you said.

[Risso]

Other than Martinez, Ramsey and Kamara in the first team, I wouldn't be unduly bothered about any other player being moved on. They're all capable of playing well, but they all also have massive weaknesses. Emery is going to take time to shape the team so we won't be seeing a massive turnover straight away, but I think he's got his work cut out trying to get the likes of McGinn, Mings and Konsa to play consistently well and carry out his orders. They're just not technically good players, and those three especially need upgrading pretty quickly.

[TRO]

39 minutes ago, MaVilla said:

this fits with what i said a few days ago in another thread, i said:

 

"i really dont care if Emery keeps X, Y, Z player or offloads/replaces them, i have personally had enough of this group of players flattering to deceive, talking the good game and not delivering time after time, or turning it around for a few games just to slip back in to the old habits.

If they do step up and improve under Emery, thats great and i welcome it, but if they dont, tbh im behind Emery, not the players, at least for now, if he wants to shoot any of them off in a cannon and replace them, im ok with that, if they cant do it under Emery, thats on them as far as im concerned.

I really think this is the first time, in a long, long time, that you really cant question the CV of our manager, so the players need to step up or move aside tbh."

 

I agree with your points in general, i honestly do agree that we have players who can turn it on and play as requested for a short time, then it just goes out the window randomly, we saw it with both Deano and Gerrard, i agree that the footballing IQ of some of our players is lacking, along with some quality also.

Hopefully Emery is the man who will/can fix it, as i guess it will take replacing at least 1/3rd of the team to make actual improvements with regard to what you said.

As you can imagine....I endorse all that.

The thing is, to identify football IQ, is not easy, but IMO you are right.....However, you do expect seasoned professional managers to see it( meaning the past 2).....Unai, will have to tread with stealth, to maintain the team spirit, but I think he's well aware of that.

We have seen for some time with this team,  a peaks and troughs performance and results record.....and it has helped to cost, a number of managers their jobs....now I am not saying, some past managers, were faultless, but I am saying, it wasn't ALL on them, in terms of performance....in terms of signings, maybe'maybe not...without knowing details of their restraints.

I find it hard to explain, but necessary to point out how we, won 3 on the trot in Feb/march 2022 with clean sheets, only to go on a run of 5 defeats, losing by the odd goal, bar from Spurs dismantling at Villa park, after we played them off the park in the first half.....this team has been Jeykyl and Hyde, for such a long time now, the belief appears fragile.....that needs to change.

I still think our team lacks balance, in many ways and I am hoping an elite manager will remedy that......whilst, I see the improvemnts, I still see a team easy to play against, and that needs to change, if we want to progress.....I have seen it under the past 2 managers and I am hoping this one changes it eventually.

Managers, need time, we all know that, and incremental improvement has started, but some of the deep rooted issues, need to change and I think only surgery, will do that.

 

Edited December 30, 2022 by TRO

[DaveAV1]

On 29/12/2022 at 11:35, Vive_La_Villa said:

I read that Emery managed a record 16 games unbeaten with Villareal. Now I know it’s a different league but it does suggest once the players understand what he wants from them we will become a hard team to break down.  Out of interest What’s the longest we’ve ever gone unbeaten in the top flight ?

Lockdown.