Unai Emery

[Tomaszk]

If we'd lost to Utd, Brighton and Spurs we'd be 17th.

A lot of lesser men (the characters like Steve Bruce) would have refused to take on those first two games. Utd at home and Brighton away are nightmare games.

Accept the job, but say I'll start after the world cup.

Not the don.

[allani]

2 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

If we'd lost to Utd, Brighton and Spurs we'd be 17th.

A lot of lesser men (the characters like Steve Bruce) would have refused to take on those first two games. Utd at home and Brighton away are nightmare games.

Accept the job, but say I'll start after the world cup.

Not the don.

Had we signed him at the start of the season and his PPG record was the same - we'd be 3rd, level on points with Man City...

[stewiek2]

Deano gave us Emi 1, Gerrard gave us Kamara. Big daddy Nas gave us Unai.

[JAMAICAN-VILLAN]

Mings on Emery...

"Individual games are so tough at the moment because we are learning new ways to play and I think that has really given me a new lease of life.

“Along with, obviously, how the team are doing. When the result is positive everyone looks on your performance in a better light. But I’m really happy with my performances so far.”

“I’m being exposed to a whole new different way of coaching - not better or worse - just different. It’s the first foreign manager I’ve worked under - I don’t think Mick McCarthy counts - and his coaching staff have such an impressive attention to detail that I’m learning every day.

“That’s what you want. If you are focused on absorbing information and trying to improve when you have people around who are pushing that and you are able to soak it up, I think it’s really key for me at this stage of my career.

“Most of the games I’ve had in the Premier League, I’ve been learning on the job. When I signed for Villa, I’d played maybe 20 games at centre-back. Now I’m tuning into what an elite centre-back should be.”

“You see us celebrate offsides - quite heavily - because that’s what we are focused upon. If we hold our line and the attacker is offside, it’s dead. You saw that against Leeds with their disallowed goal.”

[Newry_Villan]

I've been really impressed with the change in the team in such a short time. Everyone seems to pulling together in the same direction.  The squads looks united, a few times at full time they are pumped, high fiving, hugging chest bumping etc.  I haven't seen that in a long time. I think hiring Unai will be the catalyst that pushes us into that next level. He has my full support.

[Adam2003]

27 minutes ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

It’s the first foreign manager I’ve worked under - I don’t think Mick McCarthy counts

Tyrone does not get enough credit for his sense of humour 

[Kiwivillan]

39 minutes ago, stewiek2 said:

Deano gave us Emi 1, Gerrard gave us Kamara. Big daddy Nas gave us Unai.

So Lange at fault for all the bad signings but no credit for the good ones?

[Kiwivillan]

16 minutes ago, Newry_Villan said:

I've been really impressed with the change in the team in such a short time. Everyone seems to pulling together in the same direction.  The squads looks united, a few times at full time they are pumped, high fiving, hugging chest bumping etc.  I haven't seen that in a long time. I think hiring Unai will be the catalyst that pushes us into that next level. He has my full support.

All makes the Stevenage result still incomprehensible 

[Adam2003]

15 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

All makes the Stevenage result still incomprehensible 

Those games happen.
 

1) We were 1-0 up and thought we could just knock it around and see out the game without wasting energy - and indeed could have done if not for utter stupidity.

2) 9/11 players were reserve team players.

A few of the latter may have played their way  out of Emery’s plans, admittedly, but stick out a disjointed reserve team that has literally never played together and you always run the risk of a shock defeat.

[ccfcman]

What gets me is that the results are so strong, while still playing within ourselves at times. We're still a good deal away from Emery-ball, at few players short of a deep squad, carrying some baggage that needs offloading, working past the narrow tactic devoid trauma of SG and yet, the early signs are magic.

 

I heard some one in a podcast claim that ten Hag is a Man United manager that operates like a Man United manager should. I think Unai is the ultimate representation of what my aspirational mind wants of a Villa manager. Smart, tactical, respectful and passionate. He seems to be buried in football - drinking, eating and sleeping football and yet, he's a family man. No histrionics, some of that beautiful spikey Basque flavour & energy with an appreciation for history and ultimately - an air of absolute humility.

Perfection.

 

Plus, he's a serial winner.

Edited January 15, 2023 by ccfcman

[ChicagoVillan1983]

My new Daddy. End of message.

[Marka Ragnos]

16 hours ago, catanzaro said:

brought a tear to my eye.. probably the Italian in me

he could dress better though 

 Sorry, could resist. It's probably the Basque in me. Oh wait, there's no Basque in me, so I guess it's just the dick in me. Oh wait ...

Edited January 15, 2023 by Marka Ragnos

[Pinebro]

6 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

All makes the Stevenage result still incomprehensible 

Those players had not played a game together before.

It makes a big difference.

I fully trust our best eleven. Fringe players aren't good players that is nothing new to me.

[CVByrne]

We've one game left this month before Leicester at Villa Park. I hope Emery has planned out how to use the time wisely and they practice this building from the back more. I understand he wants to draw opposition teams on if they press high to create space elsewhere for our quick players to exploit. It's heart in mouth stuff though!!

[Pinebro]

Not had this belief in a manager since Deano.

[imavillan]

15 minutes ago, CVByrne said:

We've one game left this month before Leicester at Villa Park. I hope Emery has planned out how to use the time wisely and they practice this building from the back more. I understand he wants to draw opposition teams on if they press high to create space elsewhere for our quick players to exploit. It's heart in mouth stuff though!!

Most teams play this way now.

The players are still 'learning' and they will get better at it. Yes there will be the odd blip, there's bound to be.

But trust Unai and trust the process. 

[imavillan]

It's early days but with Unai he has the best managerial credentials of any manager we've had.

He's an elite manager. We've never had an elite manager before.

It's defiantly exciting times and i'm already looking forward to next season with the additions of his own players and and the departures of some of the dross.

 

[StanBalaban]

18 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

Not had this belief in a manager since Deano.

The standard of manager in the Premier League has moved on massively, even since Deano was here. We're very fortunate to have an elite coach at the helm, but it's now a necessity, not a luxury.

Everyone focusses on the wealth of the club, but without the right peoole to steer the ship it's not the be all and end all. For instance, Chelsea are a complete basket case at the moment, but Newcastle (annoyingly) are showing good strategy and remarkable restraint. 

The days of Gerrard and Lampard trying to waltz into other top jobs will see them encounter much more resistance when the competition have a Lopetegui, De Zerbi, Howe and Emery running the show.

Potter is on thin ice, Conte seems to continually have one foot out of the door and Klopp has many issues to resolve at the Plop. Competing for Europe are Brighton, Fulham, Brentford and maybe us if we continue this form, so it's a good time to find stability and a system that works.

This is the first time in the modern era that we've had a top 4 manager at the club, and I'm sure the players are looking forward to games again. I know I am!

[messi11]

Not had this belief in a manager since Gerrard

[Tom13]

Not had this much belief in a manager since Aaron Danks

Edited January 15, 2023 by Tom13