Unai Emery

[Mantis]

Just now, Tayls said:

Wish he would stop pi$$ing about with the defence so we can actually get some consistency back. Getting a bit annoyed with our defensive game these past few months in the league. 

Most of it has been enforced by injuries in fairness.

[Digavilla]

Maybe the first half formation was tactical. Played our weaker ones first ( Duran/Rogers) knowing West ham will be tired in 2nd half after playing Thursday, & than unleashed our stronger player ( Diaby / Zaniolo ) against later in the game. 

[sharkyvilla]

1 minute ago, Digavilla said:

Maybe the first half formation was tactical. Played our weaker ones first ( Duran/Rogers) knowing West ham will be tired in 2nd half after playing Thursday, & than unleashed our stronger player ( Diaby / Zaniolo ) against later in the game. 

I think getting more height in the team was planned (it turned out to not really help with set pieces anyway).  We also don't know just how fit Ollie was and Unai might have felt he needed more of a strike partner to help out, plus Duran played well the other day.  Either way when we are so short of midfielders it's going to be tough whichever team he gets on the park.

[Stratvillan]

5 first choice starters out

2/3 playing when carrying injuries

Having to rotate kids / inexperienced players.

He's not doing too bad. 

 

 

[Xela]

4 hours ago, Tayls said:

Wish he would stop pi$$ing about with the defence so we can actually get some consistency back. Getting a bit annoyed with our defensive game these past few months in the league. 

Yeah its rubbish being 4th and in a European QF, while having more than our fair share of injuries in defence and midfield. 

[Keyblade]

Missing today:

Kamara

Carlos

McGinn

Ramsey

And that's just from players who have played this season, and not mentioning Mings or Buendia.

The rest of that lot have played 3 times this week. 5 times in 14 days. He's having to juggle keeping them as fresh as humanly possible. Squeaking out a point away at West Ham is actually really good. 

[Tayls]

23 minutes ago, Keyblade said:

Missing today:

Kamara

Carlos

McGinn

Ramsey

And that's just from players who have played this season, and not mentioning Mings or Buendia.

The rest of that lot have played 3 times this week. 5 times in 14 days. He's having to juggle keeping them as fresh as humanly possible. Squeaking out a point away at West Ham is actually really good. 

Carlos was on the bench. 

[Jas10]

Nice to have this clearly outlined and acknowledged… Unai has done magnificent work in the face of adversity and major disruption… I don’t know a past Villa manager who would’ve managed… and anywhere near as well. We usually withered away and declined in such situations… not now…

Manager of the season

[Captain_Townsend]

Hear hear

[TheMightyVillans]

Pretty sure this is the first emery cam at an away match?

[Jas10]

 

Quote

When Unai Emery talks to the media at Aston Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, it offers an insight into his idiosyncrasies.

Emery, the person, is reluctant to be seen, so there’s a tendency for every public-facing action to be football-centric. Lighter comments and questions around off-the-field matters are kept to a minimum and, in some ways, that is telling in itself.

Naturally, a Premier League manager or head coach of Emery’s eminence is not obligated to lower the barriers surrounding his demeanour away from football if that is how he feels most comfortable. That decision is revealing, though, of the 52-year-old’s general character.

Emery is a blinkered personality, focused solely on the next challenge and nothing outside of his immediate football bubble. Such a close level of introspection can leave you unaware of outside perspectives — ultimately contributing to his demise at Arsenal, where he was sacked as Arsene Wenger’s successor after 18 months in November 2019. In the aftermath of that departure, he accepted he had not paid enough attention to matters beyond his immediate sporting concerns, clouded by his obsession with tactical systems and improving players individually.

Emery is immersed in building football structures and watches hours of footage. He carries out analysis while on treadmills, in long team meetings and at home — even after sometimes working 12-hour days. This all indicates a highly focused and singular mindset, something that comes across in his communication style during interviews.

Quote

At Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground, the press conference suite is separate from the main building, with Emery walking down from his office, situated upstairs and overlooking the gymnasium, and across the car park to reach the room.

It means the written and broadcast media can see him coming by looking out of the window and this often provides some light relief, given timekeeping is not exactly his speciality. Emery likes his press conferences at the same time every week, regardless of when Villa are playing that weekend. Invariably, media members are told to convene for a 1.30pm start on Fridays.

Emery arrives through a side door, accompanied by Villa’s head of communications, Tommy Jordan, and Damian Vidagany, his close aide and Villa’s director of football. Vidagany, at press conferences, serves as Emery’s right-hand man (literally, he always sits to his right) and is there to clarify any questions or answers Emery does not grasp. This ties into the feeling that Villa’s head coach has learned from his errors at Arsenal. Vidagany is personable and well-liked.

Emery has Vidagany as reassurance when speaking to the media but his understanding of English has shown a marked improvement since his first spell in England five years ago. He is accustomed to the Midlands press pack and their accents, having watched BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders, which is set in Birmingham.

Vidagany acts as a safety blanket in areas Emery perhaps feels vulnerable in and helps to deal with those shortcomings. He meets Emery next to the stadium tunnel after games before accompanying him to his media duties. Sources, who remain anonymous to protect relationships, who have been involved in recent transfer dealings speak highly of how clear and purposeful Vidagany’s communication style is.

Emery offers pleasantries, and is often holding a sheet of paper with key lines of messaging or questions from the broadcast section. The embargoed part of the session, where the Villa head coach talks to the written press, comes after he has spoken to broadcasters. Embargoed quotes are not allowed to be published until an agreed time, usually 10.30pm that day.

The Spaniard is often late for his media duties, the delay often due to training sessions overrunning and, subsequently, pushing him back in terms of having lunch and a shower. Despite its derisory usage during his time at Arsenal, strangely mocked on social media and beyond, Emery still says, “Good afternoon” or, “Good evening” at the start of every interview, a preface for his first answer.

Emery answers most questions at length, particularly open-ended ones when he can riff. The first question after a match generally asks for his general assessment and he can go through the 90 minutes chronologically — unless he does not like the question or quite grasp the sentiment, then his retort can be short or, before the start of his answer, he takes a prolonged inhale of breath.

It has become known that Emery usually takes a long time getting to the stadium’s press conference suite following games — it can be well over an hour after the final whistle. This does push journalists’ deadlines, with Emery — once he has completed his initial broadcast-media interviews — taking a post-match break to decompress. The delay means he is measured and reflective when he does eventually arrive, regardless of the result.

Emery has a list of buzzwords and repeatable phrases that are delivered in response to run-of-the-mill questions. It is why journalists have to choose their wording and themes carefully to ensure they get as insightful a response as possible.

For example, if a reporter is vague when asking about Villa’s tactical system or changes made during a game, Emery will repeat phrases such as “being demanding in our structure” or expressing how he wants his players to “keep the idea”. Moreover, any mention of Villa Park’s home crowd will frequently end with Emery detailing the importance of “connecting with our supporters”.

When he is — painfully in its predictability at times — asked about the strengths of the upcoming opponents, his response will inevitably centre on Villa having an “organised structure” and him expecting a “very difficult match”.

As for connectives, he uses “more or less” frequently and with his English improving impressively, has started to incorporate British football sayings, such as “bad day at the office”.

Quote

Emery is an earnest talker but when the cameras are turned off after the broadcast section, he tends to have a more relaxed demeanour. Questions about fellow managers he rates highly stoke a different fire, however. He is increasingly fervent on the touchline, animated in press conferences, and relishes the process of analysing the game’s best coaches.

Before Villa’s performance for the ages against last season’s treble winners Manchester City in December, it was put to Emery as to how he would finally beat City manager and countryman Pep Guardiola.“Keep trying,” he said with a wry smile.

GO DEEPER

Unai Emery and Aston Villa: Inside a stunning transformation

Emery similarly shared that level of respect with Ange Postecoglou following the win at Tottenham Hotspur 10 days before. After, he explained that he had enjoyed watching and learning the Australian’s tactical nuances in preparation.

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When speaking about his squad individually, Emery has stock responses for certain players. The list is as follows:

Emiliano Martinez — “A fantastic goalkeeper”

Douglas Luiz — “You (Douglas Luiz) can do more, you’re so important”

Leon Bailey — “He needs to be more consistent away from home”

John McGinn — “A leader… Super John McGinn”

Ollie Watkins — “He does more than just score”

 

Emery is undoubtedly emboldened by his ‘triangle of power’ comprising of him, Vidagany and Villa’s president of football operations Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo — universally known in football as Monchi.

Monchi accompanies Emery to every game on the team coach. In press conferences taking place abroad — during Villa’s pre-season tour of the United States last summer and before the Conference League fixtures against Legia Warsaw and AZ Alkmaar — Monchi has sat towards the back of the room.

Emery’s press conferences may be often and fairly routine, but they provide an understanding of his character and why, in part, he has been able to fully settle since joining Villa 17 months ago.

 

[Jas10]

STILL can’t believe we managed to attract a manager of his class and calibre… a true blessing and cannot believe how lucky (for once) we are… cherish him, celebrate him, appreciate him, believe in him, fully enjoy his tenure… a revolutionary, transformational appointment… he has and will elevate this club to the heights it deserves to be at…

Long live King Unai

[JPJCB]

5 hours ago, Jas10 said:

 

 

It’s a curious topic for an article. Says as much about Tanswell’s diligence as it does emery’s!

[TRO]

I don't see UE making a mess of anything....I don't see him being too clever either.

What I do see is this:

I see a squad that is imbalanced, why?....because we are still work in progress.

Not only unbalanced in players attributes ,but thin is numbers too..

I see each player, having a series of attributes, applicable to them, and UE has to balance those attributes to form a team.....and to compound the initial issue, he has been ravaged by injury too...to key players to boot.

He has performed to date, a minor miracle with us.

The permutations he has to juggle, would be forgiven by the most merciless tyrant.....if he makes mistakes, it is no wonder, with the balancing act he is having to endure.

Unai Emery, is not a saint, he will make errors.....but overall we have a magnificent Manager, who deserves all the support, we can give.

He said at the end of last season, I have only done 10% of the job.... we must remember that...I remind myself, when my expectation, needs checking....we all get carried away with the excitement, but this guy has to manage that, and he needs us to be with him.

Never in my wildest dreams, did I think, he could do this, to date....but I still fear a big ask, for the run in.

The top 3 have had years of success in front of them, and it's rude, for us to expect to compete with them so soon in Unai's tenure ....However, I can see room for improvement, in our team, and I am sure Unai can.....but incremental progress, is the key to sustainability

There is no mess, from Unai Emery.....just a fabulous manager, trying to balance a squad.

Edited March 23 by TRO

[Stevo71]

During the England game on Saturday, I was struck that the commentators were speaking about Villa....because they were speaking about Watkins and Konsa, and that they were speaking of them because they had been selected....because of how Unai has developed them.

He's improving players across the board, in some cases to the level of national team selection. and this in turn is raising our profile. All these moving parts, pieces of the puzzle.

Phenomenal. As said, relish him while we have him.

[omariqy]

Emery’s PPG and rolling 5 game PPG extended beyond this season to show his entire spell so far.

 

[HeroesAndVillans]

Best manager I have ever seen at our club since I started following 5/6 years ago. He is doing great things and I hope he will continue to do so. I also hope that he turns out to be one of the best managers we ever have. I genuinely believe that we will win a few trophies during his era. I'm not jumping the gun and saying that I am expecting it right now, or that we will win the title with Unai etc, but I do think we can go on to grab some domestic cups under him. As a Villa supporter I have learned to manage unrealistic expectations! I think we will win the Conference League this year, though.

I do have a sinking feeling that he is/will be a bit of a "shooting star" for us, a blink and you'll miss it type thing.

Edited March 25 by HeroesAndVillans

[MaVilla]

19 minutes ago, omariqy said:

Emery’s PPG and rolling 5 game PPG extended beyond this season to show his entire spell so far.

 

 

i have done something similar, a 5/10/15 game PPG average for 23/24, with conditional formatting for colour coding of PPG etc.

defo had a bit of a PPG drop off over the last 15 games or so, specifically over the 10 game stretch.

Edited March 25 by MaVilla

[omariqy]

1 minute ago, MaVilla said:

 

i have done something similar, a 5/10/15 game PPG average, with conditional formatting for colour coding of PPG etc.

defo had a bit of a PPG drop off over the last 10 games or so, specifically over the 10 game stretch.

Thanks that’s great. If we can keep an average of 1.5 then we should finish on 70 points hopefully.

[Jas10]

Why is there a dead body here?