Unai Emery - Ex-Arsenal Manager

SquishyMcSquish said:
Torreira, Leno, Sokratis and Guendouzi were pretty good recruitments.

For a team with a limited budget, the players brought in under Emery haven't been bad at all. Mostly hits with a couple of misses, which is expected when you're working under financial constraints.
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Disagree.

Torreira is decent but the rest are poor and not the players to take you forward.

I have several other things to blame Emery but my point with him the recruitment under both Wenger and Emery are underwhelming and poor, so it's simply the board's problem.

The team needs a massive overhaul in the defense and midfield irrespective of the manager but we all know it's not going to happen.
 
el3mel said:
Disagree.

Torreira is decent but the rest are poor and not the players to take you forward.

I have several other things to blame Emery but my point with him the recruitment under both Wenger and Emery are underwhelming and poor, so it's simply the board's problem.

The team needs a massive overhaul in the defense and midfield irrespective of the manager but we all know it's not going to happen.
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Well no, but they don't have the money to do that. They're still good recruitment for how much was spent, in that respect Emery has done well. I don't think you can criticise the recruitment under him too much thus far, it's been sensible and in areas that were required. Sokratis has been their best central defender this season, Torreira one of their best players and Leno has his issues but has still been solid. Guendouzi IMO is a big talent and will end up being sold for much more in a few years time.

Of course it's not enough for them, but the recruitment under Wenger was more irrational (players not really needed whereas clear deficiencies ignored) whilst Emery has gone for players in areas which clearly needed strengthening, so in that respect it's been good considering what he's had to spend. He's done well with the resources at his disposal, basically.
 
SquishyMcSquish said:
Well no, but they don't have the money to do that. They're still good recruitment for how much was spent, in that respect Emery has done well. I don't think you can criticise the recruitment under him too much thus far, it's been sensible and in areas that were required. Sokratis has been their best central defender this season, Torreira one of their best players and Leno has his issues but has still been solid. Guendouzi IMO is a big talent and will end up being sold for much more in a few years time.

Of course it's not enough for them, but the recruitment under Wenger was more irrational (players not really needed whereas clear deficiencies ignored) whilst Emery has gone for players in areas which clearly needed strengthening, so in that respect it's been good considering what he's had to spend. He's done well with the resources at his disposal, basically.
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There's no club in England that "don't have the money". I wish this excuse for boards stop. Each big club has enough money to spend, even clubs like Everton spend loads despite being shite. Hell the TV earnings alone for PL teams are far more than those of winning CL. It's simply the board choice to spend and take the team forward or be content with the current team level.

These kind of signings aren't going to take them forward. Their board aren't interested in that anyway. They're only interested in sucking some cash out of the club and have been like that.

As for Emery, my opinion on him has always been he's underwhelming manager with many tactical deficiencies but Arsenal problems extend far deeper than the manager. Their defense and midfield need a major revamping and their board isn't interested in that. They're content with being top 6.
 
el3mel said:
There's no club in England that "don't have the money". I wish this excuse for boards stop. Each big club has enough money to spend, even clubs like Everton spend loads despite being shite. Hell the TV earnings alone for PL teams are far more than those of winning CL. It's simply the board choice to spend and take the team forward or be content with the current team level.

These kind of signings aren't going to take them forward. Their board aren't interested in that anyway. They're only interested in sucking some cash out of the club and have been like that.

As for Emery, my opinion on him has always been he's underwhelming manager with many tactical deficiencies but Arsenal problems extend far deeper than the manager. Their defense and midfield need a major revamping and their board isn't interested in that. They're content with being top 6.
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I think there's some confusion here.

I agree with you that the Arsenal board should be allowing more funds for transfers/wages, absolutely. It's hilarious as a rival fan to see a club with their revenue simply refusing to invest the required amount, especially when they're not even top 4 regulars any longer.

All I'm saying is that Emery has done well in terms of recruitment considering the money he has had to spend. I don't think that he could have done much better with the resources available to him.
 
SquishyMcSquish said:
I think there's some confusion here.

I agree with you that the Arsenal board should be allowing more funds for transfers/wages, absolutely. It's hilarious as a rival fan to see a club with their revenue simply refusing to invest the required amount, especially when they're not even top 4 regulars any longer.

All I'm saying is that Emery has done well in terms of recruitment considering the money he has had to spend. I don't think that he could have done much better with the resources available to him.
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Don't necessarily disagree, even though as I said I don't have high opinion on Emery but changing the manager alone isn't going to change anything in Arsenal's case. The problem is bigger than the manager there.
 
Mogget said:
Lichtsteiner and Guendouzi aren't starters when everyone's fit and neither is Denis Suarez. But sure, if it fits your agenda then let's call them starters.
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6 players of the 18 main players, starting 11 plus 7 subs.

Solskjaer for example has bought none. The players not being his own is a poor excuse, a third of his main team was bought under him.
 
The holy trinity 68 said:
6 players of the 18 main players, starting 11 plus 7 subs.

Solskjaer for example has bought none. The players not being his own is a poor excuse, a third of his main team was bought under him.
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I'm not excusing Emery for anything. We have an average squad which was Wenger's fault. I don't see how anyone can argue with that.
 
Mogget said:
I'm not excusing Emery for anything. We have an average squad which was Wenger's fault. I don't see how anyone can argue with that.
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Wenger had an average squad year for year and still was able to get a Top 4 Place season for season until more and more money was in the market.

I would say Bellerin, Torreira, Ramsey, Özil, Laca and Auba are players a lot above average.
Sadly Bellerin is injured, but Emery decided to resign Ramsey and Özil, two of our best players. And Emery still hasn't found a system to get the best out of our two strikers.

And this "average squad" isn't good enough to play good football against Huddersfield or BATE?
By the way, our best performances were against Spurs and Liverpool at home - so looks like the squad can compete with the good teams in the league.

Emery only has only one offensive system so far - our fullbacks. Kolasinac and Bellerin. Now Bellerin is injured, so it's pretty easy to read our tactic. Emery said he wants to play "high pressing-possession game" in his first press conference, i can see nothing from this.
 
ShadesOfTomato said:
Emery was a really weird appointment.
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Was he? They were seriously considering Arteta as manager before he came into the frame.

Generally for life after Wenger you'd want a manager used to managing big personalities which he did at PSG, used to playing in european competition and also dare I say it overachieving with the resources he had which he certainly did at Sevilla.

I think he's done o.k. It honestly wouldn't have shocked me this season if Arsenal had been 10 points off top 4 (similar position to what Mourinho left you in) so to be just point off 4th with arguably the best run in of all three times (given they've already played Man. City and Liverpool twice) isn't too bad.

I really don't think he's done worse than Sarri considering Chelsea have a much better squad than Arsenal.
 
NieThePiet said:
Wenger had an average squad year for year and still was able to get a Top 4 Place season for season until more and more money was in the market.

I would say Bellerin, Torreira, Ramsey, Özil, Laca and Auba are players a lot above average.
Sadly Bellerin is injured, but Emery decided to resign Ramsey and Özil, two of our best players. And Emery still hasn't found a system to get the best out of our two strikers.

And this "average squad" isn't good enough to play good football against Huddersfield or BATE?
By the way, our best performances were against Spurs and Liverpool at home - so looks like the squad can compete with the good teams in the league.

Emery only has only one offensive system so far - our fullbacks. Kolasinac and Bellerin. Now Bellerin is injured, so it's pretty easy to read our tactic. Emery said he wants to play "high pressing-possession game" in his first press conference, i can see nothing from this.
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Wenger failed to get top 4 last two seasons with Mustafi, Xhaka, Iwobi, Elneny etc.

I wouldn't say Wenger getting consistant top 4 10 years ago when they had players of quality of RVP, Henry and Fabregas over that period is much relevant considering the state of the squad.

Probably worth looking at some of their points totals for some of those top 4 seasons aswell.

05/06- 67 points.
06/07- 68 points.
08/09- 72 points (64 points would've been enough for 4th that season)
10/11- 68 points (63 only needed)
11/12- 70 points

So 4 seasons there when they struggled to even make 70 points yet it was more than enough to get 4th. This season they could finish on 73 points and finish 5th if Man. United continue their great form in the league.
 
FootballHQ said:
Was he? They were seriously considering Arteta as manager before he came into the frame.

Generally for life after Wenger you'd want a manager used to managing big personalities which he did at PSG, used to playing in european competition and also dare I say it overachieving with the resources he had which he certainly did at Sevilla.

I think he's done o.k. It honestly wouldn't have shocked me this season if Arsenal had been 10 points off top 4 (similar position to what Mourinho left you in) so to be just point off 4th with arguably the best run in of all three times (given they've already played Man. City and Liverpool twice) isn't too bad.

I really don't think he's done worse than Sarri considering Chelsea have a much better squad than Arsenal.
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Yeah. I'd rather have had Arteta if I was an Arsenal fan. He's an unknown quantity but knows the club and has overseen excellence under Guardiola at City (who speaks of him very highly) and could potentially be one of the next big names in management over the next few years. It was a risk worth taking considering they'd already fallen out of the top 4.

With Emery you know what you are getting - a manager who has a history of average league performance (lost the league to Monaco in France/didn't finish top 4 once with Sevilla) and no stand out managerial qualities like player development, tactical prowess, man management or a specific philosophy to boot. Nagelsmann and Jardim are two others who I think also would have been better suited to the job.

I don't think Arsenal have as bad a squad as people think. Put Lacazette, Ozil, Ramsey and Aubameyang on the pitch in enough games and they should have enough firepower to beat most sides in the league. Either way, the real issue at Arsenal stems from the very top.
 
Arsenal strikers have kept them on course for top 4 no doubt. Ramsey from October has been confirmed as leaving the club so can understand Emery wanting to build from the long term and so not start him all the time.

In any case we've seen plenty of games in the past where starting Ramsey + Ozil has left the DMs massively exposed and too much ground to cover when there is counter attack from the opposition.

That shouldn't be a problem for Chelsea with Kante able to cover ground of two DMs if only Sarri was more flexible in his approach.

Injuries have also hurt Arsenal a bit. Holding was starting to string together some good games before he did ACL at Old Trafford and they haven't looked convincing playing back 3 since. Bellerin injured so they have to start playing Lichsteiner more which is obviously bad news and even losing Welbeck was a blow, good squad striker who has his role in big games.
 
I think Emery has done a decent job making the best out of the mess he inherited.
 
Getting a lot of stick on Twitter.

I honestly don’t see anything that he has done which is improved from Wenger besides play suicide football from the back.
 
He actually has a plan on how to play. He has shit options at the back and hands are tied in terms of players being available to him. If he gets some backing in the transfer market , he could really flourish.
 
31 shots for Watford, Imagine the scenes here if a Bottom team did that to us. :lol:
 
He's basically a Poundland Ancelotti/Benitez.

Capable of pulling the rabbit out of the hat in a cup or one off situations but lacks the game management on a week by week basis.
 
96 shots in the first 5 games.

For perspective, that's the same amount of shots Bolton conceded in their first 5 games while having to play mainly 17 year olds due to their senior players all leaving.
 
The main problem for Unai Emery is that he always tries to be too clever. He doesn't have a certain style of play and counts on his best tactic for the day. The thing is his players doesn't understand often what he actually wants from them. They are no robots who can play perfectly according to the plan, which is different every time and they didnt have enough time to prepare for it..
 
Taking Ceballos off was pretty dumb. And whoever thought of bringing Luiz in needs assessing. Will be interesting to see how he approaches the Frankfurt game. Fans not impressed with Pepe either. Emery's got a tougher job than Ole in my opinion. Could turn nasty as early as xmas for him.
 
RedPed said:
Taking Ceballos off was pretty dumb. And whoever thought of bringing Luiz in needs assessing. Will be interesting to see how he approaches the Frankfurt game. Fans not impressed with Pepe either. Emery's got a tougher job than Ole in my opinion. Could turn nasty as early as xmas for him.
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I said at the start he's under the most pressure for top 4.

Pochettino has credit in the bank from previous seasons while OGS and Lampard can hide behind the youth movement aslong as performances are looking promising. Emery however has spent on players towards delivering immediately so has absolutely no mitigating circumstances to hide behind if he doesn't deliver CL football.
 
Dancfc said:
I said at the start he's under the most pressure for top 4.

Pochettino has credit in the bank from previous seasons while OGS and Lampard can hide behind the youth movement aslong as performances are looking promising. Emery however has spent on players towards delivering immediately so has absolutely no mitigating circumstances to hide behind if he doesn't deliver CL football.
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Good post.
 
Casanova85 said:
He's like Valverde but without Messi+Top Players to save his ass.
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Think the team he has can deliver top four. Unlike Valverde his targets are lower. But he should go regardless of where the team finishes.
 
AJ10 said:
31 shots for Watford, Imagine the scenes here if a Bottom team did that to us. :lol:
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I'm sure when we beat Arsenal away in Jose 2nd season they had a similar amount of shots on goal. DDG was like a man possessed that night.
 
Normally you wouldn't think there was big pressure on Emery to get top 4 but given we have Chelsea both have new managers and are focusing on youth, I think that expectation should and probably does exist.

In terms of squad, I don't believe there's that much between us and Arsenal. I do think we have a better team than them - better back 5 and then a few midfielders/forwards to boot. But they've got enough to be fighting for it and it's Emery's second year there. Then there's obviously the feeling that we and Chelsea don't have top managers at the helm.
 
#WengerIn was trending on Twitter after the game...

Seems a few Arsenal fans are upset he’s tarnishing Wengers legacy. Wasn’t there a few who wanted him to join us? Just shows you that a sure thing isn’t always a sure thing, especially if you’re coming from an oil rich team in a piss poor league.
 
crossy1686 said:
#WengerIn was trending on Twitter after the game...

Seems a few Arsenal fans are upset he’s tarnishing Wengers legacy. Wasn’t there a few who wanted him to join us? Just shows you that a sure thing isn’t always a sure thing, especially if you’re coming from an oil rich team in a piss poor league.
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That's silly considering They flew up Wenger Out banners in order to sack him and save himself from ruining his own legacy. :lol:
 
Wegner was a colossal disappoinment after 2008-09. It's not like Arsenal always finished 2nd from 07 to 18 or reached another UCL final in that era. 2006-2008 was bad enough tbw.

That's why SAF was the BETTER manager by many miles.
 
Dancfc said:
96 shots in the first 5 games.

For perspective, that's the same amount of shots Bolton conceded in their first 5 games while having to play mainly 17 year olds due to their senior players all leaving.
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The problem isn't just the players, I'm not defending our defence because they are giving away chances themselves. But we are finding ourselves again and against under pressure without anyway of countering it. The midfield is still dysfunctional, no control and no way to counter other teams.

Bojan11 said:
Getting a lot of stick on Twitter.

I honestly don’t see anything that he has done which is improved from Wenger besides play suicide football from the back.
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Last 2 or so years under Wenger the football became boring but before that even though the results weren't there at least we played great football. Usually battered teams only to lose the game giving away a stupid chance. At the moment we are under the cosh most games and usually score with some great individual play.
 
So, why are his teams so poor away from home? Because it's not just an Emery at Arsenal thing, I remember Sevilla going an entire league season without an away win. I don't know about PSG, but that's hard to judge anyway because PSG in Ligue 1 are basically in a league of their own in terms of talent.

And not just cliches about bottle, it has to be something in the way he sets them out tactically that is making them struggle so much away, whilst looking competent at home. He's generally actually quite a pragmatic manager (in terms of not having a clear philosophy he rigidly sticks to) so he should be capable of adapting the team a bit to try and fix that away problem.

Or do we genuinely think it's purely a psychological thing that he's incapable of fixing?
 
I defended Emery a lot last season but really struggling to see him doing much this season and can see him leaving next summer. Arsenal might scrape into top 4 but that will be due more to decline of Spurs and Man. United.

They remain terrible away with little style and I can't understand his team selections this season. Does Torreria want to leave as I can't understand him being on the bench every game, he's a better DM than Xhaka. Thought Tierney would get a start aswell given he looked good in the cups. Pepe looking very much a panic buy, takes way too many touches in the final third.
 
He is not that smart of a manager like some here make him to be. A past it wenger was a better manager and played a better brand than emery does. Can't see him staying beyond this season especially if he does not have arsenal finish in top 4
 
He's just a poor coach. No reason for Arsenal to keep him on. As long as he's there they're a club without direction.
 
AshRK said:
He is not that smart of a manager like some here make him to be. A past it wenger was a better manager and played a better brand than emery does. Can't see him staying beyond this season especially if he does not have arsenal finish in top 4
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Yep, Arsenal not finishing in top 4 this season would be very much a sackable offence given it feels another transational season for many below the top 2 like 15/16 was.
 
They have been awful away from home for a long time now. Doesn't look like he knows how to play these kind of games.
 
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