Last night is now gone. No-one should underestimate what a good side CP are and they have Unai’s measure. I back Unai to get this right and although this season will be tough, I think we will still be top half and in the conversation for UEFA places. Too many good players and a quality manager.
Team need the lift, Lindelöf not that lift, while i not mind him coming. International break and end of transfer window help, Unai need to think how solve this awful star, 2 week time for that. And players need to sort out their performances, so far out of form, wrong to blame only Unai imo
For sure he is cover and squad depth not a first XI player. Unai has consistently tweaked things in his time with us and he’s always got things back on track when we’ve looked like derailing. I’m confident given his track record, he’ll do exactly that again.
I'm not yet confident we're top half. We were v much mid table until Feb. There are various teams that look more effective and well balanced than us, plus we've been dodgy defensively for most of the last two years and our goal threat is much lower.
Balance has been a problem for a while. Clear where the weaknesses are. In recent times we have signed good players, just not in the positions that we needed strengthening the most. Feels like a big day today
I think balance in the squad but the first XI has been fine apart from in my humble opinion a couple of tactical gaffs and some poor form in particular Bailey leaving us short out wide.
Bailey’s drop in form last year definitely affected us. Right side offers very little going forward or defensively. Left side has also struggled for balance. Two very different LBs and LCBs and some combos don’t work. Rogers is a bit of a conundrum too
It was huge. In Unai’s asymmetric formation that right winger is key as it pulls the whole opposition over and creates space for the LB when the LM tucks in. Then the RB stays home mostly and is less likely to be caught out of position. Maatsen was the perfect signing for that LB role.
Imo an awful lot more than we think hinged on Bailey’s poor form. Unai then created a new system based on what was available to get us functioning again 2nd half of the season.
I think the right hand side generally is a problem and we lack a number 10. It's probably 3 players imv. Plus we probably still don't know what the right combo is at centre back. Then there's the keeper situation. But emery does have a great record of problem solving
Agree with the right side comment. Bailey’s drop in form was huge for us. No doubt Emery was looking for a 10 with Asensio/Paqueta. To me CB is clear but it depends on who we play. It’s Konsa/Mings or Konsa/Pau in certain situations. Highly opposition dependant imo
My confidence is around Unai’s consistent track record of making the tweaks necessary to get performances back when things looked bleak. He has done it several times before and I believe he’ll do it again. We still have good players and with a settled period after the window, I think we’ll come good
* also important to stay in touch and in Europa league until January window where there is the chance to act in the short term loan market if needed again. So mid table at Jan will not unduly concern me either.
Hope you're right. Think this is his biggest test and the first time I've really felt there to be a negative atmosphere around the club. I remember looking at the Brentford team and thinking they had more goal threat and that didn't feel great. But agree we do have good players
Think that’s a natural reaction and particularly for Villa fans. There’s always a negative atmosphere just beneath the surface with us!!
Lost a bit of the togetherness of late. Started with the ticket pricing last year and selling young players hasn’t helped. Big day today. Dressing room and fans need a lift
We need the dressing room to settle back down. That's abundantly clear to me.