TLDR: How the f*ck are these guys third? I have my guesses but I really want to hear other reasons why.
As hilarious as this piece is about December’s MOTM, there are a lot of interesting things to discuss here for me; tactical adjustments, player management (on and off the pitch), Emery’s PR, and what Villa’s domestic campaign this season says about football and the Premier League.
To recap; this run of success is not normal or commonplace; not just for a team of Aston Villa’s size, but for a team that did not score their first league goal until every other professional football club in the pyramid did theirs (91 clubs). 5 without a win to begin their season, followed by a string of 4 victories, a defeat at the home of the reigning champions, and then a string of 8. 12 in 13.
Also something unthinkable in seasons prior; playing 5 without a win to remain stranded in the relegation zone (18th), then winning 6 out of your next 7 to be in the UCL places on goal difference (3rd). This extraordinary climb came delivered by a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth to flip over their negative GD, wins at home against Manchester City and away at Spurs, and a [thriller at the AMEX](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13477913/brighton-3-4-aston-villa-visitors-come-from-two-goals-down-to-win-seven-goal-thriller-to-move-third-in-premier-league). One could have been forgiven for decrying this form as reasonable given their opposition (which included Fulham, Burnley, Bournemouth, Leeds and Wolves) but Emery’s men then followed that up with wins against Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea. Their form has “corrected” since, with a medley of draws and defeats both home and away, but as of midnight on March 1st, Aston Villa are 3rd in the Premier League.
All of this, alongside a Europa League campaign. WTF.
kal14144 on
You have Unai Emory. Go all in on Europa. If you win that top 5 doesn’t matter.
lVlisterquick on
He does this every year. Start strong then lose the dressing room at the end everywhere he goes
3 Comments
TLDR: How the f*ck are these guys third? I have my guesses but I really want to hear other reasons why.
As hilarious as this piece is about December’s MOTM, there are a lot of interesting things to discuss here for me; tactical adjustments, player management (on and off the pitch), Emery’s PR, and what Villa’s domestic campaign this season says about football and the Premier League.
To recap; this run of success is not normal or commonplace; not just for a team of Aston Villa’s size, but for a team that did not score their first league goal until every other professional football club in the pyramid did theirs (91 clubs). 5 without a win to begin their season, followed by a string of 4 victories, a defeat at the home of the reigning champions, and then a string of 8. 12 in 13.
Also something unthinkable in seasons prior; playing 5 without a win to remain stranded in the relegation zone (18th), then winning 6 out of your next 7 to be in the UCL places on goal difference (3rd). This extraordinary climb came delivered by a 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth to flip over their negative GD, wins at home against Manchester City and away at Spurs, and a [thriller at the AMEX](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13477913/brighton-3-4-aston-villa-visitors-come-from-two-goals-down-to-win-seven-goal-thriller-to-move-third-in-premier-league). One could have been forgiven for decrying this form as reasonable given their opposition (which included Fulham, Burnley, Bournemouth, Leeds and Wolves) but Emery’s men then followed that up with wins against Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea. Their form has “corrected” since, with a medley of draws and defeats both home and away, but as of midnight on March 1st, Aston Villa are 3rd in the Premier League.
All of this, alongside a Europa League campaign. WTF.
You have Unai Emory. Go all in on Europa. If you win that top 5 doesn’t matter.
He does this every year. Start strong then lose the dressing room at the end everywhere he goes