It has been just over a year since Unai Emery took charge of Aston Villa and the job he has done during that period has been nothing short of remarkable.
When Unai Emery was handed the reigns, Aston Villa were in a mess, hovering above the Premier League’s relegation zone, individual players out of nick and fans getting restless.
There was no style of play or identity to the club, even though things were going so well, at one stage, under Dean Smith.
That Steven Gerrard reign was disastrous of the highest order, but according to Gary Neville, when Unai Emery took charge of Aston Villa, he walked into a ‘stable’ environment, as he told Sky Sports.
This stems from the former right-back arguing with Jamie Carragher over the issues at Manchester United and how Erik ten Hag, after over a year in charge, still doesn’t know his best XI, nor is there a style of play to his team.
Jamie Carragher referenced Unai Emery’s Villa side and how you know what they are about in comparison to Manchester United, something Gary Neville agreed with.
But his suggestion that Villa were ‘stable’, along with Tottenham Hotspur when they appointed Ange Postecoglou, is pretty ridiculous and wrong.
Gary Neville on ‘stable’ Villa
“Those managers that you talk about come into stable environments,” said Neville.
Villa flying under Emery
The mess Emery walked into is what makes the job he is doing just outright outstanding. Yes, the fans expected improvements, but not to this level.
12 home league wins on the bounce. Sitting fifth in the league. Closer to the top than sixth-placed Newcastle United. And only defeats to Eddie Howe’s side and Liverpool this term.
Added to that, individual players, from Ollie Watkins to Douglas Luiz, are just playing at the top of their game and showing no signs of stopping.
This is a great time to be a Villa fan. It wasn’t stable when Emery walked in, but the platform is now as strong as it has ever been.
