Unai Emery hurried to open his laptop on the coach back to Birmingham last night as he prepares another PowerPoint presentation of the highs and lows of Aston Villa’s latest performance.
“Yes, very happy,” Emery said of Villa’s 2-0 win at Goodison, with his clinical side thanks to two second-half goals from Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Buendía. The head coach has been a picture of pure frustration in recent weeks and, when asked if he would relax and save and celebrate what was a sweet victory, the workaholic Emery replied: “But we have to prepare for the next one. match against Crystal Palace”. .”
Birmingham Live’s ashley preece he was at Goodison Park for us on Saturday and here are his big takeaways, starting with one thing in particular that continues to baffle the Basque manager…
EMERY DESPERATE TO TRANSMIT THE FORM
Now, rather than get lyrical about the record-breaking Watkins, or the impact Buendía had, or the crucial blocks from Emi Martinez and Tyrone Mings, Emery was quick to question why Villa are a totally different team away from home. Since his appointment, no other Premier League team has won more away wins than Villa’s four and Arsenal have also managed four wins in their last five games. Villa have only dropped points to Man City at the Etihad, and that was largely due to his own action.
“We are giving (fans) more opportunities to be happy outside than at home,” Emery confessed. “I want, in the next game against Crystal Palace, the same performance (against Everton). I want to know what is the difference between playing away and playing at home. In this process we will work to find a solution. To be competitive as we were today, where it is not easy to beat us. Our problem is at home.”
READ MORE: Every word from Unai Emery about the locker room message and why he loved the Emi Buendía moment
READ MORE: Aston Villa vs Everton player ratings: Ollie Watkins equals record, McGinn and Buendía impress
Villa’s 12 points out of 15 available away from home (2.4 points per game, on average) contrast with seven points out of 18 possible at Villa Park (1.1 points per game). The players seem a bit more nervous at home, hence the mistakes we’ve seen in recent weeks. Emery, meanwhile, just can’t figure out why as he desperately searches for answers. It could perhaps be the demands of the Villa Park crowd who have always wanted their team to play aggressive and attack fast while Emery instead wants his players to remain calm, collected and in possession, citing what the 90s are like. minutes. long time in football and, as the victory over Everton showed, the goals will come at the end. It is something that I will tell the coach this week knowing that Villa’s form at home continues to give him sleepless nights.
WATKINS NOW HAS ANDY GRAY IN THE SIGHT
Let’s talk about Watkins then, as he scored five from five, becoming the first Villa player to do so since Paul Rideout in January 1985. The striker will now be looking to equal Andy Gray’s record of scoring in six consecutive games. in 1977.
Watkins was almost flawless with his work yesterday, from holding it up to a neat interplay as he nearly scored a well-aimed header, but Jordan Pickford acrobatically saved it and deflected it towards the post. “I feel very confident in front of goal,” said the Villa man, with Watkins firmly among the fittest forwards in Europe at the moment. An England squad announcement is coming up, and surely Watkins is set to earn his first call-up in almost a year, with his last call-up coming in March 2022.
MCGINN FINALLY BACK TO HIS BEST
Another in-form player and John McGinn made another flashy change. His new role as a right midfielder has really suited the Scotsman since he returned from injury. He protects his full-back behind him while also enjoying the kind of freedom he enjoys in a Scotland shirt, typified when he stormed into the box to win Watkins’s penalty, while also joining the attack before playing Buendía for his game. killing second.
“I like it better that way,” was McGinn’s message on the bus home last night. The skipper was delighted that Villa was winning again, but it should also be a nod to the form he has been showing of late, with McGinn close to returning to his best. The popular 28-year-old has become an all-round player again, and may he continue for a long time.
MARTÍNEZ ADMONATED FOR LOSS OF TIME… AGAIN
And finally, it’s a good job that we’ve passed the five-booking threshold for an automatic one-game suspension given Emi Martinez’s time-wasting antics. Martínez picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, all for wasting time, at Goodison as he looked to wind up the clock as early as the 77th minute. Had Martínez registered five cards in Villa’s first 19 matches, he would have received a penalty. However, the yellow card amnesty for the remainder of the season is 10 yellow cards up to and including his team’s 32nd Premier League match which, in Villa’s case, will be at Brentford on April 22. Martínez will need another five yellow cards in Villa’s next game. eight games to earn an automatic two-game suspension. You wouldn’t put it past him though! We love you so much, Emma…