Andy Townsend has shared that Aston Villa fans are telling him that now is the time to give their new manager, Unai Emery, a proper chance in the dugout, as he told talkSPORT on Tuesday morning.
The Aston Villa legend stated how there have been ‘too many managers’ over a brief period of time at the club, but they now have a manager who is ‘very accomplished’.
Emery was at Bodymoor Heath on Tuesday, his first day in the job, but he wasn’t able to take first-team training as he awaiting final work visa clearance, as the club posted on Twitter.
The 50-year-old has a very tough job on his hands because Villa are hovering one point above the Premier League’s relegation zone after being slapped 4-0 by Newcastle United over the weekend.
His first step will be trying to beat an in-form Manchester United side that are just sitting outside of the Champions League places on Sunday.
Nonetheless, with Emery now through the doors, Townsend made it clear that he has to be backed, with not just money, but ‘time’ also.
“I have spoken to a couple of people here locally who support the club and everyone is now saying the same thing,” said Townsend.
“Give the guy a (chance). He has to have some time now. There have been too many managers over too brief a period, really.
“When you go back and keep going back, even to when Tim (Sherwood) came out of Villa. Most coaches there don’t seem to get long enough.
“We know that time is a rare commodity nowadays. But I do think, for Unai Emery, look he’s got the CV. He knows what he’s doing clearly. He’s a very accomplished manager. Don’t just give him money, give him the time to lay down some foundations and get the club going properly.”
IMPROVING THE CURRENT CROP
The best thing Emery can do is coach and improve the current crop of players that are already at his disposal.
Villa have spent a lot of money over the years and there are a number of players that just aren’t living up to expectations.
In that regard, it’s easy to boot them out of the door, but as Eddie Howe is showcasing at Newcastle with the likes of Miguel Almiron, Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff, it’s better to improve those within because it elevates the squad even further.
Yes, Emery will need money in the transfer market because Newcastle have also spent a fair few, but it has to be a mix of both.
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