Stuart Pearce has told TalkSPORT he would have loved Aston Villa to appoint Sean Dyche as manager instead of Unai Emery, after the Midlands clubs announced that the Spaniard had joined the club from Villarreal on Monday evening.
Emery joins Villa just a few months after taking Villarreal to the Champions League semi-finals. He even won the Europa League in 2020-21, beating Manchester United in the final. Villarreal have struggled this season, however.
The ex-Arsenal manager will take over at Villa from November 1 – meaning Aaron Danks will remain in charge this weekend. Villa take on Newcastle, but Emery will not be in the dugout until November 6, against Manchester United.
While many see the appointment of Emery as a coup, Pearce told TalkSPORT he would love to have seen Dyche given the chance to manage Villa. Dyche remains out of work since being sacked by Burnley earlier on in 2022.
“I would have loved Sean Dyche to have got the opportunity. If you offer a direct comparison, Newcastle didn’t want Eddie Howe and they’re sat fourth in the league. Sometimes, you can belittle what is right under your nose.”
Pearce would have loved Villa to appoint Dyche instead of Emery
Dyche would have been a decent appointment. One of England’s best managers. While his time at Burnley has often been fighting against relegation and making his team hard to beat – he has got Burnley into Europe beforehand.
But Emery is a top, top gaffer. While his time at Arsenal did go under the radar, his spells with Sevilla and Villarreal have been excellent. The Spanish boss is arguably one of the best at taking a club in Villa’s position close to Europe.
Villa have the cash, but they need the manager to bridge the gap. They have some seriously talented players at the club. So, the players, the infrastructure, the history, the size – it is all there. Emery could be the missing piece.
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