EMERY: THREE STRENGTHS ...AND THREE WEAKNESSES

PAUL BROWN STRENGTHS

BY

1. A company man – The former Arsenal boss just wants to coach, and will let Newcastle’s owners get on with all the other stuff it takes to run the club. He will not rock the boat, kick up a fuss, or make too many demands just as long as he is left to his own devices on the training ground.

2. Promoting youth – He is not afraid to play the kids if he thinks they are good enough. He gave debuts to Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka at Arsenal and both have gone on to big things. So the young players in the Newcastle academy and on the fringes of the first team should be excited about his appointment because they will get chances to impress.

3. Hard work – Unquestionably a hardworking, methodical, leave-no-stoneunturned perfectionist type who will spend hours on the training ground trying to improve the team. He will care, and you can guarantee he will throw himself into the job with 100 percent commitment.

WEAKNESSES

1. Communication – A poor communicator both with the media and players. At Arsenal some members of his squad complained in private his instructions were unclear. And fans struggled to warm to a man who gives little away in press conferences and often seems uneasy in front of TV cameras.

2. Man management – In Spain he was known for boring players rigid with endless video sessions, exhausting them with hours of tactical work and sucking away their motivation. He does not like confrontation, and as a result struggles to deal with big egos. At PSG he suffered from a lack of authority, and some players in the past have walked all over him.

– Notoriously passive. There are few coaches who can blow a lead or snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory quite like Emery. Remember Barcelona’s historic 6-1 comeback against PSG in the 2017 Champions League? The fear, negativity, the defensive mindset were all evident. Then the crushing defeat as it slipped away in front of his helpless eyes.

3. In-game management