Aston Villa come to Newcastle on Saturday awaiting the arrival of a manager the Magpies targeted ahead of Eddie Howe. Unai Emery has decided to quit Villarreal for Villa Park just over a year since rejecting a move to St James’ Park under United’s new owners.
But while Amanda Staveley and co can have no regrets about having to turn to second-choice Howe, what is the data verdict on the comparison now between him and Emery?
The stats from the last 12 months? They suggest United would have been back in business with either man at the helm... and show remarkable similarities between the two.
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It was this time last year when Newcastle identified Emery as their first choice to succeed Steve Bruce, and then triggered his €6m release clause.
But, while admitting he “liked the idea” of a move to Tyneside, the former Arsenal manager decided he was not ready to give up on Villarreal’s Champions League campaign.
That decision was vindicated when the unsung La Liga club reached the semi-finals of the prestigious competition, beating Juventus and Bayern Munich along the way.
Having already won Villarreal the Europa League in 2021 - their first ever major trophy, but the fourth time he had lifted the trophy – Emery’s hero status in Spain was secured.
But while Howe has worked wonders himself at the same time in turning United from apparent relegation certainties to a genuine Premier League force, how has Emery’s own domestic record in the last year stacked up?
Points-wise, there is literally nothing to choose between him and Howe since the latter took charge at St James’ Park. In 39 league games each since then, both men are averaging 1.67 points per game.
Howe has the edge on his former fellow job candidate this season, with Newcastle’s 21 points from their opening 12 league games – or 1.75 per game - marginally better than Emery’s 18 in 11 (1.6 points per game).
But while United’s defensive strength has also been a big factor in their start to the current campaign, Villarreal under Emery have been even meaner at the back.
Conceding just seven goals at 0.64 per game in La Liga is even better than Newcastle’s 0.8 ratio, although while United boast the best defensive record in the Premier League, Villarreal are only second best in Spain behind Barcelona.
And perhaps more surprising have been the Yellow Submarine’s impressive attacking numbers. In those 39 league games since he turned down Newcastle, Emery’s Villarreal have scored 1.64 goals per game to United’s 1.33 per game under Howe.
But with the stats not taking into account the crisis Howe inherited from Bruce compared with the long-term stability at Villarreal, can any Newcastle fan really regret Emery’s decision to stay in Spain?
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