Comparison

Compare managers

Select two manager dossiers for professional tactical analysis, read against the same scale.

Prototype rating

Select manager A

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Chris Davies

Birmingham City

England flag England · 41

GafferScore 76

PossessionStructured Build-UpHigh Defensive Line

Possession / Structured Build-Up

Select manager B

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Unai Emery

Aston Villa

Spain flag Spain · 54

GafferScore 88

Tactical FlexibilityHigh Defensive LineCounter Attack

Tactical Flexibility / High Defensive Line

Tactical comparison

Comparison summary

Chris Davies sets up as positional • control • structured from a 4-3-3, pressing at high intensity behind a high defensive line. Unai Emery is detail-led • offside trap • game management from a 4-4-2, with high press intensity and a very high line.

Key similarities

Width — both around 78
Final Third Structure — both around 83
Pressing Intensity — both around 80
Width — both around 80

Key differences

Verticality — Unai Emery higher by 35
Formation Flexibility — Unai Emery higher by 15
In-Game Adaptability — Unai Emery higher by 15
GafferScore — Unai Emery higher by 12

Tactical similarity55%

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GafferScore

76/100

Chris Davies

Birmingham City

EFL Championship

🇪🇸

GafferScore

88/100

Unai Emery

Aston Villa

Premier League

Comparative shape

Assessment profile

Advantage Unai Emery

Defensive Transition

Advantage Unai Emery

0–100 index

Development

Youth Development

Similar

Player Improvement

Similar

0–100 index

Flexibility

Formation Flexibility

Advantage Unai Emery

In-Game Adaptability

Advantage Unai Emery

GafferLens index

Category assessment

81Attack84

80Defence88

78Pressing84

86Possession82

86Build-Up83

75Transition88

81Player Development82

79Tactical Flexibility94

Verified canonical record

Current Club — League

94Matches140

54.3%Win %52.1%

Career-wide profile data

Career profile record

—Points / game1.83

—Goals / game1.86

—Conceded / game1.11

—Clean sheet %38%

4-3-3Current base shape4-4-2

41Age54

25 JUN 2024Appointed1 NOV 2022

2 years, 3 monthsTenure3 years, 11 months

Until 30 June 2028ContractUntil Jun 2029

2 years, 3 monthsYrs in senior management21 years

Birmingham CityClubAston Villa

EFL ChampionshipLeaguePremier League

Projected

Head-to-head tactical matchup

Provisional

Press vs build-up
Advantage: Unai Emery
Chris Davies's press (78) against Unai Emery's build-up (83) decides whether the first phase survives.
Build-up vs press
Similar
Unai Emery presses at 84; Chris Davies builds at 86.
Attack vs defence
Advantage: Unai Emery
Chris Davies's attacking model (81) against Unai Emery's defensive organisation (88).
Transition duel
Advantage: Unai Emery
Both sides live in the seconds after a turnover — 75 vs 88.
In-game flexibility
Advantage: Unai Emery
Who changes the game from the touchline: 79 vs 94.

Matchup lines are modelled from tactical descriptors, not from recorded fixtures between these managers.

GafferLens Pro

Advanced manager intelligence

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Advanced Tactical Style

Possession + High PressFast / Vertical + Counter AttackBuild combinations

Build-Up Style

Short Build-UpStructured Build-UpDirect ProgressionGoalkeeper InvolvementBack Three Build-Up

Pressing Profile

High PressCounter-PressMid-BlockLow BlockMan-Oriented Press

Attacking Profile

Positional AttackHigh-Tempo AttackWide OverloadsCentral OverloadsHalf-Space FocusDirect Attacking

Defensive Profile

High Defensive LineCompact BlockAggressive DefenceDeep DefenceDefensive Organisation

Player Development

Youth DevelopmentAcademy IntegrationPlayer ImprovementYoung Squad Experience

Advanced Experience

Champions League ExperienceEuropean ExperienceInternational ManagementTitle-Winning ExperienceRebuild Experience

Rating Filters

GafferScore ≥ 85Pressing ≥ 80Build-Up ≥ 80Player Development ≥ 75

Multi-Filter Search

Possession + High Press + Under 45 + Elite Experience

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Advanced Similarity

Build-UpAttackPressingDefenceTransitionsFlexibilityPlayer Development

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Season: 2026/27