Retro Gunner wrote: ↑Thu May 30, 2019 9:03 pm
The last few posters (Steveo, Jock, Leftfoot and Augie) all make some very valid points, albeit often in contradiction. That, I think, shows just how bad the mess is that we're in. There are no easy answers and certainly no guarantees, regardless of whether it's Emery or anyone else doing the job, given our piss poor squad, lack of money to spend and most of all, our parasitic owner.
We'll never know whether Wenger would have done a better job this season, but I see no reason to imagine he would have. I see plenty of evidence that he would have continued to take us backwards and certainly that our flakey, overpaid and limited ability squad, is very much his. As Steveo says, some of the additions have improved us, or at least look more promising than what we have / had. Frankly, I won't waste any time thinking about what the French nutter might have done, because it was imperative that he left, no matter who came in and how bad it might get. He was killing our Club from the inside, an insidious disease, that was eating away more with each passing year. He had to go to begin the curing process, although Kroenke sits above it all as the truly terminal illness.
For what it's worth, I was underwhelmed by Emery's appointment and have been equally underwhelmed by his first season. Two months ago I'd have given him the second year without question and although I still believe he needs that chance, these final few weeks have raised serious concerns for me. I've made the point elsewhere, but given the same squad, I'd expect every manager to achieve different levels of success with them....that's the art of management. We got used to Wenger giving us teams that were less than the sum of their parts, whereas better managers achieve the exact opposite. So, after a full season at the helm, I'd have expected Dick to have the team better organised, more resolute defensively, more motivated and giving 100% every time they take to the pitch. I don't expect him to get our average (at best) lot playing like Messi and Ronaldo, but I do expect him to demand commitment and effort. In all those respects, they look no different to a Wenger team.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned is his poor command of English. I can barely follow what he's talking about when he's interviewed and as English is a second language for almost all of our squad, they must have absolutely no clue what he's on about when he's talking to them. How can he organise and motivate when no one understands a word he's saying ? Not saying that's the whole problem or that it can't be overcome, but it certainly won't be helping.
Anyway, one more season, but I'll be expecting some of the basics to be improving straight away. Oh and his attachment to Xhaka makes me queston his judgement more than anything else. All of us on here will have differing opinions about footballing matters, but this place seems totally united in understanding that Xhaka is a complete and utter liability....totally fucking useless. Lord above knows what Dick is seeing that no one else can see. Worrying.