arsedoc md wrote:
We literally don't have a defence line- which was already quite tenuously strung together in the first place. Kola is the only one remaining in first choice back line and he's not really much of a defender.
Now about the new spine, Emery clearly wants to play primarily through the wings, (and has been quite successful in that sense even with iwobi and mkhi two highly inconsistent players at this point of time). So I wonder what was the recruitment process like when they were hiring emery and doing those interviews.
I suspect that the recruitment process for AW's replacement was perhaps more focused upon avoiding a potential repetition of the 'manager as god scenario' (and fitting in with the new structures), than it was for any football reasons on the pitch.
Whilst I still rate Emery & am pleased we have taken him over the likes of TH & Arteta, I do not think he has been a good fit in terms of his preferred style and this squad, as there are fundamental differences between the 2 styles of play from the manager who built the squad and his replacement.
It is also because these fundamental differences were not addressed in the summer (genuine width), that IMO Emery had very little involvement in the summer transfers, and the new brains trust simply focused on the most obvious and fundamental needs of the squad = midfield and defence.
IMO this is the first transfer window that Emery has had any influence in terms of his needs for his style, but it is also the first transfer window whereby the club finds it's hands tied because of the financial mismanagement of the last 5 or so seasons.
Whilst I understand the reasons we are unable to spend (wages rather than revenues), I am somewhat disappointed there has been no signs of any proactive plan to address the issues. For mind the ideal would have perhaps been to have looked to used the strengths of the squad to look to both regain top4/CL AND to have improved the sale price for those players who do not fit the requirements of the new style, with the view to then selling those players in the summer and to then use that as the point to rebuild according to the requirements of the new style. However if anything it looks like the new structure has enabled Emery to try to implement his style on the current squad regardless of the consequences in terms of the value of those resources. If anything the season to date has probably devalued the likes of Ozil in regards to his market value, although perhaps this IS the strategy to make him more affordable as a transfer because of his wages. If so then IMO it's very much cutting off your nose to spite your face.
As it stands IMO we have one foot in each camp as such and we're neither one thing nor the other in terms of the squad suitability & the new style of play.
This whole transfer window scenario reeks of desperation and piss poor planning akin to a 'suck it and see' approach.
Apologies for being off topic as such.
As for our finances I'm hoping Josh is in his father's ear about the direct parallels seen with the Rams re investment and success. IMO the myth about our traditions and values of doing things 'the right way' (and hence our self funding financial approach), is akin to the line about "the biggest trick the Devil ever made was to convince people that he didn't exist".
