Match Reaction v West Ham (away).

[Letters]

I suggest most of the Wenger players need to go as they are use to be allowed to under perform with no repercussions and right now the same cycle seems to be repeating itself.

I think that's bollox. We finished 6th last year which was the lowest we'd finished under Wenger.
Wenger was poor tactically and a poor motivator. I'm struggling to believe that a different manager couldn't get more out of this lot, whether that manager is Emery remains to be seen. There were early promising signs but now it's all gone to shit. Emery should be given some time to get things right and we definitely need some squad improvements, but I don't buy that we need a massive clearout.

[selassie]

I think that's bollox. We finished 6th last year which was the lowest we'd finished under Wenger.
Wenger was poor tactically and a poor motivator. I'm struggling to believe that a different manager couldn't get more out of this lot, whether that manager is Emery remains to be seen. There were early promising signs but now it's all gone to shit. Emery should be given some time to get things right and we definitely need some squad improvements, but I don't buy that we need a massive clearout.

Our rivals have improved, we are no longer a shoe-in for top 4 and as such NEED to improve upon the players we have and our current playing style (which is still very undefined).

I don't think we can just assume a new manager can come in and finish top 4 with largely the core of the team which has finished outside of the top 4 for two seasons running now.

Moreover, Emery seems to have issues with Ozil, doesn't seem fully convinced of his best starting XI and doesn't seem fully convinced on the teams formation.

Unless he has been given a pass to finish outside of the Top 4 this season Emery needs to stick to a favoured starting XI and formation, all this chopping and changing isn't productive and won't get us top 4....

I personally think the starting XI could be improved in quite a few positions. Right now, the only players I would keep as starters are....Bellerin, Kola, Sokratis, Torreira, Laca & Auba. The first three are questionable too.

[Letters]

Let's leave aside whether we finish top 4 or not. Last year we were miles away from it, we finished 12 points off of 4th and with 63 points.
The biggest issue is clearly defence, we conceded 51 goals, 13 more than anyone else in the top 5.

I don't believe that a new manager can't come in and immediately improve some of that with a couple of signings.
After a promising start we now only have 2 more points now than we did at this stage last year.
We are scoring more but we are conceding more

I've been saying that Emery gets a free pass this season but it's time to start asking some questions.

[Marc Overmars]

It’s a free pass as long as there is evidence of improvements being made.

This time next year if we are still bumbling along like we are now then I’m not going to blame anyone if they feel he should be given the boot. He’s only on a 3 year deal so there has to be some marked improvement pretty soon if he’s going to see that contract out.

The competition is very stiff though. Even when we had the unbeaten run we were still 5th most of the time because the consistency required now is through the roof. You can’t be losing to trash like Southampton and West Ham and expect to be challenging for 4th.

[selassie]

Let's leave aside whether we finish top 4 or not. Last year we were miles away from it, we finished 12 points off of 4th and with 63 points.
The biggest issue is clearly defence, we conceded 51 goals, 13 more than anyone else in the top 5.

I don't believe that a new manager can't come in and immediately improve some of that with a couple of signings.
After a promising start we now only have 2 more points now than we did at this stage last year.
We are scoring more but we are conceding more

I've been saying that Emery gets a free pass this season but it's time to start asking some questions.

I'm pretty much in agreement with you TBH. I think Emery needs time but he also needs to show that he has some kind of plan, I sort of saw one earlier on in the season... but don't anymore. Defence has been a major issue all season, we got away with it earlier in the season due to the unbeaten run and a whole heap of luck.

I think Emery and the coaching staff are doing a poor job on defence, as bad...if not worse than Wenger TBH. I don't believe for a second this defence is as bad as the number of errors or disorganisation we are seeing now and have been seeing all season.

Right now we look no better than last season...we did at times look better than last season earlier on in the season...but only due to some encouraging performances in the big games and improved away form...that is essentially the only real sign of progress.

Emery absolutely has to step up now....the performances and results NEED to improve.

[GP]

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
He tried to implement a style early on but he's realised he doesn't have the squad for it. He's only had one transfer window so it's not really his squad yet.

[Letters]

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
He tried to implement a style early on but he's realised he doesn't have the squad for it. He's only had one transfer window so it's not really his squad yet.

Largely agreed although, honestly, I was expecting a bit more.
Some of Wenger's weaknesses were being a poor tactician - he didn't prepare us for the opposition - and motivator - exacerbated by a lack of a proper captain - and a neglect of the defence.
I did expect a bit of improvement from a new manager, there were early promising signs and while the winning run flattered us a bit I was enjoying the football at times.
Right now it's back to the rubbish we've seen over the last couple of seasons.

[selassie]

I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now.
He tried to implement a style early on but he's realised he doesn't have the squad for it. He's only had one transfer window so it's not really his squad yet.

It kind of did work though in the sense that we at least looked a lot more solid and a lot more fluid going forward earlier on in the season.

Injuries played a part in the mess we are currently in...but I don't understand why he doesn't just revert to type and go back to the previous formation.

He needs to bury the hatchet with Ozil and get him back in the team IMO.

[GP]

I don't know what's going on with Ozil but yes, we can't have 300k a week not even on the bench.

[Globalgunner]

The problem with Ozil is that half a dozen managers have identified the same mental weakness in him but he himself doesnt see it. He thinks he is this eccentric, mercurial oddity that others should compensate for simply because he can occasionally produce that stand up and wow moment. He forgets that he is a sportsman not a university lecturer. Any top sportsman that can be bullied off the ball by mediocre players and will do absolutely nothing to get it back is a liability. Less than 2 months ago we was given the captains armband in another of his numerous comebacks and delivered another "I dont give a toss" performance. He is a liability to the team and to Emerys prospects on the job. Emery has concluded as I do that he would rather fail without him than with him.
Ozil has already "retired" in his mind.

On the larger issue I dont know whats going on with the defence. Holding is the only main cog that is missing, but he shouldn't be that important to the team, except he is apparently. Mustafi is braindead and unnerves the rest of the defence. We played well against Chelsea away to the point I was not upset that we lost because 3 open goals were missed by Iwobi, Auba and 1 other person. We should have won that game. My take on it is we should drop Xhaka and Mustafi, forget that Ozil even exists and hope 2 or 3 loanees can save our skins. I would take Cahill and the other Ex leicester MF guy on loan from Chelsea and see if a playmaker can come in from Spain, whether it be Suarez or Banega. we desperately need one. If Emery continues to play Xhaka then he deserves the sack.