So, didn’t get to see this one and I’m glad. When I heard we’d actually scored I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop and it did. I’d have been beside myself.

Monchi subsequently replaced.

As I noted elsewhere, I’m not surprised NSWE started there. Touted replacement has a very reasonable CV, no idea if he’ll do any better. But where we’ve fallen short is the so-called value buys. There’s no one with an office at Villa Park who hasn’t known about the money down to the penny. NSWE wouldn’t be wealthy men if they’ve been surprised by the rules or consequences. And everyone had to have been very well aware that the Rashford-Asensio gamble only paid off if we’d gotten back to the Champions League. We didn’t so it didn’t.

Which means that some of these players players needed to come through. Now, to be fair, some of it may have been tough. Barrenechea and Iling-Jr were part of the Luiz package, and the Luiz sale was obviously not conducted on our terms. Onana, big money, and injuries. Right kind of player, but maybe not well researched. Or, the kinds of injuries you’re willing to take a punt on in football.

Garcia and Ned. No idea what’s happened to Garcia and for whatever reason, Ned didn’t seem to fit the bill. Malen has been a mystery. Guessand, too early to tell. Maatsen? A lot to like going forward and maybe we should just make him the starter, though without more cover in front on either flank, Cash could be the reason Maatsen’s defensive liabilities are too much to absorb.

But the crux of it is that a lot of these players haven’t seemed to fit the PL profile. Not quite strong or fast enough, in the end, not quite willing or able to contest the length of the pitch. As I’ve mentioned before, seems like Deano has still done a better job finding value than anyone after.

So we certainly haven’t been as astute as some teams around us, bottom line, and don’t have the revenue base to buy and reject more established names like the entrenched CL contenders. We haven’t been able to find an Eze, and have limped along with the Baileys instead.

There are lots of things that aren’t Monchi’s fault, of course. Attitude, application. System. Injuries. Managers don’t really have control over injuries unless is it’s training and recovery or overwork. Emery’s system has worked before, and 4-2-3-1 is hardly controversial. We’ve certainly played faster and more aggressively under him, so I don’t think he’s looking for plodding.

Has he been too quick to write players off? Too cautious? Maybe? Dunno.

It seems clear, though, that we just haven’t been able to spend as well as some others, but even then, it’s not like they’re firm top-four sides, either. There’s a limit and they usually lose those players after two-to-four years. No one’s really forced themselves into our side besides Rogers and Tielemans. We’re all sort of saying, “Well, might as well try this…”

Now it doesn’t mean that Emery’s been flawless. I take a bit less issue with certain decisions than maybe some others do. I don’t know if sitting Ollie for Rashford was a great idea, for example, likewise cutting Malen out of the CL squad. I could say that if Rashford had done more and we’d been back in the CL, then maybe he’d have stayed and we could’ve sold Ollie. Or simply had two strikers. Rashford probably should’ve just been left out wide in my opinion, for example.

At the same time, Emery seems to have decided Torres’ lack of pace and physicality is a liability overall.

Maybe the players we have indicate more of a 4-3-3, though Emery’s application is pretty fluid. Maybe it’s a little too fluid and nuanced for some players. We often move into 3-5-2 (or 3-5-1-1) for example, though it’s not the default system. And maybe right now, we don’t have the right players available to play 4-3-3 well.

Anyway, I can see Ollie having some feelings. And Malen, too, though he hasn’t done much with the rare starts to suggest he’s more than an impact sub so far. Sort of struggling to see who else could arguably feel hard done by. Maybe Maatsen, and certainly not Martinez.

But I do think more effort is a minimum. They are still getting paid, they are still starting, they do have a European match coming up. They need to get their heads on straight and knuckle down. If outside observers can stop pointing to moves that didn’t come off, stop saying we aren’t trying hard enough, stop thinking we play like we’re feeling sorry for ourselves, then I start to point more fingers at Unai.

He’s worked miracles, and at the same time, most everyone does have an expiration date. The circumstances beyond his and the players’ control, though, are simply tests of character. I’ve seen nothing to suggest Emery’s thrown in the towel, and he keeps trying things. I don’t think he’s in over his head or should be in danger unless it gets really catastrophic, and I’m not going to be pleased if players he got into the Champions League have downed tools over finances or moves that didn’t come off. His record and the context suggest he isn’t the problem.

However I feel, though, it’s all starting to get a bit more interesting than I’d like.

Over to you.