My opinion on Martinez has not changed for a long time and he does nothing to make me want to consider changing my opinion on that he should leave.
For as well as we played last season doubts creeped in during the run in after the Arsenal game, we collapsed started to struggle defensively and eventually finished 5th, the run between march and april was a massive factor in us finishing with a record points finish but when that momentum was needed most we faltered.
Fast forward a few months towards the world cup and we knew almost nothing about our potential pre-season, did he plan anything early? did he only think of his responsibilities to espn? No one knows but last pre-season was horrendously put together and more than anything pushed us further back in terms of the way we was performing.
Thats carried on all season and even in the europa league although we played better at times anyone who can look at the Wolfsburg games and see how we were incredibly lucky to not concede many goals is looking at it with blinkers on.
His tactical decisions at times are baffling to put it politely, his favouritism of certain players (much like
moyes) is incredibly frustrating and stubborn and his ability to set a team up defensively is beyond belief. You look at Wenger at Arsenal he is very much the same and has always had the same stigma about him since his unbeatable side. Compare them with a Ferguson and a Mourinho and you see why the latter have been more successful, they adapt to other teams they play the way needed to win not the way that pleases them and to be a top top manager that is needed, even Guardiola knows at times you have to consider the opposition you play whether to play fast or slow, direct or short this is what separates from Martinez he doesn't seem to know and that includes when fans are screaming at him and the team to change things up.
Ever since he joined i always said although he wasnt my first choice i would back him, the problem with this is i can't back a man i don't believe. Everytime he talks i hear false hope, twisted words, trying to be positive when positivity is not needed. The europa league was his temple of peace this season and not that it has ended with a loud bang every bit of scrutiny will now be re-directed firmly at the league form and final position.
I personally have said before i wouldn't trust him to rebuild a squad and that still stands, his history with money and designation of wages is very shaky to say the least and if past history is anything to go by then more than likely the team is only going to slowly decline as his wigan side did over time, could you really imagine a future were we have a martinez built defense that is capable of regular clean sheets? He struggles enough with a defense that was largely
Moyes created and built with the intention of being hard to beat.
As said before i thank him for an enjoyable 1st year but its just a case of counting the days now until Kenwright see's sense. The next manager is going to be close to a situation Moyes had in that the team is going to have a number of aging players left over with little money to improve and a handful of our better players seeking teams or being approached by teams in a much higher league position than us.