A lot of Arsenal fans have been critical of Arsene Wenger for the way the Frenchman always sticks up for his players and refuses to criticise them even when it is blatantly obvious to everyone that they have just had a shocker and cost the team badly.
That is Wenger’s way though and the players certainly seem to appreciate it, while it does seem better than kicking football boots at their face (as Fergie once did with David Beckham) or slagging them off publicly and dropping them to the bench at half time (Mourinho and Terry) or accusing them of all sorts and making them train with the reserves (van Gaal with just about everyone in the Man United squad).
However, there is a theory that some players respond better to the pressure of criticism and that seems to be the case with our England international star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 22-year old, set for his 21st senior cap on Saturday, has revealed in an Evening Standard report, that his dad is always ready to point out flaws in his performances.
Chamberlain’s dad was also a pro footballer who earned eight caps for his country and the Ox reckons that his critical appraisal is helping the Arsenal star to improve, while his mum thinks he can do no wrong. The Gunner does not take his dad’s words badly though and is glad that he can get an honest opinion rather than being told he was brilliant if he wasn’t.
He said, “He is a harsh critic but a realistic one. I always know I can go to him for honest advice.
“I can have the worst game of my life, come off the pitch and my mum will tell me I was great. That’s what mums do. But Dad has always been able to tell me in the right way whether I have done well or badly.
“There is always room for improvement and I have grown up knowing however well I have done, there is always something I could have done better.
“The way him and my mum have brought me up extends to my outlook on life and how I want to live the rest of it.”
Do you think that Wenger should perhaps take heed of this and try to be a bit more critical, or honest, in his own player appraisals?