As Luis Milla stood motionless on the touchline, arms folded and lips pursed, you could not help but wonder is the <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBKYXppcmE=" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBKYXppcmE=">Al Jazira</a> coach simply the victim of bad timing? He certainly looked the part at the final of the Etisalat Cup, having traded his club issue tracksuit for a crisp, dark blue shirt and grey trousers, appearing always outwardly calm, seemingly oblivious to the clamour around him. Even in his post-match news conference, he remained resolutely stoic, despite the questions, again, about whether or not he will still be employed at the club come the end of this season. "I've one more year on my contract," he reminded the gathered media, before insisting a manager should not be considered dispensable purely in the blush of an underserved defeat. The merits of the loss are disputable – <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9Bam1hbg==" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9Bam1hbg==">Ajman</a> can claim to be worthy winners – but, if Milla is to depart, the final reverse will have been only a contributing factor, not the primary cause. His record since replacing Paulo Bonamigo in February tells its own tale: 16 matches played, four victories and seven defeats, a win ratio of 25 per cent. At the time of his arrival, Jazira were unbeaten in 12 <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL1N1YmplY3RzL1VBRSBQcm8gTGVhZ3Vl" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL1N1YmplY3RzL1VBRSBQcm8gTGVhZ3Vl">Pro League</a> rounds and represented the most reliable threat to <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBBaW4=" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBBaW4=">Al Ain</a>'s title defence. Now, they sit fourth, and this weekend drag a weary squad to <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9CYW5peWFz" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9CYW5peWFz">Baniyas</a> in a match that could extinguish aspirations of a top-three finish. Where does Milla go from there? Some would suggest, wisely, that he should be given the opportunity to prove his pedigree. After all, this is a figure whose footballing philosophy was cultivated at Barcelona, and until recently every top club was thought to covet one of those. Milla had excelled with the Spanish national team's age-group sides, guiding the Under 21s to the 2011 European Championship trophy and helping nurture the talents of David de Gea, Juan Mata and Javi Martinez. In theory, his attacking instincts, emphasis on possession football and high regard for developing youth players implied he would only enhance Jazira. However, it seems he may not be given the chance to fully implement his methods. The timing of his appointment did not aid his cause. Milla joined the Abu Dhabi club weeks after the midseason hiatus, with the January transfer window fastened and the squad set as Bonamigo wanted. If Bonamigo was deemed expendable – there had been murmurings for a while – surely a decision should have been taken during the winter break or, more sensibly, at the season's end? Whereas Bonamigo had served his apprenticeship in UAE football – two seasons of success at <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBTaGFiYWI=" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBTaGFiYWI=">Al Shabab</a> – Milla was a novice, thrust into a role that often requires a prolonged period of transition, yet is seldom granted it. A full preseason would have provided requisite adaptation. Milla, too, was confronted immediately by considerable assignments, chiefly a "make-or-break" league encounter with Al Ain and the commencement of a daunting Asian Champions League group campaign. A congested programme, given the various commitments, did not allow the rookie manager room to breathe. And there have been signs of progress, however slight. Unbeaten in three in the league, Jazira took four points from their final trio of Champions League examinations. Yet Tuesday's defeat to Ajman is a major setback; Milla must galvanise a dispirited bunch for Saturday's tricky test at Baniyas before signing off a troublesome three months against <a href="gopher://topicL3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBXYWhkYQ==" inlink="topic::L3RoZW5hdGlvbmFsL09yZ2FuaXNhdGlvbnMvU3BvcnRzIHRlYW1zL1VBRSBmb290YmFsbCB0ZWFtcy9BbCBXYWhkYQ==">Al Wahda</a> on May 25. Given the faith the club placed in him back in February, it would be befitting to find the Spaniard back in the dugout for the beginning of next season. Only then can we judge whether he is the right man, at the right time, for Jazira. Follow us