I think Vinny turned back the years at the end of last season and without his on pitch contribution the Dippers would be looking for two in a row now. I agree with your plan to beef up midfield we may have to accept that we will not be able to play the same type of game as the last two seasons. We need to find different ways to win and that is the task of management. It is Pep's job to keep us within 5 point of the Dippers come April if he does that we can win the league again no problem.
I find it more than a little puzzling that Vinny managed to stay fit those last ten games or so?
I suspect he played through any type of pain and usual grumble, knowing he was finishing.
The fact remains, we didn't miss him quite as much as some of our critics would now like to suggest.
The result yesterday was on Pep. The starting line-up screamed 'struggle', knowing how comfortable Norwich are at playing through a shite press, starting with Aguero, and then two players in Gundo and Rodri who aren't quick enough to collapse the transitions.
Rodri reminded me of Yaya at times yesterday, he makes certain things look so easy, but he doesn't come to receive the ball like Fern does.
Those two together should start most games and that would certainly help out our defence.
Farke was also very clever, at no stage did a Norwich player press Ederson, they allowed our defenders to retain the ball, knowing they aren't good enough to pass through the lines if, in his case, Gundogan, is too lazy or brave to come and collect in the hole.
It was man for man, even Brighton showed last weekend that any team who tries to be brave and play through our press, can get onto us very quickly if our midfielders are the wrong side of the ball.
Our biggest mistake was not pushing the boat out on Maguire.
We have nobody who can do the basic defending side of the game.
Only Otamendi has those nearest pure facets, so it's hardly a surprise we will struggle in set-ups like yesterday, or against the best teams.