This team reached a marvelous peak last season but the drop off the summit has been worryingly rapid.
We have an ageing spine, the most important part of the team. Around them we lack pace and bite in midfield Teams have worked us out and it isn't difficult to do. Hit long balls to pace and we struggle horrifically. Laporte and Sane coming back isn't going to solve this and we can also forget any ideas of winning the champions league. Four pretty average sides, Liverpool apart, have beaten us fairly comfortably already and even poorer sides often create two or three good chances, even bloody Watford.
This sounds crazy given the season we had last year but major surgery is needed. A top quality left back, two good centre halves, even with Laporte coming back and a tough physical, pacey DM. I don't think Rodri is the answer there. Up front we need a physical world class player. Again Jesus isn't it. A replacement for David Silva. Out goes Ota, Stones, Mendy, possibly Angelino. We didn't have one forward with a goal threat on the bench with Aguero injured so had to stick with him in the hope something came off. We have four wingers when everyone is fit but just two centre forwards, both similar physiques and attributes.
The league has gone now so time to get two proper centre halves in the side and Fern back in his normal position. Let's face it it couldn't be much worse than at present. Pep was outfoxed by the paper boy today and he also needs to seriously up his game and not just keep sticking to the same tactics, when the personnel available at present means they aren't working. Echo's of Pellegrini in his last season so far.