Fair point but there have been games this season where we have used no subs at all/less than the allotted. Opportunity missed? Agree with your point about squad harmony, but it's a bit absolutist to suggest that giving the younger players game time in a controlled way when the result is all but assured would upset the balancePep has to keep his 1st team - experienced - squad as happy as possible. In order to get them to accept rotation, and maybe a final 10/15 minutes in various games, he can't promote youngsters much. He puts them in during the early cup runs, which is the best they can expect. He can't really be criticised for it, as there's rarely been any evidence of internal disruption, and his success at his job in the last 5 / 6 years speaks for itself.
Not fit for wedIf Ake is fit then we'll be fine, he won't let anyone down.
Dinho played full back also against madrid first legWhat about the full backs ? mendy injured all the time without a replacement walker in and out cancello plays left back stones right back ake left back
Not great but we'll be okNot fit for wed
Pep has handled the young players well, he knows their strengths and more importantly weaknesses, when they are good enough and ready they will get the chance but you have to be very, very good to get anywhere near this side.I disagree. There have been plenty of games our youngsters could have been brought on when we've been 2 or 3 goals up. Only Pep knows why he mostly chooses to bring on an established first teamer instead of giving a young player valuable first team minutes to gain confidence and experience.
There is no insurance at this part of the season, its about getting over the line and in first place, that is all that matters.Don't get me wrong I don't and it was date I say a massive result but you & I know there's maybe 10-12 games a season where putting a youngster on particularly knowing our core squad is smaller than all the top teams would ultimately give us just a little bit of insurance when we get to the crunch part of the season.
West Ham is the dodgy game, they need the points to get back in to Europe, that could well be the decider.Not fit for wed
How? Pep wont know if they're good enough to play in the first team if he doesn't play them. And the only way he can play them is to try them when we have a comfortable lead, but that isn't happening to several youngsters sat on the bench. Bringing a youngster on for a couple of minutes now and again is all they're getting, if they're lucky.Pep has handled the young players well, he knows their strengths and more importantly weaknesses, when they are good enough and ready they will get the chance but you have to be very, very good to get anywhere near this side.
Grealish is a hugely talented player but we have seen how he has struggled to be part of this side.
Maybe they are not good enough yet, I know one thing, Pep knows a player and he knows how to win titles, that all that matters.How? Pep wont know if they're good enough to play in the first team if he doesn't play them. And the only way he can play them is to try them when we have a comfortable lead, but that isn't happening to several youngsters sat on the bench. Bringing a youngster on for a couple of minutes now and again is all they're getting, if they're lucky.
Bottom line is he doesn't trust them.
So do Wolves and Southampton will be looking over their shoulder.West Ham is the dodgy game, they need the points to get back in to Europe, that could well be the decider.
Bottom line is he won't throw them under the bus wen there is a title on the line. Especially the amount of slapped arses we have supporting us now that give players abuse and threats for not having the best of games. This kind of thing could ruin a young players career and pep knows that it's protecting the future its top management.How? Pep wont know if they're good enough to play in the first team if he doesn't play them. And the only way he can play them is to try them when we have a comfortable lead, but that isn't happening to several youngsters sat on the bench. Bringing a youngster on for a couple of minutes now and again is all they're getting, if they're lucky.
Bottom line is he doesn't trust them.
Maybe they are not good enough yet, I know one thing, Pep knows a player and he knows how to win titles, that all that matters.
Agreed keeper, but Pep has had plenty of games he could have given minutes to youngsters without it affecting the outcome of us winning the league.Bottom line is he won't throw them under the bus wen there is a title on the line. Especially the amount of slapped arses we have supporting us now that give players abuse and threats for not having the best of games. This kind of thing could ruin a young players career and pep knows that it's protecting the future its top management.
You are absolutely correct. Your post is referring to the mental / psychological issues related to the rotation process -which is one of the most complicated ones in modern football. There is a series of variables involved and you have to deal with them them correctly, most of them on the training ground, others in term of man management. Without hesitation, Guardiola's City presents the most successful application I have ever seen -which had a huge impact to the team's achievements, especially in the last two (by definition complicated) seasons. Not without problems though, they will indeed occur, practically it's deterministic: To use your language, a certain senior player did not accept that policy last season. It fucked his head -which had a negative influence to his performance and to the team as a whole. The difference with Guardiola is that he loves his players, he will never throw them under the bus. He left the door open for the player in question (like he does for everyone), and things are significantly better this season in terms of his contribution to the team's effort...Pep has to keep his 1st team - experienced - squad as happy as possible. In order to get them to accept rotation, and maybe a final 10/15 minutes in various games, he can't promote youngsters much. He puts them in during the early cup runs, which is the best they can expect. He can't really be criticised for it, as there's rarely been any evidence of internal disruption, and his success at his job in the last 5 / 6 years speaks for itself.
We are at the most important part of the season, not a time to discuss replacing players who are a hugely important part of the run in.It baffles me we arent being linked with a fullback (preferably a RB with Cancelo + Zinny being our 2 LB options), were so short in defence... unless pep is trusting Egan-Riley to step up next season
Precisely!You are absolutely correct. Your post is referring to the mental / psychological issues related to the rotation process -which is one of the most complicated ones in modern football. There is a series of variables involved and you have to deal with them them correctly, most of them on the training ground, others in term of man management. Without hesitation, Guardiola's City presents the most successful application I have ever seen -which had a huge impact to the team's achievements, especially in the last two (by definition complicated) seasons. Not without problems though, they will indeed occur, practically it's deterministic: To use your language, a certain senior player did not accept that policy last season. It fucked his head -which had a negative influence to his performance and to the team as a whole. The difference with Guardiola is that he loves his players, he will never throw them under the bus. He left the door open for the player in question (like he does for everyone), and things are significantly better this season in terms of his contribution to the team's effort...
We also need to identify another issue here. This season we suffered a lot of "small" injuries. There were players close to hitting top form (some of them having left their injuries behind) when suddenly they had to be taken off for treatment, for a period of like 1, or 2, or 3 or more weeks. Which is an annoying thing. Because when they recover, they will have to get match fit again. And the only way to achieve that is through game time. Phil, Jack, Ilkay, Kevin, Gabby and others, have all experienced this type of situation...
With everything on the line, Pep had to find ways so as to smoothly incorporate these players into the team's proceedings again, while at the same time avoiding all possible costs. Either by starting them in the initial lineup (having assessed the risk involved) or through substitutions. Making sure that both objectives would be fulfilled: Players would get the necessary minutes AND the team would keep on winning...
When such a thing occurs, some people fail to understand its importance (the moment it occurs). And when it starts paying off with players gradually finding their form again, like after 1, or 2, or 3 games, the same people fail to understand how carefully the manager has planned this process. It's not like things just happen, and it's certainly not fucking coincidence. Everything is planned and taken care of meticulously...
As for the youngsters, what can I say. You can only hope that talented boys out there will be lucky enough to find somebody to treat them and take care of them the way Pep has with a certain Phil or a certain Cole, for example. It's education at the highest level (the term Danilo and others have used in interviews so as to describe their experience working under Guardiola's regime) involving everything related, tactics, technique, mental maturity etc. Most of all, I would say interaction within a team that operates in the framework of a specific strategy. The man knows what to do, how to do it, when is the perfect timing to do it...
Corrected for you.Isn’t he a c**t ?
Yeah maybe they'll think they can play a weakened side as we've no defence left, not sure "mind games" are for you.Even if it a bluff, he has still given the scouse a boost.
We have two talented RB's in Couto and Kabore, both are impressing out on loan. I hope they get a chance in pre-season.It baffles me we arent being linked with a fullback (preferably a RB with Cancelo + Zinny being our 2 LB options), were so short in defence... unless pep is trusting Egan-Riley to step up next season