Guardiola said he felt he owed other players a chance to be in the squad instead

Because we didn't have enough movement upfield, not because Lewis didn't play!

He's no RB, but in mid, he may have contributed, sure.

But, in what real life would you have picked him over seasoned trophy winning internationals in Bernardo or KdB??
In what world would you drop the guy who scored in the semi final from the entire squad, as I said, the team that was selected lost, a team with Lewis doing what he does may not have, we will never know now.

Akanji or Lewis at RB I'd rather have Lewis because Akanji is no RB and he can't cross a ball for shit

KDB contributed jack shit in the final, a fantastic servant and probably our best ever player, but he was MIA all game

I also doubt it had anything to do with movement up front.
 
What else shall I call you for not thinking in logical terms?!

He started 10 games, last year to give actual starters a break and became a backup. Most players, when they make an impact of significant note over an extended period, tend to stay IN the team, not drop to the bench.

The only reason he got an extended run was because of INJURIES.

So, with that in mind, is he a starter?
How to make friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. Give it a read, might assist you in developing future relationships.
 
BluestBlue:
It’s really alarming tbh. It’s concerning how the kids who got us to the final were not even considered. I find it cruel. But it’s not surprising. His loyalty to the old guard is the biggest theme of this horrible season. Not much more we can say. It’s not a shock that even with new signings Pep will still play his favourites. Doesn’t matter if we’re 1 win in 14 or if there are injuries.
This really makes me worried about next season. Does Pep has the ability longer have the flexibility and ability to change our playing style and poor performance; some players, like Foden, are not the same. So I wonder, has Pep changed? Is he affected by his family situation? Has he reached the stage of saturation and exhaustion of ideas?

This really makes me worried. Pep no longer has the flexibility and ability to change our playing style and poor performance; some players, like Foden, are not the same. So I wonder, has Pep changed? Is he affected by his family situation? Has he reached the stage of saturation and exhaustion of ideas?
All I know is THIS Pep can’t stay. All we can do is hope he re-invents himself with the new players the club gives him and has massive clear out
 
In what world would you drop the guy who scored in the semi final from the entire squad, as I said, the team that was selected lost, a team with Lewis doing what he does may not have, we will never know now.

Akanji or Lewis at RB I'd rather have Lewis because Akanji is no RB and he can't cross a ball for shit

KDB contributed jack shit in the final, a fantastic servant and probably our best ever player, but he was MIA all game

I also doubt it had anything to do with movement up front.

Okay. And?

Was he on the bench today or did he come on?

Can't recall.
 
I asked you to address the point I made, but you skip to 'making friends'. I'm not even trying to piss you off, but what you said made no sense!
Honestly, take a look at your posts. Your original post was about Palace overrunning Lewis. I pointed out that neither Forest nor Palace have done this in recent matches. You've then tied yourself up in knots creating a distinction between a 'starter', which Lewis has done on numerous occasions. You then introduced (unprompted) the concept of a 'regular starter' to the conversation and then started throwing around insults.

The initial point was Lewis wasn't overran when we played similar physical teams, including the very team we lost the final against.
 
Honestly, take a look at your posts. Your original post was about Palace overrunning Lewis. I pointed out that neither Forest nor Palace have done this in recent matches. You've then tied yourself up in knots creating a distinction between a 'starter', which Lewis has done on numerous occasions. You then introduced (unprompted) the concept of a 'regular starter' to the conversation and then started throwing around insults.

The initial point was Lewis wasn't overran when we played similar physical teams, including the very team we lost the final against.

No, my original post was about physical sides doing a number on Lewis. It wasn't, solely, about Palace. We watch the same games.

Your point about a 'starter' is stretching what it means to be a 'starter'; first name on the sheet/ virtually undroppable. This is not Lewis, otherwise he'd be starting virtually every game, wouldn't he? So, by your metric, anyone can be a starter and by mine, only players Guardiola can 'trust' are truly the first names on the sheet he builds a team around. That is not Lewis.

So, I'm asking you why he isn't in the team starting EVERY game his fitness allows and not even making the bench at times?

I'll tell you, because he tends to make mistakes by not knowing where his marker is at crucial times and gets leaned on and loses possession at crucial times, also. Sure he has some good games at times, but it doesn't omit the errors he's had as an inverted RB.

Maybe you can explain why stupid Guardiola has put him on the bench or not in the squad?
 
Okay. And?

Was he on the bench today or did he come on?

Can't recall.
Outside of the miss, I thought he played relatively well. There was far more coherency in his passing and his play seemed more free-flowing as a result. In addition, the players around him were much, much better.
 
No, my original post was about physical sides doing a number on Lewis. It wasn't, solely, about Palace. We watch the same games.

Your point about a 'starter' is stretching what it means to be a 'starter'; first name on the sheet/ virtually undroppable. This is not Lewis, otherwise he'd be starting virtually every game, wouldn't he? So, by your metric, anyone can be a starter and by mine, only players Guardiola can 'trust' are truly the first names on the sheet he builds a team around. That is not Lewis.

So, I'm asking you why he isn't in the team starting EVERY game his fitness allows and not even making the bench at times?

I'll tell you, because he tends to make mistakes by not knowing where his marker is at crucial times and gets leaned on and loses possession at crucial times, also. Sure he has some good games at times, but it doesn't omit the errors he's had as an inverted RB.

Maybe you can explain why stupid Guardiola has put him on the bench or not in the squad?
Look back at what I said. I've merely pointed out games he's played in where your initial point about being overrun was false. The whole discussion around 'starter' etc has come from you.

You've got your knickers in a right twist and each time you add more in, when the initial point still stands.

It's not that big of a deal. Everyone can see that Lewis has some failings as a right back and you've hardly flipped the footballing discourse of the forum through some divine revelation. Others thought it was a bit unfair after him putting in a cracking semi final performance & wondered if his ability on the half turn might have helped once it became apparent we'd be camped 30 yards from the Palace goal. Of course this is purely conjecture on my part.

Your tone can also come across as arrogant and dismissive. You might not realise this, which is why I referenced the Dale Carnegie book.
 
So is Pep blaming Txiki for this after all he's the guy in charge Of recruitment.

And is this going to create tension with the new guy Viana. Or is his job to just do what Pep wants?

We have a big squad now because bar Stones everyone is now fit. But the January buys have made a big difference..Arguably without Omar we don't make CL and Khusanov shored up the defence brilliantly for 6 weeks while we stabilised so also had a big role in qualifying if indeed we do.
 
Outside of the miss, I thought he played relatively well. There was far more coherency in his passing and his play seemed more free-flowing as a result. In addition, the players around him were much, much better.

I think the problem people are having with this discussion, is not understanding why Lewis is not full time in the team.

That's my question to you guys. Start of the season all fresh and stuff is great. Games in isolation are great. From a midfielder who has played the inverted RB in the U19s and U23s and is apparently quite adept at it, mistakes and not understanding positioning consistently at senior level, isn't great.

I can't say it any more clearer than that.
 
Look back at what I said. I've merely pointed out games he's played in where your initial point about being overrun was false. The whole discussion around 'starter' etc has come from you.

You've got your knickers in a right twist and each time you add more in, when the initial point still stands.

It's not that big of a deal. Everyone can see that Lewis has some failings as a right back and you've hardly flipped the footballing discourse of the forum through some divine revelation. Others thought it was a bit unfair after him putting in a cracking semi final performance & wondered if his ability on the half turn might have helped once it became apparent we'd be camped 30 yards from the Palace goal. Of course this is purely conjecture on my part.

Your tone can also come across as arrogant and dismissive. You might not realise this, which is why I referenced the Dale Carnegie book.

Yah, I don't care about your Carnegie reference.

If Guardiola wants to pick a team based upon the upcoming opponents, I think he's best to judge. If Lewis, despite having a "cracking semi-final" cannot force his way into the team based on his performances... He's. Not. A. Starter.

I don't know why the logic isn't working in this discussion.
 
Yah, I don't care about your Carnegie reference.

If Guardiola wants to pick a team based upon the upcoming opponents, I think he's best to judge. If Lewis, despite having a "cracking semi-final" cannot force his way into the team based on his performances... He's. Not. A. Starter.

I don't know why the logic isn't working in this discussion.
Has Guardiola's judgment been beyond reproach this season? I'd argue not, seeing as though it's been the worst season we've experienced since he's been here. Of course we all appreciate he's still the best man for the job, but it doesn't mean we can't question some of the decision.

Also, where have I said "he's a starter"? I have said he's started games. You've introduced the starter thing and then got frustrated because I don't really give a toss about that. I raised the point that he has started in games we've won against physical opposition.

Do you communicate with people like this in real life? I'm responding to you against my better nature here, but I'm now genuinely intrigued as to how you think your communication style comes across.
 
If pep wants a small squad that’s fine but first he needs to get rid of stones, ake, nunes, lewis, mcatee and grealish
if you have a small squad it needs to be filled with quality players who stay fit
Pep's being a dickhead here. A team like ours will play 60 games a season on average.
  • 38 in the PL
  • 12 in the CL (expected)
  • up to 10 in the domestic cups
Ignoring goalkeepers therefore, you need 10 starters and 6 on the bench. So for all those 60 games you need a total of 960 slots, either starters or subs. I don't believe any player should play more than 45 games. Overplaying some has run them into the ground and exacerbated injuries.

960 divided by 45 gives 21.33 so let's call it 21. Add in 3 keepers and that makes a squad size of 24. Only 16 of those 21 outfield players can be in a matchday squad, so 5 are going to be left out at any time. But there will be injuries or players deemed at risk of injuries, so some of those 5, maybe all of them, will automatically not be in the squad.

And even if everyone is fit, there's no harm, and potentially a lot of benefit, in a player who's had a run of 10 games or more having a proper break. Going away for a week then a week or so just training and being monitored by the conditioning and medical staff, meaning they're at peak fitness when they are back in the team.

Many of us who are working for companies get paid holidays. I'm lucky, as we get 30 days plus Bank Holidays. In my previous job we got 26 but also had flexitime, so if you'd been under the cosh and built up some flexitime, you could take a day or two and relax. No reason why players shouldn't get some time off during their working months to refresh themselves and their bodies.
 
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There is always a balance, and it will be up to the DOF and Pep to find compromise. I suspect it is around 25 rather than the 22 or 23 that we have had over recent years. Should Pep be insistent, and I doubt he would be, then he would have to be asked to look at the squad and who can be relied upon, and select who should leave. As others have said, you cannot have a small squad consisting of several players who cannot play every few days.
 
Has Guardiola's judgment been beyond reproach this season? I'd argue not, seeing as though it's been the worst season we've experienced since he's been here. Of course we all appreciate he's still the best man for the job, but it doesn't mean we can't question some of the decision.

Also, where have I said "he's a starter"? I have said he's started games. You've introduced the starter thing and then got frustrated because I don't really give a toss about that. I raised the point that he has started in games we've won against physical opposition.

Do you communicate with people like this in real life? I'm responding to you against my better nature here, but I'm now genuinely intrigued as to how you think your communication style comes across.

This is becoming amusing now.

So now you're saying Guardiola is at fault because he doesn't have a crystal ball and cannot tell what's going to happen regarding the players he's selected? Because Guardiola hasn't picked a player who had a "cracking semi-final", so this has created a domino effect on the rest of the 10 players?

I guess we'll never know how Lewis might've had a 'great half turn' and had a significant pass or a pass that didn't work or forced backwards or a shot that came to nothing or one that flew into the back of the net.

I guess we'll never know.

What I do know is Guardiola sees the players in training, day in, day out and so, builds a plan based on the form or actions of the players in training and, somewhat on their last performance.

Not in isolation.

Can he get the balance wrong? Sure, he's a deep thinker and, at times, overthinks.

Is he allowed to have a bad season based on aging players that he still trusts and is loyal to? I guess that's the case. I mean the tears he cried for de Bruyne tells us this story.

Guardiola backs himself to get stuff right and so do I after 4 Prem titles in a row and many cups, so I'll give him a pass.

I'm not frothing over Lewis. It's his task to make himself trusted and seen over a SEASON, not a third of it when he's in over an injury hit midfield.

Is that flowery enough for you? Okay, since it's 'against your better nature to respond', I think we'll leave it there.

Toodle pip.
 
Okay. And?

Was he on the bench today or did he come on?

Can't recall.
We were talking about the FA cup final, have you short-term memory loss or something?

But using your logic, where was Echeverri, deemed good enough to rescue us in said final, only to be stuck back in the lost property box.
 
I think the problem people are having with this discussion, is not understanding why Lewis is not full time in the team.

That's my question to you guys. Start of the season all fresh and stuff is great. Games in isolation are great. From a midfielder who has played the inverted RB in the U19s and U23s and is apparently quite adept at it, mistakes and not understanding positioning consistently at senior level, isn't great.

I can't say it any more clearer than that.
I still have great faith in Rico, as long as he's not playing a position he's unsuited for at this level. Then again, you quoted my positive assessment of KdB's performance on Saturday. What on Earth does my missive have to do with your response above, which is about Rico???
 

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