A Bit of Positive Thinking...

S S

ShedDweller

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It occurred to me earlier today that although the recent sequence of results has been very disappointing for everyone, it may yet become a positive moment...

For some time now I've felt that we were becoming quite predictable and easy to play against. A lot of times we got away with due to the sheer quality of the players but there were signs even in the run in last season that the gap was closing.

This of course culminated in us losing the FA Cup Final to the tossers down the road.

Now... when the new season started and we were decimated by injuries I think it revealed a fact that maybe was hidden, maybe even from the staff. That reality is that we simply don't have replacements of sufficient quality and depth in key positions.

We've been getting away with it for a while. We also have a habit of rinsing players to the end of their physical (sporting) lifespan, e.g Yaya, Dave, etc.

I think that there's been a feeling that the young players coming in were going to plug the gaps as the squad ages.

This has now been clearly revealed as a false hope. However good an academy is, its a simple fact that almost no academy player makes that transition smoothly, even Phil Foden had a long period of bedding in the first team football.

Anyway, my theory is this...

This run of results will cause Pep to re assess both his tactics and hopefully the makeup of the squad.

I think this period we are going through will be a positive catalyst for a change and we will come out of it maybe more quickly than people think.

Even the very fact that opposition teams will think that they've worked us out will start working in our favour.

I think a couple of tactical tweaks will improve the situation in the immediate term, and a couple of quality signings in Jan will re invigorate the squad... they have to be top top class players though... not squad fillers... some ego's might get put out but so be it.

We have the greatest manager in world football, the idea that he's not going to come up with something is ridiculous. We also have some very pissed off players now with a point to prove and maybe for the first time there will be a sense that places could be lost and replacements may be brought in.

I think the Liverpool game is actually a perfect opportunity to respond, everyone now thinks they will roll us over.

We might well get a stuffing but I'm thinking something good might happen!
 
ShedDweller said:
It occurred to me earlier today that although the recent sequence of results has been very disappointing for everyone, it may yet become a positive moment...

For some time now I've felt that we were becoming quite predictable and easy to play against. A lot of times we got away with due to the sheer quality of the players but there were signs even in the run in last season that the gap was closing.

This of course culminated in us losing the FA Cup Final to the tossers down the road.

Now... when the new season started and we were decimated by injuries I think it revealed a fact that maybe was hidden, maybe even from the staff. That reality is that we simply don't have replacements of sufficient quality and depth in key positions.

We've been getting away with it for a while. We also have a habit of rinsing players to the end of their physical (sporting) lifespan, e.g Yaya, Dave, etc.

I think that there's been a feeling that the young players coming in were going to plug the gaps as the squad ages.

This has now been clearly revealed as a false hope. However good an academy is, its a simple fact that almost no academy player makes that transition smoothly, even Phil Foden had a long period of bedding in the first team football.

Anyway, my theory is this...

This run of results will cause Pep to re assess both his tactics and hopefully the makeup of the squad.

I think this period we are going through will be a positive catalyst for a change and we will come out of it maybe more quickly than people think.

Even the very fact that opposition teams will think that they've worked us out will start working in our favour.

I think a couple of tactical tweaks will improve the situation in the immediate term, and a couple of quality signings in Jan will re invigorate the squad... they have to be top top class players though... not squad fillers... some ego's might get put out but so be it.

We have the greatest manager in world football, the idea that he's not going to come up with something is ridiculous. We also have some very pissed off players now with a point to prove and maybe for the first time there will be a sense that places could be lost and replacements may be brought in.

I think the Liverpool game is actually a perfect opportunity to respond, everyone now thinks they will roll us over.

We might well get a stuffing but I'm thinking something good might happen!
Click to expand...
Move akanji to right back like the treble season.

Bring in a new CB with pace (van der ven would be perfect for our high line)

Rodri replacement/next to him in double pivot when he returns from injury (Zubimendi preferably or reijnders from Milan)

Haaland back up (that Julian Alvarez is a decent player for athletico lol… but in all seriousness I’d go for Duran from Villa he’s a danger when coming on last 20 minutes and already plays second fiddle so shouldn’t be an issue for him)

Heir to Kev (wirtz/musiala the only 2 that can be capable in my eyes)

4 players no more than 250m there which would completely turn our squad around.

Hopefully Viana isn’t as interested in the net spend trophy like txiki has been.
 
ShedDweller said:
It occurred to me earlier today that although the recent sequence of results has been very disappointing for everyone, it may yet become a positive moment...

For some time now I've felt that we were becoming quite predictable and easy to play against. A lot of times we got away with due to the sheer quality of the players but there were signs even in the run in last season that the gap was closing.

This of course culminated in us losing the FA Cup Final to the tossers down the road.

Now... when the new season started and we were decimated by injuries I think it revealed a fact that maybe was hidden, maybe even from the staff. That reality is that we simply don't have replacements of sufficient quality and depth in key positions.

We've been getting away with it for a while. We also have a habit of rinsing players to the end of their physical (sporting) lifespan, e.g Yaya, Dave, etc.

I think that there's been a feeling that the young players coming in were going to plug the gaps as the squad ages.

This has now been clearly revealed as a false hope. However good an academy is, its a simple fact that almost no academy player makes that transition smoothly, even Phil Foden had a long period of bedding in the first team football.

Anyway, my theory is this...

This run of results will cause Pep to re assess both his tactics and hopefully the makeup of the squad.

I think this period we are going through will be a positive catalyst for a change and we will come out of it maybe more quickly than people think.

Even the very fact that opposition teams will think that they've worked us out will start working in our favour.

I think a couple of tactical tweaks will improve the situation in the immediate term, and a couple of quality signings in Jan will re invigorate the squad... they have to be top top class players though... not squad fillers... some ego's might get put out but so be it.

We have the greatest manager in world football, the idea that he's not going to come up with something is ridiculous. We also have some very pissed off players now with a point to prove and maybe for the first time there will be a sense that places could be lost and replacements may be brought in.

I think the Liverpool game is actually a perfect opportunity to respond, everyone now thinks they will roll us over.

We might well get a stuffing but I'm thinking something good might happen!
Click to expand...
Appreciate this positive message
Needed it
Thank you
 
It just highlights what an incredible achievement 4 in a row really is. It's almost impossible to go through four seasons, replacing players, managing injuries, and juggling all the competitions without it affecting your performances. This season has been one season and a few injuries too many, so far at least. And even then, we're still second (admittedly well off our usual pace).

The 4-0 just sums us up though when we're not on it. Pep's tactics are absolutely the very best when you have the best players on form. But when you don't, we give away so many huge chances. When you look at the match stats, the shots on goal, the shots on target, the possession, the touches in the opposition box, it looks like a game we were unlucky to lose, never mind a hammering. But look at the actual game and you realize the difference in quality of those shots on target. But I'll be honest, I've felt this way at this stage in most of Pep's seasons, and he always manages to fix things for the run in, so I'm not throwing in the towel just yet. But we need to get a fucking run together quickly.
 
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