He's likely to leave to be 1st choice somewhere. I think that means we might be looking at one more 'defender'. Maybe more than that. Doku and Paqueta are essential if Palmer leaves.
Say Laporte, Cancelo, Palmer + Philips all go. Probably Gomez, McAtee. I'd go for Tierney and Kimmich. Then the squad is proper. Complete. There's even one more change, which would be Alvarez for a Gabby-like winger who can play CF. On top of Doku. But that is not a priority.
That has all the permutations for tactical change whilst being suited to what we are playing. Plus the numbers in every position. Most importantly, it would be players Pep would play. We know he will risk players fitness rather than field those not in his thinking. That is his professional standard.
There zero truth in us trotting out squad lists of 23, where 6 are players who the manager will not use. That's why Laporte is still here. Pep would keep players he can use. Any and all, until the numbers are better. 15 trusted outfield players is not enough, and he knows it. And if 15 outfielders is bad, then 6 defenders is worse.
It sounds ridiculous but we've been playing frugal smartarse for several years. Player after player left and the replacement was delayed a year or two. When they came, they were touted as a replacement for a more recent departure. Happened over and over.
We didn't get an LB or midfielder last year. Remember how the early games went? Cancelo stuck at LB. Bernie out of sorts dropping deep. Walker had some howlers at inverted RB. Two of those players went on to have big bust ups with Pep.
Then in midfield, KDB had to play so much injured, he's still not right. And Gundo. Well. He just didn't renew.
And what happens? The guy who is nothing to do with Gundo, but just to get the bare essential numbers. Here to fill a long standing need. Suddenly, he is touted about as Gundo's replacement.
Remember another one, where we were down to get Kane and one other CF, and we got neither? They were overdue replacements for Aguero and all the other forwards who had left. We just waited another season to get those two CFs. And promptly sold another two forwards.
Same thing. Over and over. Little by little. The squad has been shrunk. Simple sleight of hand. Two percieved outgoings become, well, one, as we move midfielders into attack. Then we sign one midfield player, and he becomes the replacement for three.
The financials look amazing. The trophies are amassed. Shame, that the most important player is amongst the walking wounded. And the other pass master decided to leave.
Pep is likely to be making waves to regain the ground lost. I think he's right. This will be the longest and most demanding season in our history, and unlike last year, there's no WC break.
