Quite clearly in my opinion each player has to give up a little something of their own individual talent so that the team performs to its maximum under Peps systems. City are about team performance not individuals. If the system allows certain individuals to shine more than others than that is a bonus.
Gabby Jesus at Arsenal is proving that point as now he has been given his head at the Emirates, hes performing individually at a level we all knew he was capable of. Most of the fans of other Premier League teams are surprised at his quality - but we've been telling them for over 2 years how good he is they just didn't believe it - now they do. Quelle surprise.
Its a calculated risk by Pep and the management team that whatever quality he gives them it will not be enough to overcome us and our system patterns of play over a season. Similar with Raz at Chelsea in this respect.
I see lots of other fans commenting that we are somehow weaker with the players we have let go. Although I admit we have lost pace out wide with Sterlings sale we now have pace down the centre and a focal point so am not sure we will suffer any overall team detriment.
I also believe Pep likes to change things regarding set up and approach, not the necessarily the build up method but the way we achieve the end goals (no pun intended). Teams have become used to us playing with a false 9 and found ways to counter it effectively. Now we have changed and they will have to come up with something else. It's all about evolution not revolution. We will see if its a successful evolution later in the season but the signs are positive so far.
No real big tests so far but the Newcastle game will be interesting to see their approach. Eddie loves a back 5 against us and trying to lump it forward quickly for the headless chicken Almiron to chase or quick transitions from turnover through the Rolex benefactor. Will he go 3 up front with Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Wilson
Line up versus Forest or will we get more of the usual
Line up v MCFC 2021 Won't be the same personnel as they've upgraded with Botman in the back 4 and Guimaraes in midfield. Their squad comprise 30 to our 25 including 4 kids. They've tried 5-3-2, 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 against us last 3 times out with a score overall of 13 - 3 losing all 3.
Interesting we've only ever lost 7 times in our history at St James' 1 at home (44 Games total) winning 28 in total last time being the Fernandinho faux pas giving away a Michael Oliver penalty i.e the type we never get for similar actions against our players. We dispatched them twice last season 0-4 and 5-0. I don't expect so many goals but I do expect us to win. Here's hoping the horse punchers gee them up (that was intended) so they attack us and we can pull their trousers down.