You have faith in this current squad?
And I am tailing as of today, not what remarkable things they have achieved in the past.
The actions of the first 90 seconds of the game at Villa were of a team utterly and totally broken.
You’re reading too much into it.
The team isn’t broken, it’s not working well. It needs something, primarily confidence, but these things ebb and flow.
The biggest problem is getting XI fit players on the field without drafting in 5 Academy players. Two might be manageable, but beyond that, you lose any cohesion.
As for the current players, some are past their sell by date, definitely, but the way Pep plays is a machine. As you know, it doesn’t take too many “broken” parts, or parts not working as intended, to make it sputter and fail.
Hopefully, a week off last week and more time off this week will have helped in that regard. We shall see.
Tbf, we have not been that far of a draw or win in games we have lost, but missed chances and poor defending have combined with players who are 75% fit to hurt us.
I have faith, but (as I’ve said repeatedly) the game has moved on from 5 years ago when this amazing run started and technique and possession have been supplanted by size, speed and strength superimposed on good technique.
We are definitely missing a part or two, but between the January window and injured players returning, I think we will be fine…if one defines the term by being in the CL next season, which should be EVERY PL Club’s yardstick!