There's a quote that Soriano made recently about Pep liking a small squad with "established hierarchies". I think that's a very telling comment and will go some way to answering whether we'll keep a lot of the big names around as their star wanes a little.
Silva has a reputation is Spain for going into his shell when things things aren't going well. That remains his one weakness, and probably explains why he doesn't get as many goals as he should.
That's not to say that I don't rate him, or think that he's finished.
Goals aren't part of his game. That's just the way of things. He has a shit shot. However, he has sublime passing skills. It just appears that a lot of people want everyone e to be the perfect midfielder - can create out of nothing, can score goals, can take a great free kick, can take perfect corners, can track back (all the time), can head a ball etc, etc. Oh, and can give 100% of this in every single game, and recover from a mid week game in Russia to play on a Saturday or a Sunday. Not much to ask!He was also lauded as the player with "the biggest balls" in the entire Spanish squad. Don't think he goes into his shell when things go poorly (e.g. the Liverpool game in 13/14, and against Italy in 2008 Euros; played ok in the disaster against the Netherlands 2 years ago, though his miss in an one-on-one had been quite incriminating for some fans ), but his lack of goals, particularly important goals, can certainly give that impression.
Not that it was much of a problem for me though. I've become accustomed to this for so many years that it has grown to be quite an endearing weakness to me. Probably not very shrewd but my favourite players have always been midfielders who pass well but do not score a lot of goals.
Goals aren't part of his game. That's just the way of things. He has a shit shot. However, he has sublime passing skills. It just appears that a lot of people want everyone e to be the perfect midfielder - can create out of nothing, can score goals, can take a great free kick, can take perfect corners, can track back (all the time), can head a ball etc, etc. Oh, and can give 100% of this in every single game, and recover from a mid week game in Russia to play on a Saturday or a Sunday. Not much to ask!
Goals aren't part of his game. That's just the way of things. He has a shit shot. However, he has sublime passing skills. It just appears that a lot of people want everyone e to be the perfect midfielder - can create out of nothing, can score goals, can take a great free kick, can take perfect corners, can track back (all the time), can head a ball etc, etc. Oh, and can give 100% of this in every single game, and recover from a mid week game in Russia to play on a Saturday or a Sunday. Not much to ask!
He does like a small squad, apparently so he does not have to deal with leaving people out of the matchday squad. However, the demands of the English game (more competitions, no winter break) may require him to tackle the downsides of a larger squad than he would like; unless he does things like playing the kids in the League Cup.
There's a quote that Soriano made recently about Pep liking a small squad with "established hierarchies". I think that's a very telling comment and will go some way to answering whether we'll keep a lot of the big names around as their star wanes a little.
I don't understand this 'small squad' stuff re Pep.
Small squad of 'favourites' perhaps but he seems to me to have used absolutely loads of players.
If it refers to using less 'senior' players, perhaps using kids as cover for a position over the season rather than using a Kolarov or a Navas then calling that a 'small squad' then it makes more sense.
But 2010 for instance he used about 30 players just in league games alone.
He has used less than 20 players on a regular basis this season. I am sure it is about senior players rather than about how many "kids" get a game but it is a point that is made in the book Pep Confidential, which is based on considerable access to the man himself so I assume it is not without foundation. The stories about Pep and Zlatan do suggest that one of Pep's faults is not wanting to deal with confrontation and trying to avoid having to disappoint players by leaving them out of the match day squad.