I just don't follow Pep's mentality. He had a choice, either go with the first team players we had and back them and say they were now his players and make it work, or he had to bin them and go with youth.
He chose to raise questions about players like Kun who hasn't been the same since, and binned of the likes of Yaya, Nasri and co.
He hasn't followed through on it though. Everton were prepared to pick Davies today, Liverpool are prepared to play Arnold at Old Trafford. Maffeo, A Garcia should have been regulars this season and Tosin should have had more game-time. It's not about whether they make it long-term, it's them being a fresh impetus to the side, less baggage and bringing something different that the first teamers clearly can't provide because the results prove it. Just because Zaba has a good game in midfield doesn't mean it's suited to him as a spot, just because Sagna puts a good cross in or Clichy scores a goal, it's not enough. He has a £40m winger he's barely using but who helped win us the last big game we played.
Pep is doing exactly what Pelle did with Bony over Kelechi which pissed everyone off. I expected more from him, I expected that once he saw the first teamers let him down he would turn to the youth and give them the chance and build around the few key players he wants to keep. So far there is very little difference to Pelle, playing his favourites or first team pros on big contracts at all costs, even if it means they play out of position or aren't as effective with the players around them, and not only giving them a fair chance but then turning to others and giving them a fair crack to prove themselves.
It's frustrating. It's the same old players, doing the same old shit. Conte went in to Chelsea and fitted the team into a system that suited his best player, and it doesn't matter if it means Alonso/Moses have to play for the good of the team over Fabregas/Pedro/Willian. Likewise, Klopp will leave out Sakho/Moreno/Sturridge for the good of picking "lesser" players who will do their job and make the team better. Pochettino binned most of the expensive rubbish bought for him at Spurs and took the good and added lesser thought of players to make the team better.
City stick Zaba in CM, continue playing past-it full backs, continuing picking the keeper in worse form and continue picking Yaya/Silva/KDB/Kun in the same line-up even though it never really works.
