It might just be me, but I feel that I've noticed a general taping off of intelligent movement in our team since the Napoli game. We look a little jaded.
I thought it was my imagination, but even the result against Burnley added to my fears. Uneven play and tired thinking.
I think my worry is there's not enough rotation(who'd a thunk it!) to keep fringe players up to the standard of current main team players. Bernardo is off the rhythm of the first team. He's like James Brown on a Charlie Parker/ Miles Davis set.
So, he kind of works and kind of doesn't in the natural flow of the team. He's still trying to find his part. Yaya, too, is struggling for rhythm in the same way.
So, with this in mind, I worry about when David S and KDB have off games and how Yaya and/ or Bernie is going to affect the team.
I may be being paranoid, but I can't see a Plan 'B' and it bothers me...
Pep's football tenets are:
1) Maintain possession of the ball - the opposition cannot score if we have the ball;
2) Upon turn over, press immediately. The man(men) nearest the ball should move towards the ball; other players must move to cut off passing. If after a few seconds we do not regain possession, return to a less aggressive defensive posture;
3) Pass quickly and with purpose - move the ball upfield and once there, pass to move the opposition out-of-position leading to scoring chances. Possession alone is worthless on offense.
So, to the extent that there's a "Plan B," it will comport with the above tenets. You'll perhaps see some formation changes and/or player substitutions to better fulfill the tenets.
This is not to say that we won't use the occasional long ball to mix things up. And if one or more of our attacking players keeps beating his marker for pace, you'll see more long balls.
What you won't see is us bringing in some tall player and then hoofing the ball forward to him all the time - this just gives away possession too often for Pep's tastes.
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With regard to rotation - I agree. We're over reliant on certain players, primarily in defense.
And, some of our squad are in their first year under Pep. Crisp passing, intelligent movement and effective pressing - in the way that Pep wants - takes time to learn. We'll be much better next season.