We've been the nearly team this season in most cases, but honestly to expect the level of last season or higher was always going to be tough. A couple of key injuries and we struggled, and our lack of investment in certain areas was exposed. At times we've been sublime, but at others we've been lost and reactionary. We've had games where we've looked confused, unconfident, and, worst of all for us, lacking different opinions going forward. This is the side that previously could expose you to Sane's raw pace, keep you guessing which wing Sterling would pop up on, pop a ball over the top to counter a counter, cut inside with Mahrez or Bernie or just pass through the centre with KDB, David Silva and all. We've not had that, and I firmly believe that just having that ability puts uncertainty into a opponents team sheet and tactcs before a ball is even kicked. Hopefully Torres is a step towards fixing that.
As posted above by others, the number of league games lost is unacceptable. Lyon was unacceptable. Arsenal was unacceptable. Not the fact we failed, but the manner in which we failed.
But that's who we are, we've been so good for the past two seasons that this feels a bit of a backwards step. The challenge was to be as good again, if not better by progressing in Europe, and by that standard we've failed.
Good points are the majority of the performances, the playing style, number of goals scored, Sterling, Kev and the league cup. Plus of course Foden. More than enough to show there is still a basis of a very, very good team there.
That said, there is work to be done to ensure it is not the start of a slide, you'd say we've for far too much about us to let that happen but similarly a team like ours needs to be challenging at the top continually to get that extra out of us. Next year will be even harder. Chelsea looks a threat with their additions, United seem to have been earmarked for the favour of VAR already, and like a persistent fart Liverpool will linger. Hopefully we so things right and regain the title, but the top 4 will be competitive.
The recruitment this summer is key not just for next season but for the next few. If Pep does make this his last season then we need to know, need to have plans on place for succession and need to bring in players flexible enough for the new guy. If he extends, great, but we need to be clear on what is expected and how we should go about achieving it together. Be it new players, different tactics or coaching.
I think what makes it worse is that this season has just been so overshadowed by things so awful, and punctuated by further irritations. From the absolute horror that is Covid-19, decimating lives and livelihoods, the absolute joke that has been the implementation of VAR, the farce of the FFP case, to a league-winning Liverpool, the only team alongside the raggies who are less gracious in victory than in defeat and deem it more important to put down others rather than celebrate their own, I for one welcome the break and like all hope we use the opportunity to regroup, strengthen and regain our appetite to show we are the best in England.
