rebuild is needed in the sqquad but also tactically. if we cannot go back to being great at pressing we need to forget the high line. cant see that happening under Pep.
our pressing were great and slowly deteriorated to being dog shit over last 6 years.
defences hated us when we had Sterling, Sane, Jesus, Kun upfront and having the energy to run fter them to get the ball back. later on it changed but even in the false 9 season, Sterling, Jesus, Gundo, Bernardo, Fernandinho did hell of a pressing, and KDB was more fit that time, Mahrez also managed to press.
slowly the pressing became bit less and less but our control improved due to very strong aand intelligent midfield with Rodri, Gundo, KDB, Foden all able to move the ball around with speed while winger able to hold onto ball well so we just didnt press that well but had hell of a control and we could suffocate opponents by properly camping at their half.
for this season all of this is lost, players aged badly, lots of injuries, Rodri out who was central piece on all this, no one these days to snuff out danger in midfield, Haaland, aint pressing, he makes 1/2 runs but doesnt matter as its not a team effort of pressing, easily bypassed...
this leaves a midfield in trouble a midfield that is a mess big time with a slow Gundo/Lewis duo trying to do what they cannot do. KDB walking around a lot off the ball. we cant afford that unless we have 2x Fernandinhos with that type of energy level to clean up behind him.
Foden also aint pressing much which is sad, while Doku and Savinho in theory should have the energy to press well but its aint their strength either.
Bernardo just flogged to death at this point.
dont know how but I think the rebuild need to focus around this, going back to the pressing days, any other solution will be temporary and probably cost us long term and just delays what needs to be done..
if we dont press well upfront, the high line defence will face lot of uncomfortable situations and they are not Paolo Maldini level of defenders as we can see all kind of positional errors every game from them.
Gundo, KDB, Walker cannot be part of the rebuild, but due to squad building or lack of it, we cannot even use this season as a transitional one, this is more of a write off season now.
and Grealish, Bernardo, Stones also needs to be considered if they should be part of first 11 next 2 years. if not sell them. Bernardo is the most reliable of them, but feels like he got burnt out.
