We cannot rely on the 2 permacrocks at the back.
And while the return of Kovacic is welcome it was clear last year that our midfield was in decline. Rodri was shouldering so much if the burden.
Leaving Rodri aside for a moment, and any side reliant so heavily on one player obviously has issues, the other midfielders do not make it into a current top four side.
Going forward the only players that should be pencilled in are
Dias, Gvardiol, Akanji
Rodri Foden
Bobb Haaland Doku
Grealish has flattered to deceive and will continue to do so. Bernardo needs a change of scenery for his own good. Gundo should perhaps join the coaching staff. Kevin with our blessing can do whatever he wants, and that includes playing cameos from the bench.
So Pep has been dealt a bad hand but he needs to work around what he has.
I sort of agree with this, however not necessarily with all the people you've pencilled in. The position we're in now has been coming for the past 12 months, the reason(s) have been discussed many times on here (poor transfer windows, other teams learning how to play our system blah blah blah) but the truth is we have an aging team playing aging tactics beset by a ridiculous number of injuries.
We do need a rebuild, it happens to every club, and now it's our turn. Success going forward depends on getting this done right. So what needs to change?
Pep - I think he's done ok all things considered, so we should give him a bit longer. (This is tongue in cheek for those sarcasm impaired, of course we fucking keep him)
Goalkeepers. Neither are good enough. Ederson has flattered to deceive behind what has been (up to the last 12 months or so) a rock solid defence, but can anyone honestly claim he makes good decisions or is a good shot stopper? He's been instrumental in our success because of his footballing ability not his goalkeeping ability. Ortega is decent until it comes to corners where frankly he's hopeless.
Defence. On paper we have the best defence in the premier league, however, Walker, legs have gone, he can no longer rescue his brain farts with speed and is therefore a liability. Stones, glass everything, Ake, best out and out defender in the premier league, hamstrings are made of cheese strings which is a big issue. All those need replacing (except perhaps Nathan who needs protecting) leaving us with Dias, Akanji and Josko. Overall a good foundation, need a couple of full backs and at least one centre half.
Midfield. I'll start with Rico because he could have been included as a defender, except he isn't. Good squad player and thats about it at the moment. Gundog, pace of the game passes him by now. Bernado, love him to bits but he's a shadow of his former self. There has been talk for years that he wants away (or perhaps his missus does), maybe its time for that to happen for his sake as well as ours. Jack, great player in the wrong system, he simply doesn't suit our style of play. Whether we keep or need to replace depends largely on what our next tactical innovation is. Nunes, shown glimpses of ability, doesn't appear to have the heart for the fight though and finally in this group, Kevin DeBruyne. Whatever he wants he should get, another season, statue, director of football, trip to Saudi or the MLS, don't care, give the man what he wants. Rodders, Foden, Kovacic all good. So we're looking at 5 or 6 new players for this group including a Rodri clone and someone of the likes of prime box to box Yaya without the love of cake, plus a KDB replacement, though that won't be easy or cheap.
Attack. Savinho has so far shown zero end product, Doku is dangerous coming off the bench, but again has zero end product when starting a game. Compare those two with Sane, Stirling and Mahrez. Nowhere near the level we need. Oscar Bobb, definitely has potential and is a keeper, but not yet proven as a first choice player. Which leaves us with Alfies' lad. Se we need two new (fast and direct) wingers, Doku and Bobb as back ups, and an understudy for Haaland.
So boys and girls, we need about 10-12 new players. Obviously that's not going to happen in January, reality is we're looking at 2-3 years of good recruitment coupled with bringing a couple of academy lads through.
Having said all that (and thank you to the one reader who has made it this far) it could be a lot worse. It will really be time to panic when Pep replaces Kevin Keegan wannabe with my little pony.