Compared with last season, are we not a few up anyway?
Savio in for Alvarez.
Gundogan will play more than Gomez did.
McAtee is then an extra player.
Bobb was expected to be a much bigger part of the squad.
Rico is clearly one of Pep's first team regulars now.
And then we've had Nunes stepping up in the past few games.
Between them, that's arguable the equivalent of 2-3 more players available.
With anything like normal levels of fitness, we'd be quickly back to the "when will X ever get a chance" debates.
He must be like one of my sons so. One minute we are seriously wondering if we need a priest for the last rights the next he's begging to go back on.He has the lowest pain threshold in football. Several times this season he’s gone down like we won’t see him again this season and then he’s completely fine. Stretchered off with his shirt over his head for an impact injury!? He needs toughening up.
Also, this whole idea that we can just go out and sign understudy’s for Rodri and Haaland is fanciful. They are the two best players in the world in their respective positions, anybody coming to the club would know they were coming as backup and nothing more. If you compromise on quality, you end up with a Kalvin Phillips situation. We unearthed a diamond in Alvarez, as Haaland’s understudy but he quickly and understandably decided he wanted to be the main man somewhere.Pretty sure the management will/have reviewed the events with regards to recruitment as the season has unfolded.
What they never do is make kneejerk decision's especially with such issues as recruitment.
Planning for injuries is impossible, so having a squad that under most circumstances will be able to cover will have been the plan.
A reluctance on Pep's part to have a large squad is also a factor, and hindsight is always easier to apply.
The current number of injuries/absences for whatever reasons does appear to be out of the norm.
An unexpected bonus could be an opportunity for some of our kids .
All 65 players available tomorrow, apart from sancho who is ill (and illegible anyway).Chelsea might have, lol
I don't think it was "desperation", more an opportunity that happened. At the moment it's not really working out, but it could still suddenly click.my only real complaint was that we neglected the central midfield position and ultimately signed Gundogan out of desperation.
I want that 5th title in a row and I want it to be as easy as possible for my mental health and to boil pissAs annoying the injuries are these dramas are what make football more interesting and winning titles so deserved.
Maybe an alternate take is that he's young, and has not had any similar injuries prior when playing in a league that protected players more. I expect this season will be a learning curve for him.Getting stretchered off for a knock is as bad as that mard arse from the swamp Antony getting stretchered off last week with a sprained ankle. Love the kid but he needs to toughen up if he's gonna survive in this league
I thought he left at the right time for both parties in 2023, so it felt desperate to me, but I hope you're right about it clicking.I don't think it was "desperation", more an opportunity that happened. At the moment it's not really working out, but it could still suddenly click.
Lesbian hairdoo or not he’s still our greatest ever player