It's Quiet the £250m return

It would shock me. Was pretty ordinary for 80% of last season (started well) but is obviously capable of big performances like the CWC final. Doesn’t work hard enough for a Pep side in my view
He’s arguably one of the best players in the league and he’s carried a pretty average Chelsea side at times. 80% of last season - he outscored/ assisted most players in the league last year.

No need to downplay how good he is. Pep won’t be here in a few years, so our next manager might think differently. It’s all fantasy at the minute anyway
 
Looking at our squad list today, and I'm quite surprised to be reminded that we have a few players who qualify for a premier league spot automatically through being born after, I think the date is, the 1st January 2004.

That would be, from in or around the first team, Echeverri, Khusanov, Reis, Lewis, O'Reilly, Nypan, Cherki, Bobb, Savinho, McAtee.

All those players were not under pressure to shift. It comes down to Pep's preference for a smaller squad and of course champions league.

We're still tight on the other spots, i.e. 17 non home grown and 8 home grown, but one on one out is very feasible. Had it in my head we had to shift a few, four, before we could add more, but I don't actually think it's the case.
 
Looking at our squad list today, and I'm quite surprised to be reminded that we have a few players who qualify for a premier league spot automatically through being born after, I think the date is, the 1st January 2004.

That would be, from in or around the first team, Echeverri, Khusanov, Reis, Lewis, O'Reilly, Nypan, Cherki, Bobb, Savinho, McAtee.

All those players were not under pressure to shift. It comes down to Pep's preference for a smaller squad and of course champions league.

We're still tight on the other spots, i.e. 17 non home grown and 8 home grown, but one on one out is very feasible. Had it in my head we had to shift a few, four, before we could add more, but I don't actually think it's the case.
You have answered your own rhetorical question.
 
I don't see any roster in this league that is miles ahead of us.
Arsenal
Scousers....
Villa, Chelsea, Newcastle will all also be closer to us than we like.

At present we have only made about 50% of the moves we need to make and some of the ones we have made have question marks against them ( cherki, reis, Echeverri and even khusonov)

No right back
2 centre halves that will rarely be available ( Ake and Stones). A slow centre half pairing in Diasand Gvardiol with no pace either side of them to cover playing in a high line.

Also add tge unknown of how Rodri is going to react to being out for so long

We are a long way off being the force we were and some people as I said before last season started are in for a disappointment unless we do major surgery in the next month and a bit
 
It would shock me. Was pretty ordinary for 80% of last season (started well) but is obviously capable of big performances like the CWC final. Doesn’t work hard enough for a Pep side in my view
Me when I lie and look for reasons not to accept that someone is better than I think.
The Palmer downplay is always nice to watch.
The same ones will tell us Grealish is a top player
 
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At present we have a squad that will compete for top 5 nothing more. We need to move players like Gundo, Stones, Grealish and others out so we can improve the team.

I don't agree with that at all. We finished 3rd last season, we were the best team after the January transfer window and missed Rodri all season. We haven't had a stable back 4 for a while, and we've brought in Marmoush, Reijnders, Ait Nouri and Cherki. If you look at the performance against Juventus, that isn't a team who is challenging for Top 5, that's a team who is challenging for the League Title. Once it clicks, we will be there or there abouts. I think we just underestimated Al Hilal.

What hampered us was injuries that decimated our entire squad and players who had grown old together. Liverpool didn't have those problems.
I don't have us down to win the title, but to say we are only challenging for Top 5 is harsh.

Also who would you bring in Simon?
 
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I am told Pep is set to talk with some senior players later this week.

Indicates decisions have been made!
Hopefully Gundo, Kovacic and Stones/Akanji are told they’re free to find new homes - not even counting Ederson as it’s as good as certainty
 

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