Let’s not forget, the “good” players play well, and better, when they’re surrounded by good players. Tonight, Devi d tier players were surrounded by second tier players and it showed.
Pep got what Pep deserved!
Does a goalkeeper need resting?? Seriously?!
Remember when players coming off a bad result needed to get straight back out there to redeem themselves? Well, now THE WHOLE FUCKING SQUAD needs that redemption, and where’s that going to come from?!
We were sitting pretty in the CL. The gig is run at home and try not to lose away. We were rolling…2 wins at home, 1 win and 1 draw away. Get another win at home, go to Madrid sitting pretty in the Top 8, and a potential loss isn’t the end of the world! Now??? 10 points from 5 games SOUNDS decent, but it could very easily be 10 points from 6, which will see us plummet down to mid-table and looking at facing another good club in the Play Offs!
This was a chance to make TWO statements…
1) We can bounce back from the tough defeat at Newcastle, and
2) We are ready to compete in the CL this season!
Instead, we have made the Leeds game a “must win” otherwise we are in the Slot-like crisis!!
I have NO FUCKING IDEA what Pep was thinking, and there’s literally nothing he can say to make me think THAT was the correct team selection for tonight’s game.
This was a game to rest a couple of three, perhaps even four or five players, but not the entire team. Give Khus & RAN a run out at FB. Maybe slide Stones into midfield to relieve Nico (who is bring flogged to death in Rodri’s absence) and put someone (Reijnders or Lewis or Bernardo) alongside him and in front of the back three? Maybe give Bobb a run out instead of Savinho, but the answer to any of these questions isn’t “Fuck it! Let’s give them ALL a rest…except our DM, whom we will strip naked in the middle of the park with no help!”
The patently obvious answer was play an almost full strength team, push to get a lead, then sub off those players not playing well or those the Sports Scientists say they need some rest.
Again, Pep got what he deserved, and the players and fans are the ones made to suffer. And, before anyone trots out his history and record of achievements, “Yes, I know!” BUT we ALL also know he sometimes gets a wild hare and OVERTHINKS HIMSELF, esp in the CL!
Too “smart” for his own good tonight when you look at the performance, the score, and the talent sitting on the bench!
UGH!
