The majority of your points further my views on Pep this season though... if you (as just a fan) can see we don't have the players or physicality why can't Pep? Are you saying it's beyond him to play or develop a system that mitigates our frailties? And play to the strengths of those he has available, even if just until the end of the season to ensure we get top 4 and make a rebuild much easier.
I do agree with you on the players mentioned and its clear to see, but he's still persisting with them and absolutely nothing is changing? He could tweak something tactically but he's chosen not to. Instead of being the usual two or three steps ahead of other managers he now looks two or three behind.
It also has to be asked why its been allowed to get to this stage with so many of our core squad coming to the end at once? Where was the forward planning?
I think with the players we have the system he ideally wants to play doesnt work...I also think he has tried to adapt it at times....we have certainly been more direct all season, but I think we know that this also creates more space between the 3 lines of players which actually makes transitions for the opponents more likely should they win the ball back...Pep also knows however we dont have the physicality in midfield to cope with this. .....neither however do we have the physicality to play high pressing and keeping your midfield back four and attack all in the opponents half which is what he ideally wants to do to keep possession - the loss of walker and Stones (particularly walker) is a huge issue here as they have the recovery pace to protect the huge space in behind that a high line creates (remember no system is perfect) -Losing Rodri is crucial to this as well as his reading of the game is phenominal -he is always at the break down of the ball -Kova, Gundo Rico, Bernardo - they just dont have that - all great players with great attributes but none of them are defensive minded (besides Rico who then doesnt have the physicality)
One question I would ask is why Pep instead of moving Rico inside to the middle to be that extra man in midfield, hasnt he tried Gvardiol to do this - the answer might be cause that sacrifices in some little way Gvardiols ability to attack - but I dont know and that is just a guess
He cant play to the strengths of the ones left as they cant reach those heights anymore - to put it bluntly - KDB, Gundo, Bernardo, Stones, Walker are all fucked.....they are completely finished.....Besides Bernardo dont see any of them being ever able to reach those levels again - not even close - especially Stones, Walker, Gundo, KDB.
There is no one else to play other than the academy kids.....he aint going to do that as it could have negative affects on their confidence.....look at the way the press are WILLING Khusonov to fail the other night....that gets to players..especially young ones.
KDB will go the the U.S - thats his level now - he aint going to a European team because he couldnt handle it..... (besides the pay is way better over there)....we may see the odd flourish from him but make no mistake - he is completely finished at this level.
Gundo will go the the Turkish league with Fenerbache or Galatasray - that says it all
Stones - either some team takes a huge risk on him or he sits out his contract with us next season and leaves on a free (which is fair enough - he has given everything)
Walker - we saw it with our very own eyes -Timo Werner rinsed him...he couldnt even get close!! His legs have gone and he is done - the Italian league is perfect for him - its a lot slower - plus then there is the lifestyle stuff. he has fucked himself over with.
Those players are the core of our midfield and defence when you add the continuous injuries to Dias, Akanji Rodri Ake (who for me as much as I like him is int he same boat as Stone)
S0 again - who else does he play.?...people keep going on about seeing Bernardo and Gundo in midfield toegther....or Bernardo and Kova or Rico in there as well - I should know as Im one of them BUT i dont think at present he can play in any other way - these are not a team that can sit deep and play in transitions (even though Pep is clearly at present trying to find a happy medium between his preferred way of playing and playing a somewhat more transition based game - ie our performance vs Newcastle)
Its not beyond him - I just think he knows it wont work either as I can even see the issues with it so Im damn sure he can. He has tweaked things here and there.
The forward planning as Ive said isnt just down to Pep - that is a failing of the entire club hierachy....Khaldoon, Pep and Txixi.
The real positive thing is that I believe they know they have made mistakes (systematic mistakes at a larger level) - they are in the process of rectifying this...But it wont happen in one summer transfer window...you cant replace KDB Bernrado, Gundo all in one go.......Who is available that we can do that with....Id love Wirtz but we are being told that aint happening....so if not him where do you look - its pretty limited....
The big picture is that Im afraid our cycle is at an end and we need to accept that...nothing is going to change before the end of the season because it cant - but he club knows it has to work hard in the summer. It maybe some time before we are anywhere near as dominant again or playing at the same level again as getting the level of player of KDB, Gundo Bernardo into one squad is going to be nigh on impossible- you have two unicorn players in there in KDB and Bernardo and Walker was a freak of nature as well. -
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