The problem with our team is both systemic and individual.
Our team reminds me of a post- Pep Barcelona team.
The team had lot of great players, true. But the play style and level of cohesiveness was a level above that of other good teams. So much so that it was hard for other great players from other teams to adapt. It always took a while.
But overtime, the levels of overall cohesive play dropped, and the team still prospered for a while, mostly on the individual brilliance of the great players ( Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Suarez, Neymar etc). But by the time Pep left, or a year or 2 later, the team cohesion wasn't there anymore. Just the top players keeping them near the top
Right now, we are like that post Pep Barcelona. We still have some aging exceptional players ( well 1, Kevin) and some exceptional young players (Erling and Phil), but we are not a cohesively superior unit anymore.
Anyone can walk into the team and theirs hardly a drop off in cohesiveness because we have regressed as a cohesive unit. We are a bit below average in that regard. Our possession stats notwithstanding
We are easy to press and turn over now. Historically, teams pressing us were in danger of being cut open if we broke their press attempts. That in itself made most tea s press us less coz the risk and punishment for failing was high
These days, even if we successfully break the press (which we struggle to do anyway) , we are not the lightning fast post break team. We can't quickly get it out attacking mids who make quick decisions coz the understand a certain pattern of quick strike attack.
Rather, breaking a press, simply means we are able to get the ball to the halfway line where we begin our slow and turgid sideways passing with little or no intent.
These problems are systemic as well as personal. Some players ( by that I mean many) have aged out of the capacity to play at such high intensity required to be an effective cohesive team. Amongst them, Gundogan, Walker, Bernardo, and Kevin are the most obvious.
Others do not have the natural tendency to move at a rapid pace without making mistakes. Hence they often don't take any risks. Which sadly is the greatest risk of all. Amongst theose we we have Grealish, Rico, and all our defenders barring Gvardiol.
Even though Gvardiol himself is currently suffering through a spate of errors that might eventually force him to become just as cautious as all the other cautious players.
And finally, we have our best attacking player Erling, not adapting to or understanding the concept of a team front line pressure. This is doubly frustrating because 1. Other teams around the world have improved drastically playing out of the back, 2. We have regressed considerably at pressuring as a unit up front. Yet, we persist in keeping a high line which is a recipe for disaster of your team doesn't press as a compact unit
So for all the above reasons, our problems are both deep and wide. We need both an infusion of young talent, and a return to a highly cohesive quick attacking team with a high press game.
If the current personnel can't do this, then we'd have to consider changing systems or personnel.
90% possession with 2 shots in 45 minutes is a sign of a dying team. Not a team in control.
Pep and the new man have their work cut out. I personally I'm okay skipping this season altogether and using it as the test run to see what we have and what we need to let go.
