I think he misunderstood the squad size tbh.He said “I cannot be training 24 players”
I think he wants to work with a squad of about 20 core players and supplement them with Academy players as needed.
If that’s true, and we bring in some new players this summer, it means the axe for a large number of the existing squad - or maybe even the exit door for Pep.
This small squad thing is a worry from Pep...we will definitely have to sacrifice the domestic cups (saving 9 or 10 games) - small squad with almost all of the 38 x games being competitive + 13 / 15 games if we fk up like this season and get to final = If we went for them all = around 61 games - with a small squad that's madness. I'm sorry Pep but a manager's job is to manage players in and out of the team, not have the easy option of not upsetting anyone! I'd say for 61 (roughly) games you need a good solid 22 who can start and do well in big games - your looking at only 15 or so games a season that are easier (early domestic cups, literally a handful of prem league and possibly 4 x chumps league at best) You need a 25 man squad really not 16 - that's suicideThe three years ending 2023 were fantastic. I hope we can get back there.
I mean the honest answer is "probably not", and we will likely as a fan base have to accept that. But that isn't to say we should be winning titles and European cups.The three years ending 2023 were fantastic. I hope we can get back there.
You may well be right. When you read the post by @robbieh above you can easily see a squad of 20 is way too thin. A couple of injuries (and we have some history in this) and we are f….d.I think he misunderstood the squad size tbh.
He said that as if the squad is currently at 24 players and wants 20, so reduce it by 4, but its at 28.
So I interpret that as he wants around 4 less than what it is now, which is actually around 24.
And 24 is about what he uses, that would be about 20 core players with some part time players like Reis and Echeverri.
Same place it always did. 20 players and a handful of kids.So where does this end? Hugo wants one thing, pep wants the other?
Currently has 28 or 29, not counting lads from the EDS called up to train and lads returning from loan this summer. It is too big right now.This small squad thing is a worry from Pep...we will definitely have to sacrifice the domestic cups (saving 9 or 10 games) - small squad with almost all of the 38 x games being competitive + 13 / 15 games if we fk up like this season and get to final = If we went for them all = around 61 games - with a small squad that's madness. I'm sorry Pep but a manager's job is to manage players in and out of the team, not have the easy option of not upsetting anyone! I'd say for 61 (roughly) games you need a good solid 22 who can start and do well in big games - your looking at only 15 or so games a season that are easier (early domestic cups, literally a handful of prem league and possibly 4 x chumps league at best) You need a 25 man squad really not 16 - that's suicide
I think 21 is a fair compromise between what is needed in a long season and Pep’s penchant for a small squad.Currently has 28 or 29, not counting lads from the EDS called up to train. It is too big right now.
yeah, just where we are. He's got one more game to deal with it, then its up to Hugo to do his work.I think 21 is a fair compromise between what is needed in a long season and Pep’s penchant for a small squad.
Big baby:-)He’s just spoken on this saying he doesn’t want a big squad and if he has one he’ll quit
Bizarre to many. So there is a slight possibility that you might be over critical
Yes. I meant in style as much as winning. I can accept less trophies if we play really good football. The last season and a half has become boring and repetitive.I mean the honest answer is "probably not", and we will likely as a fan base have to accept that. But that isn't to say we should be winning titles and European cups.
Yes. I meant in style as much as winning. I can accept less trophies if we play really good football. The last season and a half has become boring and repetitive.
We've already sacrificed them. Go to the bother of getting to successive FA cup finals and then not show up in either.This small squad thing is a worry from Pep...we will definitely have to sacrifice the domestic cups (saving 9 or 10 games).
Agreed. I think Pep needs a way to beat the low block that isn t just pass pass pass. That must start with faster transitions and stretching the play wide.But for me, the majority of that is down to the opposition. The Bournemouth game was fairly good, because they had a bit of a go and weren't just happy to stick everyone deep the whole match. It takes two to tango, as the saying goes.
I would never, ever, want to see us take on teams the way the majority of teams set up against us. Teams like Arsenal act like non-league underdogs because they haven't got the balls to take us on. And what makes it continue, is that their own fans accept it.
I know we have to do what we can whatever the opposition setup, and we could sometimes do more than we've seen, but it isn't just about us.
I said same to anyone who would listen who knows my passion for the Blues.We've already sacrificed them. Go to the bother of getting to successive FA cup finals and then not show up in either.
For what it's worth I don't think we were ever that exciting in the treble season, just ruthlessly efficient. But yes I do hope we can turn the excitement up a touch.Yes. I meant in style as much as winning. I can accept less trophies if we play really good football. The last season and a half has become boring and repetitive.
The manager’s contract at the rags traditionally required exciting football. Wonder if that’s still true!For what it's worth I don't think we were ever that exciting in the treble season, just ruthlessly efficient. But yes I do hope we can turn the excitement up a touch.
Title race was gone as soon as Rodri went down infact it was over after our disastrous transfer window which go down as a massive clustetfuck .What fucked us was having injury prone players whose absence forced Pep to over play other players who then got injuries too, etc. We entered a self-destructive cycle.
Pep's solution is not to bloat the squad but to release the players who have not been reliable fitness wise for years now.
I wrote already in September that Stones and/or Ake had to go. Back then many were optimistic that we could fight for the title even without Rodri (hugely underestimating his role and the problems injury prone players cause).