I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the new driving midfielder role in the team recently, too. A welcome twist on the midfield control we love to use to dominate. It’s a welcome addition, as it is a great Plan A on the counter, as well as relieving the pressure and putting the opposition on the back foot when that first pass breaks their press.
I think I like the idea of a Joelinton more than the actual article, as I feel we have, by far, the most skillful and technically proficient midfielders in the country, but we lack a little mettle in there. Nunes isn’t as small as I first thought, and I know Kovacic isn’t afraid of a crunching tackle, but it’s the mix of those two that would be an ideal partner and occasional respite for Rodri that we miss.
Anyway, I agree that Pep likes very versatile midfielders, who can do a few jobs for the team, and the cohesion of the dressing room is of primary concern when making additions in any area of the squad, so bringing them up through the club will always be preferred.
Bobb has had some excellent cameos recently, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can still get on the field when Doku, Grealish, Bernardo and Foden are all fit.
Speaking of Grealish, it would be nice to see him play an actual LM role with Bobb or Doku outside him. It’d give him some freedom from the “drag, drag, pass back inside” with which the entire league is now familiar and possibly release him to add some of the other aspects to his game to the mix, as I think he’s got far more shots in him than we see.
Onwards and upwards.