During the Pep era, wins and losses for a team like ours, which usually has much more talent than our opposition, are down to the players rather than tactics, but given our less talented squad than in years past, this is just madness from Pep, at this point.
Why is Walker playing against the statistically best-pressing team in the league? He can’t pass the ball with his left foot and gives hospital pass after hospital pass with his right. It would be one thing if he could still run or defend, but he can’t. He once again was at the crime scene for all their goals, certainly the second. He looked like he was running back in treacle in the TWEFLTH minute.
Why is Gundo still starting? He hasn’t performed well for us even once since his return(which I was against for the record). He can’t run anymore and is hesitant to get on the ball. Who cares if Nunes turns the ball over occasionally in the midfield? At least he can run and get us upfield from our half. I don’t understand why Pep won’t give him a few game runs.
This doesn’t even mention how out of wack we look off the ball on the whole. Teams have been playing through us even more quickly than they did in 17/18. I’ve mentioned this before, but we don’t have the right squad to compensate for Haaland up top. He’s not built to press like a Gabriel Jesus/Alvarez, and we don’t have the legs/physicality behind him. If he’s not his usual clinical self, he becomes a liability.
This is Pep’s worst squad, partly due to him(not allowing a homegrown Palmer to go on loan and okaying the selling of other now prominent, instrumental players). Also, the injury to Bobb can’t be overstated. He’s the real deal and is/was a significant loss. I’d rest him the rest of the season, so he’s 100% for years forward. We need substantial investment, which I wonder is even in question. Even if we beat the majority of charges, I struggle to think we won’t be handed a considerable fine.
A downseason is expected after years of dominance, but we’re worryingly crap. A top-four fight on our hands is the absolute reality.
