Great post. To re-energize Pep’s squad, we’d need a significant influx of new players. In my opinion, we would keep Eddie, Diaz, Rodri, Haaland, Savinho, Lewis (?), and Gvardiol. The rest could be sold, as they’re either too old to handle the demands in midfield or simply aren’t going to improve.
When you think about how well our club has been managed in terms of global appeal and investment, it’s hard to understand why our recruitment strategy has been so poor recently. It’s arguably the reason we've had this sudden collapse, and that’s frustrating given the potential we have.
For once I actually agreed with ratface's comments after the game about our situation
Add Foden and Kova, swap Doku for Savinho, and you’ve got a deal.
Many mistakes in the transfer market coming home to roost. Players we should never have sold (Palmer, Alvarez), players we should never have bought (Phillips, Nunes), players who have served the club with honour for many years but who should have moved on by now through good succession planning and healthy competition (Walker, Bernardo?).
We could have let Eddie and KDB go to Saudi in the summer for £££ and spent the money on strengthening the defence and midfield. Ortega is just as good in goal, Foden should be just as good in the middle (but wtf this season?), and it’s clear Kev is nearing the end.
Or sell Haaland for 200+, keep Alvarez, and spend the difference on the next Rodri or Stones.
Squad too small, not enough depth, not enough real competition or succession planning. Should have been more ruthless with some of the players but they’ve done so much for the club and Pep obviously trusts them.
The injury list has been outrageous and would have crippled every other team, but we could have coped better without the mistakes in the transfer market and with a more resilient squad.
Onwards and upwards. Win the court case, spend some money in January on whatever sticking plasters we can find, fight hard for top 4, rebuild in the summer.