Whilst I agree with most of what you say, I'm not sure you can use not replacing Gundogan as a reason for your poor form this season. Especially as you did replace him......with Gundogan
It’s a fair point, although Gundo is really Alvarez’s “replacement”, given he’s the only player we signed after Alvarez left.
In that case, you did replace Alvarez then? I think Gundo has replaced Gundo but he doesn't seem to be as good this time around as well as Foden not looking the same player either. And Alvarez hasn't been replaced at all which does seem a bit mad on the fact of it given you only had two strikers! All obviously adding to the poor form.
Not helped by Savinho's injury. Adds a bit of attacking flair. Boy has been impressive everytime I have seen him play, albeit I have seen him play only few times.
It does make me wonder where the goals would come from should Haaland get injured? They'd be ****ed. Fodin looks a shell of the player he was last season. Gundogan too looks a different player to what left. Doku will get you 10 max all season. De Bruyne is getting older and seems to be struggling to stay fit for any lengthy period. Grealish will get you about 5 goals, if youre lucky. It was absolutely ridiculous if not outright arrogant not replacing Alverez.
To be fair, we had had TEN players that had played the entire 180 minutes of the two international games that week, yes we all get international call ups, but its rare for that many to be playing both full games...I'd love to know how many of your squad had played the both, full games that week? Of course you're going to get tiredness, not excuse making, its facts. Slot, up until now doesnt seem like a manager that throws out excuses, he calls it how it is. It was an absolutely ridiculous time to have an international break, 4 games into the season. Here we are, not even a 3rd of the season gone and its what? the 3rd international break? Just piss off International tedious borefest football, let the proper game roll on.
It's the major flaw in Pep's game. He doesn't like a big squad, so relies on having a relatively injury free squad. Eventually every team will have a period where a bunch of players get injured at the same time.
Yeah, in his time here he's been extremely lucky with injuries, yes he's had players out like De Bruyne at times, but they've never really had a full blown injury crisis like other clubs have, not even close. This season looks different and shock horror, they are struggling. I dont like wishing injury on players, but I wouldnt mind Haaland picking up a knock that keeps him out for a month or so, just to see how they cope...I dont reckon they would and could see them fall away. That squad, when you look at it, is nowhere near as good as it has been. De Bruyne and Walker probably need replacing.
City have loads of talent, thry just need to get back on it. Lfc fans have lived through 3? Spells of a month of rank form from klopp sides that eventually got it back together. City have had 2 weeks.
We'll be fine, just a bit of a shock to the system being our worst form in years. International break has come at a great time, gives us a breather and will hopefully get a few fit again for when we return. It's only November, but can't afford to carry it on for much longer.
Nobody’s saying we don’t have loads of talent, just our squad is a bit unbalanced, and lacks adequate depth for 2 key players - Rodri and Haaland.
Should have kept Liam Delap he's like a Lidl Haaland. Lavia too to cover Rodri. Those 2 alongside Palmer are failures of Peps letting them go.
I've said this elsewhere honestly thought Palmer looked bang average whenever he played for us and laughed when Chelsea paid £40m. Was absolutely proven wrong of course. Delap I'm still reserving judgement on.
You could say our transfer strategy over the past 18 months or so has left a lot to be desired. In fact, I think someone might have said that in this very Thread Although, that’s obviously with 20/20 hindsight. The only one I would have kept at the time would have been Palmer, but even then, £40-45m for him seemed a good price.
Maybe it is but it reflects what pep wanted. A boat load of attacking midfielders, a smorgasbord of centre halves, no full backs and one 6 with back up from an old hand like kovacic.
