V.O.
Last Man Standing finalist 2019/20
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2019
- Messages
- 8,030
Seeing Pep, Lego Pep, and Spanish Lego Pep all being sent packing in a couple of days was glorious.
Not being funny, but 6 of those names were into their 30’s mate. One didn’t even wanna be here. One (Sancho) is simply shit.Yes, because that's worked out perfectly for us these past 10 years. We've had Di Maria, Pogba, Ibrahimovic, Sanchez, Sancho, Ronaldo, Cavani, Varane, Casemiro, you name it at the club but it doesn't equal automatic success. I think you're underestimating how impactful a generational manager really is.
MaybeTaking off Haaland and De Bruyne proved to be crucial, as they would have likely scored their pens.
Depends how invested Abu Dhabi are after Pep leaves. He was always the end game for them as per the “copy Barca” mandate. Abu Dhabi might lose some of the cold, ruthless business pragmatism they’ve shown since they took over once the project effectively reaches it’s end.Not disagreeing with that, but will he take them to Pep heights? I really don't believe so.
It's Pep's biggest weakness. Trying to look like a genius by making stupid decisions. Like the final against Chelsea when he played no holding midfielder for the first time all season.Taking off Haaland and De Bruyne proved to be crucial, as they would have likely scored their pens.
Three of them were. Di Maria, Pogba, Sanchez, Sancho, Varane and Casemiro all still in their 20's when we signed them. Rather Sancho was shit or not he was a record signing that was supposedly at Bellingham levels of potential when we'd signed him, and I reckon if he went to City, we'd be possibly seeing a different player right now because of Pep and his coaches.Not being funny, but 6 of those names were into their 30’s mate. One didn’t even wanna be here. One (Sancho) is simply shit.
This is what I'm thinking too.Depends how invested Abu Dhabi are after Pep leaves. He was always the end game for them as per the “copy Barca” mandate. Abu Dhabi might lose some of the cold, ruthless business pragmatism they’ve shown since they took over once the project effectively reaches it’s end.
Sanchez was in his 30th year when we signed him, Zlatan was in his 35th, Ronaldo was 36, Casemiro was 30.Three of them were. Di Maria, Pogba, Sanchez, Sancho, Varane and Casemiro all still in their 20's when we signed them.
.Eric Bailly (7 seasons, 6 of them were garbage. Mind still boggles why he was given the last contract extension)
Phil Jones (12 seasons, 8 were garbage/on the IR. Even a more ridiculous last contract extension than one given to Bailly)
Lindelof (7 seasons, all range from bad to mediocre)
Marcus Rojo (7 seasons. Maybe 10 games in those 7 seasons were good. Iirc, the last couple of seasons we paid him to play for other clubs).
Shaw (10 seasons, may be 3 good seasons in those 10. Shawberto, apparently. Should have been sold with one year left on his deal, instead he got a bumper extension)
The McTominator (7 seasons. Jose's parting gift to us. Watch him get another extension)
Jesse Lingard (7 senior seasons. West Ham were stupid enough to want to pay for him with a year left, but we said no, we want some more. Then he left on a free).
Martial (9 seasons. Another one who should have been let go or sold with one year left but instead we gave him a bumper new contract; after that he played like 10 games for the club and was bothered in 2)
Zlatan got a contract extension at the tender age of 92 after he tore his ACL. Rashford got a Mbappe contract. Bruno was given a contract extension when there was no need to give him one and we could have easily waited till a new manager was in place. Mata's numerous contract extensions.Rooney and Nani contract extensions post Sir Alex. One season we paid Nani to play for Sporting. Pogba was kind and saved us by not signing a contract extension. I am sure there are a few others that I am missing.The list is endless
Their continuation is really the crux of it. Some people like to pretend that Pep is a Sir Alex, Busby, Shankly sort who has built the club. But he’s just a face for a state backed business with political objectives. If Abu Dhabi still care after he’s gone, they’ll stay at the top.This is what I'm thinking too.
Plus they already had the strongest squad in the team when he arrived.For example @Shark, we know already that Abu Dhabi were preparing for Pep with transfers he wanted (Sterling) even before his arrival, but even then his first two windows looked like this…
John Stones, Sane, Zinchenko, Jesus, Gundogan, Bravo, Nolito.
Followed up by:
Laporte, Mendy, Walker, Bernado Silva, Ederson, Danilo, Doug Luiz.
Compare that to ETH and United
They simply don’t have to do things real football clubs do. 14 realistic first team starters in 2 seasons.