Quote Originally Posted by IBK View Post
As I say, I think that we resemble Citeh in more ways than simply losing key players. Both teams have done so, but I do think that this exposes a flaw in their approach. A team with the resources of Citeh should not have been undone to the extent they have been by the loss of Rhodri. Maybe he was papering over the cracks (ageing squad etc), but by the same token, they continue to misfire after they spent big in January - buying a very good player in Nico Gonzalez to cover for Rhodri. They also (unlike us) have one of the best strikers in the world in Haaland.

I think that football is moving beyond the Guardiola (and Arteta) possession model, and is becoming more faster and more direct, focussing on transitions to stretch the opposition. Liverpool are exploiting this, but Newcastle; Villa; Forest are also playing in this way. In Forest's case, I have read some interesting stuff about how leaving the lion's share of possession to the opposition is combating fatigue and player burn out. Football evolves quickly, and Guardiola (and his protege Arteta) suddenly look vulnerable. You are right, we don't have the players to play a different way - but this is even more of a worry for me. Our limited recruitment over the Summer - and indeed over the last few transfer windows is the antithesis of the game that many of our competitors are making work for them.

I fear that trying to buy more players with the technical ability to cope with a demanding 'system-based' style of play may not only be difficult, but that the style of play itself may be past its sell by date.

Again I’m really far from convinced. I’m sure there is some stylistic change in the game, that happens a lot. How relevant that is to us this season…just don’t see it.

Liverpool lost Van Dijk to injury in the Merseyside derby in 2020 they went from being league champions to only securing 4th on the last day of the season. Not saying we would have won the title if Saliba stayed fit but I think it clearly torpedoed any chance of us winning the thing

A football team can absolutely be affected by the loss of even one player if that player is key to how they play.

I’m not denying we need to change our style and be more direct, but it makes not a bit of difference to where we are currently. We lost at home to West Ham because we don’t have goalscorers in the team, it really isn’t anymore complicated than that.

Quick Transition play works well when you’re playing a side that will come out and attack you, but it’s naive to assume teams didn’t think to employ that against City last session. No they just had a beast of a player in Rodri who was able to neutralise the threat on the brief occasions the opponent did get the ball