by john68 » Fri May 27, 2022 9:07 am
Whilst I am excited by the recruitment of Haaland and Alvarez, I am also cautious about what I expect next season.
We know that that both are young and exiting talents when 'let off the leash' to damage opposing defenses, I do wonder if they will be given that freedom under Pep.
Vinnie's comments a few seasons ago recounting that in Pep's 1st season Pep's strategies and game plans were so intense and complex that they initially left players confused. It took time for the penny to drop and for players to adjust to his way of playing.
Grealish's comments after Sunday's game echoed that. At Villa he had freedom to play and was hugely successful, at City he openly admits he has not yet reached the heights expected of him. His comment was very inciteful. Whether to take the chance to run at defenses or shoot balanced by Pep's insistance that we don't lose possession. Knowing when to go and when not to has been a problem for Jack.
We have regularly seen how new players have seemed to go backwards in their 1st season until the penny drops and Pep's complexities allow them to blossom and improve, often dramatically in their 2nd.
The emphasis on keeping or not losing possession might also explain why our more forward players spurn chances in front of goal in favour of a pass.
On Sunday and previously v West Ham, the 0-2 deficits in both games and the need for Cityto score ensured that we became more aggressive in front of goal creating chance, taking the risk to shoot rather than pass....the result was we became almost unstoppable.
Next season, I think a lot will depend on Haaland and Alvarez getting to grips with Pep's possession philosophy and whether Pep will allow them off the leash to take the shooting chance rather than the safer option of the pass.
