He's lost a step. So has Bobby. So has Hendo. So has VVD. Klopps system is demanding and we've played hundreds intense matches throughout these past few years. Fab might be out of form, but he also isn't getting any younger or faster. I know he's only 29, but to me he looks in physical decline. He looks the same way Bobby did during the 20/21 season. A bit slower, a bit more labored, and not as smooth on the move.
Sadly we need to tell the hard truth on about 30/40% of the squad, and that's that they are declining or aren't good enough. Bad thing is FSG aren't going to do what we need them to do, and that's open their check book and write about 250mil worth of checks to rebuild the squad.
Annoying af that's what the new game is, but it doesn't make it any less true. Newcastles take over was less than a year ago and their already in the top 4. What do you think they look like in 3 years? City aren't going away. Klopp is an awesome coach, but he needs backing to keep up
Bang on.
This system requires a rotation of players. A conveyor belt. Klopp's system is so demanding that it needs a player at his top game. No days off. It's more demanding than your average system.
The average midfielder is left to deputise his zone whilst not needing much mobilty off the ball other than shifting with the pattern of play then pressing within his zone whilst not dragging himself out of position. This gives a player longer longevity in his system. Our midfield requirement is off the ball you press and press until that ball leaves your side of the field. This gives us a shorter time span with this type of player. This is where I feel Fabinho is finished. He can't press. He doesn't have the legs for it anymore. The players around him can't press. They neither have the legs.
All our issues are stemming from this guys position.
Hendo offered nothing but energy before. Don't let those red tinted glasses fool you. He offered nothing else but energy and onfield leadership (second attribute is debatable also). Now he has no energy. Puts more pressure on this position.
Thiago was Gini before. Gini, a man that ran his ass off. Thiago has never had to run like this. He can't do it. He's not this type of player. The problem is Gini wasn't replaced. Thiago was always meant to be the extra added midfielder. It was meant to be a Gini replacement and a Thiago. That's how you build, you add. So replacing Gini, with a like for like, gives you the midfielder you need plus your golden egg in Thiago.
Fab is isolated and also has lost his legs for it. Fsg decided we never needed a backup to this position so it's Fab or nothing here unless we put a shoe in.
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