Has Poch even been in conversation for any team since sacking? Doubt he wants the Castle job where everything's uncertain. They're at the beginning of the sheikh curve, even City had to start with Mark Hughes and buying Robinhos rather than Mbappes. Not sure if Pochettino wants to build from that far down again and possibly never reap benefits if they don't get the transfers through. Wouldn't be very ambitious of him, maybe he likes the niche? But I'm guessing he knows it's time to progress and prove he's able to start from a different level.
Vinicius is 19. He shows enough for 19. He knows he needs to show more. If at least his assist numbers go up as the playing time goes up, be it in Real or somewhere on loan, then he's fine. He's resilient in the way that he doesn't care for mistakes, which will either make him or break him depending on natural development. Rodrygo is a better footballer, but a less assertive one.
Clasico will almost be better for it IMO. Dependent on fixture list and form. Less predictable. At least on paper.
Core to replace isn't that big a deal in terms of just skill and tactics, it's already begun. Kroos is 30 and has 3 years, Odegaard and others are in conversation for that, while Casemiro stays for another 5 years probably. It's the leadership and veteranship management, the meritocracy with new players that is the problem. Fede has to play every important game. So does Mendy in almost every case. Possibly Achraf ahead of Carvajal when he comes back and if he proves better. Same applies to Jović, but he needs more time. Rotation has not been good in the main place where rotation is key so that the goals come in all kinds of fixtures, the more and the less important ones. Strikers only get better when they play and score.
