serghei
Senior Member
Lol, everybody knows Pep's formation and system. It's older than 10 years, books have been written on it, his style has been talked to death. What is deteriorating is his team's ability to cope with the requirements of his football for more than 3-4 years. Mentally, physically, tatically, you name it.
Want proof? His worst season was his first. How did teams found out his system in England, then forgot it in 2nd and 3rd season, than found it out again in the 4th?
The trajectory is simple and natural
Season 1) Adapting to Pep's ideas, learning the system, starting to cope with his style, and his requirements. This also means shaping the squad, getting rid of the players who can't align with what he wants to do either because of their attitude (Yaya) or by lack of certain skills (Hart).
Season 2-3) Playing the system effectively, and dominating the rivals, winning championships (his historic seasons in PL from 2017 and 2018).
Season 4) Decline (This season, also influenced by multiple injuries in defense).
1st and 4th seasons is where he can't play his style. Beginning or decline is the worse stage, depending on team in question. At Barcelona, he started amazing right away because everything was there and players knew the style beforehand, after having it learned at La Masia (also where Pep picked it up the most from probably). But at City, in a new culture with players who didn't know much about total football style, the first season was the hardest, because adapting to what you know nothing about is often the toughest.
Want proof? His worst season was his first. How did teams found out his system in England, then forgot it in 2nd and 3rd season, than found it out again in the 4th?
The trajectory is simple and natural
Season 1) Adapting to Pep's ideas, learning the system, starting to cope with his style, and his requirements. This also means shaping the squad, getting rid of the players who can't align with what he wants to do either because of their attitude (Yaya) or by lack of certain skills (Hart).
Season 2-3) Playing the system effectively, and dominating the rivals, winning championships (his historic seasons in PL from 2017 and 2018).
Season 4) Decline (This season, also influenced by multiple injuries in defense).
1st and 4th seasons is where he can't play his style. Beginning or decline is the worse stage, depending on team in question. At Barcelona, he started amazing right away because everything was there and players knew the style beforehand, after having it learned at La Masia (also where Pep picked it up the most from probably). But at City, in a new culture with players who didn't know much about total football style, the first season was the hardest, because adapting to what you know nothing about is often the toughest.
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