As a side comment, ter Stegen has started the season as well as the job his doctor did with his hair transplant. I completely forgot how it is to have an goalkeeper in goal that can actually influence games in your favor.
One of our biggest weaknesses among many other weaknesses, in particular post-2019, has been the very criticizable form of ter Stegen.
Obviously the defense did not aid him in his job but nevertheless ter Stegen resembled a statue at times more than a goalkeeper. Let me put it this way, with say last years's Courtois in goal (or any highly performing goalkeeper), neither Roma nor Liverpool do occur.
In particular in critical games and situations. It is too soon to make any conclusions but his season start has been like the ter Stegen of old (his first few seasons for the club, say the 2014-2018 period).
A lot probably has to do with his successful knee operation, finally a capable team (at least on paper), demanding manager and most importantly a new competent president/leadership/board and obviously the hair transplant.
Lastly, I think it is about time to begin to ask some serious questions about Ferran Torres. He has already been criticized a lot in the media and by the fans but if his abysmal form continues, I do not see a future for him beyond this season, irrespectively of his young age (22). This guy looked great at Man City as as sub but in Spain he looks like some kind of amateur so far.
@Son With all due respect, you are overrating this Man City in some absurd and extreme fashion.
What kind of generational players have all of Pep's Man City teams even had aside from De Bruyne (a mostly serial choker in the biggest European and international games), Agüero and now their biggest talent so far 6 years into Pep's tenure, Haaland?
I would never compare those Man City teams with the best Barça and RM teams. They are nowhere near the conversation.
Neither in terms of success (CL in particular) nor in terms of actual players and talents. In fact in the past 14 years since Man City became relevant (UAE takeover) they have nothing to show for it in Europe. Zero titles. The only thing that is comparable to either Barça and RM (Barça in this case) is Man City's domestic dominance but this is typical of Pep. He is the by far best "league manager" out there.
As a side comment, I feel that only Haaland and De Bruyne would be taken into consideration as possible starting material in the best Barça teams.
I think that RM fans think similarly when it comes to the best RM teams. Maybe I am underrating the other Man City players but I think that the most important element of the Man City dominance in the EPL has been the system that Pep has built and the squad depth not so much some kind of outstanding starting 11.