Pep is apparently looking to call time on a bunch of big name players - Ederson, KdB, Stones and Silva amongst them - having decided that some combination of age / injuries / other regression has done for them...and, according to various media takes on it all, he's been saying so in public.
I quite admire this. It talks to standards, expectations, and the need for a certain ruthlessness in how you maintain sporting success.
It's hard to do well for all sorts of complexities around contractual obligations, the need to maintain sales potential, morale and more, but it can be done and we should be doing it. In the right way.
Here's where I'd start and how i'd 'sell' it:
Shaw - great player, big part of the England renaissance but so unlucky with injuries...released early so he can enjoy a couple of years in the MLS (or wherever).
Casemiro - won everything, 'if only we'd had him 5 years earlier', 'doesn't have the physicality we need', off to the States ahead of the WC
Rashford - time for that new challenge, chance to be part of England's WC 26 squad...good luck at Villa Rashy!
Onana - needs regular game time (hint: we won't be providing it), still only 29, gets him back on the international scene
Mount - fitness has cost him here, needs to get back to his Chelsea best, needs to be in less physical league
So, who do you think Amorim could / should be calling time on and how would you frame it?
I quite admire this. It talks to standards, expectations, and the need for a certain ruthlessness in how you maintain sporting success.
It's hard to do well for all sorts of complexities around contractual obligations, the need to maintain sales potential, morale and more, but it can be done and we should be doing it. In the right way.
Here's where I'd start and how i'd 'sell' it:
Shaw - great player, big part of the England renaissance but so unlucky with injuries...released early so he can enjoy a couple of years in the MLS (or wherever).
Casemiro - won everything, 'if only we'd had him 5 years earlier', 'doesn't have the physicality we need', off to the States ahead of the WC
Rashford - time for that new challenge, chance to be part of England's WC 26 squad...good luck at Villa Rashy!
Onana - needs regular game time (hint: we won't be providing it), still only 29, gets him back on the international scene
Mount - fitness has cost him here, needs to get back to his Chelsea best, needs to be in less physical league
So, who do you think Amorim could / should be calling time on and how would you frame it?
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