You can force a player out without explicitly telling them you want them gone. For example: signing Doku instead of giving Palmer a chance is definitely one way to force a career decision from a youth prospect. So of course Pep forced him out, it just happened through selection and transfer decisions.
The Rice observation is interesting, and a good argument as to why I’d rather see him play as a Busquets-type sweeper DM that falls back into the defensive line to form a three-man backline so the full backs can push up.
Have Rice be the final boss for opposition forwards before they have to deal with the Saliba-Gabriel axis, and leave him back when we transition so he can be more like a quarterback. That way we exploit all his strengths.
The Ode stats are interesting mainly because, as we’ve found out, he’s been playing through injury. If the injury has caused the performance dip then we’re in for a massive boost once cleared up and he can get back to his normal output.
I also think the reason we’re so dependent on wingers right now is because Saka, Trossard and Martinelli are the players that can create something out of nothing, so our players prefer passing them to unlock the opposition. They’re always on the flanks, so that’s where the ball goes. And with Jesus often injured, our central option (Nketiah) isn’t as unpredictable and explosive as our wingers.
If not the best, easily the most composed. He always plays as if we’re 5-0 up in the 90th minute of a CL final, calm as a cucumber.
I’d say the Saliba-Gabriel partnership is easily one of the top CB partnerships in the world right now though, but obviously that is being helped by having one of the best interceptors (Rice) in front of them cleaning up a lot of central attacks.
Best part is he went to Barca after years of tapping up and eventually going on strike to force a move…only for Pep to retire shortly after Cesc joined.