The point I failed to make, is that I agree, it is a logical fallacy to look the way Poch does at players, without understanding the dynamics at play.
He does not understand, it seems, that upper body strength means in most modern dynamics, players simply have to carry that 'bulk' around, then their organs deal with the extra burden placed on them (CB fine, mostly). Look at Loftus-Cheek, how many injuries has he had? (no idea, just suspicion) He will be beset by injuries if he is played is a high mileage position all his career, IMO.
The calf point is a good one though, as it indicates something good (from a managers viewpoint), but it has led to a silly interpretation that bulk is good and wiry is weak, yet wiry is best if the key areas are strong.
Modric and Messi are classic examples of players who can play to 35 easily, very low metabolic turnover, yet strong on the core and legs. Poch it seems likes Dier/Wanyama/Dembele as you say all 6ft+ with thicker set, this is fine, but you put the in a high press for 2/3 years and you get what we now see, Dier a physical mess, Wanyama destroyed, Dembele saying "I can't handle it"...
If they want the high press, high intensity, you cannot have big framed units in CM (or any of the high mileage/high sprint positions) and expect them to last 5/6/7 years, unless they have freakishly strong lungs/heart/liver/kidneys and diet. Or, you need to play them like the FB's are sometimes and rotate week to week.
That Poch's son is a sports scientist makes it very awkward, if he is aware of this situation, how does he tell dad that his publicised position is one which is nothing like reflective of modern life (football has changed, 'match us equally to earn the right to play' used to mean Stoke and the equaliser, now it is run 12km with plenty of burst sprints.
Interesting where it takes things.
