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Fixing the defence?

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bluebell

bluebell

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I don't think getting Guehi does it. Our style of play means we get exposed on the counter, I don't know how Slot stops it unless he compromises on the high line. When you have flying full backs, its going to leave spaces at the back. Without Grav, its even more scarier for the back line. I am not going to ask for MF reinforcements considering how much we're spending (though I would not mind swapping Endo for Garcia). I expect Slot will be working with Trey to get him filling in more often. Not sure on the future of Badge and CJ is not a #6
 
We cannot change 50% of the defence and play without our regular six and not expect some moments against a strong and counter-attacking side like Palace. We have also been leaking goals pre-season granted, but some of those goals were scored against bat-shit defences and set pieces (which is a whole team issue).

The defence is the main point of concern with this team right now, but when Bradley is back we can field the same defence as last year, which was plenty good enough, so I'm not overly stressed. We do need a CB, though. I'm done watching Endo/Grav there, especially when we're throwing money around. I also think we'll see two holding midfielders to give Wirtz that platform to do his thing. It'll get better and click into the place. The trouble is we have a tough start to the season and our current problems have been exposed to everyone.
 
I believe the plan is not to play Frimpong & Kerkez in tandem as much - using Robbo and Bradley to offset the high line on the opposite wing, so it becomes Kerkez & Bradley or Robbo & Frimpong as starting pairs with changes from the bench.

Of course, this relies on Bradley being fit and Robbo being a bit better than last season.
 
When you have 10 men near the halfway line Robbo isn't getting back on time. When we are upfront I don't think we need the highline, and we should play more compact and hit teams in transitions
 
Obviously we need a centre back to replace Quansah but centre midfield is a bigger issue for me. When Gravenberch & McAllister both start we are okay but last season we were very lucky that neither of them picked up any injuries. I doubt we’ll be as lucky this season.

Also, we need to rotate Gravy and McAllister because by the end of last season they were both knackered and our form suffered.

szobozlai is very good but he is a very spontaneous player and always looking to get forward so he needs a Mascherano/Hamann type of midfielder beside him for that to work.

Jones simply isn’t good enough and Endo is decent for 10 minutes to close out games.

I hope our scouting team can see that the best way to improve our defence is to sort out our centre midfield.
 
We need to take Macca off the corner kicks to save his legs. Especially the ones that starts from the right and went out on the left and he's got to run all the way to the other side.
 
We were one of the better teams defending set pieces last season, so I dont think that will be a problem this season either. Our issue was scoring from set pieces. We've changed it a bit with Wirtz taking corners and have worked on it during pre season according to Slot.

In an ideal world we'll get a CB, striker, winger and a CM. 3/4 is likely and the CM will be for the next transfer windows.
 
Bajcetic, if fit, could step in. But if he's going to be fucked or Slot doesn't rate him, we simply have to buy.
 
keniget said:
Bajcetic, if fit, could step in. But if he's going to be fucked or Slot doesn't rate him, we simply have to buy.
Click to expand...
Was about to post something similar - what’s the latest with him?

I also think Nyoni is more ready than Slot seems to think…that was an impressive half at CB vs Bilbao for a kid that is a hybrid 6/8..
 
Our problem isn't that we play with a high line. Our problem is that we want to play through the middle and we give the ball up too easily. We need an outlet ball, we need speed to give us some space, and we need our midfielders and attackers to develop some understanding and to stop giving up the ball in incredibly dangerous areas repeatedly.
 
Re: CM, agreed with the need to reinforce there, though sometimes with risk comes opportunity, i.e. this is where Nyoni can get his break. You just hope injuries / loss of form don't hit early and force us to push him into too many games too soon.

I think he's ready, and I feel that Slot thinks he's ready too, but just has had to wait for the right opportunity to play him in the league.
 
StevieM said:
I believe the plan is not to play Frimpong & Kerkez in tandem as much - using Robbo and Bradley to offset the high line on the opposite wing, so it becomes Kerkez & Bradley or Robbo & Frimpong as starting pairs with changes from the bench.

Of course, this relies on Bradley being fit and Robbo being a bit better than last season.
Click to expand...
Since when has Bradley held back to protect a high-line on the opposite wing. He bombs forward as much as anyone. I think all four backs are need to know when to attack and when to hold. Robertson has learned this, but unfortunately, is often vulnerable these days even when holding.
 
If we stop giving the ball away needlessly (like Szobo and Jones did) we'll remove quite a few of those counterattacks.
Its just sloppy and unnecessary.
 
Buddha said:
Was about to post something similar - what’s the latest with him?
Click to expand...

Rumours of Celtic being interested, though the sources seem dodgy. Not sure if he's rejoined training since his off-season surgery, but I guess not, based on lack of news on that.

His 2 other injuries (21/22 back, 23/24 calf) cost him almost half a season each. This is shaping up to be another case of a young talented player whose career gets derailed by fitness issues. Hope I'm wrong and he can bounce back quickly as the window of opportunity for him to find a role in the first team is closing for him with these setbacks.
 
Hansern said:
If we stop giving the ball away needlessly (like Szobo and Jones did) we'll remove quite a few of those counterattacks.
Its just sloppy and unnecessary.
Click to expand...
Agree. Szobo was excellent first half, but 2nd half was very careless. This has always been an attribute of Jones - very good at protecting the ball when he does not hold on too long, but holds on too long far too often.
 
Slot has to find internal solutions. CJ and Endo are not the answers, Trey and badge may be, there are no other solutions
 
we have to give slot more time and his two best midfielders before we can judge anything but with signings come pressure.

the second season might be tough on him as he starts to evolve the side klopp left behind. the accusation that he has been living off what klopp built is going to be made if it doesn’t go well.
 
The major issue is the lack of a real defensive midfielder, obviously we do need numbers in defence though too. Grav and Macca go someway to compensate for it, but not entirely. It's a problem position and neither Szobo or Jones are proving to be adequate alternatives. Throw Wirtz into the mix and it's even harder to fit them in the team. If we bought a DM we could sell Jones, Szobo can swap and change with Wirtz and you have Grav, Macca and another for the deeper roles. If we buy a centre half and a classy DM the team is pretty perfect.
 
imo there was a basic balance problem in the side, which was too many attacking players.

i’m also kind of concerned about what slot is planning to do with wirtz this season because his defensive output doesn’t seem like it’s going to be huge if he’s considered part of the midfield.

obviously first game, new players, missing players we’ll see what happens
 
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