Florian and the (Slot) Machine

[Hansern]

Has someone actually written him off?

Probably. That’s what’s funny to me. He was universally loved as a generational talent and if he had signed for City most would feel they got an absolute baller. But he signed for us and now some are trying to judge him after a few games as if his long term success could be decided by October 2025. It’s all just very weird to me.

But, each to their own. Slot and the stat nerds love him so that’s a good indicator at least.

 

[Modo]

Probably. That’s what’s funny to me. He was universally loved as a generational talent and if he had signed for City most would feel they got an absolute baller. But he signed for us and now some are trying to judge him after a few games as if his long term success could be decided by October 2025. It’s all just very weird to me.

But, each to their own. Slot and the stat nerds love him so that’s a good indicator at least.

I don't think anyone has completely written him off after 4 games. I think most are just saying that he hasn't been that good so far and expect better considering his price tag, and that's fair imo.

 

[Farkmaster]

Probably. That’s what’s funny to me. He was universally loved as a generational talent and if he had signed for City most would feel they got an absolute baller. But he signed for us and now some are trying to judge him after a few games as if his long term success could be decided by October 2025. It’s all just very weird to me.

But, each to their own. Slot and the stat nerds love him so that’s a good indicator at least.

If he had signed for city we'd be saying he looked absolutely shit and a waste of money.

No one is saying any of that, you're making a strawman.

 

[Hansern]

I don't think anyone has completely written him off after 4 games. I think most are just saying that he hasn't been that good so far and expect better considering his price tag, and that's fair imo.

I think its pretty varied so far in all honesty. Some say shit and some will write him off quite quickly. Thats the nature of the game these days.

Needs to improve but also needs to be given time is fair. My biggest issue is the price tag label. He doesnt get any less time to adapt just because of the price tag imho.

 

[Farkmaster]

He doesnt get any less time to adapt just because of the price tag imho.

Well, he does. If he was a project player we were buying for 45 million then he wouldn't need to start every game, we might bed him in gently.

Instead he is fundamentally transforming how we set up. We are trading definite cons for unknown positives, and we are spending a ton to do it.

So of course there's more focus on him and more need for him to quickly adapt. We could have easily dropped points in each of the games so far, and there'd already be more pressure on him if we had, because he hasn't helped the team much, but he has destabilized it some.

The biggest thing I'll say for him so far is I get no sense he's overawed. Big players like this pressure to perform T a high level, it's what they will face their entire career.

 

[localny]

So here's the question.

Name at attacking player for us, that after we signed, he hit the ground running immediately, erasing any doubts - from say 2005 onwards

Torres?
Suarez?
Mane?
Salah?

Anyone else?

 

[Farkmaster]

So here's the question.

Name at attacking player for us, that after we signed, he hit the ground running immediately, erasing any doubts - from say 2005 onwards

Torres?
Suarez?
Mane?
Salah?

Anyone else?

But those are the majority of the great attacking players.

Firmino is the only massive one that was a slow burn, but that's because the manager that had him initially was a fucking idiot with a giant portrait of himself and thought he should play on the wing.

 

[Woland]

Palindrome

 

[tomasjj]

I watched the video of his involvements in the 2nd half of our match, and the Germany match. He rarely wastes the ball, makes the best decision almost all the time. Progressive passes. When it clicks, it will be great.

 

[Woland]

I haven't watched the match back but there was definitely one forward run early on that was dead good but he looked for Mo when the shot looked on for me. That's confidence. I think he'll get there. Their midfield was just so fucking big compared to ours, it's probably not what he's used to. Not that I know German football well but I doubt he'll have had the likes of Rice (who is actually a massive fucking unit and dead good) etc chasing his tail every week.

 

[peterhague]

Palindrome

Sturridge, Coutinho, Jota.

I don't want to be mean about Wirtz but like Fark says the majority of our great attackers the last 20 years have started well immediately.

 

[MomoWASright]

Even van Dijk scored on his debut 😬

 

[Woland]

Yeah but he's not a striker is he. And coutinho did start well yeah but he that was when number 10s were the life and soul. It's different now. Also he was eight million quid and no matter what anyone says that comes with different pressure.

Don't get me wrong. I've been underwhelmed. But I'm not writing him off on the back of the last few weeks.

 

[MomoWASright]

Yeah but he's not a striker is he. And coutinho did start well yeah but he that was when number 10s were the life and soul. It's different now. Also he was eight million quid and no matter what anyone says that comes with different pressure.

Don't get me wrong. I've been underwhelmed. But I'm not writing him off on the back of the last few weeks.

I know he isn’t. But he still scored.

 

[Woland]

Oh soz I meant Wirtz, everyone everyone else is on about is a striker except coutinho, and I was typing my bullshit while you were typing your fact so I missed it.

 

[peterhague]

Yeah but he's not a striker is he. And coutinho did start well yeah but he that was when number 10s were the life and soul. It's different now. Also he was eight million quid and no matter what anyone says that comes with different pressure.

Don't get me wrong. I've been underwhelmed. But I'm not writing him off on the back of the last few weeks.

Yep and I also think people aren't giving him credit for a very good performance against Palace. That pass through the lines to Ekitike for his goal is exactly what I'm looking for from Wirtz. Personally if all he ever does is just consistently do that intricate passing and moving around the box then I'm happy, because I think that's what we needed. I'm sure he'll do more than that - and he'd need to to justify his fee - but honestly I'd be happy with just that.

 

[dogboy]

I don't think anyone has completely written him off after 4 games. I think most are just saying that he hasn't been that good so far and expect better considering his price tag, and that's fair imo.

I think @Dreambeliever and @MomoWASright have. A marriage made in purgatory.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

It is a bit harder for Wirtz than it was for them, coming into a team with a lot of new starters, a new league, relatively new manager, two big games in the first three... Having said that, given his reputation and price, I would have hoped for more, but will quickly forget that if he shows more soon.

And given that, maybe I have forgotten how long it took our best forwards to settle.

 

[MomoWASright]

I think @Dreambeliever and @MomoWASright have. A marriage made in purgatory.

A god does not enter purgatory before entering heaven. For he creates his own heaven for him and his followers. Momo 3:16.

 

[Judge Jules]

So here's the question.

Name at attacking player for us, that after we signed, he hit the ground running immediately, erasing any doubts - from say 2005 onwards

Torres?
Suarez?
Mane?
Salah?

Anyone else?

Questions were being asked about Suarez' relative lack of goals in his first season, so - although I reckon he's the most outrageously talented individual ever to wear the shirt - I wouldn't include even him on that list.

 

[beejay]

He's used to being the fulcrum of a side where his teammates look for him constantly. At the moment his stats show he's always trying to find space but not getting on the ball. That's a product of the team not confident in giving him the ball in tight areas and his hesitancy as a new recruit.

The same could be said about Kerkez who has not contributed in the attack barely yet although that's why we bought him.

Slot has his work cut out to integrate the new players but we have the advantage of a winning culture and some experienced top class players to buy him the time.

It's really exciting to see how far we can go with this squad and manager.