Is this how you act when trying to talk about something you have no knowledge of? Compounded by failing English comprehension?
Patience
- Thread starter rurikbird
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whatever helps you sleep at night
You had a dig - you failed miserably. Own it.
i’m sure anyone that cares about this can read the links
Exactly. Where you failed your English comprehension test.
meh, i’m bored of it now
And what was to stop us using Chiesa or even keeping Nunez and geting shot of Gakpo?
Yes the loss hurt but in true it hurts more to see Gakpo out on the left Would soonerse Robbo playout there than Gakpo again
Oh fuck keeping Nunez
We only need to bench Salah, drive Konate to Madrid, sell Gakpo, Wirtz and Isak, play Szoboszlai at RB in every game (OK, that’s kind of my idea!), switch to playing 4-4-2 and call our title-winning manager “Snot.” As you can see, we’re not overreacting at all!
I think Wirtz could play on the left - it would make sense if Kerkez was overlapping and would allow Wirtz to come inside and operate in the space he wants and needs to be in.
The problem was, whatever way Slot set up - I mean I have to presume it was set up and not players just ignoring instructions - Wirtz wasn’t really operating from the left - no-one was - Wirtz heat map has him more central or on the right - Gakpo coming on at half time was the change that brought more balance and we improved.
I’ve heard people and pundits say Wirtz played on the left in the first half, but he clearly didn’t if you looked on the pitch rather than the pre-match formation graphic put together by some intern. It was a 4-2-2-2 with the idea of overloading the middle of the pitch and fullbacks providing width - what happened instead is that our full-backs got pinned by Palace’s wing-backs and we had no outlet to counter and couldn’t play through the crowded midfield. I think Slot severely underestimated Palace.
He has a hardon for progressing the ball by breaking lines centrally. It's not wrong, but it really requires some good collective football. If a team isn't playing very well there are more basic ways of playing.
That's one of the things I don't like about the team right now up front. There's a lack of any simple go to patterns and the individuals that make them work.
I remember seeing that Salah post about that idiot posting about what a giant upgrade it was given the new players we'd brought in, even though they hadn't kicked a ball.
His point was that it was disrespectful. The bigger point is that this far it's not even true. Again, the club can't be just concerned about the short term, but in the very short term, so far, wirtz in Diaz out is a car crash.
I always assumed that Wirtz for Diaz wasn’t a thing as, while there’s a little blunt of crossover, theyre aren’t like for like at all - and our supposed interest in the likes Rodrygo and Barcola represented the Diaz replacement/upgrade.
I don’t know whether we figured Ekitike could share some load out there but hasn’t since Isak isn’t fit or we thought Rio was ready to fill in.
Isak and Ekitike always felt, to me, like replacements for Nunez and Jota.
I don’t think Wirtz is the man to solve the Diaz loss - I think you can see that in Slot’s reluctance to play him out wide on the left or as a central forward (which would probably be an absolute disaster).
I think Slot is fundamentally a 4-2-3-1 man - even when he ostensibly plays 4-3-3 it’s not quite what it seems. So I think this is where he was sold on the idea of getting Wirtz - get the best #10 talent you can and build around him. A winger in Slot’s system is a completely different role and I don’t think he will even contemplate using Wirtz there.
I thought there were some things to build on in how our midfield operated in the Atletico game. Palace was obviously a misstep, but one Slot will learn from. One positive consequence of having Wirtz in the team has been Szoboszlai having to play deeper, sometimes as a part-time DM, which in turn has released Gravenberch to attack more. I think it made both Szobo and Gravvy more effective, even though Wirtz’s output is lagging.
I thought there were some things to build on in how our midfield operated in the Atletico game. Palace was obviously a misstep, but one Slot will learn from. One positive consequence of having Wirtz in the team has been Szoboszlai having to play deeper, sometimes as a part-time DM, which in turn has released Gravenberch to attack more. I think it made both Szobo and Gravvy more effective, even though Wirtz’s output is lagging.
Following on from my post above and Rurik’s, as always, excellent musings - I think there’s some crunch questions to be answered around whether we persevere with certain players and hope they play their way into form quickly enough for it to be worth while being a little dysfunctional - or just allow people more time by having them on the bench more.
Ali, Virgil, Gravvy, Som and Ekitike are the ones in the best form at the minute, which is good because that’s, at least, a pretty good spine from which to start with.
Konate’s been patchy, but has been good in some games, so he’s added.
At RB, I know it’s been largely due to injury - but this is an area I’d stick with one and give them time. For me, It’s Bradley - he’s more integrated and should be able to get into form quicker than Frimp who’s also learning a new system of play.
LB - honestly, I’m not writing Kerkez off in the slightest, but he’s been a liability in most games and I think he needs time to integrate - I’d be having Robbo back as regular starter with Kerk given time to get used to his new environment.
With Gravvy & Dom in midfield - that leaves space for one more - Mac, CJ or Wirtz - none of them are in form at the minute we just need to pick one. Mac is one of my favourite players, but he’s been very much off it of late and CJ hasn’t quite done enough to suggest he should be starting. Wirtz hasn’t really either but I think there’s a case for saying he’s been slightly better than the other 2 - it’s by no means clear though.
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way - Salah stays in despite his poor form because he’s the most likely to score or assist when playing like shit.
That leaves the left - Rio’s too young and inexperienced to start regularly, but Gakpo is also horribly out of form. If he can play there, I think Chiesa is really close to being given a starting spot on the left - I’d probably give it a go, to be honest.
Ali
Bradley - Ibou - Virgil - Robbo
Gravy - Dom
Wirtz
Mo - Ekitike - Cheesie
That, to me, is our best team at the minute.
It leaves a very tasty bench of Marmi, Frim, Kerkez, JoGo, Mac, CJ, Gakkers, Isak and take your pick of Endo or Rio.
Back to basics - there’s a bit of pace and creativity there - and over time with form and injury those on the bench will get game time.
Ali, Virgil, Gravvy, Som and Ekitike are the ones in the best form at the minute, which is good because that’s, at least, a pretty good spine from which to start with.
Konate’s been patchy, but has been good in some games, so he’s added.
At RB, I know it’s been largely due to injury - but this is an area I’d stick with one and give them time. For me, It’s Bradley - he’s more integrated and should be able to get into form quicker than Frimp who’s also learning a new system of play.
LB - honestly, I’m not writing Kerkez off in the slightest, but he’s been a liability in most games and I think he needs time to integrate - I’d be having Robbo back as regular starter with Kerk given time to get used to his new environment.
With Gravvy & Dom in midfield - that leaves space for one more - Mac, CJ or Wirtz - none of them are in form at the minute we just need to pick one. Mac is one of my favourite players, but he’s been very much off it of late and CJ hasn’t quite done enough to suggest he should be starting. Wirtz hasn’t really either but I think there’s a case for saying he’s been slightly better than the other 2 - it’s by no means clear though.
Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way - Salah stays in despite his poor form because he’s the most likely to score or assist when playing like shit.
That leaves the left - Rio’s too young and inexperienced to start regularly, but Gakpo is also horribly out of form. If he can play there, I think Chiesa is really close to being given a starting spot on the left - I’d probably give it a go, to be honest.
Ali
Bradley - Ibou - Virgil - Robbo
Gravy - Dom
Wirtz
Mo - Ekitike - Cheesie
That, to me, is our best team at the minute.
It leaves a very tasty bench of Marmi, Frim, Kerkez, JoGo, Mac, CJ, Gakkers, Isak and take your pick of Endo or Rio.
Back to basics - there’s a bit of pace and creativity there - and over time with form and injury those on the bench will get game time.
People forget really quickly how bad Robbo was for the 2nd half of last season. I really think he's fallen off a cliff (speed and related to that, timing) but is a very useful backup. Kerkez has had more lows than highs but he has had those highs and what we want is for him to integrate (it doesn't help Gakpo has been awful for most of the season so far) and start putting in more highs than lows - he won't get that playing odd minutes from the bench.
If Chiesa is to start at LW - and I agree he should - then that may even help Kerkez integrate faster as Chiesa looks far more willing to use Kerkez than Gakpo who it seems only uses him as a distraction to allow him to cut inside.
If Chiesa is to start at LW - and I agree he should - then that may even help Kerkez integrate faster as Chiesa looks far more willing to use Kerkez than Gakpo who it seems only uses him as a distraction to allow him to cut inside.
I don’t disagree but I also don’t think Robbo was worse than we’re seeing Kerkez now, and st least knows the system.
I don’t see it as a long term solution, more a run of 5-10 league games, with Kerkez playing in league cup, against CL lower ranked teams and getting 20-30 minutes in the league if required - just give him the space to learn the role and the players round him - he has time on his hands.
Robbo was worse than Kerkez is now. It took two pens and a red in about a fortnight for me to realise, oh shit, he's done. He's been better in his minutes this season, probs cos he knows he has to up his game, but that adrenaline won't last. Kerkez needs to be allowed to grow into the side.
That could be Gomez if we weren’t so short at CB as not to risk him.
I think the thread title is key. I seen lots of suggestions of playing Szobo at RB, starting Chiesa, and changing formation to try to get the most of the “in form” players.
I can understand the desire, but I think it is shortsighted. I think Slot has a vision for how he would like us to play and new players were brought in to support that vision. Additionally, we all wanted Slot to rotate more this season to prevent late season burnout.
Last season, he made best use of the squad he inherited with minimal change to how we played under Klopp. And, I think his early success led him to him to rely on the players that were playing well with minimal rotation.
At the moment, I am delighted to have 15 points in the league and 3 pts in Europe. I expected a much more difficult start. I think we need to give Slot time and patience to implement his ideas around the players he chose, especially in the starting line-ups.
Adjusting in game, when it is not working, clearly makes sense to try to get best result out of a first 60 minutes and sometimes that has worked really well. And, I wish Salah would get pulled at 60 minutes when he is struggling. But, it is a really long season and I wanted to see us flying at the end of it, rather than fading and thankful that Arsenal faded more.
If we look at PSG last season, they struggled early and barely qualified for knockout stages of the Champions League, but by the end of the season, they were on song and deadly.
I think we need to give Slot and the players, new and old, to adapt to how Slot wants us to play, which will be a bigger departure from Klopp ball than we saw last season.
That said, an occasional game with Szobo at RB or trying a diamond midfield, which could be part of his plan anyway, won’t hurt. But, treating every next match as the most important of the season will result in the same challenges later in the year.
I can understand the desire, but I think it is shortsighted. I think Slot has a vision for how he would like us to play and new players were brought in to support that vision. Additionally, we all wanted Slot to rotate more this season to prevent late season burnout.
Last season, he made best use of the squad he inherited with minimal change to how we played under Klopp. And, I think his early success led him to him to rely on the players that were playing well with minimal rotation.
At the moment, I am delighted to have 15 points in the league and 3 pts in Europe. I expected a much more difficult start. I think we need to give Slot time and patience to implement his ideas around the players he chose, especially in the starting line-ups.
Adjusting in game, when it is not working, clearly makes sense to try to get best result out of a first 60 minutes and sometimes that has worked really well. And, I wish Salah would get pulled at 60 minutes when he is struggling. But, it is a really long season and I wanted to see us flying at the end of it, rather than fading and thankful that Arsenal faded more.
If we look at PSG last season, they struggled early and barely qualified for knockout stages of the Champions League, but by the end of the season, they were on song and deadly.
I think we need to give Slot and the players, new and old, to adapt to how Slot wants us to play, which will be a bigger departure from Klopp ball than we saw last season.
That said, an occasional game with Szobo at RB or trying a diamond midfield, which could be part of his plan anyway, won’t hurt. But, treating every next match as the most important of the season will result in the same challenges later in the year.
Our next three league games are massively important. If we win all three that puts pressure on Arsenal before they go to Palace. Like last season, we need to get in front. When the gap opened, Arsenal started to falter. All we had to do was match their results in the second half of the season because the damage was done. That’s why it is important to get into our long term rhythm as early as possible.
If there is a greater vision for Slot, then he needs to use it and stick to it. Even if it’s one that doesn’t involve Salah. If it’s building around Wirtz, don’t be hanging him out on the left wing. If it’s two up top, get them out there as soon as you can. Trying to squeeze these new players, who didn’t play anything like we did last season, isn’t working so embed what he wants. If it’s not working after 60 then change it. Don’t be chopping and changing. But still just fucking win.
It’s better to fail early and rectify those mistakes and get a tune out of these players to make sure we are there at the business end of the season.
If there is a greater vision for Slot, then he needs to use it and stick to it. Even if it’s one that doesn’t involve Salah. If it’s building around Wirtz, don’t be hanging him out on the left wing. If it’s two up top, get them out there as soon as you can. Trying to squeeze these new players, who didn’t play anything like we did last season, isn’t working so embed what he wants. If it’s not working after 60 then change it. Don’t be chopping and changing. But still just fucking win.
It’s better to fail early and rectify those mistakes and get a tune out of these players to make sure we are there at the business end of the season.
We are still on top. I imagine had we had Ekitike who holds the ball better than all our FWDs we might have got a draw or a win.
Now lets stop panicking and back the team you pussies.
This does not hide from the fact Slot needs to get the team playing better abd that could mean a few mainstays sit on the bench or we change formation
Now lets stop panicking and back the team you pussies.
This does not hide from the fact Slot needs to get the team playing better abd that could mean a few mainstays sit on the bench or we change formation
Ekitike is not that good at holding the ball up.
I get that he's better than the rest. That's a problem. The whole team is built with the premise that we can have and keep the ball and work it. When we do that we look like we might eventually figure something out. But we mostly don't do that because we are fucking things up on the way and t aka won't allow us to. Everything we do when things aren't going well isnt remotely threatening.
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