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Post Match UCL Olympic Marseille (A) 0-3 January 21st 20:00

Great result and display.

Up to 4th and a chance of getting 3rd with one game to.

Great to see so many players starting to hit form.

Clean sheet, three goalscorers a big confidence boost.

So much for getting beaten.
 
Great result and display.

Up to 4th and a chance of getting 3rd with one game to.

Great to see so many players starting to hit form.

Clean sheet, three two goalscorers a big confidence boost.

So much for getting beaten.

One was an own goal. If it was a shot rather than a cross I would be more charitable

Otherwise fair. I expected more of the same and we got a better performance. Still a massive disconnect in the attack, but it's progress.
 
I wonder to what extent the same sort of formation - 4-2-2-2 - would work in the league, or whether its something that is only effective in Europe. I liked how we set up last night.
 
We were very good last night, Szobo and Ekitike were top class and Kerkez has been very good for a while now, we created plenty of chances, looked a bit more assured with JoGo and yeah. We got it right. I had a feeling Marseille wouldn't be able to cope with us, but we got our tactics spot on, I just wish (as Gerrard said) that Slot would stop mentioning the low block. Just get on with it.
 
I wonder to what extent the same sort of formation - 4-2-2-2 - would work in the league, or whether its something that is only effective in Europe. I liked how we set up last night.
In fairness to Slot, he hasn't had Frimpong available too many times, so maybe that was the eventual plan, with Gravenberch dropping into a back three when needed too and Salah pushed more inside to conserve his energy and not expose his lack of pace. Obviously we'd have thrown Isak into the mix too. If it was the eventual plan, it probably suits Isak the least out of the four main attackers/strikers (Ekitike, Isak, Salah and Gakpo).
 
One was an own goal. If it was a shot rather than a cross I would be more charitable

Otherwise fair. I expected more of the same and we got a better performance. Still a massive disconnect in the attack, but it's progress.

If the goalkeeper hadnt knocked it into his own goal, it would have fallen to Salah, who had made a great run, resulting in multiple exploding heads on this forum regardless of what happened next.
 
One was an own goal. If it was a shot rather than a cross I would be more charitable

Otherwise fair. I expected more of the same and we got a better performance. Still a massive disconnect in the attack, but it's progress.
Long way to go but cruising into the next phase as one of the favourites.
 
We were very good last night, Szobo and Ekitike were top class and Kerkez has been very good for a while now, we created plenty of chances, looked a bit more assured with JoGo and yeah. We got it right. I had a feeling Marseille wouldn't be able to cope with us, but we got our tactics spot on, I just wish (as Gerrard said) that Slot would stop mentioning the low block. Just get on with it.

Kerkez has been brilliant for a few games now. Kinda looks like Slot has taken the shackles off and that he can play with a bit more freedom. Begs the question to why we have limited him before and asked to play a role he wasnt comfortable in. Only 22 years old as well, so very promising.
 
Kerkez has been brilliant for a few games now. Kinda looks like Slot has taken the shackles off and that he can play with a bit more freedom. Begs the question to why we have limited him before and asked to play a role he wasnt comfortable in. Only 22 years old as well, so very promising.
He was very raw when he joined us, but he seems to have reined in the diving in and getting too close to attackers, he's holding his position more and timing things better and then when he does need to dive in he has that in his locker, as we've seen recently where he's put in some excellent last ditch tackles in the box. He's looking very good. I think Wirtz, Eki, Frimpong and Kerkez are all showing why we bought them now (Eki was anyway).
 
He was very raw when he joined us, but he seems to have reined in the diving in and getting too close to attackers, he's holding his position more and timing things better and then when he does need to dive in he has that in his locker, as we've seen recently where he's put in some excellent last ditch tackles in the box. He's looking very good. I think Wirtz, Eki, Frimpong and Kerkez are all showing why we bought them now (Eki was anyway).

Yeah, thats a good point. Probably needed the 6 months to adapt.
 
Slot: "The one I want to point out is Gomez. He hasn’t played a lot in the last one-and-a-half years. Suffered sometimes from injury, sometimes I didn’t play him when he was fit. The few times he played were in the FA Cup and League Cup. Tonight he was great."
 
Tonight was also the perfect example of what Cody 'can' do, especially in Europe where the play is more open, he's lethal in those sort of situations with that space when the game is open. The Premiership can be far too intricate and compressed, which is why I think we're a cut above most of Europe (and why Cody struggles), especially when you see English teams play German, Italian and French sides, where many times on paper it should be much more competitive than it actually is.
 
After last night we are the top performing team in terms of set pieces in the CL.
6 goals scored and 0 conceded. Kinda fuels the talk about us having a squad more suited to the CL than the Premier league. We need to improve that this summer and add some physicality.
 
One was an own goal. If it was a shot rather than a cross I would be more charitable

Otherwise fair. I expected more of the same and we got a better performance. Still a massive disconnect in the attack, but it's progress.
Watching it back if it wasn't cut out someone had a tap in (Wirtz)?
 
Defensively he's still a little iffy but overall he's a huge factor in our improved attacking play
Even defensively he makes a difference with his speed. Very noticeable yesterday that even though he's not the world's strongest or best tackler his pace means he gets back and in front of the attacker long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
 
Have to mention the finishing was utterly shite at times yesterday.

For me Ekitike MUST finish that shot hit against the bar. GK was rushing out and going down - didn't need to welly it. A little dink was all that was required. A Nunez moment.

Ditto Salah. Two horrendous misses (even though one would have been offside). The header and then going with his left when across the keeper with his right was the shot all day every day.

Misses like these keep the opposition in the game.
 
If the goalkeeper hadnt knocked it into his own goal, it would have fallen to Salah, who had made a great run, resulting in multiple exploding heads on this forum regardless of what happened next.
I thought this too, it was going in regardless really. Don't agree with the forum dig though, we've been dire for quite a while, but credit where it's due, just like at Arsenal, we played well.
 
Gives us the chance to rest one or two for the final game - I'd let Virgil & Dom have that game off.
 
Gives us the chance to rest one or two for the final game - I'd let Virgil & Dom have that game off.
It's a game we have to win. Don't and there's every chance we'll finish outside the Top 8. It'll be a strong side and plenty of subs if we're 2-3 up.
 
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It's a game we have to win. Don't and there's every chance we'll finish outside the Top 8. It'll be a strong side and plenty of subs if we're 2-3 up.
Yep 5-15 can all leap frog us if we fail to win. Not impossible 4 teams from 11 win when they 11 of the stronger teams so far.

Not to mention the extra money for a win.
 
Yep 5-15 can all leap frog us if we fail to win. Not impossible 4 teams from 11 win when they 11 of the stronger teams so far.

Not to mention the extra money for a win.

Not 100% true. A draw would mean neither 14th nor 15th can leap frog us.

Also there are games between 5th and 15th that make it impossible for both teams to go above us.
 
Not 100% true. A draw would mean neither 14th nor 15th can leap frog us.

Also there are games between 5th and 15th that make it impossible for both teams to go above us.
You are right. 7 teams can pass us out with a win if we draw. So 4/7 but many of those have games against weak sides so we need to win to be safe.
 
So Salah played 6 games (90 and 120 mins) in 26 days at the AFCON in Morocco, returned home and had 1 training session and yesterday covered the second most ground after Szobo away to Marseille. Wasn't his best game but you can't criticize his effort and commitment.
Hope he has a good second half of the season and can leave on a high this summer.
 
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