I don’t agree with the whole LW thing as we have plenty of very talented players who can play there. If Salah hits form, which he always does, RW should be fine but then there’s Afcon this year. And then we have RB. Frim looks decent already but we’ve yet to see how well he can defend. Bradley always has injury issues. If it weren’t for Dom having played an absolute blinder against our main rivals at RB I’d have gone for that option, but as Salah will be missing for a while, I’ll go RW.
Once Gakpo is shifted to the LW, we won the league. It can't just be a total coincidence right? And with Ekitike potentially filling in there, how on earth is that position still weak?
Oh I forgot, the Diaz hangover still lingers. 😴
Look around, Diaz is constantly being brought up when we are under the cosh. They love Diaz, me, not so much. We are just on a different spectrum.We led the league practically from the start. This post is just a reflection of your semi-obsessional campaign against Diaz, even after he's gone.
I felt before this summer, we were ready to recycle the forward line in preparation for life after Mo, we needed a creator and goals.Look around, Diaz is constantly being brought up when we are under the cosh. They love Diaz, me, not so much. We are just on a different spectrum.
And when we have Gakpo and Ekitike covering the LW, we are still apparently weak in the left wing. I can only infer someone hadn't gotten over Diaz. I'm just pointing out a very obvious fact but got shot down while the main point is ignored totally.
So who's the one being obsessed?
Sure, Diaz provides cover, no arguments there. But our best 11 under Slot last season was Gakpo on the LW and Diaz in the centre FW position. We were winning everything talking of quadruple before Gakpo got injured and Diaz had to shift back to LW sometime in Feb. You could say when Diaz vacated the FW position, the replacements couldn't cut it, and our performances took a dive. Fair, but Diaz wasn't pulling up trees on the LW either, he was his usual inconsistent self.I felt before this summer, we were ready to recycle the forward line in preparation for life after Mo, we needed a creator and goals.
My belief was one of either Diogo or Diaz was ready to be replaced as Diogo was prone to the odd injury and Diaz inconsistent in terms of production.
But the pair were part of a PL winning strike force.
After Diogo sadly passed away, I felt keeping Diaz was a sensible decision as it kept consistency within the squad (one of the qualities that helped Slot win the league last year - a well drilled group familiar with one another)
Diaz could play across the front 3 positions and would offer a solution to the AFCON situation with Mo as he can play well from the right.
We lack natural, experienced wide players now. We effectively have Mo and Cody, every other option now is either playing slightly out of their most natural position (Ekitike), is very young (Rio) or has yet to convince in the premier league (Chiesa).
I find that choice, a risk….we’ll see if it pays off.
I feel it’s more nuanced than that.Sure, Diaz provides cover, no arguments there. But our best 11 under Slot last season was Gakpo on the LW and Diaz in the centre FW position. We were winning everything talking of quadruple before Gakpo got injured and Diaz had to shift back to LW sometime in Feb. You could say when Diaz vacated the FW position, the replacements couldn't cut it, and our performances took a dive. Fair, but Diaz wasn't pulling up trees on the LW either, he was his usual inconsistent self.
Anyway, I am more concerned about us leaving a very good player, probably Ekitike, on the bench then thinking about what Diaz might or might not do. Ekitike is good enough to cover all 3 forward positions, even the 10, IMO. I won't be against it if Wirtz continues to struggle and Ekitike comes in at the 10.
And Szoboslai is a midfielder. Anyway, I don't see Slot leaving Ekitike on the bench waiting for only Isak to tire. He will definitely be tried in different positions.I feel it’s more nuanced than that.
Diaz started the season on the left, Jota was Slots first choice centre forward, and we were brilliantly consistent in terms of results - I think it’s worth mentioning our overall performances were stronger in the first half of the season than the second half. Injuries to Jota along with Nunez’s poor form meant Slot found a solution in Diaz playing central. That opened up the left sided forward role for Gakpo who pre injury - did a phenomenal job!
Ekitike is very much a centre forward, he *could* perform a role from the left, that’s yet to be proven. I’d be highly surprised if he could perform adequately from the right however, has he ever played that role?
We don’t play with a 10, rather an 8/10 hybrid connecting the phases of play from the second third of the pitch with the final third. It would be imagining Kanu playing that role…Ekitike is a forward, not an attacking midfielder or playmaker.
Or just select all the fucking options.Whoever thinks Ali isn't good enough clearly isn't right in the head
Same people would be screaming about those numbers when Mo isn’t passing the eye test.Gakpo has 3 G/A in 3 games from LW this season. Last season we were a much better team with him starting in that position. Sure Diaz can run with the ball and is better 1 vs 1, but in terms of us as a team we're better with Gakpo.
This place is fucked.
Reigning player of the year our weakest link.
Hahahaha
Yes but all of Isak, Ekitike and Rio DO play there. They are not just 'doing a job' and they are bloody good at playing, and coming in off, the LW.I stand by nominating LW and that bolded word encapsulates why. I don't want us fielding players who "can" play there, or in any other position for that matter, except in an emergency. I want us to field players who do play there and I remain unconvinced that Gakpo's the answer.
I disagree. And for that it may be worth checking the link Stevie posted above and noting the histories of both Isak and Ekitike.We lack natural, experienced wide players now. We effectively have Mo and Cody, every other option now is either playing slightly out of their most natural position (Ekitike), is very young (Rio) or has yet to convince in the premier league (Chiesa).
I find that choice, a risk….we’ll see if it pays off.
Yes but all of Isak, Ekitike and Rio DO play there. They are not just 'doing a job' and they are bloody good at playing, and coming in off, the LW.
It's easy to see Ekitike and Isak in the same starting team. Or rotating with Gakpo.
Confession - I voted "GK", "CM", "ST" and "none of the above" - although it says its multiple choice, it is only multiple up to 4 and so my fun was prematurely endedOr just select all the fucking options.
question- do you swap today’s best XI with the one you just posted?I thought I made it clear...its not about the squad. Using this team from 2020-ish as an example.
---------------Ali
Trent---Matip---VD---Robbo
----Hendo----Fabs----Gini
Salah-------------------Mane
-----------Firmino
You could make an argument that we had an almost perfect XI. Many would argue that we couldn't get much stronger. I would have possibly traded Hendo for a better midfielder. So I would have picked "CM".
So is it the same now is my question? Or is there a position on the pitch you're not 100% happy with.
Ah, ok maybe I’ve not elucidated well enough. What I mean by players who ‘can’ play LW, I mean players who can play that role effectively enough for us. Not to just an acceptable degree, but to a Liverpool degree.I stand by nominating LW and that bolded word encapsulates why. I don't want us fielding players who "can" play there, or in any other position for that matter, except in an emergency. I want us to field players who do play there and I remain unconvinced that Gakpo's the answer.
Fuck no, that team just needed better squad players. We'd walk the league with them.question- do you swap today’s best XI with the one you just posted?
The team that got nearly 100pts?question- do you swap today’s best XI with the one you just posted?
you never know with @Modo that team has hendo in itThe team that got nearly 100pts?
Is that a trick question?