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Winter transfers

According to Indy

We have "intensified our monitoring" of Barcola.

Loolz. Levels of monitoring. Does it start with side eye glance?
Maybe we use the "No-Look" Bobby type signing style. Look at Semenyo and then sign a 'Barcola'.

Seriously the question is what do we actually need in our style of play and the way the team is evolving. The one thing that is clear and obvious for us is that we don't actually created very good chances anymore - and the reason for that is that nearly every team we play is in a very low low block when they defend against us, and we have no players on the wings that can take on their man like Diaz used to - to disrupt and put the opposition defence out of shape to create openings that are clear cut for our strikers. That is the first issue - chance creation, and then secondly

the players we do have are all goal-scoring types (yes I know they are not very goal-scoring for the most part this season) - and consumed by their own greed and need to score once in that final third. Also as a fanbase we have been spoilt by the Mane/Salah era of them in their prime having that ability to take on players and score goals at the rate of a traditional striker. We need to accept that most wingers in world football do not get those numbers of goals that those two got in their prime, and what we need is a traditional winger that can disrupt a defence even though their GA might not be high. I think if reports are to be believed regarding Semenyo and differences could be that Slot don't want a goal-scoring hybrid winger type, and would prefer a hit/miss GA but more capable dribbler like Barcola.
 
I don’t think he would have left regardless. Palace took that stance when the transfer window closed and Glasner will walk if they sell.
Glasner is leaving anyway. Contract expiring and he's should zero inclination to sign a new one (if one has even been offered). I think Guehi will cash in and not care one iota if Glasner leaves now or in the Summer. In fact if he walks now then likely they'll save money on any 'loyalty' bonuses.
 
Depay? WTF. Just get Harvey back.
One's a striker, one's I don't know what (and neither it seems does anyone else). I'm not for Depay but at least he's a goal scorer that could play up front to give Ekitike a rest for 10-20 mins..
 
A place which wants rid of our top scorer for the last 10 years and bring in an ex-Manc who failed there 10 years ago to collect his pension.

Sounds like a plan.
 
There's a case to say that we're best using Salah as a second striker and Harvey back on the right of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 when needed. I'm more concerned by the CB issue than I am the loss of Isak, and if there is a limited pot of money this January, then I'd throw it all at Guehi and give Elliott the chance to reignite his season than pissing money away on a short-term measure.
 
There's a case to say that we're best using Salah as a second striker and Harvey back on the right of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 when needed. I'm more concerned by the CB issue than I am the loss of Isak, and if there is a limited pot of money this January, then I'd throw it all at Guehi and give Elliott the chance to reignite his season.
yes we have senior(ish) forwards slot is currently ignoring and like you say harvey as a bit of an option. at cb we have fuck all in reserve unless you’re counting endo. we really need the extra cb right now
 
There's a case to say that we're best using Salah as a second striker and Harvey back on the right of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 when needed. I'm more concerned by the CB issue than I am the loss of Isak, and if there is a limited pot of money this January, then I'd throw it all at Guehi and give Elliott the chance to reignite his season.
Yes CB is by far the worst problem we are facing.
 
A place which wants rid of our top scorer for the last 10 years and bring in an ex-Manc who failed there 10 years ago to collect his pension.

Sounds like a plan.
The lack of balance in the side when Salah plays is mind-numbingly obvious. If he can't score/assist and doesn't defend then what is the point? His historical brilliance isn't helping in the present. If he can't get out of this run of form, and it's permanent, then he's of no value to the TEAM.
 
Do we all agree we are a shit team ? crap going forward, defending, and can't press to save our lives. We are Shitapool FC right now.
 
There's a case to say that we're best using Salah as a second striker and Harvey back on the right of midfield in a 4-2-3-1 when needed. I'm more concerned by the CB issue than I am the loss of Isak, and if there is a limited pot of money this January, then I'd throw it all at Guehi and give Elliott the chance to reignite his season.

Harvey hasn’t suddenly become a better option than last season though.
 
Harvey hasn’t suddenly become a better option than last season though.

Elliott was a solid squad player under Klopp, which makes it fair to question why Slot is getting so little from anyone outside his preferred 14. That approach is not sustainable over a season. There is a clear pattern now. Players who are not trusted early get no rhythm, no confidence, and then get judged on cameos that are never going to reflect their level. This feels like a good moment for Slot to adapt and move away from the stubbornness that has crept into his selection. It probably will not happen, but the version of Elliott we have seen under Slot is not a fair reflection of the player. You cannot expect impact from the bench when the bench never plays. Most of our substitutes would look better at other clubs simply because they would get minutes and a chance to build some level of form and impact.
 
Slot isn't the player development coach we thought. It's not hard to see what, given his actions to date.

Youngsters are being sold, and there's no pathway to the first team these days. Even Rio N is glued to the bench, and if you make a few errors, he makes up his mind about you. Just like Chiesa. It's very dumb.
 
Elliott was a solid squad player under Klopp, which makes it fair to question why Slot is getting so little from anyone outside his preferred 14. That approach is not sustainable over a season. There is a clear pattern now. Players who are not trusted early get no rhythm, no confidence, and then get judged on cameos that are never going to reflect their level. This feels like a good moment for Slot to adapt and move away from the stubbornness that has crept into his selection. It probably will not happen, but the version of Elliott we have seen under Slot is not a fair reflection of the player. You cannot expect impact from the bench when the bench never plays. Most of our substitutes would look better at other clubs simply because they would get minutes and a chance to build some level of form and impact.
He had 18 PL starts for us in 2022/23 (subbed off 14 times) but only 11 in 2023/4 under Klopp. He had fallen out of favour even then it seems.

People keep saying Slot should trust his squad more but I struggle to find many (any) deserving of more game time bar Cheesy and maybe Rio for 10-15 mins here and there (no, Endo doesn't deserve more mins - he may have gone off a cliff higher than Mo's) ! It seems injuries rob us of those opportunities even before we can take advantage of them.

Isak, Gomez, Bradley, Frimpong, Leoni, Gakpo, Badger, Danns - all injured for (often long or frequent) spells. Nyoni, Ramsey and Endo - purleease.

Chiesa aside (who would have as many minutes as Gakpo if I were managing) ! I honestly don't know who else he's supposed to play / sub on.
 
Elliott was a solid squad player under Klopp, which makes it fair to question why Slot is getting so little from anyone outside his preferred 14. That approach is not sustainable over a season. There is a clear pattern now. Players who are not trusted early get no rhythm, no confidence, and then get judged on cameos that are never going to reflect their level. This feels like a good moment for Slot to adapt and move away from the stubbornness that has crept into his selection. It probably will not happen, but the version of Elliott we have seen under Slot is not a fair reflection of the player. You cannot expect impact from the bench when the bench never plays. Most of our substitutes would look better at other clubs simply because they would get minutes and a chance to build some level of form and impact.

If that was true Elliott should be doing pretty well at Villa, but he can’t even get into the match day squad.
 
Slot isn't the player development coach we thought. It's not hard to see what, given his actions to date.

Youngsters are being sold, and there's no pathway to the first team these days. Even Rio N is glued to the bench, and if you make a few errors, he makes up his mind about you. Just like Chiesa. It's very dumb.

Bar Quansah, which youngsters should he have kept?

Rio is 17. There is no need to rush his minutes at this stage btw.
 
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