It’s like all they have going for them are unfathomable amounts of blood money.
2 Likes
Oh yeah, and I remember one time we played the diamond under Klopp, it was West Ham away in 16/17, one of the last must win games to secure CL football. We had Coutinho as the LCM, Lallana at #10 with Sturridge and Origi up top.
1 Like
And they have to get someone to sign it off. It’s like our old finance manager.
1 Like
The 4-3-3 with Fabinho as the lone DM and Bobby being behind Mo/Mane resembled a diamond too at times. It really isn’t that different.
1 Like
We do not and should not find a structure or plan to fit players.
We buy to fit our system.
2 Likes
Yeah…
But what if c.a.t. really spells dog?
Ok Wirtz then… no one has yet explained how he fits into a rigid 4-3-3 system that we’ve already seemingly moved from anyhow.
2 Likes
Details matter in football, it is different.
Firmino, Salah and Mane is very different to Kaka, Crespo and Shevchenko (to give an example of what was a proper diamond).
1 Like
I do not think this stuff is being pushed on Slot, if we do end up short on CB then we’ve certainly fucked up a bit but I do think these are already in process
2 Likes
The closest theory in mind which I have is that Isak is our absolute primary target to be our new #9 and we possibly view Ekitike’s fee as not such a risky one (or one that forces us to start him regularly), that there is re-sale value in that.
In some games or periods of games (especially when we have to break teams or chase), we might see both. I do understand that for a lot of these questions, as always, I’ll just have to wait to see how it looks on the pitch.
1 Like
I was just about to write my justification for 4321 when I realised for Isak to come in, we almost certainly lose Diaz, which leaves us with two very central forwards and only 2 wide forwards… Assuming Diaz, Chiesa and Harvey gone, the reserve for either Salah or Gakpo would genuinely be a kid.
I am starting to agree with anyone suggesting an entirely narrow formation and that wide forwards as we know them will become a thing of our past.
Right now I am unsure what we are trying to build. Sure, I’m excited, but also a little worried about the style of players we are chasing.
Heres a detail.
We change mid game, we adapt, we are fluid.
Your analysis, though interesting and good isn’t what matters. You spend time trying to figure out shapes and a system when a team of analysts are working on systems, not a single model.
Slot was able to change midstream in matches last season. Without players of his choice for those changes. Maybe the addition of both Ekitite and Isak is moving towards a newer model or tactical set up.
Hopefully this is over next week, Isak is a Liverpool player and we start worrying about Guehi. Is he a false 4 or a deeper 6.
1 Like
Don’t know what people are worrying about. Last year we had Nunez and Jota but still ended up playing Diaz at CF a decent amount. In the past we’ve had to shift Mane and Salah into that role too.
And in the vast majority of those times the general formation/set up has largely remained the managers preferred way and players have been moved within it.
As others have pointed out it seems Slot is looking to his fullbacks to provide the width, much in the same way Klopp did earlier on, with the wide forwards playing more narrow in possession. To that end I think you could easily see Ekitike, Isak and Salah playing together. Equally form, fitness and general rotation means we’ll see one of Ekitike or Isak start on the bench from time to time, same way one of Diaz or Gakpo often do. But both will still get plenty of game time in a 60-ish game season.
Highly doubt we see a huge change in general formation/set up but more of an adjustment in how he wants some roles to be played. And having been forced into playing Diaz as a CF at times last season I bet Slot is elated at the thought of having the challenge of balancing minutes between Isak and Ekitike.
2 Likes
If Diaz goes, there’s a strong case for keeping Chiesa as cover for both wings as long as he’s willing to accept that role.
3 Likes
I agree that it doesn’t help trying to label a formation as if it’s rigid. We will likely set up differently 2 consecutive weeks, and as you say make a change mid game.
But none of that explains how we could make such a change mid game when our bench will lack any wide type forwards. If we move to having a number 10 - the alleged chat with KdB suggests that - then that is max 4 attacking positions on the field, and we’d have Mo, Flo, Co, Hugo, Isak. 5 for 4 positions. Would Szobo be part of that group as an AM? Perhaps. If we were playing with 3 forwards, that works better with our numbers but then messes with our width. Where is our width of there’s an injury to Mo or Gakpo? Isak??
I feel its an easier switch to move a WF central than it is to move a CF wide, with width becoming our new problem.
Edit: I could very well be a little unfair to Ekitike and Isak here, treating them as true CFs when in fact they have the type of attributes that might work out wide just as well.
I’ll be gobsmacked if this happens. PIF won’t sell him at all in my opinion. Can see them dragging it out and showing how they will do what they want even if it’s to the detriment of the team and Eddie Howe. It’s a big if but if they do say they’re open to a sale I think they’ll insist on £150m and I don’t think we’ll pay that.
But that’s sort of my point. If the width is coming from a more typical overlapping fullback, rather than that weird inverting thing we were doing with Trent the past couple years, those wide forwards can tuck in more.
Those wide forwards are less “chalk on their boots” winger types and more inside forwards that give room for an overlapping full back. The pace of the fullbacks we’ve bought, plus the natural games of Robbo and Bradley suggest that’s where our width will come from.
Sure, on turnover situations you might see Mo or whoever is on the left pull out wide for those quick releases but they’re looking to drive in field anyway rather than create width by going on the outside.
I think Ekitike has both the pace and ball carrying skills to operate in that way but in possession he’d be far closer to our central forward than the touchline.
3 Likes
Also , We need the likes of Mo to be closer to goal. Having quality attacking talent around him like Wirtz and Isak should in theory allow more place to Mo to do what he’s so good at. Score and create goals. There were a few times last season where sides double marked Mo and got him marked out of the game by forcing him too wide. Having fullbacks who can offer width like Bradley and Frimpong allows Mo to be more central and linkup with Flo and the CF more.