He’s 28. Still plenty of good years left. Obviously it’s captain hindsight but looks like paying him and letting our 33yo Egyptian King leave might have been the better decision
3 Likes
I can’t imagine that Slot had no input regarding the summer signings or that he had no plan as to how he would utilize them. In fact, one of the major selling points for Wirtz as reported by the media was Slot’s clear and concise description of his would-be role and function within the team, something that Kompany couldn’t provide.
What has transpired since then and we’ve become a team without any direction is a mystery. Much of what we’ve seen from Slot lately makes no sense whatsoever, especially when it comes to his tactics.
4 Likes
I’d completely forgotten about the Slot charm campaign to land Wirtz. You’re right , it makes it even more baffling.
1 Like
Diaz has been undervalued as a loss because his work rate was undervalued whilst he was here. Same with Szoboslai when playing as a 10.
All I read about last year was their lack of ‘production’, or ‘goal contributions’. The work they put in in the top end of the pitch was invaluable. If your piano carriers are players of that quality you’re probably in a good position.
I’m baffled that we haven’t attempted to mitigate that loss. Not only have our 3 hardest working forwards gone, the fittest midfielder in football is being used at right back half the time.
As the cliche goes, you have to earn the right to play. Our current system smacks of arrogance and complacency.
3 Likes
I have mentioned 3 at the back to hopefully stop our achilles heel defensively in the inside channel, however with only 3 CB’s it isn’t viable and also, with 2 up top it would be very hard to instigate a press.
Lastly, I have seen several posts where you have said that you don’t want to see Szob as a deeper part of a 2, something I didn’t agree with this as he is probably the best at tracking a runner into the box as he has the legs to do so.
So why the change of tune?
FFS ban hammer required, someone on here talking sense!
What a load of tosh, we aren’t allowed to tackle as it will be deemed as a foul 
2 Likes
Plus, we don’t have enough CB’s to play 3 at the back.
It’s true, so far in the few cases, I didn’t like and don’t see Szobo (yet) as a serious option for the double-pivot zone. Especially when he’s the sided one. It also depends who is his partner. He might prove otherwise, but I’d do that only in necessity and emergency. When they’re all in normal fitness and form, I’d have him as 3rd of 4th choice for that zone (I don’t really rate Endo, so that’s why).
Szobo with his skills is best when he’s not too deep (he’s got loads of energy to be “tied” to a zone of two) and not too high. How that pans out long term and who wins certain starting spots more often than not, it’s up to the players to battle it out. There are clear and good reasons why we invested heavily in a player who operates in the zone he occupied last season. There are ways where both players (Szobo and Wirtz) could be in more often than not. We’re working to figure it out.
I think it’s telling that after Klopp trying to convert him into a RCM #8 in our 4-3-3, playing the single #10 (basically our second striker in a lot of games) under Slot in a different shape, I think Slot said that last season Szobo himself admitted that he prefers playing a bit deeper than the single #10. Probably felt too much pressure to create and be a decisive player high up, at the top level. His work off the ball is outstanding, he’s one of the best in Europe at that. But dear me, in possession around the box, when we have to dominate and break the opponent, he could be so sterile.
He has reacted very well this summer. A little bit like how Wijnaldum reacted to us signing Keita (and not only Keita) in 2018. Back when there were also clear and good reasons why we did so. Gini immediately went up a level in his role, he started that 18/19 season like a man possessed.
Szobo’s playing a lot of football now because he has performed pretty well and is our best presser (while we lost a few in the forward line…), while our pressing overall has seen a drop and other players like Wirtz haven’t impressed so far.
There’s a difference between Szobo playing either as a single #10 or slightly deeper as the more offensive #8 at RCM and playing as a double-pivot #6, regardless on which side and who is alongside him. Football is a bit more than hitting top speed sprints and knuckle-hitting everything. Especially at the heart of the pitch. Also, especially considering the level of control we want to achieve under Slot.
So where is the change of tune?
What if we played Gravenberch as the third. But with him slightly ahead of the other two, in kind of triangle formation?
1 Like
The change of tune is that you said on a couple of occasions you didn’t want to see him there, simple!
I am one of the only ones that see Grav do very well as the 3rd CB or when he replaces Konate, as he then has the ability to bring the ball out and progress us up the pitch, however he is also instrumental as our deepest lying midfielder and that is most peoples issue.
And where did I say I want to see Szobo as one of the two pivots?
Is this or TWICE!!! the best Pep gif?
Tough call, imo.
1 Like
We needed a bit of what he’s instructing on Sunday.
1 Like
Not gonna lie dude…I’m not sure that kind of energy would help atm.
Suggested in saying that Szobo plays deeper (especially in bigger games)
Which I thought meant the double pivot, which he should be playing with Wirtz as the 10 or advanced 8 role
The way he scurries off at the end like a Gremlin.
Fucking classic.
This has cheered me right up.
1 Like
It gives off David Brent Charity Dance vibes
1 Like
Like I said, in more of a 4-3-3, a narrower central midfield. That’s what we did in some bigger games in the second half of last season. So, Szobo going from the single #10, a bit deeper to more of an offensive RCM #8 role. With more freedom than Mac at LCM. Which is different to being a deep double-pivot midfielder.
I don’t mind that change of shape in midfield, if we’re sometimes more 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3.
So you are dropping Wirtz for the bigger games?