I’d take Saliba from Arsenal and Odergaard. That’s it. Madrid’s squad is far more top heavy but less balanced.
I do agree about the opponents countering Slot’s tactics better though.
1 Like
However, you look at all our games we have a higher XG than the opposition, so the players are doing well apart from being clinical and we are also having one of those periods where ot seems every bobble and bounce in the area eventually goes to the opposition to score.
3 Likes
What ever game the players adapt, will predominately, be instrumental to the tactics and instructions issued to them by AS.
If passing about at the back is done at a snails pace, and that is only by following the instruction to the letter from our tacticians… there may be different junctures in the game across 90minutes where this slow build-up is changed about… this might be based upon many factors…
The one that first springs to mind… the slow passing allows our forwards a slight breather also, in so much they are not having to ping about the last third like a ball-bearing in a pinball machine…
As frustrating as the slow motion appears, it will be intriguing if at some future point, we can discover the real motive behind such tactics, from the mouth of the people responsible for allowing, or encouraging it…
Yes, I would agree, we are at our most thrilling when our red arrow, cavalier approach rips opposing teams to shreds… Not being as acutely aware of tactics as our management and backroom staff… it is a feature that remains of some mystery, to me at least.
There’s not really any mystery to it. We pass it about at the back (in some periods of each game) to draw the opposition forward and create space. Also to get a breather as it’s impossible to go full throttle for a whole game. Overall it’s worked well so far
8 Likes
I wonder if this is part of the reason that Grav has been less effective recently. I’ve never seen anyone better at receiving ball in a tight space, rolling opponent and breaking away. But maybe teams have worked out how to prevent/target that somewhat
1 Like
I think yesterday was a perfect example of us trying to counter that tactic. Sticking an extra midfielder on, allowing teams to try and double grav leaving a midfield open during our first phase of play. I think it was relatively successful early. We basically used Grav as a decoy in the build up but unfortunately after half Villa made some adjustments there and we had to go back to our more traditional shape.
2 Likes
I do agree with this. He uses four main midfielders. I’d like to see him use Endo a bit more as a fifth option, and then if he doesn’t quite fancy Endo, upgrade it in summer to add a fifth midfielder you will use regularly going forward. Endo coming on regularly at the 60-70 min mark will help us for the run in.
2 Likes
In the Villa match I was surprised to see TAA get subbed when he was leading the charge. We dropped off quite a bit after that.
Szobozlai staying on was a bewilderment as well. What’s the point if covering every blade of grass without it leading to anything useful?
2 Likes
No, you are missing the point, supposedly the idea is to bring the attackers onto them, especially in our defensive 3rd to create space in themiddle and final 3rd.
It is when our defenders get into the middle 3rd, we are still slow in the pass and I was led to believe 2 things, one being, is to rest in possession and as was said by Curtis, the 2nd, is to pass the opposition to death, i,e. tire them out…
For me we can still rest in possession, but still move the ball quicker along the back line to tire them out.
1 Like
It isn’t full throttle our players are in position, but the passing between them is slow.
You’ll see a lot of my in game posts, are about controlling the game by keeping the ball. We can still do this and increase the speed and time it takes to make the obvious pass, which makes the opposition have to move quicker.
1 Like
Was an interesting selection against Villa.
Basically without wingers, reminiscent of Emery’s early Villa selections. Central midfielders on narrow sides. Szobo inside right, Jones inside left.
It allowed us to place Salah with more freedom than usually.
Villa (who have some players out) had a more offensive XI on paper than us. Tielemans and McGinn as double pivots and then 4 offensive players.
Asensio playing centrally between the lines, pushing Rogers out to the right.
My only worry is that we basically started our 4 main midfielders in a situation where Gravenberch and Mac are playing a lot. I know Diaz is not in great form at the moment.
Hopefully our midfielders are alright for what is coming and what Slot says about the team’s current fitness state and some of our midfielders is true.
1 Like
Agree about Trent. I felt he really was coming into the game and taking him off hurt our momentum and ultimately we ended with a whimper. Slobs (sounds like he is related to you!) on the other hand was central to what we were doing and I certainly wouldn’t have taken him off.
3 Likes
Arne’s explained that it was to do with managing fitness.
3 Likes
1 Like
Slot said it was pre-programmed. Trent is coming back from injury, and the sport science lads said he could only do 60mins
5 Likes
1 Like
Really liked the two false #9’s option today.
I thought we would use it more often during the season, the first time was partly against Brighton in the cup.
Two slightly unusual selections in a row, Villa was so-so, today it was spot on.
Well done Slot and well done the team.
10 Likes
This is what we’ve been banging on about since Alcantara’s transfer - we hoped Klopp would have made his team more boring. I really can’t say why he wasn’t able to, even with the benefit of hindsight.
1 Like
Injuries, transitions. Simple as that.
Don’t underestimate the value of the settled squad that Arne inherited.
3 Likes