I am really confused with his positioning. Yesterday he came on and was again playing as a CF high up the pitch just like the game against Utd. It seems by design but we have Wirtz, Dom and 4 forwards, 5 if we include Chiesa. What’s the point of MacAllister trying to play that role and for some reason he hardly drops back to receive the ball from the defenders.
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Opposition wasn’t great but he did play well and made a great block on a shot headed towards goal. Really appreciated that one, actually.
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Few things…
Robbo coming back was needed. Kirkez just doesn’t look right. When Robbo joined he spent ages on the side-lines watching how we play. Kirkez needs to do the same for a bit. There’s a quality player in there its just not happening for him now. So bring in the experienced lad to help him out.
Jones (odd 1st half) and Sozbo were excellent. Need to start Sat together.
Wirtz - we just need to let him do his thing - we’ve not had player like this since Phil and yes they can be frustrating with flicks etc that lose us the ball but they are in there for their genius and this lad has so much talent its unreal. Leave him in until he needs a rest (Palace next week) and let him get used to the league. It cant of helped his confidence in being left out of Chelsea and United - he was brought in to destroy those teams not watch from side-lines. When he came on in both of those games he made a difference. Last night he was full of confidence. It wont take him long to figure out that teams like Frankfurt and Brentford are totally different!
Ekitike - superb. Reminds me of Torres in his style and confidence in himself to say - new team new league? no problem. Going to get better and better.
Isak - we are seeing here why you don’t strike for 3 months. It maybe a case of we not seeing the best of him until next season. Sounds harsh but how many times have players told us the importance of pre-season as its where all the hard work is done in terms of fitness.
Salah - wont hurt him on the bench for a bit. He is 34 and out of form. That’s why we have a squad to help us cope with these things. Mo is a legend but his confidence is low and everything is over thought and his decision making is off at the moment.
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Let’s see what the coaching staff made of last night where the midfield clicked and worked for each other. ATM that’s what’s important.
Trying to force playing both Wirtz and MacAlister further forward (or Szoboszlai for that matter) shouldn’t be the/a priority at this moment, not with the attack we already have. It just creates confusion and is counter productive to our press imo.
However Slot needs to use rotation wisely this is the balancing act where he needs to be less dogmatic about his philosophy. It was this idea of a small group of players that I found alarming when he said it. It’s just not possible for a top EPL team in the long term.
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Agreed with everything, well nearly everything you wrote. Up to the Salah part. I agree he needs to be managed, but benching him a few games isn’t it, in my opinion.
It’s up to Slot to find a way to manage him, and for sure he can be rested in some games like yesterday, but he’s a starter, and as you said, a legend, and much like other legends of the game needed to be managed when reaching 33, Salah is no different. Ronaldo wasn’t benched, Messi wasn’t benched, after having a bad run of games. They were managed. I’d hate to see Salah getting the same treatment Gerrard had from Rodgers, really a terrible thing to behold.
Not going to pretend I know exactly what management is needed for Salah, I trust Slot can figure it out.
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Agree that we look far better with Robbo currently, but can understand Slot’s dilemma. We need to prepare for the future also which means giving Kerkez game time and letting him develop. He’s still young. Robbo was just starting at Hull at his age
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If Kerkez has one particular problem to deal with at the moment, it is there are too many other players in the team that are underperforming.
Normally the quickest way to learn, is by making mistakes that you can then correct. If other aspects of the team was playing well, the Kerkez, and the wrinkles in his pent-up enthusiasm, his eagerness to dive-in, his poor positional play, his weak challenges for the ball in crucial areas, could all be ironed out and corrected, during the early part of the season.
However, once, or if he gets the fanbase on his back, then it becomes more of a mental thing he has to overcome, which is different problem altogether.
The kid is 21yrs old. Players in our academy are older than that. The guy a talented player with a lot of potential. My hope is that he is a quick learner, and we get to see a better version of him week by week.
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Much better last night in terms of our technical work (passing, ball control, pressing) all being improved from what we’ve seen all season. The energy we showed in the second half gives me hope.
Defensively, there were moments that will be exploited by better teams, but at least it looked like, particularly in the second half, we had cover in the middle of the park, extra bodies to deal with any counters.
I also thought Wirtz, Jones, and Szoboszlai were brilliant, and Bradley got much better as the game went on. A shame about Frimpong’s injuries, and we’ve just got to hope Bradley’s body can handle the upcoming schedule.
If we can bring that energy and much improved technical qualities to Brentford on Saturday, that will be very encouraging.
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Wooohooo… what a great result, albeit against a team which is struggling right now. Still, to go at Frankfurt and score five goals is always good to take, thanks very much.
We shouldn’t expect to hit immediate consistency from now on. There will be further hiccups along the way. Brentford will be a tough test for us on the week-end. But maybe a team is starting to shape up now. Some will be the winners, others the victims. Mo? Frimpong? Isak? Two of them will be out for some time, and Mo does look like he could use a lapse of time on the bench. He doesn’t look up for it right now, for whatever reason. But he’ll come back. As the saying goes: form is temporary, class is permanent, and he’s one of the most classy players we’ve ever had at this club. He has still a lot to offer, I’m convinced of it. Maybe Slot needs to take a good look at how he can use his qualities. Playing him as winger on the touchline isn’t part of it, that’s for sure.
It’s encouraging to see Wirtz finding his place in the team. The combo with Dom and Curtis looks promising. Macca can stay on the bench for the time being, and nurture whatever hampers him right now.
Ekitike looks like he’s going from strength to strength.
Robertson has to stay in the starting team as much as possible. Kerkez isn’t good enough yet, and needs time in order to learn from the master. It would be revolting to see him preferred again at the expense of our big Scot.
VVD and Konaté each scoring a header. Yeahhh… of course, it tells a terrible tale about Frankfurt’s defensive frailties, but still, this win will give a lot of confidence to the players.
Now build on it and don’t look back!
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Yeah, stropping about because he’s been benched after being one of the culprits of poor form the last 4 games and not getting HIS goal isn’t a good look.
I was raging when he didn’t square to Flo at the end of the game.
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A very much improved display. Everyone did their bit and a good three points. Gave my MOM to Konate for a faultless game. He’s struggled since the start of the season but tonight he was excellent with everyone else. Brentford next and another tough one.
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Was anyone absolutely raging at Chiesa for not squaring that ball at the end, or only Salah?
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Salah’s was more egregious.
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Chiesa’s was a much more difficult finish that realistically he wasn’t going to score.
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No not at either even though I had predicted 1-6 earlier on the match once we started scoring by then I was more than happy with 1-5.
I often prefer a player to have a go than to mess it up with a dummy, ‘slick’ pass or squared ball. If it doesn’t come off it seems even more wasteful than a miss.
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We bossed them in all departments.
From what I have seen in the stands is we should play 4-4-2 each game. Play two of Etikite, Salah, Gakpo and Isak up front.
The rest of the lineup I leave to Slot.
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Looked like a great atmosphere in the ground E-fan. Is it usually like that, or was it due to it being LFC?
Also, don’t the fans mind missing most of the match due to having massive flags in the way?
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My brain isnt in a good place today so initially read this and this and wondered what shit had happened last night until I saw who posted it
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