Yeah the problem with several of the players from last season is they are part of the issue.
I would certainly have rotated between Kerkez and Robbo, I think that was a mistake to start one continuously. Also Salah can’t be untouchable on current form.
I’d have rested Maca but now Grav is injured hmmm
Would like to see us show up as a team that knows what we are doing tonight.
Watching some of the CL matches last night reminded me what composure on the ball, movement off the ball, pressing when you lose the ball and above all speed and accuracy does for your chances of success. Some truly outstanding teams in the competition this year.
Begining to wonder if Arne’s assistant John Heitinga was a bigger loss than we thought. Does Von Bronckhorst offer the same dynamic?
Go back to the hybrid and pragmatic approach last season and I reckon we win.
Keep with the gung-ho style and I think we struggle.
I’d honstly make about 5 changes to the UTD game.
Robbo for Kerkez
Gomez for Bradley
Wirtz for Mac
Chiesa for Salah
Ekitike for Gakpo
I was 8 at the time and a bit of a late starter where football was concerned, didn’t really have any interest in it at that point.
But I have an abiding memory, one of those memories that just stick in your mind for some reason when anything else from that period is lost, it would have been a school night and my mum sent me to bed so I went into the back room to say goodnight to my dad and he was hunched over an old transistor radio. He told me he was listening to a football match. I can’t remember if anything else was said but that was the only time I ever saw him listen to a match on the radio even though he loved his football.
I’m convinced it was the UEFA final and for some reason I can’t explain I’m sure it was that 2nd leg. There would have been no other game of that importance at that time as far as I can see.
He’s 95 now and I suppose I could ask him!
Likely finish 0-0 after yet another disjointed performance at best.
Oh how i wish I’m wrong though.
He did in the last 2 games and we lost!
Maybe, you never know… but these are two teams with right now a strong attacking record, and a poor defensive record. So, a high-scoring draw more likely? We haven’t been clinical lately, but our attacking potential is still frightening if something clicks in our game, so who knows…
I think this will be the team:
Mama
Bradley-Konate-VVD-Robertson
Szoboszlai-Jones
Wirtz
Frimpong-Isak-Etikite
Not that I am a fan of it. Just do not see Slot starting Chiesa, and using this chance to “rest” Salah and Gakpo.
Szobo is quoted as saying “we are ready to react”, after losing four consecutive games. That’s three games too late in my view. Does that mean they weren’t ‘ready to react’ after the defeat at Palace?
What do you want him to say? Fuck it?
Anyway here is my team
Wirtz is bound to see one of his extraordinary key passes be converted and become an assist; Salah won’t keep not scoring all season. If Ekitike starts, I’m counting on him to keep scoring. Gakpo hopefully shot his woodwork for this season, and can proceed with scoring now. Chiesa’s goal contributions per minute can keep coming when he comes on.
Not all of the above will happen at the same time (or will it), but they are all bound to start happening, probably more than one at a time.
My worry is whether we can be more difficult to score against, which is not a huge wish, as it can only get better, right? When I see a player of the other team outside our box with lots of space to either shoot or find that final pass, is where I’d like to see the change for starters. And to add to that, to start winning more duels.
This looks like a game where we can start doing these things. Here’s to a win that can help our confidence too.
https://x.com/TheRedmenTV/status/1981042297283236348
https://x.com/TheRedmenTV/status/1981041310585815077
https://x.com/TheRedmenTV/status/1981040843067707557
Time to get back on the win bus, let’s go!
A win is the most important thing. But beyond that I want to see the performance level improve, and some better understanding show itself in the phases of play, and in little partnerships forming.
Ideally we will see the attacking talent we brought in all start, as that’s the future, and it is waiting to emerge. Wirtz behind Ekitike and Isak for me. Get that going and we won’t look back. I agree with the notion that we are caught between two stools, and given the transfer moves we have made, it makes sense to move on from the past.
Starting XI again looks very weird.
Gakpo again 
Is that 4-2-2-2 with Gakpo and Wirtz behind Ekitike and Isak?
Or is it Gakpo on the right, Ekitike on the left, and Wirtz behind Isak in the usual 4-2-3-1?
What does Slot not see in Chiesa? Genuinely asking.
Looks like it. I don’t think the system has once worked so far this season
Is it just me who’s happy with the line up? This is what we were expecting him to do right? Dropped Salah, playing Robbo and Frimpong.. those at positive changes IMO