What is he meant to say?
I wish people would stop taking manager’s comments as literally as they do.
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Actually its clear that is exactly what we needed: we are short at CB and likely require upgrades/cover at RB and defensive midfield.
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So in addition to the GK, RB, CB, LB, AM and two CF’s we also should have bought a third RB, another CB, a DM and a replacement for Salah? All in one window.
Why not go the whole hog and just replace the whole of a title winning squad. Make sure there’s no complacency rolling into this season.
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You’re catching on!
We should’ve also signed a 3rd CF in the same window we signed the other 2 new CF’s, just in case one of them didn’t work out.
It’s because playing central up top has responsibilities on and off the ball.
You become the first line of defending from the front, pressing.
In a protagonist team that wants to dominate, you are back to goal most of the time. We’re not Leicester who sticks Vardy up top and waits for counter attacks.
There are very good reasons why Salah played one position in his LFC career, why he doesn’t like playing elsewhere and why it rarely happened. And when it did, it was with another forward, if we don’t count how we finished the away leg against City in 17/18 or the final in Madrid.
No, not all wide forwards end up as strikers. We saw the issues United had with Ronaldo when he came back. Albeit he was older than Salah, but a more complete finisher.
We cannot play in the way we want if we just stick Salah up top at this stage of his career, just because he’s our most proven goalscorer.
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Mo is a legend and should obviously be respected. I’m fully on board with that.
I think his current level does not warrant a starting place, but if he finds something more - and he is well capable, then he becomes a rotation option. If we are going to play with wingers we need someone to replace Mo, and arguably Semenyo’s release clause gives us an opportunity to do that in January.
That’s the sort of conversation Slot should be having with him. Valuable member of the squad, but no longer a nailed on starter, much less guaranteed 90 mins each game.
Nobody should be telling Mo to sling his hook. If he sees out his contract here he is well entitled to. But my suspicion is that he will see the writing on the wall, as his minutes diminish, just as we are starting to see.
My best guess is he will give us some great moments before he goes, but he won’t be the force he was. In an ideal world that culminates in a top four finish in the Prem, and Mo’s beaming smile as he holds up old Big Ears again, before moving on, of his own accord, next summer. That would be the dream finish.
Laughing at the absurdity of the suggestion is what I’m actually doing.
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Wirtz has done nothing of any note but you are all for him.
I mean that’s simply not true is it, but let’s say for a moment it was…is it any wonder when you watch this clip?
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you can argue he hasnt done anything of note…you could even argue that on some levels hes not a net gain for the team hes placed in…
but hes a proper footballer, i dont think anyone can deny that, and by extention, its not hard to understand and accept that alot of the fan base will be ‘all for him’
hes cdertainly shown more than enough glimpses for me to be sold. got to learn to play with him more… and not in a ‘pass the ball to maradonas feet’ ethos, just to get the best out of him.
awesome clip above… i thought thered be a higlights package like that floating around somewhere…id imagine thered be an even bigger one where hes putting balls into areas that other players just arent exploiting.
Hes been a massive disappointment.
Glimpses hes not some 30m bargain buy we paid a kings ransom for nothing so far.
its an interesting take.
i think hes quality has alot of people extending a lot of patience towards him that you maybe dont have…
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He’s playing under a manager who hasn’t got a clue. Not a single clue.
Im not saying hes not got the quality. But all the hyperbole after the West ham game was nauseating did he do anything which you would have not expected thats no.
i suppose the messaging you are using is misleading
‘nothing of any note’ and ‘massive dissapointment’ to me can be debated away, given his quality…against West Ham, he didnt do anything i didnt expect, but thats actually an arguement in his favor, not against him…surely…
he recieved praise for doing what it says on the label…and thats pretty cool, no.
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I think there’s more to come from Wirtz. He could have had a few goals and assists had he received a simple pass, or had others finished off what he created. His balance and vision are clear to see, as is his eye for a pass, and also his dribbling ability. When we get more of a settled side, on the same wavelength, and starting to play better, he will shine.
I can see that he’s really good, I think most of us can, but it’s a fair comment to say that there should be more, and I think there will be.
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Is it really worth critiquing individual players at this point? No one is playing to the level we know they can.
Players like van Dijk, a cornerstone of our recent success, are looking around and wondering what the hell is going on. Imagine what it must be like for a new player coming into this. Move to a new country, find your feet in a new team and league, expect to be challenging for a title and instead you end up in a side having an existential crisis of confidence.
I feel pretty sorry for Wirtz. There’s plenty evidence he’s immensely talented but it’s hard to show your best when everyone is playing a bit shit. It’s as if they’re all pulling each other down at the moment.
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I was so excited when we signed him.
No hiding that he’s not performed as I thought or hoped he would or like he can, but it’s not been all bad either. Clearly lot of room for improvement and hopefully he’s a key player in the next couple of years.
Lately, I think he’s establishing more, connecting well with the team and Slot wants him in his current XI. Doesn’t have to be the central #10, can come off the sides. Ends up in the same zones when in possesion.
Can’t say I feel sorry for him, though. For any of them. It’s not only up to the old guys to make the new guys work. We’ve signed some players who are not young kids, they also have to perform.