I know and seen your posts and I was so surrprised that you used 2 complete seasons rather than the season they played together in the same system, it just doesn’t make sense, you been on the juice 
Oh lordy, here we go.
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Oh dear another Gakpo post.
We pressed a bit more in Slot’s first season, but (again) the reason why I don’t think it’s an apt comparison is because Gakpo rarely started and benefited from having Diaz and Salah driving the creative attack next to him, drawing defenders away and giving him easy poaching opportunities. Last year, as a main man who started most of the matches, he struggled without having that next to him, and isolating him on the wing was a major problem. He lacked the quickness or dribbling needed to beat defenders one-on-one and he didn’t link up well with anyone.
We can say “it was Slot! All Slot!” but it wasn’t, though. Gakpo is a poacher. He’s not a creative force of his own.
I 100% agree that Diaz is far more suited to Iraola, FWIW.
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Who was getting the ball forward in 2024-25? It was Diaz. It was Salah. Our wingers have always driven the ball forward.
FFS, move those discussions to Gakpo’s thread. I came in here expecting to read some juicy rumours, but instead arguments about past Gakpo’s performances.
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By the way, I don’t think Slot’s system in 2024-25 and our system under Iraola will be all that similar. Slot was noticeably trying restrain our high press into a more possession-based system. Iraola going high press, high energy, very direct without shackles.
See my earlier post in regard to Cody, but remember last season under Slot our forward dynamism disappeared under his coaching, it seemed there was very little movement in the last 3rd and our slow build up helped the opposition get back into shape.
However, Cody didn’t do himself any justice with his lack of vision especially in ignoring Kerkez’s runs.
Is he perfect for the system, maybe not, would I sell him, possibly, but not 1 for 1 as I think we need an extra winger in addition to what we have
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Yeah, as I said earlier, I’d only sell Cody if we were bringing in two wingers - Barcola and another. We just don’t have the bodies to sell wingers right now, and I’d hold out hope that Cody would be rejuvenated under Iraola.
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Was about to post the above to steer this thread back on track. Thanks!
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I see now that’s what you meant, but tbh, I’m not sure what those stats tell us about what to expect going forward. I could pull up Mo’s stats from prior years, but (I think) we know that doesn’t tell us much about what to expect going forward after what we saw last season.
I picked those two seasons because it made most sense to compare them - they were the most recent evidence of what those two did with our club right before we had to make a decision on keeping/selling (Diaz after 2024-25, Gakpo after 2025-26) and because I think last year showed us, far more precisely, the limitations in Gakpo’s game.
Any further Gakpo discussion will be moved to the Gakpo thread.
So please don’t post about Gakpo any more unless it’s a rumour, I fucking hate having to move posts, it’s a ballache.
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I bought up Mbaye last year - he would be a great signing. I’d be surprised if PSG let him go, though.
We are struggling to find one winger never mind 2.
Although the more I look at Minteh’s alround stats with his defensive side of the game, I would go for him.
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I’m liking this a lot.
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I saw this rumour last week but it was teamtalk or some other outlet like that pushing the story.
He has developed a bad rep in terms of being difficult to deal with, which is allegedly why PSG are fine to let him go. I’m normally cautious to put much weight on those stories with young African lads, but that seems to be PSG’s perspective at least
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Wasn’t just Arne that was obsessed with PSG.
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