One strange thing for me was the change we saw in Gravenberch. In the title winning season he was more of a defensive midfielder. He added more discipline to his game to help protect the defence, while others had more license to do their thing. Grav wasn’t a perfect defensive midfielder by any means, but as a first full season in the role he was a key member of a Premier League winning team.
It was odd to me that in Slot’s second season we didn’t really build on that. Instead, Grav very much reverted to more of an 8, and while he obviously has that in his locker, it was never very clear who was protecting the defence. It was infuriating to see team waltz through us all season.
If we are going to solve our midfield balance with current personnel, someone needs to take more defensive responsibility. There are nuances within that, not least whether we go with a single pivot or double pivot. But last season just seemed to have no shape or discipline.
I’m confident Iraola can improve on that by coaching the current personnel and setting them up according to his wishes. And I’m confident that part of the solution can be in the market, if we choose to sign someone.
I think it will be a bit of both. We will sign a midfielder but Iraola will also get the unit performing better than we saw last season.
I totally agree with this. I don’t think we make wholesale changes in midfield. It’s clear we have good players that can and will improve under Iraola. I do think we add one, just not sure of the profile.
Grav was all over the place defensively because of Slots tactics and the plus 1 at the back, as often he was playing alongside the back 4 rather than in the DM shielding position in front of them.
Again due to his positioning, there was a big hole in midfield especially when we tried to press.
I would hope that Iraola changes this tactic and Grav reverts to the player he was the 1st year under Slot.
Also, I hope his and the rest of players passing gets back on track, I again thought maybe our players were doubtful in their minds when passing as Slot wanted a more possession and safe style of passing whereas Jurgen and Iraola encourages them to be more expressive.
MacAllister needs replacing. He had a very poor season and never looked fit. Now he’s at the World Cup and depending how far Argentina progress, is unlikely to start the season refreshed.
We also need a right back, who can be relied on. Bradley might start the season but is extremely likely to be out injured after a few games. Frimpong just isn’t good enough, in my opinion.
Agree about the need for anew RB and on Bradley’s reliability.
Frimpong is ideal as a wing back, but as we never play that system I don’t know why he was bought. Maybe Iraola can make an RB out of him, I haven’t given up hope.
Frimpong was likely bought because of the combination of the low release clause and being homegrown. A bit like all of the team, I wouldn’t judge him based on last season. Hopefully Iraola will be able to do something that maximises Frimpongs strengths when he is on the pitch.
Given the price point and having an attacking full back on the left flank I would imagine they would look for someone considered to be a little more solid?
I dont know there is any position more negatively impacted by slow “patient” build up than an attacking FB. These are players who are almost always only a FB because they are not quite technically gifted enough to play in the smaller spaces that wide forwards have to, but who can approximate the quality of one if you give them more space to play in. If you start them 30 yards further back as a FB rather than “winger” then they get more of that space. Slot’s slow paced football shrunk the pitch and so took that space away from everyone, but particularly the attacking FBs.
My hope is that Iraola’s faster pace will provide a context where Frimpong can look far more effective than he did last year.
