The problem is he’s neither a winger nor a right back. He is a wingback and that’s it. Just an odd addition unless there was talk of moving to a back three, which is unlikely.
1 Like
So Slot has been let down by the quality of player he has at his disposal? Is that what you’re saying?
2 Likes
For me, the squad is not good enough and worse than last year´s. In part due to Salah´s decline and Van Dijk but some other transfers.
And at the same time Slot doesn´t know what he is doing in general and cannot even get the best out of what we have.
Basically we neither have the manager nor the quality of squad in place to be close to the level we are used to.
The squad needs to be judged under a different coach. There are definitely players not at the standard we need but equally they’re all being made to look worse than they are.
You could make the case that in the next 12 months we’re going to need 1 starting RB, 2 starting CBs, 1 LB to compete with Kerkez, 1 starting no.6, 2 starting wide players, 1 goalkeeper to compete with Marma.
That’s not quite wholesale but it’s A LOT.
And that’s irrespective of who’s in charge but I certainly wouldn’t trust Slot with that level of investment (again).
3 Likes
Frimpong just needs to be coached, he’ll be fine.
3 Likes
Well, it won’t be Gordon now…
2 Likes
Oh no.
10 Likes
The new Messi…
1 Like
What’s happened to Bajetic is he due to start the season?
Also what’s happening
with Danns?
Although not starters - they could perhaps give us a bit of strength in depths - if they are still firing as they did before the injuries…
2 Likes
Welcome. I was hoping to see Bajcetic at some point this season. When he started seeing some action a few years ago I thought he would be a great option as a defensive midfielder for us. I still have in my mind the time he ran back and did a brilliant tackle and came out with the ball.
Unfortunately he missed a lot of football with injuries, and now I don’t know how close he could potentially be to the first team, but I can see that Slot is also reluctant to put too many youngsters in there. I suspect he will have to move on to ignite his career, but I don’t know that.
Danns is a mini-legend for his goal celebration when the kids stormed the castle under Klopp. Brilliant stuff. Sadly injured, and now I’m not sure if Wright is passing him, to say nothing of the other central strikers we have on the books. I suspect he will have to move on too, but I don’t know that.
1 Like
I heard Bajetic was now living in a hippy commune in Findhorn…
4 Likes
Hell of a risk to just keep them all and get another coach though. Ends up 2 years wasted not 1.
And yes, I think we do need all that, except just 1 starting CB and 1 CM as well as DM.
I get your point. Most likely some of our players could do much better. I´ve just looked at them all and decided that Kerkez, Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak can play at the level and the roles (unlike Dom in my view) we need and the rest can´t really. I don´t think having a great manager would make them quite good enough but I do see your point.
1 Like
Cheers for the reply.
Does Slot have a history of actually bringing on youngsters? I know this season he’s not been pro it, perhaps that’s just as so many of the games have been so tight.
This lack of trust on youngsters will create more strain on the first team squad as we can’t afford to have two top players for many positions…
3 Likes
Had to google Findhorn… looks lovely up there!
You make a good point. Slot has been reluctant to trust too many young players. It has hurt us in two way. First, the small core he has used are knackered, and thus several have been below their best.
Second, some youngsters will rise to the challenge and forge a nice career. If not at our level, then somewhere else… but Slot has not been releasing this sort of potential. So we have not unearthed any gems and we have not ‘boosted’ the value of players we will sell, as part of the legitimate business of football.
Youngsters have to be used! The best ones, obviously. One or two might make the grade for us, and if they don’t - we live in rarified air - their value will be boosted by the exposure.
Slot fails in this important aspect.
2 Likes
He seemed obsessed with having anyone play right back that wasn’t a right back.
Remember that’s where Endo was playing when he got injured, all I can assume was he was trying to replicate Trent in some way.
2 Likes
I think this might be being a little harsh. I’m not sure the youngsters close to the team are good enough as they have been in recent years,. I think we’ve been a little spoilt by the quality we saw under Jurgen.
I don’t share your optimism, but I hope you are right! I am just curious about the reasoning behind getting him in the first place. What was the plan there?
1 Like
He’s fast, he’s got pace and he’s quick.
3 Likes
Not much of a plan 