Arne Slot

[labourRed]

We’ve done it for years and it’s allowed us to be very successful but a high line gets exposed when the guys ahead of the CBs font do their jobs. They need to stop the balls being played easily into space.

We set up tactically very different vs Palace than we’ve done every game under Slot, I think Palace are in his head as we’ve not beaten them in tge last meetings and they always cause us problems. He went with a box to match theirs but we didn’t match up physically. Away to Palace who are arguably the form and most well drilled team in England seemed a strange place to experiment

I don't think it was an experiment - moreover he was setting up to nullify them. That was to get another body in midfield. Changed it in the second half as it obviously wasn't working, and we did fare better. As long as Palace are our only bogey team for a while, then no bother.

There's a good article from Sam Maguire on the tactical set up, specifically relating to Salah that's worth a read. https://www.squawka.com/en/features/...ah-poor-start/

I did post a few times on the fact that we recruited several Left forwards and hiw that was going to be an interesting conundrum for Slot to manage, as Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike all occupy similar positions on the pitch, regardless of their starting position. A few people replied that will allow Salah plenty of space to do his thing but its not necessarily as simple as that. Trent leaving has clearly had an impact on Salah as well. They had years of understanding in the bank.

[Irishnev]

I don't think it was an experiment - moreover he was setting up to nullify them. That was to get another body in midfield. Changed it in the second half as it obviously wasn't working, and we did fare better. As long as Palace are our only bogey team for a while, then no bother.

There's a good article from Sam Maguire on the tactical set up, specifically relating to Salah that's worth a read. https://www.squawka.com/en/features/...ah-poor-start/

I did post a few times on the fact that we recruited several Left forwards and hiw that was going to be an interesting conundrum for Slot to manage, as Isak, Wirtz and Ekitike all occupy similar positions on the pitch, regardless of their starting position. A few people replied that will allow Salah plenty of space to do his thing but its not necessarily as simple as that. Trent leaving has clearly had an impact on Salah as well. They had years of understanding in the bank.

experiment might be a badly chosen word from me, as you said we set up to counter thief strengths rather than focusing on our strengths. I found it odd that this was the first time we’ve seen it, maybe they practiced shape in training but we looked to have holes everywhere. It reminded me of Napoli away except Palace didn’t have Oshimen and Kvara in their front line.

It also wasn’t helped that we gifted them a goal from a set piece, which shouldn’t have been theirs btw! This means we are chasing and maybe even more wide open.

I am alone on this hill but for me Grav is not a natural DM and in some games that gets badly exposed, this was one of them. He’s brilliant at carrying the ball and is getting better defensively but sometimes you need a lad who sits in front and kills transitions like a Fabinho.

Horses for courses

[Mark79]

experiment might be a badly chosen word from me, as you said we set up to counter thief strengths rather than focusing on our strengths. I found it odd that this was the first time we’ve seen it, maybe they practiced shape in training but we looked to have holes everywhere. It reminded me of Napoli away except Palace didn’t have Oshimen and Kvara in their front line.

It also wasn’t helped that we gifted them a goal from a set piece, which shouldn’t have been theirs btw! This means we are chasing and maybe even more wide open.

I am alone on this hill but for me Grav is not a natural DM and in some games that gets badly exposed, this was one of them. He’s brilliant at carrying the ball and is getting better defensively but sometimes you need a lad who sits in front and kills transitions like a Fabinho.

Horses for courses

I don't think you're alone there on Gravenberch at all. Slot doesn't seem interested in a Fabinho style DM. He wants a press resistant player who will progess the ball.

He seems to see the defensive aspect of the midfield as a collective effort that each of the midfielders should be capable of rather than something that requires a defensive specialist in the 6 position.

[Doc_Piptorious]

experiment might be a badly chosen word from me, as you said we set up to counter thief strengths rather than focusing on our strengths. I found it odd that this was the first time we’ve seen it, maybe they practiced shape in training but we looked to have holes everywhere. It reminded me of Napoli away except Palace didn’t have Oshimen and Kvara in their front line.

It also wasn’t helped that we gifted them a goal from a set piece, which shouldn’t have been theirs btw! This means we are chasing and maybe even more wide open.

I am alone on this hill but for me Grav is not a natural DM and in some games that gets badly exposed, this was one of them. He’s brilliant at carrying the ball and is getting better defensively but sometimes you need a lad who sits in front and kills transitions like a Fabinho.

Horses for courses

I think the best DMs (as in the ones that end up being great footballers as well as great DMs) are the ones that develop playing in other roles first.

Fabinho was brilliant but lets not forget some of his formative years were as a box to box midfielder and at the age Gravenberch is now, Fabinho was just starting his big break out season at Monaco after having spent the previous few seasons looking promising there.

Could be argued that last season was Gravenberch's version of Fabinho's 2016/17 season and that the experience gained will see him just grow further into his hybrid role (I call it that as I don't see what he does for us as being the work of a pure DM and I do agree with you in seeing Grav as not being an out and out DM ) .

I see Gravenberch as almost being a midfield version of a libero/sweeper. Everything he does screams libero save for the line that tends to be his starting position is. But for me he is to the midfield what a sweeper would have been for the back line.

Some people might say but that is just being a DM but I think what Gravenberch does is different so for me he plays like some sort of advanced libero rather than a DM.

[Buzzo]

Really good interview. Arne is never less than honest.

[ame="https://youtu.be/Q8J4lUhiS8k"]🎥 Ally McCoist Meets Arne Slot: Arne Slot reveals Liverpool had to spend more than they wanted to! 💰 - YouTube[/ame]

[labourRed]

I watched that a week ago. Confirms that the club paid up Jota's contract which is nice.

[Irishnev]

I think the best DMs (as in the ones that end up being great footballers as well as great DMs) are the ones that develop playing in other roles first.

Fabinho was brilliant but lets not forget some of his formative years were as a box to box midfielder and at the age Gravenberch is now, Fabinho was just starting his big break out season at Monaco after having spent the previous few seasons looking promising there.

Could be argued that last season was Gravenberch's version of Fabinho's 2016/17 season and that the experience gained will see him just grow further into his hybrid role (I call it that as I don't see what he does for us as being the work of a pure DM and I do agree with you in seeing Grav as not being an out and out DM ) .

I see Gravenberch as almost being a midfield version of a libero/sweeper. Everything he does screams libero save for the line that tends to be his starting position is. But for me he is to the midfield what a sweeper would have been for the back line.

Some people might say but that is just being a DM but I think what Gravenberch does is different so for me he plays like some sort of advanced libero rather than a DM.

Fab started as a right back and got moved to midfield when he went to Monaco from Madrid. I think the best all round deep midfielder in recent times was probably Busquets and he was just super intelligent in his spacial awareness and use of the ball.

As Mark said, Slot doesn’t want a Mascherano type of roaming destroyer in thd deepest role. He wants a creator and that’s why we went for Zubi last season. Tbh, I don’t actually think Grav is that great as a deep passing progresser, he excels in carrying from deep. Mac is the guy we need on the ball to break the first line with passing

[danperkins]

Back to basics Arne, imo he's fried the new lads in too quickly and the balance is ****ed. 10 games in and I don't think we've played one good 90 mins yet and it's very concerning.

Don't be stubborn, basically don't do an Amorim.

[pass and move]

It's been a long time since I last posted and to be honest it was pre Klopp, I used to go under another name but something needs saying here. FWIW I think we've been found out, our slow build up play allows the opposition to reorganise their midfield shape and defence. We're not getting past low blocks at all. These signs were on display towards the end of last season and the alarm bells were there for all to see during the Community shield game.

I think far too many shiny new toys have been crowbarred in and hey presto we look totally disjointed. Teams are now beginning to press us just like we used to do to them. Konate needs dropping, Gomez please, leave the new players out and try and integrate them slowly, remember how Klopp integrated both Robertson and Fabinhio.

We look awful at the moment and I had a feeling when everybody was saying that we've bought a work class this and that this summer that it would not be plain sailing.

Well as Klopp once said if you don't like losing don't follow a football team. Hey we're still top of the league. A long way to go for sure, but Slot needs to earn his corn here.

[BobTheCharmer]

The one time we blow money like a lads first Vegas trip and we end up ****ing worse. You couldn't write it.

It's still early but there was no need to sign wirz. Who sanctioned it? Slot? Hughes? Was there even a conversation to where he was going to play?

Then we end up buying two strikers that seemingly can't play together because we never set up like that.

We let a centre back go and then don't go big to get a replacement. Instead waiting until the last minute. Centre back and right back were our biggest priorities.

Not sure getting rid of Diaz was right either.

Then we have lost 2 or 3 of the backroom team.

Plus poor old jota.

Too much change at once, some out of our hands and some self inflicted.

Slot has to prove he didn't just get lucky on the back of klopp last season.

[Lee]

It's been a long time since I last posted and to be honest it was pre Klopp, I used to go under another name but something needs saying here. FWIW I think we've been found out, our slow build up play allows the opposition to reorganise their midfield shape and defence. We're not getting past low blocks at all. These signs were on display towards the end of last season and the alarm bells were there for all to see during the Community shield game.

I think far too many shiny new toys have been crowbarred in and hey presto we look totally disjointed. Teams are now beginning to press us just like we used to do to them. Konate needs dropping, Gomez please, leave the new players out and try and integrate them slowly, remember how Klopp integrated both Robertson and Fabinhio.

We look awful at the moment and I had a feeling when everybody was saying that we've bought a work class this and that this summer that it would not be plain sailing.

Well as Klopp once said if you don't like losing don't follow a football team. Hey we're still top of the league. A long way to go for sure, but Slot needs to earn his corn here.

The one time we blow money like a lads first Vegas trip and we end up ****ing worse. You couldn't write it.

It's still early but there was no need to sign wirz. Who sanctioned it? Slot? Hughes? Was there even a conversation to where he was going to play?

Then we end up buying two strikers that seemingly can't play together because we never set up like that.

We let a centre back go and then don't go big to get a replacement. Instead waiting until the last minute. Centre back and right back were our biggest priorities.

Not sure getting rid of Diaz was right either.

Then we have lost 2 or 3 of the backroom team.

Plus poor old jota.

Too much change at once, some out of our hands and some self inflicted.

Slot has to prove he didn't just get lucky on the back of klopp last season.

Hard to disagree with any of that. It’s a weird old mess right now and has to be due to the massive turnover because these are seriously talented lads. Trying to integrate too many too soon I think.

He’s been an easy target so far but Wirtz is a strange one. Slot supposedly didn’t fancy Harv because he’s not athletic enough but Wirtz even less so.

Kerkez was excellent last year in a team with low expectations and he’s still a kid. Maybe we need to bring Robbo back in and ease Kerkez in slowly.

Bradley is our best RB and Frimpong looks like a versatile squad player who helps with the home grown quota and little more. He had his knockers and struggled defensively for a while but we’ll miss Trent’s creativity.

Gakpo starting every game over Chiesa (I know he was injured this evening) is peculiar. A ghost vs someone who makes things happen when given a chance. Weird.

Isak is playing like a lad who hasn’t kicked a ball since April. He’ll come good.

Ekitike has been one of the best signings this summer. No more silly reds or injuries please.

Can’t say I’m looking forward to Saturday.

[peterbread]

I don’t think it’s as bad as it might seem and I don’t think it’s necessarily the new players it seems more the style of play leaving the team more open.

The best performance this season was against Arsenal in the biggest game so far. It was more balanced like last season. The team was very comfortable defensively and the new players played well. Kerkez was good and Wirtz was very involved in the second half. While they weren’t as creative it was Arsenal who are very strong defensively.

If they played more in that style with a bit more control and balance with the quality in attack they would still be very dangerous against most teams. I think Slot has an idea of being more free flowing and attacking this season to counter the difficulty they had breaking teams down in the second half of last season. He hasn’t quite got the balance right and it’s thrown things off right now but I’m confident they will find the solution.

We’ve seen the potential in patches and that’s got me feeling confident. There is a bit of a disconnect when pressing which is leaving too much space which is where I think things are going wrong right now. They aren’t winning the ball in the right areas and it’s leaving the team open. Last season if a team got through the press the defence was so well organised that it was better controlled. Hopefully we see a slight shift to a more controlled system and a more solid base. Even going a little less attacking the team has so much quality to open teams up.

[Kenneth]

The idea that we're more open so concede more, but can barely string a coherent attacking move together at the other end is concerning, and the glimpses that people talk about must have largely passed me by. We're slow, we look backwards more than forward, and at times we can barely string two passes together, and our strikers are hardly getting the ball. Palace away and Galatasaray away are not games we can expect to win just by turning up so the losses on their own aren't a huge deal, but the football we are playing is genuinely worrying.

We're 8 games into the season, talking about the lack of preseason for a few players is wearing thin.

[labourRed]

The idea that we're more open so concede more, but can barely string a coherent attacking move together at the other end is concerning, and the glimpses that people talk about must have largely passed me by. We're slow, we look backwards more than forward, and at times we can barely string two passes together, and our strikers are hardly getting the ball. Palace away and Galatasaray away are not games we can expect to win just by turning up so the losses on their own aren't a huge deal, but the football we are playing is genuinely worrying.

We're 8 games into the season, talking about the lack of preseason for a few players is wearing thin.

Well, it is a defence. Isak can barely track back, he was blowing out of his arse against AM. So he definitely needs time.

I don't know what the deal with Mac Alistair is, he's been having fitness issues since June. He's massively important to us offensively.

That's not to diminish some tactical/personnel/confidence issues we need address.

[Paul12]

1 If a player missed the pre-season, take him out of the match day squad and give him a pre-season.
2 Frimpong and Wirtz always looked to me like 'different kinds of 'player'. Let's put them aside until we sort out our rhythm and confidence....and the speed of our play.
3 We need to rotate Gakpo a bit to keep him fresh, the left back plan for this season should be to play Robbo less (but not treat him as a reserve) and Konate needs a reset so use Gomez.

Easy this manager thing.