Arne Slot

[Lee]

Wonder who decided to sell Diaz? I was not necessarily against it m, but that was more down to the players we were linked with. In retrospect, he was a street fighter. He had that bit of devil in him. We look a bit more plodding without his level of unpredictability. Gakpo you know what he is going to do, he is going to cut inside and try and get a shot away - and often it works. But Diaz had more flair, could go both ways, and still got goals and assists.

He was frustrating at times and didn’t hit the heights we wanted so it seemed like good business at the time for a flakey 28 year old nearing the end of his contract.

Issue is we didn’t replace him. Nobody in this team can press, switch play and drag players in or get in behind like he did. Hindsight now but selling was a **** up

[Buzzo]

Yeah he definitely explained well where he was at then and now. He’s still young. I’m not saying it will happen but I can see that it could in the future.

[peterbread]

They do, but they regard Slot as the head coach, the long term view is the investment in players and the upgrades behind the scenes, and the will to stay at the top and consolidate the equity that they have built in the value of the club. They will believe that that stuff will pay off with Slot if he performs, and without Arne slot if he doesn't.

We uncharacteristically splurged an enormous amount of money in the summer, it was an investment, and protecting that investment is a new imperative for the club, it's a new pressure that none of our previous managers have worked under and it changes the dynamics. I think they will be more trigger happy than they have traditionally been in these circumstances.

Hughes has shown his ruthless side by getting rid of Gary O’Neil who was performing well at Bournemouth to bring in Iraola.

[Slinky Skills]

He might have to if this **** carries on any longer. Lol

[kingfunk]

Hughes has shown his ruthless side by getting rid of Gary O’Neil who was performing well at Bournemouth to bring in Iraola.

Yeah but he was ****e.

[Exiled_red]

The subs are really frustrating me, last season they were fairly straight forward and seemed to work, the number of times we have taken a RB off and shifted Szoboszlai to RB and weakened our midfield and often then have to make another change to correct it (Gomez on today). It just feels like he is trying to be too clever and it isn't working.

We finished the game with Salah, Ekitike, Chiesa and Rio on the pitch but in the last couple of mins we had VVD as the centre forward and not when we were camped in their box

[Buzzo]

My overall take is as simple as, the players are not doing Slot any favours right now. He is one of a select few managers that have won the league in their first season. Each one of them managed inherited a team from someone else. Like great players, great managers/head coaches don’t turn **** over night. We are in a transitional phase (and it’s not over yet), we are probably expecting too much, because anything less than winning the league this year is after all by default, worse.

That’s fair also.

We might just have to suck it up this season. We have never been a reactionary club we’ve always made smart moves. It’s just that the climate now is to hire and fire - but that’s mostly done by clubs who win **** all.

[Buzzo]

The subs are really frustrating me, last season they were fairly straight forward and seemed to work, the number of times we have taken a RB off and shifted Szoboszlai to RB and weakened our midfield and often then have to make another change to correct it (Gomez on today). It just feels like he is trying to be too clever and it isn't working.

We finished the game with Salah, Ekitike, Chiesa and Rio on the pitch but in the last couple of mins we had VVD as the centre forward and not when we were camped in their box

There’s no chance any of these players no what to do when the formation goes that mental. We used to grind teams down even when we needed a goal. These mad formations are just desperation.

We couldn’t get Ekitike in the game at all today.

[kingfunk]

That’s fair also.

We might just have to suck it up this season. We have never been a reactionary club we’ve always made smart moves. It’s just that the climate now is to hire and fire - but that’s mostly done by clubs who win **** all.

[Exiled_red]

Wonder who decided to sell Diaz? I was not necessarily against it m, but that was more down to the players we were linked with. In retrospect, he was a street fighter. He had that bit of devil in him. We look a bit more plodding without his level of unpredictability. Gakpo you know what he is going to do, he is going to cut inside and try and get a shot away - and often it works. But Diaz had more flair, could go both ways, and still got goals and assists.

I think the issue with Diaz was many here saw him as a winger, but he played as CF for much of last season. If both Diaz and Gakpo played Gakpo was the one playing on the left so he was always first choice in that position. I guess the club saw replacing Diaz, Nunez and dealing with the loss of Jota by bringing in Isak and Ekitike as upgrading the CF position.

But we do miss a player who will run at players and had a degree of unpredictability I have said before our side is very pass oriented and somewhat lacking in movement

[Buzzo]

I think the issue with Diaz was many here saw him as a winger, but he played as CF for much of last season. If both Diaz and Gakpo played Gakpo was the one playing on the left so he was always first choice in that position. I guess the club saw replacing Diaz, Nunez and dealing with the loss of Jota by bringing in Isak and Ekitike as upgrading the CF position.

But we do miss a player who will run at players and had a degree of unpredictability I have said before our side is very pass oriented and somewhat lacking in movement

Yep. Nobody can take a man on and beat them.

Kerkez/Gakpo on the left isn’t working at all. Bradley/Salah on the right the same. Then we move Dom as he can play like Trent from RB - but we in turn miss his energy in midfield.

Jones went off injured today also…

More questions than answers really.

[peterbread]

There’s no chance any of these players no what to do when the formation goes that mental. We used to grind teams down even when we needed a goal. These mad formations are just desperation.

We couldn’t get Ekitike in the game at all today.

Last season when it wasn’t working he was so good at making tweaks at halftime and getting things going or a smart sub that changes the game. This year it’s just chuck every attacker on and today VVD upfront. And players shifting around all game like Dom cant help either. He’s played about three positions in most games with all the changes.

[Mark79]

I think the issue with Diaz was many here saw him as a winger, but he played as CF for much of last season. If both Diaz and Gakpo played Gakpo was the one playing on the left so he was always first choice in that position. I guess the club saw replacing Diaz, Nunez and dealing with the loss of Jota by bringing in Isak and Ekitike as upgrading the CF position.

But we do miss a player who will run at players and had a degree of unpredictability I have said before our side is very pass oriented and somewhat lacking in movement

Diaz was first choice LW. But he was also first choice alternative for Jota at CF.

So Gakpo would take his place at LW. But it was more a case of Slot preferring Diaz to Nunez at CF than preferring Gakpo to Diaz at LW.

[BG1973]

I think the issue with Diaz was many here saw him as a winger, but he played as CF for much of last season. If both Diaz and Gakpo played Gakpo was the one playing on the left so he was always first choice in that position. I guess the club saw replacing Diaz, Nunez and dealing with the loss of Jota by bringing in Isak and Ekitike as upgrading the CF position.

But we do miss a player who will run at players and had a degree of unpredictability I have said before our side is very pass oriented and somewhat lacking in movement

Mane, Robbo.1
Salah.1, Trent

Gakpo, Kerkez
Salah.2, Bradley

The former had arguably top 3 in world in each position and as a combo the most dangerous wings in world football. And then there was Bobby. And the three man midfield designed to press and protect.

The latter is just average and unsurprisingly toothless hence this slow and ineffective play we see, which eventually breaks down and leaves us open to the counter.

I hate the idea of 2 strikers but it may be a way to get more balance...

I would prefer trying wirtz in the Bobby role, ekitike left and chiesa/another (prob not salah) on the right.

[Rich]

If you’re going Hail Mary in every game it tells me you’ve utterly failed as a tactician.

I don’t want this, I didn’t expect this but if he doesn’t get a handle on it soon then the job isn’t for him.