2025/26 Season

[Exiled_red]

Thats not flexibility. That feels more like panic.

Our two best midfileders moved into defence while our midfield is being overrun.

All while we have a backup rb and centreback on the bench,leaving us with jones macca and wirtz in midfield, which is about as lightweight as it gets.

Its makes our summer transfer activity loom a bit ridiculous that we dont have a trusted backup at right back, Dm or centre back.

Slot needs a bit more faith in Gomez and Endo, or why didnt we replace them in the summer? Frimpong just looks odd at this point. Was he signed as a RB?

While I would question the decision of moving 2 of our best midfielders into defence and weakening the midfield by doing so, I'm not sure it was done as a panic, Gravenberch has been moved into CB a few times when for example Konate has been on a yellow and we are chasing the game. Similarly Szoboszlai going to RB has been done albeit as an emergency measure in a couple of games which actually worked out. I think both individually are planned changes designed to get as many of our best (attacking) players onto the pitch when we need a goal. Gravenberch is considered at CB for better ball playing skills than Konate and it is probably anticipated that Szoboszlai at RB will be doing more defending that attacking, so they are calculated risks. I don't think it is about not trusting players I think it's about the situation in the game and trying to be aggressive and win the game.

Had the scoreline been different e.g. if we had been winning I think more cautious subs would have been made e.g. Gomez if Konate had to come off, Endo in midfield, I don't think it's that Slot doesn't trust them I think it is they don't offer much in an attacking sense when you need a goal.

I agree the Frimpong situation is a bit odd, I was assuming it was a fitness issue, when he has played recently it has tended to be further forward than RB, not sure if that is to try and get him used to the physicality without having the defensive responsibility or something else.

[Norbs]

Jones at RB and leaving Szob in midfield makes much more sense and then bringing Gomez in to defence while fit makes more sense than putting Grav there

It's contrived and over thought

[Charly]

Ill hold my hands up as I was frustrated last season with Dom in an attacking sense and thought Wirtz was perfect as a counterpoint. But its cleat to me now that Dom is vital in that position despite not having those attacking qualities. We lose so much not having him in there.

Id rather Jones was RB, but Gomez has always done really well as a fullback. And if Grav is next in line as CB, then Im not sure why we go with Dom there. I dontbthinknit helps that he doesnt trust Endo either. I guess the killer here is Konate's form this season.

[rudedog]

Trent
Diaz
Jota
Nunez
Elliot
Tsimikas
Quansah

7 players departed this summer that were all regulars from Klopps team, it’s no massive surprise that we’ve looked disjointed this season.

Looking back, it seems odd that it was almost universally accepted that we would just absorb these losses and integrate a bunch of new players without too much fuss. Has any other title winning team done this before and were they successful?

[DerKrampus]

I'm just going to watch us until we play better, and when they do, I'll enjoy watching us.

[vlahka]

Trent
Diaz
Jota
Nunez
Elliot
Tsimikas
Quansah

7 players departed this summer that were all regulars from Klopps team, it’s no massive surprise that we’ve looked disjointed this season.

Looking back, it seems odd that it was almost universally accepted that we would just absorb these losses and integrate a bunch of new players without too much fuss. Has any other title winning team done this before and were they successful?

Thats not the whole problem though. Last game we had no new players on the team selection. Maybe Kerkez. But everyone else were the regular field players. And they still couldnt figure out what they were doing.

[BigChief]

Thats not the whole problem though. Last game we had no new players on the team selection. Maybe Kerkez. But everyone else were the regular field players. And they still couldnt figure out what they were doing.

Mama and Isak started. Anyway, it's not the 'having new players'. It's the changing of the way everyone plays due to new tactics for these new players. You can't just switch old style and new style just because the new players aren't playing one week.

[vlahka]

The goalkeeper and the striker cant affect too much when everyone else has played together for ages. If anything isak would not be getting on the end of passes etc, but when the entire defence and midfield behind him cant do a thing to save themselves, it doesnt matter if its isak at front or nunez.

[Doc_Piptorious]

The goalkeeper and the striker cant affect too much when everyone else has played together for ages. If anything isak would not be getting on the end of passes etc, but when the entire defence and midfield behind him cant do a thing to save themselves, it doesnt matter if its isak at front or nunez.

Of course they could.


A new keeper might release the ball slower or go long more or look to have his defenders play the ball more for him. All would impact up how fluid the back line was and add seconds onto moves that allow the other team to close down space.


A new striker might make different runs to what the midfield are used to, be taken up different spaces or not be part of triggering the press in the final third the same way the previous front players did ( Both Diaz and Nunez were always used as press triggers, especially the former) so there is a slight disconnect created again until the team as a whole adapt to each other.

Then throw in that the entire team is being set up a bit differently and the number of little disconnects all over the pitch start to become very apparant.

I don't actually think we are doing an awful lot wrong at present. We have imo lots of little lags in our play at present that are allowing other teams that fraction more time to press/counter us and it visually looks awful as it makes us look flat footed and forces us to recycle play rather than players instinctively where to be and when to release the ball quicker without losing it.

Said it in another post recently, but I think if you look at our team as three units - defence, midfield and attack - that each unit viewed in isolation is actually doing a lot right. It is the connection between those units that is not right yet imo and when the units are all on the pitch together it becomes like three individuals working together rather than a cohesive team working as one body. Again imo of course.

[memzey]

We have been playing poorly. There are a number of factors at play here. Bedding in too many new players in one go, some of the players themselves not firing on all cylinders (for a number of reasons) and whatever impact the loss of Jota had on the club, to name a few. We are only a couple of points off top and still have everything to play for. If we are going to have a positive season however, by our own high standards, we need to get motoring again PDQ.

I'd like to see us take the field with a team as close as possible to our title winning line up last season for the next few games and ease the new players in, one or two at a time, from the bench. Doing so should eliminate one of the bigger causes of our instability IMHO. I think last season's team with Ekitike up front and Bradley at right back has more than enough get past most teams coming up, starting with Utd, after the internationals. It might bruise a few egos, including that of the coach, but they all need to remember that the team always comes first. They'll all have plenty of opportunity to be heroes before the season is up anyway. For the time being though, let's just build some momentum with what we know works.

One thing I am baffled by is the treatment of Chiesa. Surely the lad deserves a start by now. It's not like Gakpo has been tearing up trees recently, let alone Salah.

[vlahka]

Of course they could.


A new keeper might release the ball slower or go long more or look to have his defenders play the ball more for him. All would impact up how fluid the back line was and add seconds onto moves that allow the other team to close down space.


A new striker might make different runs to what the midfield are used to, be taken up different spaces or not be part of triggering the press in the final third the same way the previous front players did ( Both Diaz and Nunez were always used as press triggers, especially the former) so there is a slight disconnect created again until the team as a whole adapt to each other.

Then throw in that the entire team is being set up a bit differently and the number of little disconnects all over the pitch start to become very apparant.

I don't actually think we are doing an awful lot wrong at present. We have imo lots of little lags in our play at present that are allowing other teams that fraction more time to press/counter us and it visually looks awful as it makes us look flat footed and forces us to recycle play rather than players instinctively where to be and when to release the ball quicker without losing it.

Said it in another post recently, but I think if you look at our team as three units - defence, midfield and attack - that each unit viewed in isolation is actually doing a lot right. It is the connection between those units that is not right yet imo and when the units are all on the pitch together it becomes like three individuals working together rather than a cohesive team working as one body. Again imo of course.

Strongly disagree. Majority of our attack doesnt start from the keeper. Its VVD and Konate doing whatever it is they're pretending to do this season. Even if 1 striker at the front is acting dodgy because hes new, that wouldnt change too much how gakpo and salah play. Both like to cut in and shoot and that hasnt changed. But the entire midfield were the same and couldnt figure out how to get the ball forward or even PASS properly.

Lets take your reasons for attacking as solid, what is the excuse for defending? Isak most likely wouldnt be asked to run back. Keeper isnt even in the equation either. So we have teams constantly just running right through us to our goal almost every time, something that didnt happen last season. So for me theres only 2 options. Either everyone is playing garbage, or Slot has screwed our system majorly. I lay blame at the feet of the new players as a minor reason for us having issues.

[rudedog]

Strongly disagree. Majority of our attack doesnt start from the keeper. Its VVD and Konate doing whatever it is they're pretending to do this season. Even if 1 striker at the front is acting dodgy because hes new, that wouldnt change too much how gakpo and salah play. Both like to cut in and shoot and that hasnt changed. But the entire midfield were the same and couldnt figure out how to get the ball forward or even PASS properly.

Lets take your reasons for attacking as solid, what is the excuse for defending? Isak most likely wouldnt be asked to run back. Keeper isnt even in the equation either. So we have teams constantly just running right through us to our goal almost every time, something that didnt happen last season. So for me theres only 2 options. Either everyone is playing garbage, or Slot has screwed our system majorly. I lay blame at the feet of the new players as a minor reason for us having issues.

Regardless of who started, you can’t view the last game in isolation, surely you can see that there is way more to it than just reassembling most of the players from last season and expecting it all just click back together?

[vlahka]

I sort of do? Like every other team has managed. Did they suddenly all forget how to play over the break or something. And I'm talking about simple passing. Tackling. Konate looks like he hasnt played in 3 years. Mac looks beyond headless. Half of them look like they've been partying the night before a game. I dont understand what I'm seeing this season. I can understand players being crap or needing time or not match fit. But when most of the other teams are managing to do just fine then I dont see what our excuse is. Arsenal picked up from where they left off. Chelsea seem to have done also. So many. I havent slagged them off much this season yet. I'm waiting to see what **** show they decide to serve up during the UTD match before I do.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Strongly disagree. Majority of our attack doesnt start from the keeper. Its VVD and Konate doing whatever it is they're pretending to do this season. Even if 1 striker at the front is acting dodgy because hes new, that wouldnt change too much how gakpo and salah play. Both like to cut in and shoot and that hasnt changed. But the entire midfield were the same and couldnt figure out how to get the ball forward or even PASS properly.

Lets take your reasons for attacking as solid, what is the excuse for defending? Isak most likely wouldnt be asked to run back. Keeper isnt even in the equation either. So we have teams constantly just running right through us to our goal almost every time, something that didnt happen last season. So for me theres only 2 options. Either everyone is playing garbage, or Slot has screwed our system majorly. I lay blame at the feet of the new players as a minor reason for us having issues.

I in no way suggested our attacks all start from the keeper. I said a keeper could and can impact upon the fluidity of play at and from the back.


And of course attackers can impact upon how the team defends and they can have a big impact on how easily or not other teams can cut through the channels.

Is no secret that Diaz was the attacker who had the responsibility to trigger our press in the final third. Nunez is another that was very good at defending from the front and at working as part of the press. Same went for Jota.

So in one summer we have lost all the guys that either triggered or were part of the first press our team made. New guys will not be versed in that in only a few months so we have essentially lost our ability to stop a number of counter attacks whilst they are still in the other's team's defensive third.


We are disjointed at present. We have a number of new players settling in, but more crucually we have a manager/coach who is bringing in a new style of playing and the players, regardless of whether they are new or not at the club, are all having to learn the new set ups and new patterns of play from scratch.

Is something that is not unique to us, but we are noticing how our players look like strangers to each other more simply because we follow the team and watch it a lot.

Look at Forest at present. They were a slick tight stable team that worked very well as a unit and defending like demons. They pressed well, they were able to hit on the counter well. Now they have pretty much the exact same players as last season but a new manager who is trying to implement a very different set up to the previous manner. They also now look like a team of strangers. Misplacing passes, playing safe slow turgid balls at the back and in the middle and unlike last season they are being cut open through the middle on a regular basis. And like us the number of goals they are given up, whilst their set up is in transition, has jumped massively compared to after the same number of games last season.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I sort of do? Like every other team has managed. Did they suddenly all forget how to play over the break or something. And I'm talking about simple passing. Tackling. Konate looks like he hasnt played in 3 years. Mac looks beyond headless. Half of them look like they've been partying the night before a game. I dont understand what I'm seeing this season. I can understand players being crap or needing time or not match fit. But when most of the other teams are managing to do just fine then I dont see what our excuse is. Arsenal picked up from where they left off. Chelsea seem to have done also. So many. I havent slagged them off much this season yet. I'm waiting to see what **** show they decide to serve up during the UTD match before I do.

Arsenal are playing with the exact same set up they have used the past three or four seasons though. No big sweeping changes tactically, no changes in formation.