Seems as if we're prioritising Szoboszlai's running power to prevent potential counters over actual quality and threat from set-pieces
Salah's corners were shocking tonight and I don't recall Gakpo's taking any particularly good ones
Just seems like we're missing a trick
Not to detract from a good night
But why are Mo and Gakpo still on corners?
Our set-pieces have been tragic this season and we have one of the best dead-ball specialists in football in Szoboszlai
And Gakpo is 6'4, maybe he's not known for his aerial prowess, but get in the box
@omarabdalla0@TouchlineX His ball striking is absolutely a stand out quality
There are few players who strike the ball around the box as powerfully, with perfect technique, as Dom does
His goal today is just another example to add to the others, dead ball or otherwise
Ball striking is immaculate
@PartedBeard He did it once last night against Marseille and he damn near found himself running clean through on goal
He's overly anxious about losing possession, but often times the worst he has to worry about from opening up is a speculative ball down the line leading to an LFC throw-in
@PartedBeard It may be reductive on my part, but I think Slot is missing a key, insanely coachable issue with Kerkez
His first touch when receiving passes from VVD
Trent and Robbo have opened their bodies from CB's passes every time for 5+ years, with no ill effect
Kerkez is reluctant to
@Lea_EFC Agree except for Wirtz and Palmer, should be switched
3 non-pen goals from Palmer, 0 assists
4 non-pen goals from Wirtz and 7 assists
And all-round just played better, although Palmer has had injury troubles and I'm sure he'll be back to his best at some point
I think Slot is finished tbh
Feels bad to say less than a year after he won #20
But I've lost almost all faith that he can find answers to these problems
And a potential replacement could do with time to assess and implement before a disruptive World Cup summer
If we don't have Guehi's word that he will join this summer, we have to suck it up and throw our hat in the ring properly this month
Leoni out all year, Ibou gone in the summer and having a rough final season
We're every bit as desperate for Guehi as City are, if not moreso
Losing out on Guehi would be piss poor
We almost stole a march on everyone but Glasner ruined it, shit happens
The club can't hide behind the (successful) ethos of "we don't just spend on anyone, we wait for the right players" because they let slip that he WAS right in August
🚨🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City advance on Marc Guehi deal as big approach has been made in the last 12h.
Manchester City presented important proposal to Guehi in terms of contract, eventually ready to proceed also with Crystal Palace.
Deal now closer with #MCFC. 🏴
@DougieCritchley Football fans don't like to think, they like headlines, soundbites
We signed mainly to replace the sale, aging and passing away of regular starters
Arsenal spent MORE than us net, adding quality players with minimal losses
But "£500m wasted haha" is the best most fans can do
@AnfieldEffect It's not the results, it's the performances that are disappointing
We definitely wouldn't be "delighted" dropping points 4 times in 8 PL games against mainly bottom half team, rather just patience
There's inevitably less patience when it happens to a coach 18 months in the role
@LewisFN00 Good analysis, I saw similar
The spacing blows my fucking mind every week now
Regularly see "overloads" that don't consist of intelligently splitting markers or lines
Just 3 players standing in each others way with no idea what to do
@DaveOCKOP Top teams create chances every week
Sometimes you don't take enough/all of them, but you *have* to create them
Feels like he's trying to justify his decision to change the set-up, but it's absolutely no better, just bad in different ways
Salah better come straight back in
Not acceptable
Creating chances every week is the minimum, taking them in good enough quantity may vary
Feels like Slot is gently running a slightly arrogant narrative that his formation change is working, making us more solid
We're as bad, if not worse, just in different ways
Arne Slot: "The players are giving everything they have. I have to keep in mind that I have to keep them available. Alexander Isak is out and I have to overload or play Hugo more, a player who has never played in the Premier League. You have to manage that. We still have 11 very good players on the pitch.
"It's not only for us, but many teams don't create chances every game. It's not perfect but at least we've created a few more chances today than last week." (Sky Sports)
@Cevans1999@LiamAubLFC We've seen it before at various clubs
If he was resigned to failure, he could point fingers, criticise the players, criticise the hierarchy etc
I would doubt he's "fine" with how things are going, rather doesn't want to give the media anything to latch onto in the meantime
@RhydaAntetokoun @LFCApproved I highly doubt we play a 3ATB with 2 wingers instead of wingbacks, I can't think of any clubs that ever have
Especially when we have Frimpong who was immense for Xabi in a 3ATB formation and have Kerkez as a serviceable option on the other side
@LFCApproved Even with Ordonez I don't think we'd be equipped to play a back 3 consistently
But it's a system that's long since interested me
Surely it would massively suit Kerkez, Frimpong, Wirtz and our "wide" players like Salah and Gakpo
Ekitike would thrive with bodies around him too
@NOTLFCJ__ Agree
Feels completely like a stopgap, not a tactical evolution
I know we've had some injuries, suspensions, Salah away etc but it doesn't seem like a system we'll refine and expand upon
Slot needs to find the permanent solution or it won't improve
@LFCApproved I think the reason they're scared is how open we are when we misplace that "risky" pass
Feel like our structure in the build-up is often poor
A big peeve for me atm is how players seem to stand on top of each other, especially in deep, wide areas
Makes defending counters tough
@PhilBlundell I've often likened Dom to Gini
They proved at past clubs they had attacking instinct, guile
But his current role is one of solidity, continuity, which has its benefits
It's hard to turn it off and on in individual moments
He would need licence from the coach to play freely