I get that and I wouldn't presume how the players are affected, what I mean is that I'm not seeing that I'm seeing a team that tactically is not doing well and I feel that comes from the manager. I could be completely wrong and it is Jota"s death that is affecting the squad and if that is there case then hell I'll understand that.
I don't think they're fit enough; the effected pre-season will be a contributing factor to that. Lots of changes to the squad will cause a disruption to cohesion too. Genuinely think it's just a case of working through it. - Last minute goal against Palace, otherwise it's a draw. - A very soft penalty to Galatasary, otherwise it's a draw. - A worldie effort put is behind against Chelsea, those changes people are complaining about got us back into the game. Minor things imo but I do think done players are struggling more than others. Salah, Gakpo and Konate from the established players, all but Ekitike from the new arrivals
He really needs to stop this reliance on "trusted" players fixing any perceived weak points in the team and just keep the shape otherwise or continuity and understanding disappears
I understand Liverpool are not only going for Marc Guehi but also another defender from Crystal Palace. I can't wait for January window.
He also couldn't fix things without a lot.of time but usually cos they were dog tired. Its up to slot to change this now. Change what he is doing and they are doing and honestly if that means salah is dropped then he is dropped imo.
I disagree with the Klopp comments he almost instantly changed the style of the team and the attitude of the players. I'm seeing the opposite where the manager is struggling to implement his ideas. There is no style of play that I can see.
That's not what I mean. Neither manager would be considered new when klopps lfc regularly blew up in January or Feb or we just looked out if ideas for a month. This is slots first bump and he has to change what he is doing. I've watched us since the first preseason game and the common there is being walked through on the counter.
Your memory must be different to mine luv. 20-21 season. I don't remember all the details but we lost Virgil after the T Rex attack and there were continuing problems with Gomez and Matip. If I remember, Klopp stuck midfielders back there (Hendo?) and generally tinkered with the line-up. We had a disastrous run of (I think) 3 wins out of 12-15 games, including 6 consecutive home defeats and slipped down the table. He finally got a tune out of them for the last handful of games and we managed to claw our way back up to third. Point being - he got there in the end, but it was nowhere near "instant" and its a bit early to judge Slot because we don't know what will happen in the coming weeks. He hasn't been in this situation with us before, so let's at least give him a chance to sort it out before passing judgement.
The point being he is half the issue. There's clearly issues with the squad and integrating players. But he is making it worse. Tactically its off. The subs are making it worse as well. First thing is we are very easy to score off. We have been since day 1 of preseason. We were not that way last year. What's changed? Second thing is he seems obsessed with gravenberch at cb. It should be his worst nightmare.
I go back to an earlier post where I mentioned other of our managers struggling but you could always see the ideas, the intent, the style and direction of play whether it was going well or not. At the moment and at times previously I don't see that under Slot. I've no idea what type of team we are, there's no identity. That's what worries me the most and has done from very early in his tenure. I hope of course I'm shown to be another fanboy reactionary dickhead as we go on to win every trophy available.
Yeah, in that case I'll go back to what I've said since before the season started - too many changes all at once. It takes time for a new group to establish an identity - ideally they should integrated bit-by-bit into an already established team. Also, it's difficult to blame Slot for the poor form of some of his established players - Mo, Gakpo, Konaté, MacA are all struggling, and they're not playing out of position or having anything new asked of them. We've already discussed the possible reasons for this so I won't go into it. Probably not Slot's fault, but it is his responsibility to sort it out. I for one am not ready to push the panic button just yet, though I do expect signs of progress after the break.
Changed formation We've gone from a 4-3-3. With 3 genuine center mids to a 4-2-3-1 with the 3rd mid being played as a ACM So it loses that extra body in the center to cover when we go forwards.
We were playing that last year with szoboszlai advanced pressing and gravenberch trying to cover trent wandering as well. You cant be in two places at once so I dont think that's it. I also dont think its telling salah and gakpo to be high and wide as they did thst last yesr too. I also dont think its trent as he missed half the season anyway. I dont think its kerkez holding back as Robertson did thst last season too. Kerekz hasn't been caught behind the cbs playing everyone on though. Something is happening with gravenberch being pushed in more. He started scoring goals.and making assists and it looms great until.you are getting walked through at the back. I think its in midfield. Macallister is simply not moving, gravenberch has been released and we really look so so weak defensively But then look to the goals conceded. Set piece goals, rubbish clearing headers, players running off out of position. It just points to a general lack of shape and discipline in the defensive job. It was there day 1 of preseason. It was there in every single preseason game.and its.been there in the league too. The annoying thing is v atletico they absolutely went for it. Were good for a while then fell off the standard
