For what seems like the 10th time in about a month we are up against Palace who are becoming a bit of a bogey team having won the Charity Shield then started the slump with that last minute winner. Welcome break from the poor league form and a chance for maybe a few fringe player to really put their name forward. Kick off 7:45pm Wednesday Tv - Sky Sports
We'll more than likely go out of the cup. Now let's not moan about tactics, we all know how Palace play so how about we prepare the players and make tactical changes to counter the opposing team. Crazy idea I know but I think we should give that a go.
Strongest team possible. Slot has to decide who that is and live or die by it. We can’t keep chopping and changing every game. Get the best back four, best midfield and best forward line in the right positions. No time to be tinkering now.
and the best midfield is last years - if fit, they must play before our confidence is a pre Klopp levels
one obvious one is play Gomez as RB or even as one of three CB's to give us a bit more aerial ability .
whatever he wants to use going forward - although Gomez got turned inside out yesterday so I’d be concerned if he played there…..and we only have 3 CB’s total. If one gets injured, we’ll be on bare bones….not that it’d be much different.
Either macallister is.fit.or he is not Either endo is a player or he is not. Marmadashvilli Bradley konate vvd Robertson Endo macallister Chiesa Szoboszlai wirtz Ekitike If anyone is returning to fitness they can sit on the bench. Salah and gakpo stunk the place out this weekend. I want to see someone at least putting themselves about.
No matter who plays or what formation we implement, one thing is for certain... we need to fill that massive hole in midfield!
It was very funny watching us play 5 up. 0.midfield and hoof it. Be it marmadashvilli inability to pass it or the midfield disaster i dont know.
I’ve said it all season. We lack width going forward, everything comes inside. We are easy to defend against, although we always do score eventually. Just feel like we are too one dimensional going forward. The full back play a big part here but the seemingly don’t know whether to stick or twist. secondly, our centre has been soft. Really soft. Whether due to injuries or fitness, I don’t know but it’s lacking. finally, our CB’s look off it. And we miss Alisson. Other than looking off the pace, we do not look like a team at all. It’s all very disjointed. I would be surprised if GvB keeps his job….and Slot will not be far behind at this rate.
Well the width should be coming from the full backs but kerkez has been a bit of an odd one. Has sat in a lot as a back 3 often which isn’t his strength but then when has gone forward, gakpo just doesn’t use him on the overlap - something slot even pointed out himself in that gakpos strength is cutting in but needs to work on that relationship. As such we don’t seem to be getting behind defence using that pace and width how we should. Frimpong actually did half decent job at RW the other day as he stayed wide best his man and go in some decent balls.
Tactically slot is actually holding the left side deep and not allowing a full press. Hes not selecting endo and forcing in attackers in midfield. Watching gakpo v brentford, he'd be in my.office this morning getting a dress8ng fown and he wouldn't stsrt a game until he kicks 7 shades out of his opponents in training for 2 weeks. It was utterly unacceptable to just leave it to kerkez while the rb just ran on.
I think Gakpo is a bit of a luxury player. He looks great when he cuts inside and bends one into the far corner, but it's a very low success rate. He's got plenty of power in his shots too, but rarely hits the target. And, as many have said already, he very rarely plays the LB in. He almost always cuts inside to shoot and when it fails he passes back into midfield or defence. As for defensively, he doesn't work hard enough for me. I actually think Salah works harder (not a criticism of Salah, he can work hard at times but think he's often told not too)
especially when half look unfit or out of form. I haven’t had those little confidence in our ability to win since Hodgson.
