19 Jan 2025 08:59:11
Long post. Banter please
1. Salah - world class but he relies too much on the system. Play him out wide towards the corner flag and he is pretty ordinary. Lack of pace, can’t dribble and is not very good in one vs one. If slot wants his wide men to stay very wide then sorry Salah isn’t that player.
2. Trent - He is phenomenal, he was phenomenal yesterday, but he won’t be phenomenal against Ipswich and Bournemouth. And that’s the issue with Trent. The good games are numbered. 10 to 15 good games a season. His striking technique is one of the best in world football. But if Slot wants a defender then he isn’t one imo.
Those who says Bradley is better, well in pure football skills, there is no one better than Trent.
3. VVD - One can debate as much they wish to, but in the last 30 years (since PL started) VVD is the best. They say 2004/ 05 Arsenal defense was the best ever in PL era. I say VVD will eat them all. A prime VVD will eat Vidic, Terry and Ferdinand for Breakfast. He is the only defender in Europe today without a real weakness to his game. The way we play or anyone for that matter VVD is a perfect fit. He cannot have bad games.
We might survive without Salah and Trent but certainly not VVD.
IMO Extending VVD is an absolute must.
19 Jan 2025 09:25:38
@JohnSnow, i am confused by "Play him out wide towards the corner flag and he is pretty ordinary. "
If it is not out wide on right, where do you think Salah was playing so far the whole season to chalk up double digit assist, goals?
19 Jan 2025 09:28:45
You know what is unfortunate with VVD. Throughout all those years we never went into the market and signed another world class partner for him.
It was just Virgil carrying Joe, or Ibou, or quansah etc.
imagine how unbeatable we’d have been if we got someone next to him who was the level beneath, and not 4/ 5 levels.
19 Jan 2025 09:30:15
Exactly what do you want salah to do when he's isolated against a low block? You say he has no pace but when was he called upon to use it last night or against forest? Sort of an odd critique if you ask me, when he's running at defenders in transition he's still an absolutely elite player.
You also say Trent isn't a defender but he was outstanding on both sides of the ball last night, not sure what you're getting at?
19 Jan 2025 09:41:18
Konate is a world class center half, definitely the second best center half on form this season and joe was the perfect partner for virgil before his injury.
19 Jan 2025 09:41:59
Salah's assist to Cody was super, shame cody put it wide, otherwise another assist wouldve been added.
Salah could do with the stats too since he just an ordinary poor wide player.
19 Jan 2025 09:43:13
@Leek
Trent has to overlap instead of inverting so that Salah will come inside. It’s that simple. Slot is now asking Salah to stay wide like your normal winger, which means Trent inverts into the middle and Szobozalai is advancing into the box.
You need relentless pace and directness to play and proper winger. The two things Salah doesn’t possess atm.
{Ed001's Note - that must be why Salah's stats have been so poor this season then as he simply isn't up to the task then right?}
19 Jan 2025 09:46:55
@Patrick
Trent is an elite player but would only turn up 10/ 15 games a season. He will have more bad games than good games. The team would need to tweak a lot to play to his strength. You would need a Fabinho to cover his lack or defensive traits.
19 Jan 2025 10:09:53
Don't agree with that to be honest but I agree with you main point. Van Dijk is the most important of the three.
But reality is all three are class and hopefully they all sign.
19 Jan 2025 10:14:17
LFC8, I bought was signed to be that guy.
19 Jan 2025 10:38:10
Salah was trash again yesterday - doing his best to go missing when we need him the most. For the money he is on and the money he wants he’s got to be finishing one of those chances or at least do better to create something for others. Had enough time and space to do both yesterday. Hopefully he gets a couple against Ipswich and starts a little purple patch for him. Looking at our last 5 league games I think we ideally need it won before we go into that run because those fixtures are awful.
19 Jan 2025 10:48:10
"Lack of pace, can’t dribble and is not very good in one vs one. "
Seriously, I have no idea what this means. As for Trent, I am starting to think the @Jonh did not watch the game last night so I'll leave that schtick where it is.
As for Salah, I think he is just going thru a slump, same with Diaz and now Gakpo. They looked tired and leggy which clearly affected their decision making. People are overthinking this a bit too much.
19 Jan 2025 11:00:17
Well John Snow I'm surprised that Arne and his coaching team, who spend many hours with the players each week, can't see the qualities that you have identified.
19 Jan 2025 11:04:48
Salah definitely has lost a bit of his pace and isn't as electric as he once was. But he is still a threat, so much so that Brentford always has a man on him. On the few occasions that he lost his marker, he was dangerous and almost scored.
And Trent brings a lot to the team because of how good he is on the ball. Teams play differently against us when he is on the pitch than when he isn't. Plus, he showed yesterday that he can defend as well.
Van Dijk is just a beast of a CB and he is the best I've seen. Rio comes close though but I think Van Dijk just edges it for me. He is a absolute must for us to renew, especially since he looks like he still can play at this level for a few more years.
19 Jan 2025 11:16:26
Trent is a Galactico, but i agree that his best games are around 1/ 3 of the total played.
Bradley last season Vs Chelsea, during the little run he had, prior to his dad passing was unstoppable. Different to Trent but equally phenomenal, in his own way.
19 Jan 2025 11:22:41
“ It was just Virgil carrying Joe, or Ibou, or quansah etc. imagine how unbeatable we’d have been if we got someone next to him who was the level beneath, and not 4/ 5 levels. ”
It’s amazing how often we needlessly slag off some of our players.
19 Jan 2025 11:33:38
Salah will definitely score goals. He also takes penalties which is added into his stats. As I said above, I don’t want him if Slot wants a wide player to stay wide.
My point being, off all the three VVD is the most important player because he is carrying our entire defense.
We have 6 attackers but We don’t have 6 quality defenders. We have one and others are mostly rookie except Konate to some extent.
19 Jan 2025 11:42:24
John Snow. that post should of gone in the utter waffle section. Have you not watched Salah this s.
19 Jan 2025 11:51:44
That’s thing, put a marker to him and Salah is pants. He can’t accelerate with a dead ball. Messi and Hazard were absolute best if you know what I mean. I am not slagging him but if every team man marks him then his influence is next to nothing.
{Ed001's Note - Hazard was nothing like as good a player as Salah. Hazard failed to turn up for 50% of every season, usually had a a good portion out injured as well, when he strained his belly eating too many Maccies.}
19 Jan 2025 12:09:51
Wow, some posts are gobsmacking at times.
19 Jan 2025 12:10:27
John Sknows, that is a very simplified view on Salah, he's been having a terrible season so far, being double marked in most games.
19 Jan 2025 13:40:49
Salah is pants but you're not slagging him, John snow?
19 Jan 2025 13:57:23
Salah is marked and targeted every single game he plays. EVERY SINGLE ONE. Your post makes no sense.
19 Jan 2025 14:00:57
Salah is not pants, he is overplayed and double marked, vs Nottingham and Forrest none of our forwards looked great and Salah was actually the least 'crap'. don't know why i am replying to a harry wind up post anyway.
19 Jan 2025 14:07:33
For somebody who doesn’t suit staying out wide, is slow from a standing start and can’t beat a man, salah is having a hell of a season, maybe he’ll even win a ballon d’or this year playing in the wrong position and the wrong system.
19 Jan 2025 16:21:03
How on earth is SALAH having a terrible season? ARE YOU HIGH ON CRACK?! he could have had 2 assists and a beautiful goal last night. take away his PENS, he still has 17 GOALS and 17 ASSISTS so far this season. More than ANY PLAYER you think is better. Jog on.