19 Mar 2025 12:43:36
You can not expect players to train everyday then sit them on the bench week after week with no chance of getting on, then expect them to come on in a cup final with ten mins to go and expect anything.
I know Harvey came on and scored v PSG and chiesa scored against Newcastle, but i think that was the two lads wanting to show what they're about and what the manager is not using fully.
19 Mar 2025 12:53:29
100% there’s lads in the squad who slot clearly doesn’t use. And they should be moved on.
Not because I don’t rate them or anything but if there’s players not going to be used I’d rather have ones that we play, rather than ones that don’t.
19 Mar 2025 12:57:20
I hope their performances after coming on will get them some more minutes. Diaz needs to be dropped. Chiesa should come in there (Although, I imagine Gakpo will be fully firing by then)
He's got to stop with Jota though. Just offers absolutely nothing at the moment. At least Nunez offers something with his physicality.
We could do with more Endo as well, give Gravenberch a rest and tighten up in midfield.
19 Mar 2025 13:05:26
There paid tens to hundreds of thousands a week to kick a ball around a pitch which is there area of expertise. We absolutely can and will expect it.
19 Mar 2025 14:12:58
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
19 Mar 2025 14:14:59
But yeah, we won't expect the thing that you then give two examples of that exact thing happening in our last two games. Brilliant.
Worth noting also that Chiesa and Elliot are both just back from long-term injuries. Perhaps we'll never know whether Slot would have used them more if they were available, but they weren't.
{Ed001's Note - both have been back a long time, long enough to have got football by now, particularly Chiesa. Slot has had plenty of chances to use them more.}
19 Mar 2025 14:49:31
I think Chiesa has struggled for game time because he is seen primarily as a right winger and Salah rarely ever gets taken off early. I'd really like to see Chiesa given a chance through the middle. Jota is horrendously out of form, Nunez is hit and miss, Diaz only had one good game playing there and I think Chiesa showed enough in the last 15 of the final to throw his hat in the ring.
{Ed001's Note - and yet, when Salah has been subbed, it was Elliott that came on.}
19 Mar 2025 15:26:46
This was what I was referring to in an earlier post when I ranted about Slot's tactical choices. I'm no football genius of any kind by any stretch of the imagination. Just an attentive football fan who has watched a lot of it. But why hasn't Chiesa been tried in Firmino's false 9 position? He has the technical skills and link up play to be at least tried out in that position; he's played centrally à lot in his career. We all know Diaz has gotten more than a few chances there and it's simply not for him. I ask myself if Slot is able to devise tactics with à false 9? What risks are we taking with Szoboszlai and Mac Allister just slightly behind Chiesa on each side, and Salah and the left wingers cutting in all the time?
19 Mar 2025 16:37:47
Exactly, Ed01 and the other guys advocating for Chiesa and Elliott. Harvey was one of our best performers in preseason till he got injured and since he has been back months ago, Slot has chosen to not use him for months till recently. His choice. His cross to bear.
Chiesa had no preseason, got injured, got sick and that set him back a while. He has been fit for the last couple of months now now and again, Slot does not use him at all even with Diaz being knackered and Gakpo being injured. Again, his choice. His cross to bear. Oh and Chiesa can play either side and is comfortable with either foot so again, Slot chooses not to play him even in the final 10 mins to replace Salah or Diaz or Gakpo in a games we have comfortably won. We can say the same for Endo till recently. That's ALL on Slot and we should all be able to speak about these things honestly.
For me, we can say that Slot has done a great job overall under the circumstances while at the same time, call out his blind spots and his penchant for playing players into the ground and not rotating enuff despite having multiple chances thru out the season to do it.
19 Mar 2025 17:51:18
We are 1/ 33 to win our 20th league title. Slot will have that cross to bear. I hope with the other crosses he has to bear he can carry that one.
19 Mar 2025 18:36:18
Suppose it’s better than having a bear to cross.
19 Mar 2025 18:43:43
Good point, well made, Murfo.
19 Mar 2025 19:54:52
I find the whole chiesa thing really odd. When he's played he's looked decent. Gakpo has been out and let's be honest, Diaz, jota and nunez haven't been pulling up trees.
I have read today his attitude in training has been 'immaculate' which makes it even stranger.
For Everton both chiesa and endo would be starting if it was up to me. Gravenberch isn't performing as he was and no wonder he must be shattered.
19 Mar 2025 19:59:12
Chiesa should be starting through the middle, the other two are not goodenough.
19 Mar 2025 21:32:40
Stoneage the example i made about Elliot and Chiesa scored the point i was making they could come on and done what Nunez and Jota done nothing but they did not they came on and one player Elliot made the pass and Chiesa scored because they wanted the manager to see they were willing to turn up and do their jobs .
20 Mar 2025 02:05:23
Don’t understand outcry for Elliot to get more mins. He is too slow and too weak to be a regular starter for us. He will never be more than a utility player and even still I’d rather see Chiesa over him on the wing and would prefer an upgrade on him as a replacement for the CM positions.
20 Mar 2025 06:49:50
I said the other day I wouldn’t mind seeing Chiesa through the middle but it’s hard to tell where he was playing last Sunday as Nunez, Gakpo and Salah were all on the pitch at the same time.