28 May 2025 08:39:31
With us looking likely to sign Frimpong and Kerkez, that is two very attacking and very fast wing backs. Bradley is also much more effective as a wing back, where he made his name for Bolton. He even plays as a winger for Ireland. Same for Owen Beck, who's more of a wing back himself and has showed that out on loan.
Now we're seeing interest surfacing in Lukeba, Hincapie, Murillo etc. These are all left footed CB's who have been used left of a back 3 previously or currently. Hato has also been linked and you'd imagine he will look a lot better in a back 3 if he were to sign as a CB option, seeing as he's quite young and not the strongest in the air. Konate played right of a back 3 when he was at Leipzig.
Wirtz played most of his football for Leverkusen as a left side no.10 in behind a focal striker. Apparently Slot's tactical vision is what convinced him to pick us over Bayern so could it be he's been promised the same role he's made his name playing for Leverkusen? If you're going to pay over £100m for a player, it does arguably make sense to build the team around them.
It is absolutely most likely that I'm getting 2+2=5, but there are little signs we could see a 3-4-3 next season, even if only at times. Salah and Wirtz maybe in behind a number 9, with Frimpong and Kerkez providing the pace and width out wide? Virgil with a speed demon either side of him in Konate and Lukeba?
Slot is well known for changing his system each season so that nobody can work him out. There is a lot of previous for Dutch coaches using a back 3. It's worth noting that at times last season, we had a back 3 anyway with Robbo sitting back and Gakpo/ Salah high and wide to provide the width, with Trent playing more narrow. So it's not actually a huge leap to change the baseline formation, given our set-up in practice last season, often resembled something similar.
I'll get back in my box now. Sorry.
28 May 2025 09:05:10
What do you mean sorry, MK. This is a banter page and that's great banter. Like your thinking. I can buy into that.
28 May 2025 09:15:56
I know Gakpo has stated how he doesn’t like playing that CF role but he’s great at getting his head to Salah’s crosses. Might be him at the 9? Or alternating with Wirtz.
But that does leave our midfield with only 2 bodies. Unless Wirtz drops deeper in possession and dribbles his way up.
Or Kerkez won’t play as adventurous as Frimpong, so you get that lopsided wingback combo.
But one thing for sure, it looks to be an exciting prospect ahead whichever way he…slots them all in.
28 May 2025 09:17:10
Nope, that formation just doesn’t work effectively in the prem over the long term. There plenty evidence to back this up (and here is where someone points out the single season where someone won the league playing that style) .
28 May 2025 09:18:23
Interesting read Mk and would not rule your thinking out one bit.
I do think however, more likely in my view, the DM role changes a little bit. Perhaps more defensive and covering than it is today and with hit our flying wing backs early and attack wide quite often. Think we'll stick to four at the back but it will be fluid in game.
But like you said, it's a guessing game. Your guess is as good as mine. And like you also said, that in itself is a good thing because opposition managers are probably guessing too.
If he gets a new system right and we catch opposition out, we could cause some serious damage. Tinkering a good thing is also risky. But I think managers are just too good nowadays. They figure everything out eventually and some tinkering is necessary. Can't wait to see what Slot comes up with.
28 May 2025 09:22:12
Got a feeling we will see a lot of 4-2-3-1 if we get the signings that seem most likely mate, Think Grav will be the one who drops in to a back 3 with the CB's split - we also lost a few sloppy goals on the counter this season with Robbo and Trent getting caught out up the pitch - Roobo's legs and Trent on a wander, Looking at the profile of Kerkez and Frimpong they both have pace to burn so hopefully making us less vulnerable on the counter.
I can see us tweaking game by game but think Grav + Macca, Slobz, Jones playing a bit deeper to protect the CB's while the FB push on and overload down the flanks - Hopefully with Wirtz playing the Bobby role pulling the strings like he's conducting the Royal Philarmonic - let's go Number 21 and Number 7 YNWA.
28 May 2025 09:30:40
In my opinion you’re looking at this too much like a fellow Brit. I could be mistaken but I’d guess our “formation” will continue to change depending on if we have the ball or our opponent, if we’re in general play or building from the keeper. If you’re talking about the formation announced by tv and paper jurnos before the match then perhaps they will try the Amorim/ glasner/ alonso approach.
28 May 2025 09:40:02
I always read your posts, MK, and you make interesting points. I never read my own, cus I don't know what I'm talking about!
28 May 2025 09:43:59
I think that Slot has already been doing this in the games following our title win when we are in possession. Grav drops back into the box as the center backs split, and our full backs push up. It's just that our full backs aren't used to doing this and they have often not been in the right position at the right time when we make it deep into the opposition half. Throughout the season Grav has had to play as an auxiliary defender out of possession anyway, especially in transition. I'm not sure that we will play a back 3 to start games at all, but it will probably assume this shape throughout the game.
Also I think the notion that Kerkez is a super attacking full back who is defensively lacking is a bit overblown, apparently he only really started to develop into a marauding left back this year under this Bournemouth system. He is an above average defender and is comfortable and willing to defend, I think a lot of people have this idea that he loves to attack and dribble and whip in a cross when those are relatively newer aspects of his repertoire, he was trained as a solid conventional full back first of all.
28 May 2025 09:49:43
I don't expect the club ti sign a LCB personally after extending VVD contract.
28 May 2025 10:03:56
What are you talking about, Rome? ;-)
28 May 2025 10:40:25
I don’t see it that way. I just see Slot replacing Szobo who he mentioned many times in the season he wanted more goals and assists from.
An opportunity opened up to go for Wirtz so we jumped at it.
I don’t see it altering our original Summer plans or winning formation that dominated the league.
28 May 2025 11:07:07
Exactly, Zedd, I make no sense!
28 May 2025 11:09:14
Brilliant Rome ?.
28 May 2025 11:21:31
Ahhh you guys! I am now in a paradoxical loop.
So we are saying Rome make no sense.
But Rome himself said he makes no sense.
So does this mean that Rome actually makes sense?
28 May 2025 11:42:03
I'm with you LFC8, I think we will see Dom alternate with Macca as an 8 and also see Macca or Dom rotate with Gravy as a 6. I could see us buying a 6 to compete with Gravy too. I think Jones will be kept to provide cover generally in midfield. So with Wirtz + a Gravy alterative, we will have 6 players to cover 3 roles. Plus we have Endo as the finisher to see out games.
I can see a young LCB being bought, ideally left footed, to provide depth and eventual succession to Virg. I'd like that player to be Hato as he can also cover LB. I could see Robbo either being allowed to leave if he wants first team football, or being allowed to leave on a free at the end of next season. If we buy Hato I could definitely see Beck being sold. Makes good commercial sense but the romantic in me wanted to see Ian's great nephew also having a career at the club!
I reckon we will secure Konate on a new contract (as well as Diaz), and across VVD, Hato, Gomez and Konate we have 4 CBs. I can see us keeping Endo as he and Ryan can also cover at CB when needed.
So, incoming:
Wirtz - c£100m
Frimpong - £30m
Kerkez - £40m
Hato - £35m
CDM - £50m
Striker - £75m
Around £300-£330m spend
Outgoings
Kelleher - £25m
Tsimikas - £15m
Elliot - £45m (with a buyback over a couple of years like we did with Brewster)
Doak - £30m (with a buyback over a couple of years like we did with Brewster)
Nunez - £65m
Jota - £40m
Trent - £4m (for early release as reported a couple of days ago)
Morton - £5m
So around £230m recovered hence £100m net spend being Wirtz, essentially. I could see Chiesa staying (if he is happy to do so) to support the front line which will be Gakpo and Diaz, Salah and Chiesa and the new striker. Supported by Wirtz if necessary (albeit I can see him mainly playing as a 10) and Frimpong also who can relieve Salah on occaision.
Just my view though.
28 May 2025 11:45:46
Also, forgot about Bajcetic! I expect him to go into the midfield rotation and depending on how he does in pre-season he could become that Gravy alternative so we may choose to keep our powder dry in midfield (beyond Wirtz) until January.
I could see Calvin Ramsay and Nat Phillips also raising £5-£10m between them, Rhys Williams will likely be released as his contract comes to an end this summer (IIRC)
28 May 2025 12:50:26
I’m thinking that it’s more likely that the CDM drops back to support the CB’s when Frimpong and Kirkez go bombing forward. Gravenberch has been placed at the back a few times already and this wouldn’t mean a complete system overhaul.
28 May 2025 12:52:04
I like your rationale, RedQ. 2 negatives make a positive.
Perhaps not in my case. Wibble (For Blackadder fans)
28 May 2025 12:56:54
But can sense really be made? And if so who makes it if not Rome? And what does Rome make instead of sense? Does Rome make anything really? What did the Romans ever do for us?
28 May 2025 13:02:51
Watch out for those pencils, Rome, a real elf n safety nightmare. Also hope you washed the pants.
28 May 2025 13:06:14
That would be a brilliant summer zed and a big hats off to richard hughes.
28 May 2025 14:17:35
Brilliant, Zed, someone who understands me, which is worrying for you.
I did love Blackadder though.
28 May 2025 14:44:00
Ah Rome, same here mate I make little to no sense myself, I often wonder whether I'm coming or going but it's all good mate! you may be like me and have an inner voice confusing you - in my case I blame aoe. ?.
28 May 2025 15:30:55
Apparently that's why God made wee yellow and semen white - so a bloke would know whether he was coming or going.