10 Aug 2025 23:15:51
We win that game with Diaz and Nunez playing or available on the bench. A striker and another forward definitely required. Someone mentioned we are creating a team of 'giants' in terms of height, but I think the glaring thing today was the lack of height we have.
The amount of headers we lost was very evident, salah, Wirtz, frimpong, Kerkez, mcallister, Elliott, Endo, constantly out jumped with ease.
Alarming lack of muscle/ control in the middle even if Grav is playing. Frimpong has that Kyle walker speed, which will definitely be a big advantage, but the height is definitely going to cause issues.
Obviously still rusty, however I think we have the pressure to win everything this season too. Especially if we get Isak, anything other than a double/ treble is going to look like a failure based on spend. That pattern of becoming completely lethargic in the last 15/ 20 mins seems to be continuing from last season. I
For me we need a 'dog' type in midfield a baleba type who just sits and breaks up any possession. We don't have that if/ when Grav isn't available.
10 Aug 2025 23:33:56
Defense will take the narrative but for me our lack of depth up front really showed today.
We had little ability to freshen up the attack. It stood out for me that Rio wasn’t thrown on. Bright spark for sure but without a doubt, Diaz is brought on to change the game for the final 20-25mins.
11 Aug 2025 00:46:45
The pressure of winning everything this season?
11 Aug 2025 02:20:24
If the club has any intention to sign another attacker apart from Isak, it would have been done by now.
11 Aug 2025 02:52:03
I would reserve my judgment on both the defense and midfield, so for now, I disagree on the point we lack muscle in the midfield. Its the first game after weeks off.
But I do agree on the attacking options on the bench. I actually didn't realize this, until I saw the lineups (the subs) . I was like, if we sub Ekitike off, who is going to come in? If sub both Ekitike and Gakpo off, who is going to come in?
More signings pleaseeee.
11 Aug 2025 06:28:07
Scoring 2 goals is enough to win any game.
11 Aug 2025 06:54:35
In which world does Darwin win us that game yesterday?
11 Aug 2025 07:41:33
As time goes by Nunez will get better for us. By the end of the season, in some people's minds, he'll be as good as Van Basten.
11 Aug 2025 07:43:18
You don’t think Nunez would have helped us yesterday at 2-2? Helping us get up the pitch and occupying their defence. For 20 he always put a shift in. Rio should have come on yesterday.
11 Aug 2025 07:51:03
Pure guess work Mark. Nunez has come on in plenty of games and not done a whole lot.
11 Aug 2025 07:57:45
Mark - I do wonder if Rio would have been put on if there was extra time. It wasn’t lost on me that Slot didn’t utilize Rio. 100% Diaz comes on around 60-65mins for Gakpo.
And it would change the game because we basically padded the midfield with the first two subs and we lost any outlet up top.
11 Aug 2025 08:09:17
Always puts a shift in.
Clearly I imagined Slot criticising him for putting no work rate in.
11 Aug 2025 09:27:41
@Bob respectfully, Diaz and Darwin needed to go and many of them wanted them gone even during last season so the revisionist history about them helping us win a glorified friendly is kinda convenient, don't you think? Also, the only way we were going to get Isak (and maybe another wide player) was to generate the funds from Darwin and Diaz sales, which we have done so again, I don't see your point.
Also, Diaz wanted to go cos he wasn't getting a new deal and Darwin knew since last season that he wasn't getting kept and frankly, even he had had enuff and was okay go. Now cos we lost a glorified friendly, you think we should have kept them against their will for this season? Again, that's pretty lazy analysis and as some already said, pure guess work, Im sorry.
We still have 3 weeks in the window so let's see what the club does to address the depth in the forward line. Overall, not worried.
11 Aug 2025 10:48:00
Think people are getting a bit misty eyed over Nunez n Cheisa. both are not n never have been good enough for us . that's why one is sold n the other never plays n will be sold soon enough.