04 Sep 2025 04:35:36
Ed1 - now that transfer window is closed I request your response. What is your view on Wirtz performance. He seems out of place and confidence seems low. Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - no he doesn't, have you been watching him? He was very good against Arsenal, the issue was that he was mostly having to cover for Gravenberch and Mac Allister charging forward and leaving the defence exposed. They need to stop both going forward at once. Did you not see the way he brought down that 60 yard cross field pass from Szobo? That was not the touch of a player low in confidence.}
04 Sep 2025 07:20:39
I think himself and Macca have been getting in each others way when on the field together.
04 Sep 2025 07:30:31
I think the 2nd half against arsenal he started to show what he's about. as a team we haven't played great so far this season but I expect both the team and him to get better and better as season goes on.
04 Sep 2025 08:29:29
Thought he was great, he looked like he was enjoying himself.
04 Sep 2025 08:33:59
Why would he be low on confidence 3 wins from 3 games. We have also had probably the hardest start look at spurs crushed city that got played of the park by Bournemouth, Newcastle away is a hard fixture anyway let alone with all there fans and players with a bee in the bonnet.
Last season we had a very favourable start what helped Slot settle in.
04 Sep 2025 08:37:37
I think it's a matter of figuring out how to get him operating in the areas that he is most dangerous and how to coordinate that with everyone else. If you watched Bayer over the last few years, a lot of the time he picks up the ball way out wide on the left, almost like a left winger, but is most dangerous cutting into that left half space inside. Given that Ekitike, Cody, Isak all like playing in that space, and Kerkez likes occupying the wide space, it's going to be interesting to see how we figure out who starts where and how the movements will be choreographed.
With Bayer he would also do on occasion what he has been doing a lot more often with us, that is dropping deep into midfield to create overloads and carry the ball upfield or get us up the pitch with his trademark one-twos. When Ekitike drops into midfield to do that, Wirtz has been sprinting forward to get into the space Ekitike has vacated. So effectively he has been playing alternately as a number 8, a left winger, a false 9 and a 10 closer to the box in games. Against Arsenal he was even popping up on the right a lot close to Mo.
I imagine that Wirtz was bought with the idea that we dominate and control the game more, so that he doesn't need to be running around everywhere trying to get on the ball or have to do so much running back towards his own goal, and we can maximize what he can do close to the opposition box. Obviously that hasn't worked out so far because we're still trying to calibrate the balance between offense and attack, our back four has been disrupted with Kerkez still trying to feel his way into a rather different role in a new team, etc.
At the same time he's consistently getting into the areas we need him to get in to affect the game, it's just the execution hasn't always been what we're expecting. He has an intuitive understanding for what the right play is at any given moment, what runs he needs to make, how many touches to take, when to release the ball, you can see that all the time, it's just that he isn't doing things you've seen him do hundreds of times in the Bundesliga with his eyes closed. It's pretty much certain that this won't continue once he gets accustomed to the rhythm of the league and the way his team mates play.
Also like ed001 said I wouldn't worry about his confidence, he has never been short of confidence. This is a player that sustained an injury at a very early age that could be seen as potentially career-ending, then came straight back and won Bayer the title and cemented himself as the outstanding talent in Germany. He doesn't look scared in the least. And for folks worried about his physicality, maybe try watching the Arsenal game again, he rode challenges all game and powered through shoves and lunges to stay on his feet and pass the ball forwards two or three times, he will be fine in this league.
04 Sep 2025 08:47:03
I would also add that part of the issue is Wirtz and his team mates being on the same wavelength, there are times when Wirtz does a one two with a team mate and immediately makes a run into space, but his team mate might have a habitual instinct to do something else rather than spot that run and give it back. He is a roaming player who is always probing space and moving around the pitch to open himself up to receive the ball, we're not used to having a player like that on the pitch.
04 Sep 2025 08:47:16
Rightly said Ed. That second half would give him immense confidence before going for international break.
04 Sep 2025 08:51:04
He needs to get used to the physicality of the prem but not everything comes down to goals and assists. Across each match this season you can see it with some of the touches, passes and runs. There is a very special player there. The fact that he is a grafter and not just a luxury player.
I like his touch and shot for the disallowed Ekitike goal, lovely take, just a shame it didn't go in.
04 Sep 2025 09:24:43
His first touch is excellent and so is his vision, he’s clearly getting up to speed with the pace of things. I’m not worried. When it clicks with our attack someone is going to get an absolute pasting.
04 Sep 2025 09:52:14
VV is right about someone getting a pasting. Once Eyesack, Eccie Teacake and Wirtz start to get on the same wavelength some poor bunch are going to take a mauling.
Hopefully Everton and Man Utd wpn't be spared the lash either!
04 Sep 2025 10:36:00
I hope Everton and Man U get treated like Cujo’s chew toy.
04 Sep 2025 10:54:23
@praveenlfc, I propose you go watch that game again esp. in the second half to see how good Wirtz was. Not saying he was great BUT that was a marked improvement from the previous games which can only bode well for the future. Give the new guys time, mate. Impatience will get you nowhere, man.
04 Sep 2025 16:14:32
I can understand doing it to other teams' players as misguided humour, but why do we disrespect our own players by not using their real names, and being pseudo cute about it? Does every name have to be of Anglo-Saxon origin so that you can write it easily, not butcher people's names, and pass it off as humour? Do you think the disrespect goes unnoticed?
04 Sep 2025 22:44:30
There's a highlight reel of Whirtz against arsenal, something like 15 times Whirtz did Zemwhateverhes called, it's stunning, strength, vision, awareness and mesmerizing skills, he's going to light up the league.