15 Sep 2025 11:25:58
I think comparing the german league to the premier league really catches players out initially, Wirtz and ekitike have been used to that extra bit of time that teams get in that league. I think when they can adapt to the pace intensity whilst doing things that yard quicker they will really shine.
15 Sep 2025 11:38:23
I tried to watch Wirtz closely yesterday and he does get into some good positions but our passing and intensity at times is cumbersome.
I think Ekitike has been a shining light since signing but he does like to drop into the pockets like a false 9 that Wirtz wants to be in as well.
I think once Isak comes into the team we will see the quality of his hold up and build up play and ability in the box.
Ekitike went past Walker on the outside yesterday at ease where as Gakpo was continuously coming inside.
Salah and Gakpo seem to be guaranteed starters at the moment and Ekitike guaranteed to be subbed. Hopefully a fit Isak will mix that up and the forwards have a bit of competition for places.
15 Sep 2025 11:58:15
I personally just think people are expecting too much, too soon. In the summer when Jota passed, we all agreed this could have a short-medium term impact on the team. It's a massive loss for these players, and something they're reminded of every day at work. It's hard emotionally to deal with that, and in elite level sport it is very rare that the whole team is effectively in mourning at the same time. Normally if one player loses someone close to them, their team mates can pick them up, or cover for the slight drop in their focus/ performance. We don't have that because pretty much everyone in the squad is hurting. Salah's reaction after the Bournemouth game was evidence of this. You don't just get over a close friend dying in 2 months.
On top of this though, Slot is trying to change the team dynamic. The team was very much built around Trent, with him as our primary playmaker. With that change being forced upon us, we're trying to find a new balance to the team that hasn't really needed a complete tactical rebuild since 2018 when Buvac left. Slot picked up from where Klopp left and changed very little last season. Now the transition is in full flow, we're seeing the teething issues you would expect.
The first two games we were banging in the goals for fun, but we looked extremely open. In the next two games we managed to better deal with the counter attack and limited Arsenal and Burnley to almost no proper chances. However we impacted our fluidity going forward in doing so.
What's really positive for us is that despite the team having a major emotional impact to deal with, and Slot effectively working on trial and error tactics right now, we've still got 12/ 12 points despite playing our main title rivals already, and a couple of the hardest away games we're likely to face this season in a Newcastle side that were out for blood and a Burnley side that conceded 15 goals last season and had 11 players in/ around their own box for most of the game.
At this stage of the season, all that matters is results. The performances will come.
15 Sep 2025 12:07:26
Adam Clery had a crazy video that came out recently that suggested Isak or Ekitike could play as the 10 behind the other, in a similar fashion as Isak sometimes plays behind Gyokeres for the Swedish national team in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Gyokeres sometimes pulling wide or dropping deeper, and Isak making deep runs into the box to take up the space. Clery suggests that he could play that role because of his ability in small spaces, Gravenberch-esque skill in receiving, turning and technique in picking the right pass and vision on the ball. Wirtz in this scenario would be playing left wing. Interesting video.
15 Sep 2025 12:12:19
My theory with gakpo is he is brilliant at home and terrible away from home, i would love too see ekitike on the left or like jao pedro slightly deeper but knitting the play together, he could definitely take a leaf out of firminos book he has all the tools.
15 Sep 2025 12:48:14
Gakpo went round the outside of walker several times in the game. I know it's not the main point of this thread, but it annoys me when people say Gakpo only ever cuts inside.
I actually thought Wirtz was decent yesterday, picked up good spaces and if Burnley only had 9 players in the box instead of 10, think he would have picked up a goal.
15 Sep 2025 12:51:53
Our attacking options this season are better than last. Goals will come once the chemistry is built up. It was never going to happen overnight.
And when the team gels. onion football.
15 Sep 2025 13:11:25
Post of the day goes to MK scouser in my humble opinion. how quick we forget ?.
15 Sep 2025 13:28:05
Whats ‘onion football’?
{Ed001's Note - lots of layers I would assume.}
15 Sep 2025 13:29:06
I agree with that Rugby. All I’ve heard is how predictable Gakpo is and that he always cuts inside. Well someone needs to tell Kyle Walker that because he couldn’t guess which way he was going all through the game because he went both inside and on the outside on numerous occasions.
I watched the game back this morning actually and we did get into some really decent positions but you could see the players on their heels and not anticipating what the player on the ball was going to do.
One gilt edged example is when Ekitike got to the byline and flashed the ball across the face of goal. There were 3 attackers in the box and not one of them made a dart for the back post for a tap in. It was like they were watching him, not expecting him to get past the defender.
Gakpo got past Walker on the outside a few times too but looked up and there was no one to hit so either hesitated or just put the ball into an area.
We had numerous chances on the edge of the box when a first time shot was on but we tried to play one twos where it was too congested.
Most of all though is the pace we start games at. We almost set the tone and tempo for the game from the outset where I think we should just go after them for the first 15 minutes to get a goal. Yes we risk leaving the back door open but at least it gives us the whole game to claw it back if they were to score.
More often than not though it will be us scoring with the quality we have. By starting at a slow tempo like we do we just give them a chance to settle in to their shape and settle into the game.
15 Sep 2025 13:44:54
Rugby I'd def have to watch that game back to see Gakpo going around Walker several times as none come to mind. I'm not sure i could stomach watching that game again though.
Apologies that my opinion has annoyed you.
15 Sep 2025 16:29:57
Onion football bring tears to your eyes.
15 Sep 2025 19:06:36
You're perfectly entitled to your opinion JK, and you're not the only one who shares that opinion, I just don't particularly understand it because I see Gakpo mix it up quite a lot, and feel it's an easy claim because he probably does cut in more than he goes round the outside, but definitely isn't the one trick pony some make him out to be.
I know you go to all the games, and I'm not blessed with the ability to do so, so maybe it's just something more easily observed from the armchair.
15 Sep 2025 19:47:48
Rugby im actually a big Gakpo fan. I just thought yesterday he seemed to come inside a lot.
I’ll be honest it was one of the most boring games I’ve ever watched us play though so I could have easily missed it when he went on the outside as I was engaging with others on the live chat.
15 Sep 2025 21:37:35
No worries JK, always value your opinion mate.