02 Oct 2025 14:47:40
I see loads of people commenting on Dom at RB
I’m in the minority here i presume.
I actually rate him there. I will caveat that by saying it appears Slot is shoehorning him in there just to get Wirtz in the team, but I still like him there.
Also, maybe Jones alongside Grav for more legs and pace rather then Macca?
Anyway, Tuesday night he played poor there, and has got caught once or twice in other games. Name me a fullback who Dosent?
I distinctly remember numerous times in the Newcastle game, he was alert at the back stick, tracking his man, stayed tight and cleared or headed the ball away from a dangerous cross. Didn’t ball watch, stuck to his task, and a few times stayed switched on, which allot of fullbacks struggle with.
One on one with Barnes and Gordon in that game he also did very well.
Next game, Arsenal. Puts in a motm performance. Again, good defensively.
He gives us pace, height, and a passing outlet there similar to what Trent gave us. (Another reason Slot putting him there? )
Energy, pressing, physicality, athleticism all coming from him too, whether he inverts, tracks back, pushes forward, or stays deep.
I think it’s an experiment that has worked pretty well so far, and could work great in the future. Granted there will be teething issues and he will have to learn the role,
While there is teething issues elsewhere in the team, maybe it’s not the right time to make such a drastic switch.
Anyway; what are peoples opinions on it?
Do you like him there? If not, why?
02 Oct 2025 15:30:56
I agree with almost. everything you have said apart from the bit about shoehorning him there to play Wirtz. Szobo at RB was a necessity because Bradley and Frimpong were injured. He then got MOM in both games playing there so he was picked there on merit for the game on Tuesday.
I do like him there but I miss him in midfield. For me the strongest midfield is Grav, Szobo and Wirtz. Jones hangs on to the ball far too much and plays too slow and Macca can't find a teammate with a simple pass at the moment and for that reason I'd give Bradley a run of games and put Szobo back in the middle.
02 Oct 2025 15:31:50
No, we need a passer in midfield with macca unable to start. Dom is the best option we have to play double pivot with grav, he can find runners in behind with his range of passing.
Grav is best receiving in tight spaces and breaking through lines of pressure, but when the other team retreats and doesn't press him, he's not going to be a midfielder who can hit an early ball to somebody running in behind or get it to the flanks quickly, he's just going to pass the ball to the team mate closest to him. Curtis is pretty much exactly the same way, and against a team that retreats into a block they actually slow the play down rather than accelerate it, which is why we need a passer next to grav.
Trent gave us that advantage and Dom has the capability to do that from right back, though perhaps not quite as well maybe. He is not being instructed to play the Trent role there though, and the only reason why he's been playing there is because he's been more solid defensively than Bradley and frimpong.
02 Oct 2025 15:46:06
For me it’s counter productive playing Szobo, especially when at the minute he is one of our better midfielders. We have 2 fullbacks in Frimpong and Bradley and also Gomez who can play there even tho he’s left footed ?. What does it say about those players if we are shoehorning Szobo in there?
02 Oct 2025 15:46:34
Good read, @Joey. Really appreciate your effort, man. Personally, I don't like him there. Also, remember that Szobo only played there cos both Frimpong and Bradley were out injured (not due to an experiment, IMO) and even now that they are back, they are struggling so to me, it has less to do with shoe-horning Wirtz in the 10 cos we already knew Szobo would be here when Wirtz signed, no? TO me if we are shoehorning anyone, it's Macca cos he ain't fit yet Slot keeps playing him which makes us weak as he lacks the athleticism and physicality that Szobo provides in CM. And that's without him being unfit, which he is now.
I agree, Szobo did great at RB and so it seems cos that happened, people just want to remove him from midfield altogether, which I find strange and knee jerk. Szobo is much needed in midfield next to Grav as his physical and technical qualities make us better and can help Wirtz. Bradley and Frimpong can duke it out for the RB slot. That's their job and positions, not Szobo's. Just my opinion.
02 Oct 2025 17:07:14
OliRed, Joey didn't say that Wirtz was being shoehorned into the number ten role.
02 Oct 2025 17:40:02
Spot on, Rigsby.
02 Oct 2025 17:58:16
Slob is a top midfielder. he's wasted at RB . esp when we 2 quality RBs available plus Gomez can also do a job there.
02 Oct 2025 18:11:58
It speaks volumes about Szobs attitude and ability that he was able to cover at RB when needed as well as playing very well for the most part. But at the end of the day he's a midfielder, not a defender. We learnt this lesson a few years back during the injury crisis, eventually getting top 4 with two reserve defenders after playing midfielders in defence didn't work. No reason to repeat those same mistakes.
02 Oct 2025 18:12:22
Indeed, Rome.
02 Oct 2025 18:57:21
I'd like to see Frimpong get a run of games. Guessing Slot easing him back after his injury. Nice to know Szlob can cover at RB but like to see our midfield get sorted out so I'd play him there.
02 Oct 2025 20:32:57
Frimpong has been very poor so far, he needs to use the opportunities given to make more of an impact to get a run of games imho.
02 Oct 2025 20:43:55
Arteta threw down the Gauntlet in this morning's Rags to Arne ( and Florian) saying Odegaard is the best number 10 in the Premier, obviously trying to belittle Florian.
442 has not been tried so far, is Florian (Number 10) behind two of three forwards either hugo/ isak/ mo, and in front of macca, ryan, dom as a shield for Florian, not worth a try?
Teams like palace now just bypass the press by simply kicking the ball over it aerially into the corners, their goalkeeper kicked every goal kick long, never played out from the back once, all the bottom teams will now copy that tactic (Burnley did)
shankly, paisley, fagan. dalglish (shearer, sutton his front two at blackburn) clough, wenger, ferguson all played 442,who could argue with any one of them?
"Football is the most simple game ever, when we have the ball we all attack, when we don't have the ball we all defend"- Bill Shankly
"Football is the most simple Game, played, owned and managed by Idiot's"- Brian Clough.
02 Oct 2025 21:45:32
Who are our top quality RBs @Strom? We seem to have two average RWBs who both prefer changing up field than @ctual defending.
02 Oct 2025 22:14:54
Frimpong has been here 5 minutes I’m not sure how you can claim that with any confidence WDW and Bradley has proved in the past he can be a very good right back when fit.
As for Dom, I don’t think anyone is saying he’s a bad right back. He’s actually done very well when he’s played there it’s just that we lose so much in the midfield when Dom is at right back. That’s why he shouldn’t play there.
03 Oct 2025 01:15:39
WDW. so you already knew the 2 quality RBs I was referring to then.
03 Oct 2025 06:00:40
Palace played that way because of our high line, because we didn't press the ball from the front or in midfield and because our shape in transition was all over the place, which was a suicidal combination in the first half leaving massive spaces for the backline or midfield to play the ball into. Anybody with half a brain would play that way against us with a devastatingly fast bruiser like mateta leading the line.
You're basically saying managers should treat the game like championship manager 98 and stop worrying that the game has evolved.
03 Oct 2025 07:01:05
I can’t believe Szob played right back Tuesday night so Macca could be shoe horned into a position on the bench.
03 Oct 2025 07:42:04
I knew the people you were referring to but I’m not convinced that either of them are actually a RB, @Strom.
03 Oct 2025 09:57:42
Oh, then I guess I misunderstood then. Sorry, @Joey.
03 Oct 2025 10:45:26
Wdw . different opinons then . I think both are quality RBs, esp Bradley.
03 Oct 2025 12:06:01
My point about Dom, and really any player played out of position, is that it’s not sustainable over a season. We had three guys available who could have started at RB and Inwould have thought we’d be wanting a more settled back 4 so therefore reps together especially in games is key.
Dom is not going to be the permanent RB so why play him there unless absolutely necessary due to injury?
Over-thinking and over-tinkering for me.
03 Oct 2025 12:41:00
007 - which is crazy when odegard isn't even Arsenal's best #10. maybe his comment was more of a challenge to Eze!?