02 Nov 2025 19:04:34
Ed01 - who would be your picks for our next signings, CB for one and certainly midfield and a forward position.
{Ed001's Note - I would be happy with Guehi, he has stepped up a level this season.
I like Baleba, though he is struggling to get his fitness this season, but pointless buying a player like him while Slot is in charge as he wouldn't get a game. So instead I would pick Anderson from Forest.
The more I think about it, the more I think Semenyo would provide us balance as a forward and allow Wirtz more freedom and license to roam.}
02 Nov 2025 19:28:00
Apologies if it's been asked before Ed001 but how would you set us up to get the best out of Wirtz, both this season and moving forward? Personally I think we should have two up top with Wirtz behind. Keep the midfield from last year and allow them to work together (eventually replacing Mac) I.
e if one goes forward the other two cover the space to limit being hit on the counter and allow the RB/ LB to provide the width. Formation wise it'd either be called a 4-3-1-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2 but the same idea either way.
{Ed001's Note - I would prefer a 4-2-1-3 myself. Wirtz playing in behind the 3 forwards. Basically similar to what we did last season, but with the central pair of mids sitting deeper and allowing the full backs more freedom to get forward and staying out of the way of Wirtz. But if one of the mids does go forward, I would like to see the full backs noticing and one drop. More speed on the pass and hit crosses early, stop checking back as it makes it difficult for forwards to time runs, so just get it in early. That also makes sure the opposition haven't got time to organise defensively. The longer you take to put the ball in the less effective it is likely to be, so either cross early or look to pass short quick one twos into the box in the centre. But don't mess about wide and then throw it in when everyone is set in defence.}
02 Nov 2025 19:57:04
I know a Palace season ticket holder (who vaguely knows Glasner, has certainly met him several times) and he believes Wharton will join us. When we were trying to sign Isak I posted asking why we even needed Isak, as Hugo had hit the ground running and that surely we need a defence minded midfielder and The Fields replied, who I think is ITK and said it will be Wharton.
02 Nov 2025 20:05:14
That was def an issue for us yest Ed and in the past too not moving the ball quick enough. I'm yet to see a footballer who can run faster than the ball can be passed.
02 Nov 2025 20:56:37
We looked much better without Kerkez and Wirtz. If we’re to fit them in, I reckon we’d need to change shape personally.
If we’re sticking to this set up, then they’re better on the bench.
02 Nov 2025 21:01:42
It was noticeable yesterday some great moves on the edge of villa’s box but midfield just putting there foot on the ball. Oh for a Thiago.
02 Nov 2025 21:25:43
ed1 - did you notice the slight tweak to our set-up once we had established possession of the ball? with Robbo and Bradley basically in the forward line but playing inside the wingers?
It's a real interesting set-up, which I personally don't like given the profile of fullbacks we've bought. But open to seeing how it develops.
{Ed001's Note - yeah, I prefer to see them mix it up and sometimes underlap others overlap. Bradley has always looked to underlap, he does like to try and score.}
02 Nov 2025 22:45:54
You find a way to incorporate a generational talent like Wirtz, although Slot may well have to change his vision for him.
02 Nov 2025 23:01:14
Faith, we used that setup last season. If you watched the preseason highlights from last term, this setup allowed us to really open up spaces for us to hurt teams, leading to some goals scored.
Ed01, I agree re: Wirtz. he is such a baller that you have to let him have the freedom to let him cook with a wall behind him with fullbacks tucking in to help in midfield in def. transition. Just look at Buendia at Villa who is nowhere near Wirtz's level. They have Onana and Kamara behind him and he has been cooking of late.
03 Nov 2025 03:05:26
Ed1, it is that simple is it. That's probably why it won't happen. Most managers don't think that being simple will win you games. Making things complicated is the way to go these days. By the way, what's the difference between 4-2-1-3 and 4-2-3-1?
{Ed001's Note - there is very little real difference, it is just how attacking the front 3 is. I would like to see us leave players up the pitch at set-pieces to force the opposition to leave defenders back.}
03 Nov 2025 07:01:20
Chelsea done that against spurs at weekend ed1,left 3 players up when spurs had a corner. It definitely led to less congestion in box.
Now spurs looked that disinterested I'm not sure they would've scored if Chelsea hadve given them the box to themselves but interesting to see if it something that will get more common.
{Ed001's Note - it used to be standard to leave at least 1 up, no idea why that changed because it doesn't work.}
03 Nov 2025 07:05:13
Thanks for the reply ed001, my only issue with the 4-2-1-3 is after the money we've spent. I feel we would still need a new RW, you'd shoehorn Ekitike out left and I think he's better in the middle. And do you think it'd suit grav and Szobo?
And I completely agree about leaving people up top for set pieces. By bringing everyone back you are basically giving the attacking team a free hit. Plus there's no space to actually defend as there are too many bodies. Leave two or three on the half way line and give the attacking team something to think about. Set pieces are the flavour of the month so surely leaving a big threat of the counter is going to counter that to some degree.
{Ed001's Note - I wouldn't shoehorn Ekitike out left, he would play through the centre while in form for one. Secondly, he has played from the left a lot. Grav was better last season when he stayed back, so defo suits him. Szobo, as we have seen, can pretty much play anywhere, anyhow.}
03 Nov 2025 07:26:47
Wharton isn't a defence minded midfielder though, I don't know why he is always pegged as such here? He is a playmaker from a deeper position, for us he would be something akin to Mac allister, he performs pretty much the same role for palace with the kinds of short and incisive passes that he plays, though he can also play longer ones, which macca does not tend to obviously. However, he is physically slight and does not fare well in individual duels.
He"s an interesting player because he kind of combines traits of grav and macca in one player, he likes to receive the ball on the half turn, get into space and pick a forward pass through the lines. If folks think he is adding 'steel' or physicality to our midfield they would be mistaken, though.
Elliot Anderson is a star, he has technique, work rate, engine, intelligence, I feel like he could play 6/ 8 (next to grav) or 10 (the szoboszlai role) for us no problem. He can tackle and is pretty good in the air too. He's not a pass specialist like Wharton, much more of a carrier so not sure about the balance playing next to another carrier like grav, but he gives you so much off the ball while offering press resistance on it.
03 Nov 2025 09:35:22
Anderson would be a much better signing than Wharton. The latter is an excellent player, but Anderson would be a big upgrade on Mac Allister to play alongside Gravenberch or Szoboszlai as a sitting midfielder.
The fact remains that Wirtz is one of the best players in Europe and we NEED to provide him the platform and structure to demonstrate it.
03 Nov 2025 10:01:03
If Wirtz is to ‘make the grade’ in the PL it is most likely to happen if the team is built around him. He doesn’t appear to have the authority (maturity? ) as yet to take a PL game by the scruff of the neck.
03 Nov 2025 11:00:47
This thread takes me back to the days when Sturridge and Suarez both were lingering by the half line during corner kicks. And opposition teams were visibly stressed out and more concerned with them, than actually scoring themselves.
03 Nov 2025 11:12:51
Bayer were built around him, and they reaped the rewards. Right now it is not simply that we are not built around him, we don't even have the structure that let's him operate where he wants to be or where he can optimally affect the game, in the opposition third in the left half space or central, rather than having to chase the game when we lose the ball or drop into the halfway line to pick up the ball to help us progress it.
The Anfield Wrap chat about the Villa game made a good point- against Eintracht, which was arguably Wirtz' best game in a Liverpool game so far, Wirtz lost the ball near their box and Eintracht were able to get from there to our box in a matter of seconds.
The brunt of the blame seemed to fall on Wirtz shoulders for losing the ball, but it shouldn't be a big deal losing the ball on the edge of the opposition box, attackers are always going to play risky balls up the field, Wirtz should have done better with that ball maybe but somebody should be covering for Wirtz in the contingency that we lose the ball, the problem is how the opposition can go from there to our box in an instant.
I thought that was an astute point, personally.
03 Nov 2025 14:19:59
@WY-red, I think shoehorning players is one of the reasons we are where we are. I think we should just play players in their proper positions where they have the best chance to flourish and help the team, IMO.
@PB, I agree. I don't subscribe to blaming a player for losing the ball in the oppo. box leading to the team conceding a goal 70/ 80 yards later hence, protecting his team mates behind him from any scrutiny. Creative players lose the ball. It's what they do hence, wy a wall is built behind them to protect the defence. Personally, I think it is just a case of gratuitous scapegoating.