14 Nov 2025 12:01:37
A lot of people are saying Slot's training is not fitness orientated and that might be true. Then what is it? it can’t be about finishing or set pieces because we are shocking at those as well. Are they just messing around in training like in the videos we see on YouTube? I watch Declan Rice corners now and you can tell he is practicing this and making the most out of every delivery.
It’s all well and good having a good atmosphere in the squad as it seems we have everybody laughing and joking but I also think that can lead to unprofessionalism and I think that is happening here.
They are not taking this seriously coaches and players alike. Would you be looking at Rio to come in also to give at least a bit of unpredictability for the oppo I mean you can read Salah and Gakpo like a book. Sam with Wirtz he will just fake to shoot repeatedly until he is closed down.
I genuinely think this will get worse before it will get better and would not be surprised to see us in the Europa league next season. Now how big shots will our player think they are then?
14 Nov 2025 12:24:18
Is it training or is it just a lack of balance? Jota, Nunez and Diaz were our 3 hardest working forwards off the ball last season. Szoboszlai was also the hardest pressing midfielder.
So far this season Dom has spent many games either playing deeper in midfield or at right back, and we have a front 3 usually made up of any 3 from Gakpo, Ekitike, Isak and Salah who are all lazy/ poor at pressing or tracking back.
In my opinion Chiesa, Wirtz and Szoboszlai all need to play together as they actually press well and work back defenisively. Then you can afford to put one luxury player with them which right now should probably be Gakpo as he's the only one scoring goals regularly when he starts. Ekitike, Isak and Salah all have something like 1 goal apiece in their last 6 or 7 starts.
In hindsight, it looks like a horrendous misjudgement in recruitment to replace 3 hard working forwards with Wirtz, Ekitike and Isak. Because only Wirtz works hard out of possession and he's often been used in Dom's position which means we've lost Dom in the press on those occasions. It's killing our press completely trying to prioritise flair over graft.
If you can't press effectively you have to drop off and just get into shape (something we did against Madrid very well) to grind out a result. As soon as we went back to trying to press against Man City it all came apart because Salah and Ekitike are just passengers out of possession.
I hate to say it, because it was his choice to leave so Slot/ Hughes had little choice, but we miss Diaz. Dom and Diaz last season did the pressing of 4 men so Gakpo and Salah got away with being lazy.
Me personally, I'd have Gakpo LW, Wirtz RW, Chiesa CF and Dom AM. I don't buy that the players aren't fit for one second. I think we're just flooding the frontline with luxury players. It reminds me of when Man United did it with Martial, Rashford, Ronaldo and Pogba. It just does not work.
14 Nov 2025 13:22:17
Only a super scout could watch a couple of online videos and come to such fine conclusions. Bravo.
14 Nov 2025 15:36:28
Yeah TB, we need more videos of Virgil absolutely tearing into players for having a smile on their faces while doing rondos in practice.
14 Nov 2025 16:51:34
MK
I agree with lots of your points. I've been told lots of times that Diaz was a problem behind the closed doors. I just loved his effort, he caused total chaos, defenders found him unpredictable.
Even Nunez created havoc, and made things happen.
Cut to now we look dead on our feet. Completely unbalanced and without a game plan. Passing is so slow, predictable. Konate constantly turning over position. Salah running into defenders getting the ball stuck under his feet. It leads to other forwards hesitant in making darting runs.
I feel slightly sorry for Wirtz. I would like him to have free roll between the lines behind the Center forward or off the left. Him trying to break beyond the centre forward takes the room and the space gets congested. Gapko is just so predictable. He gets his shots off but he needs to mix it up more. Maybe a back post cross now and then? Or go round the back turn the full back?
But as a team, we have press move the ball faster. If players like Mo aren't getting joy bring them off the pitch. Freddie always makes things happen. give him a chance.
I feel if Slott keeps this up the decision will be made to change.
YNWA.
14 Nov 2025 17:47:37
Why don’t we play with the intensity we showed against Madrid? I understand it was a European night under the lights at a field and possibly slot worries about burn out but that high intensity game plan is the difference if you ask me.
14 Nov 2025 19:56:15
Burn out? Overthinking it if that’s his excuse for the tactic's. We won’t need fresh legs at the end of the season we will be out of everything with nothing to play for.
14 Nov 2025 21:12:55
To be fair @Scouse John, Slot ha never used it as an “excuse”, it actually @Ecogsi’s opinion.
15 Nov 2025 07:23:23
Nunez wrapped his tits in half way through last season.