18 Nov 2025 05:55:29
Hi Eds,
Do you know the tentative timeline when Leoni should be back?
Thanks.
{Ed001's Note - he is not expected to return to playing this season.}
18 Nov 2025 07:28:48
Thanks, Ed001. It is a shame as I think he could have replaced Konate this season the way he performed in that game, and the way Konate is playing this season. Do you think Slot should give Gomez a run in the side in place of Konate?
{Ed001's Note - I agree, Leoni would have walked into the team. Hell he would probably be better on crutches than Konate has been most of this season.
I think it is crazy to keep picking someone who doesn't want to be here and is playing like it. If Gomez is available, it is insane to keep throwing away points by picking Konate. If Gomez is not available, put a kid in, at least they will give their all and will learn from the experience when they make mistakes.}
18 Nov 2025 08:25:17
Ed001, I've heard a rumour that Slot has been been working on a 3-4-3 formation during the international break.
Obviously he hasn't had many senior players to work with (Woodman, Frimpong, Gomez, Bajcetic, Jones, Chiesa and Rio is pretty much it) . But I guess you can still work on the shape and tactics, even if you don't have your main players.
I can see the logic of a back 3. Frimpong, Bradley and Kerkez are all natural wing backs. On top of this, we seem to be heavily linked to Guehi still who plays left side of a back 3 so maybe the temporary solution is to go to a back 3 of Gomez/ Konate on the right, Virgil in the centre and Robbo on the left (with Guehi slotting in on the left in January) . This way we can give more freedom to the likes of Kerkez and Bradley/ Frimpong as wing backs, to get the best out of them.
It's obviously just a rumour, but it would make sense on paper. Slot also trialled this system against Palace in the league cup with the reserves.
{Ed001's Note - Robertson is hopeless at holding a line and a back three would just play into all Virgil's weaknesses - the central man is mainly looking to keep himself spare, when we need him to be more aggressive and attack the ball. We would still have a midfield which does nothing to help out either and an attack that fails to press. I don't see how it would help. The only time that system works is when it is played with aggression, which we simply do not have. We are now too "Dutch" in our style of play, which has moved away and lost sight of their Total Football and become a poor, lazy, laid back style of football which achieves very little. If we play that with a back three, it will be no different from what we have seen.
What we need is intensity and aggression to get the best from our players, not a change in formation, which achieves the square root of sod all.}
18 Nov 2025 08:33:26
Absolutely. Do you think we also need a defensive midfielder in the mould of Mascherano as we are constantly getting over run in midfield this season.
{Ed001's Note - I would prefer one in the mould of Alonso, someone with positional sense and intelligence, rather than one who just ran around a lot and got lauded despite being always out of position.}
18 Nov 2025 09:43:46
Totally agree with ed001 here. This team is capable of high intensity and aggression which is making it so difficult to understand what Slot is thinking. We walked the league last year added some quality players in the summer and now Slot has served up this tripe. I honestly can’t get my head around it.
18 Nov 2025 10:15:42
And there’s the frustration - if Gomez is not trusted physically then why have him around at all?
And to add more frustration, why don’t we seem to produce promising CBs at the academy? We have no problem producing diminutive forwards, midfielders and fullbacks but never seem to have CBs and DMs worthy of promotion (Quansah aside) .
18 Nov 2025 09:28:51
Ed001, i totally agree on the attack. Our press is decimated. Gakpo, Isak, Ekitike and Salah are all lazy or just poor at pressing.
Chiesa, Wirtz and Szoboszlai now look like the only players in our team capable of pressing well and Slot just doesn't seem to rate Chiesa. Diaz, Nunez and Jota were perhaps under appreciated in hindsight, in terms of how much they sacrificed themselves for the team.
I think it's only a matter of time before we see a managerial change. If that does happen, what are your thoughts on Inzaghi? I was very impressed with his job at Inter.
{Ed001's Note - I am not convinced he would be a good choice. Far too volatile.}
18 Nov 2025 13:58:21
Most Italian managers seem to do well in the Prem though Ed001. Mancini, Conte, Ancelotti, Ranieri etc. I think the Italian football philosophy applies better to the Premier League than most.
I think he'd do well, but yes, no Italian manager seems to be a long term solution. They normally last 2-3 years tops. They all seem to be quite volatile in the end!