09 Jun 2026 12:57:26
Wondering if Iraola is a high intensity press type of manager who will lead the press next season? None of our entire front 3 when fit - Isak, Ekitike and Gakpo - are natural pressers. For all Ekitike's achievements this year I think he jogs into the final yards of the press (he also needs to work on his heading but he's young) and the other two are worse. Not sure that can be coached into players or at least into so many of them.
Mane and Firmino were naturally aggressive players - Salah learned it in the press - but not convinced we have anybody that can do this consistently. Szobo could but full press needs all going together and he needs to be in midfield really with his athleticism. Not sure we signed the right type of player in the last window for that. Sorry to be so negative but it's a concern for me.
09 Jun 2026 13:41:38
I think Gakpo is a good presser and Ekitike should be too. Interesting to see if Isak can do it also. He could be frightening if he can and get fit.
It was very hard to press in the Slot system. Spaces were too big. I expect all of a sudden, many players will look like better pressers.
09 Jun 2026 13:43:35
With Robbo going, this reminds me of his one man press against City all those years ago! That was just awesome!
09 Jun 2026 13:51:44
The key is coaching the team to press as a unit, otherwise it's just a waste of energy. You lay traps and press when the circumstances are right. Watch any game from last season and see how most teams waited until Konate was on the ball to press us as a unit.
09 Jun 2026 13:58:58
Eki has shown no signs of doing much pressing.
09 Jun 2026 13:59:49
Gakpo is capable of pressing, he's not Mane level, but he's capable, at the same time, he doesn't offer enough from the left to be a starter for me. Fully agree on Isak and Ekitike. The good thing is, if we bring in 2 pacey wingers, they can apply some extra pressure to somewhat alleviate Isak/Ekitike.
{Ed077's Note - it is very hard to carry 1 player in a pressing setup.
09 Jun 2026 14:18:01
The pressing under Klopp was immense. Everyone knew the triggers and, more often than not, we'd force a turnover. Last year you had players pressing on their own, which, as Shipley says, is a waste of energy, and just creates huge gaps.
The other thing is the counter attack. Under Klopp, we'd win the ball high up and, within 3 passes, it'd either be a chance or a goal.
Everyone knew where to go. Even if Slot's half assed press worked, the players had no clue where to go. I lost count of how many times counter attacks just fell apart because of a poor pass, players getting in each other's way, or just not knowing where to run.
09 Jun 2026 14:35:31
This is just my opinion, but there's no such thing as a "natural presser". Pressing is a team effort and needs to be coached. We were ineffective in the press last season because we didn't work on it in the training ground.
And that's on Slot, not the players. Iraola would demand much more from the players and I'm sure that most, if not all of them, would be receptive towards his methods.
09 Jun 2026 16:48:34
I'd agree with that 100%, Drac. Any player can be coached to press, you just need a manager and coaches who can coach it properly.
No point just telling someone he needs to press, as without the rest of the team reacting to it, the press is worse than useless.
We had a low defensive line, and attackers trying to press (very half heartedly), which just left the midfield so big we couldn't get near people.
I'm sure the attackers were pressing so half heartedly, because in the back of their minds they were aware of the space they were leaving in behind them.
It has to be done as a unit. The team needs to all move up together to close off the out ball. If you give the defender an out ball, they'll just play around the press, and they are straight at the back 4.
09 Jun 2026 14:25:42
it's not ideal Ed I completely agree, but if we are going to re-deploy an intense press, I think the setup will have to make intelligent allowances for Isak & Ekitike, in one way or another. Naturally, some pressers are more intense than others, some are more measured, I'm not saying they should be let off their duties altogether, but they can operate at a reduced intensity so long as they're intelligent in their positioning, you can still offer an intense press without a flat out srint at every turn.
{Ed077's Note - if CR7, Messi and MBAPPE weren't good enough to be "carried" in a pressing system, I doubt anyone else can make it work
09 Jun 2026 22:17:27
What kind of pro footballer is incapable of pressing?
Only one with a pathetic attitude.
They will press, don't worry about that.
10 Jun 2026 00:49:14
It's hard to tell if Hugo is any good at pressing as the whole team has to press and last season was, shall we say, not our best season for pressing.