Florian Wirtz

[justme]

My biggest issue is in a lot of games. I worry we can't get away with playing him a 3. we'll always win games of football. But consistently i still have my doubts

[Nineteenx]

Florian Wirtz is fast improving

Now Slot’s stopped using him too far forward and to all the other players detriment

[Nineteenx]

My biggest issue is in a lot of games. I worry we can't get away with playing him a 3. we'll always win games of football. But consistently i still have my doubts

He’s actually very good in tracking abd getting a foot in

[justme]

he also loses the ball a lot and it leads to a lot of counter attacks

[Kev0909]

he also loses the ball a lot and it leads to a lot of counter attacks

It's why we need a proper DM, the balance is off- normally with a attacking mid teams have 2 good DM'S one a destroyer and one more of a passer.

Bit like Mascherano/Alonso/Gerrard I guess.

Doesn't really help that maca has been stinking the place out, wonder what's up with him

[Insidious]

We need a positionalky astute and very aware No6 who take up great positions to stop counters and us getting g played through that support all our other players press and counter press positions, who can play through the lines and the long diagonals and switches and who has great recovery pace so they can rescue situations when other ppl let the press get broken

Given that players that tick all of those boxes aren't especially numerous (though would undoubtedly be of massive use to this side) if you were given a realistic budget (£60m - £80m let's say) for such a player and weren't tied in any way, apart from fairly obvious ones like not taking a starter from Real Madrid or Man City etc as that wouldn't happen, what would your shortlist be for that role?

Won't restrict you to 3 players as that feels a little tight - so we will say up to 5 lads you could pick - no particular order, just as they come to your mind.

[Nineteenx]

Destroyers charge everywhere and lack the necessary positioning and awareness to properly facilitate the best possible team press

They’re a relic of the game when it was less dependent on the entire team contributing to defending and attacking

[Kev0909]

Destroyers charge everywhere and lack the necessary positioning and awareness to properly facilitate the best possible team press

They’re a relic of the game when it was less dependent on the entire team contributing to defending and attacking

In my eyes we lack a Rice/Casemiro/Rodri

City was so good before due to having the balance spot on, I think every top club with a attacking mid out there, has a really good DM too

I think barca currently do it with olmo as the AMC, but that's just one example.

I know you love your 4-3-3 but Wirtz needs to play further forward, no doubt about it.

[justme]

It's why we need a proper DM, the balance is off- normally with a attacking mid teams have 2 good DM'S one a destroyer and one more of a passer.

Bit like Mascherano/Alonso/Gerrard I guess.

Doesn't really help that maca has been stinking the place out, wonder what's up with him

Thing is if you only have 2 midfielders and number 10 in the sense of Wirtz. you basically only have 2 midfielders. I dont care if you have the best DM in the world. you can't defend against 3/4 attackers. You mentioned 3.. we had similar in . Henderson/Wini and Fabinho _ Firmino was the false 9 role. Very solid and hard to break down..and same with our 3 last season.. Grav/Macca and Dom.. I don't think we can get away with Gravenberch Macca (dom if hes in midfield) and Wirzt.

Thats why i think we should play Ekitike tucked in off the left and play Wirtz further forward in the Firmino role

[justme]

Regarding Alexis mac allister. I think hes starting to get back to his old self. Much more improved in recent matches

[Kev0909]

Regarding Alexis mac allister. I think hes starting to get back to his old self. Much more improved in recent matches

Fair enough only seen the highlights as I was at work, so can't judge today, was worried about us getting bullied in midfield but we won 4-1 so obviously was alright!

But yeah I don't know the best way going forward though, but wirtz is going to be crucial... and obviously further up is his best place, so we'll have to figure something out.

[justme]

Yep, lets see what happens over the next few months!

[Kev0909]

Yep, lets see what happens over the next few months!

Yep surely there's some sort of plan, otherwise I doubt we would sign him in the first place.

I'd like to think the people behind the scenes that get paid thousands.. would have a plan going forward anyway, but who knows.

[Steveo]

Florian

[JockStrap]

Maestro.