Slot

[CCTV]

I'm foaming at the mouth over this squad and how fucking thick we've been

Both of ye were foaming at the mouth last year too though, admittedly you actually enjoyed us winning the league and don't talk absolute bollocks the whole time

CCTV said:
1st September 2024 09:40 PM
2024/25 Squad
Early days under Slot, I've seen nearly every minute of our 3 competitive games to date.

A rock solid start. 3 clean sheets, 3 wins, and an emerging sense of slotball.

I'll post the squad in 433 as he plays 433 but there's a noticeable change in shape imo
As Mo said, to paraphrase, under Klopp he always kept it fresh but a new start brings a whole new sense of change.

So the squad...

Fair to say Slots 1st Eleven to date are:

Alisson
Trent Konate VVD Robbo
Sobozla Grav MacA
Salah Jota Diaz

For all the summer transfer turmoil, the b team for this season to date would be

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Tsimi
Elliott Endo Jones
Chiesa Núñez Gakpo

Given the Slot profile, it is a good squad with youth to mould.
Nyoni might feature in midfield given his preseason performances (I saw no preseason myself)
With the way we seem to be playing, if we coulda added one more player this summer, I'd have taken a centreback.

On paper it's, a Matip out & Chiesa in window.

Think the midfield is more interchangeable in this setup given the options in our squad. I'd say we have 5 players for 2 positions in midfield if needed in MacA, Grav, Sobozla, Jones & Endo.

Elliott, Chiesa, Diaz, Gakpo options playing the 10 role.

I'd hope to see more of Endo, Elliott & Jones and the b-team v West ham in the EFL cup after Forest. It's some season in terms of fixtures, so need everyone up to speed.

Kev0909 said:
3rd September 2024 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by redebreck View Post
My only concern is, we haven't played against any team of quality yet.

Other than that, it's looking good.
Main concern for me 1 or 2 injuries in midfield we're fucked

BOBPAISLEYFAN said:
5th September 2024 04:26 PM
I mentioned at the start of last season, than our squad was probably the strongest squad Klopp ever had at his disposal, especially when it was compared to the squad that almost achieved the Quadruple….

As it panned out, we were on course for another potential Quadruple until the last few weeks of the season, when our extensive injuries throughout the season finally caught up with us….

Whilst we have lost both Matip and Thiago from last years squad, as good as they were, their contribution last season was at best minimal. Quansah blossomed so much last season that arguably he is a more than adequately replacement for Matip, Thiago whilst brilliant was far too injury prone, so hopefully the emergence of Gravenberch will compensate for Thiago’s loss and the signing of Chiesa will further enhance our attacking threat…

So all in all, whilst losing Klopp so prematurely was a massive blow, Slot has started as well as anybody could have possibly hoped for, so if this squad, which is now somewhat bedded in far more so than this time last year, can keep performing as well as it has so far, and Slot remains as impressive as he has started, I can see no reason why we cannot challenge on all four fronts once again..

So far so good …

We know what Steveos opinion of the quality in the squad last September, and here's a reminder of his January bullishness for Arteta.. the gap was there in January.

Steveo*said:14th January 2025*08:56 PM

Plenty are laughing at Arteta again now - but it’s early days. Season at halfway. Nobody is hoping they flop more than me - seriously - NOBODY - but the reality come seasons end may be very different.

We needed to add to the squad in the summer - we haven’t - we need to add now or the second half of the season could have a painful sting in the tail

https://forums.lfconline.co.uk/showthread.php?310133-Top6-spends-analysed-by-MV-13-14-onwards

Steveo*said:18th January 2025*01:51 PM
You know Kev has a very good point about any debate with you. And it explains why I usually just ignore you - you clearly refuse to accept reality.


Here are the facts once again.

2020 - and it’s 43 points behind… to 9 points ahead in 3 years - by 2023 - it’s a 52 point swing. And they finished above us last season too - and sadly (hopefully not) may well do again this time.

On the 18th of January we would beat Brentford 0-2 & Arsenal would draw with Villa 2-2.

Iirc on that day, that was ours & Arsenals 22nd game of the season.

Arsenal had 44 points after 22 games.
2 ppg bang on top4 pace and yet they could have a painful sting....

A 9 point lead, effectively 10 with goal difference..

We had 53 points after 22 games.
Title winning form of 2.41 points per game.
After 34 games we were 2.411 points per game.
We ended the season in Ibiza and finished with 2.21 points per game.

After 34 games Arsenal 1.97 points per game.

After 34 games in 2024/25 Cituae had 61 points & Arsenal 67 & LFC 82.

After 34 games in 2023/24 Cituae had 79 points & Arsenal 77 & LFC 74.

After 34 games in 2022/33 Cituae had 82 points & Arsenal 78 & LFC 59.

After 34 games in 2021/22 Cituae had 83 points & Arsenal 63 & LFC 82.

After 34 games in 2020/21 Cituae had 80 points & Arsenal 49 & LFC 57.

Just to remind folks of the points differences after 34 games in recent seasons.

***Now using BPF's method, assigning league position rank to opponents.*****

LFC played
Average rank 7.86th place

Arsenal played
Average rank 11.29th place

That BPF method suggests we've had a harder start than Arsenal. So you shouldn't get carried away just yet fam

[teesred]

Honestly mate - it's not nearly as bad as you are making out. It looks bad now because too much has changed too fast. It might even get worse before it gets better, but we haven't gone from one of the best squads in the league to utter shyte after adding Wirtz - Isak - Frimpong - Kerkez and Ekitike. It's true we should have added different players IF we aim to persist with the same setup but maybe - just maybe there is method to what appears to be madness.

Excellent and grounding post. We're all a bit narked at the moment but it was never going to be plain sailing having to replace so many.

[Kev0909]

Honestly mate - it's not nearly as bad as you are making out. It looks bad now because too much has changed too fast. It might even get worse before it gets better, but we haven't gone from one of the best squads in the league to utter shyte after adding Wirtz - Isak - Frimpong - Kerkez and Ekitike. It's true we should have added different players IF we aim to persist with the same setup but maybe - just maybe there is method to what appears to be madness.

Not the same squad is it? yeah we've added them players

lost
Trent
Diaz
Jota RIP
Nunez would've done more than isak so far think the space he created for salah is underrated too not just trent (Still depth)
Elliot see above
Quansah see above (Better than Rhys williams ffs)
Robbo/Salah/VVD all a year older
Maca has aged 14 years over the summer
Grav is now a attacking mid for some reason

Probably still one of the best squads in the league even with the lack of depth in key areas.. far from the best around europe though, and I think arsenal trumps us now in the squad department, maybe not first 11 when all firing and if it ever clicks... even city do now, spurs even have more options when all fit which is never but still.

Don't see how we've improved loads when Frimpong isn't as good as Trent he probably never will be, but he'll do a job when he settles at least..... Kerkez over a prime robbo? not sure who i'd even start right now tbh... Diaz>Szob>Wirtz at the moment, improved in the CF area that's about it (I know isak will come good we all know he's a top player) hopefully Wirtz as well in the future.

460m spent, it's not good enough, not good enough we've not got a top CB in, not good enough we've not got a good midfielder in, not good enough we didn't replace diaz we still have huge work to do in the future, VVD Konate both gone in a season or 2... x2CBS salah won't have long left, RW... and we already need a CB no6 LW never mind what the future holds

and FFP says hi, even if we have the money to spend, not much to be that positive about really.

As I said this is due to the neglect whoevers fault it was over the last few seasons, and here we are making many changes in one window, and to me, we stll need another big window in the future due to the positions i've listed above.... it's crazy.

we have no forward planning at all, it's criminal... it has hurt us now and will hurt us with Konate-VVD-Salah in the future, can't count on them forever, heads need to roll and I don't mean the manager bit early for that eh

[Red October]

Not the same squad is it? yeah we've added them players

lost
Trent
Diaz
Jota RIP
Nunez would've done more than isak so far think the space he created for salah is underrated too not just trent (Still depth)
Elliot see above
Quansah see above (Better than Rhys williams ffs)
Robbo/Salah/VVD all a year older
Maca has aged 14 years over the summer
Grav is now a attacking mid for some reason

Probably still one of the best squads in the league even with the lack of depth in key areas.. far from the best around europe though, and I think arsenal trumps us now in the squad department, maybe not first 11 when all firing and if it ever clicks... even city do now, spurs even have more options when all fit which is never but still.

Don't see how we've improved loads when Frimpong isn't as good as Trent he probably never will be, but he'll do a job when he settles at least..... Kerkez over a prime robbo? not sure who i'd even start right now tbh... Diaz>Szob>Wirtz at the moment, improved in the CF area that's about it (I know isak will come good we all know he's a top player) hopefully Wirtz as well in the future.

460m spent, it's not good enough, not good enough we've not got a top CB in, not good enough we've not got a good midfielder in, not good enough we didn't replace diaz we still have huge work to do in the future, VVD Konate both gone in a season or 2... x2CBS salah won't have long left, RW... and we already need a CB no6 LW never mind what the future holds

and FFP says hi, even if we have the money to spend, not much to be that positive about really.

As I said this is due to the neglect whoevers fault it was over the last few seasons, and here we are making many changes in one window, and to me, we stll need another big window in the future due to the positions i've listed above.... it's crazy.

we have no forward planning at all, it's criminal... it has hurt us now and will hurt us with Konate-VVD-Salah in the future, can't count on them forever.

Yeah but without those sales we don't get Isak, Wirtz, Ekitike or anybody else. We can debate whether those were the right signings and of course we should have signed the DM and CB. However, we can't say we should have kept those guys AND signed a load of new guys. It's one or the other. We all knew our team was stale. This time last year we were saying that.

Elliot - constant source of complaints about not being good enough
Nunez - ditto
Quansah - ditto
Trent - despite his qualities, most were frustrated with him and his defensive ability and weren't too sad to see him go

So it's not realistic to look back with hindsight and say we should have kept so-and-so cos he's better than what we've got now. How could anyone possibly know that beforehand? Somebody had to make those decisions in real life. There's risk involved in every signing. How many thought Salah would be one of our all-time greats when we signed him?

Edit: I would agree on Diaz. But would we get the same fee next year if had held onto him? Also, that probably would mean we don't get one of our signings.

[Steveo]

@ Kev - tried to edit post and it deleted..

No - it's not the same squad - and we have lost a load of players. I am gutted on Diaz - mentioned it before we sold him and again yesterday... and obviously we all are on Jota.. We all are. Trent was always a gutter too but he was determined to go.

Some key players are shattered after last seasons relentless picking of the same 11 - game after game after game.. You can’t just expect a summer break to magically fix that fatigue.

I maintain that Arsenal had the stronger squad last season - that's before they added to it this summer. Who sees us coming close to second or getting as deep as they did in the CL with their level of injuries? See our last title defence with a stronger squad than we had last season for evidence...69 points and only then by virtue of winning all those games at the death.

BUT - we’ve added some genuine quality to the squad.. They might not have all hit the ground running while all being thrown in - all in one go - but still..

We’re now having a genuine wobble after a very fortunate start that saw excellent results. Were teams paying us too much respect? Were we simply feeling imperious at champions? Who knows… .. Let's see what happens after this nonsensical break.. Hopefully some key players players are about to click

[Kev0909]

Look even if wirtz and isak click soon, are we still winning anything with the defense and midfield ?

Imo midfield is the most important area in my opinion especially when teams can just run at us

who knows maybe salah will come in form and gakpo turns into diaz and we score 4 every week with isak and wirtz too.

Might aswell get rodgers back at the helm

tell you something though, bet FSG are expecting things after spending so much for once, not to slide down the table.

better pray we don't get many injuries either, if we had arsenals current injuries we'd be fucked, I hope my worries end up being for no reason and everything turns out good and well... but things are being left too much to chance for me, should've been sorted in the window.

It's quite simple if arsenal win it, I really hope not but they've got the right players in, we've just gone hollywood...and not really got the players we've needed

City ones to watch too with Donnarumma that's massive, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, reijnders looks class, cherki luckily for us been injured otherwise we'd hear all the Cherki V wirtz bullshit

[Red October]

If Isak starts hitting the back of the net hopefully it'll take the pressure off and we'll start to play a bit better. Big game against United.

[Steveo]

It’s going to take plenty of management now. That team - last seasons team all stood together for klopp’s last game - they all felt the emotion - the bond between the players - the fans and the manager.. Shankly’s holy trinity, They went out and won the title. They didn’t need any managing imo - they were already believers with a purpose and they fulfilled it.

The people behind the scenes - unlike those with ulterior motives - were clearly fully aware that we needed wholesale changes: The fact Trent was off - Robbo’s legs - the fact Darwin couldn’t hit a barn door, that Salah isn’t getting any younger…and the tragic loss of Diogo…

These are all reasons why so much upheaval occurred. You don’t fundamentally change a title winning team - at huge expense - EVER - unless you strongly believe they are highly unlikely to be competitive again the following season.

[Red October]

Look even if wirtz and isak click soon, are we still winning anything with the defense and midfield ?

Imo midfield is the most important area in my opinion especially when teams can just run at us

who knows maybe salah will come in form and gakpo turns into diaz and we score 4 every week with isak and wirtz too.

Might aswell get rodgers back at the helm

tell you something though, bet FSG are expecting things after spending so much for once, not to slide down the table.

better pray we don't get many injuries either, if we had arsenals current injuries we'd be fucked, I hope my worries end up being for no reason and everything turns out good and well... but things are being left too much to chance for me, should've been sorted in the window.

It's quite simple if arsenal win it, I really hope not but they've got the right players in, we've just gone hollywood...and not really got the players we've needed

City ones to watch too with Donnarumma that's massive, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, reijnders looks class, cherki luckily for us been injured otherwise we'd hear all the Cherki V wirtz bullshit

We've prioritised the attack in this window. Without Salah we really struggled to find the net so I can understand them putting all the eggs in the Isak basket. Ekitike has been a bonus. If Wirtz clicks we'll look a heck of a lot better

[Kev0909]

It’s going to take plenty of management now. That team - last seasons team all stood together for klopp’s last game - they all felt the emotion - the bond between the players - the fans and the manager.. Shankly’s holy trinity, They went out and won the title. They didn’t need any managing imo - they were already believers with a purpose and they fulfilled it.

The people behind the scenes - unlike those with ulterior motives - were clearly fully aware that we needed wholesale changes: The fact Trent was off - Robbo’s legs - the fact Darwin couldn’t hit a barn door, that Salah isn’t getting any younger…and the tragic loss of Diogo…

These are all reasons why so much upheaval occurred. You don’t fundamentally change a title winning team - at huge expense - EVER - unless you strongly believe they are highly unlikely to be competitive again the following season.

As I said I get changes need to be made ffs, vvd salah robbo ain't going to last forever.... and diaz leaving

What's the plan? playing without wingers or what?

Rhys williams and Leoni at CB next season ?

Jones to play a lot of games in midfield?? because he's top class.. or endo ?

[Red October]

It’s going to take plenty of management now. That team - last seasons team all stood together for klopp’s last game - they all felt the emotion - the bond between the players - the fans and the manager.. Shankly’s holy trinity, They went out and won the title. They didn’t need any managing imo - they were already believers with a purpose and they fulfilled it.

The people behind the scenes - unlike those with ulterior motives - were clearly fully aware that we needed wholesale changes: The fact Trent was off - Robbo’s legs - the fact Darwin couldn’t hit a barn door, that Salah isn’t getting any younger…and the tragic loss of Diogo…

These are all reasons why so much upheaval occurred. You don’t fundamentally change a title winning team - at huge expense - EVER - unless you strongly believe they are highly unlikely to be competitive again the following season.

Doing things correctly, they should have got rid of Darwin the year before and brought in a LB for Robbo. They could have bedded in the way Klopp did with players previously. For some reason they left it all till this season and as you say it's gonna create a short-term mess but hopefully bear fruit later.

[Kev0909]

We've prioritised the attack in this window. Without Salah we really struggled to find the net so I can understand them putting all the eggs in the Isak basket. Ekitike has been a bonus. If Wirtz clicks we'll look a heck of a lot better

Well should've been one or the other, and someone like Diaz who can play LW and do a job uptop if needs be, wirtz/Gakpo could play there too, or salah didn't need 2 CF's

[Red October]

Well should've been one or the other, and someone like Diaz who can play LW and do a job uptop if needs be, wirtz/Gakpo could play there too, or salah didn't need 2 CF's

I agree signing Ekitike AND Isak seems strange. Were they afraid they wouldn't get Isak?

[Kev0909]

It’s going to take plenty of management now. That team - last seasons team all stood together for klopp’s last game - they all felt the emotion - the bond between the players - the fans and the manager.. Shankly’s holy trinity, They went out and won the title. They didn’t need any managing imo - they were already believers with a purpose and they fulfilled it.

The people behind the scenes - unlike those with ulterior motives - were clearly fully aware that we needed wholesale changes: The fact Trent was off - Robbo’s legs - the fact Darwin couldn’t hit a barn door, that Salah isn’t getting any younger…and the tragic loss of Diogo…

These are all reasons why so much upheaval occurred. You don’t fundamentally change a title winning team - at huge expense - EVER - unless you strongly believe they are highly unlikely to be competitive again the following season.

It's a joke whoevers fault not much has happened before this window, that's why we're in this situation.

Like I said no forward planning at this club currently, or very little.

Probably why klopp left in a way, knew the big boys was coming to the end

[Steveo]

Sold Darwin and lost Jota.

Both Isak and Ekitike can play wide on the left - can either match Diaz out there…? We shall see