Upper-Mid Table Talk

[Guest]

A review of the PL after 24 games:
WTFUCKITYFook

Traditionally you want 2.4 points per game to be champions. 91 points for the season.
And 2 top points per game for top4/4th-place. 76 points for the season.

After 24 games in the PL

Champions pace 57.6 points

Arsenal 53 ---- 4 to 5 points off the pace & the only club on/above top4 pace.

Top 4 pace 48 points

Cituae 47 (nearly top4 pace !!)
Villa... 46 (a well run club by my analysis )

Manu 41
Cfc... 40
LFC.. 39 (Shocking !!)

Brentford & Sunderland 36

Fulham & Everton 34

Thats the top 10 !!

Given the players who've taken to the pitch, the starting 11s, it's pretty hard to think this is on Slot. The tactics or coaching.
5 points above Everton

For me the results have little to do with quality.

Konate, VVD, MacA & Salah for me have been most off it compared with last season. This has been a major cause in our woes.

Arsenal are on course for 84 points.

If we win 14 games 81 points.

14 points off Arsenal (4-5 points off Title pace)
With 14 games to go....
Arsenal look like winning the league playing like a 2nd place team.

Catastroph !!

[Nineteenx]

Use your eyes then it’s absolutely on Slot

In too many games we play a walking pace 4231 with short passes only with players seemingly instructed to try and make all the play go through Wirtz

Consistently dominated possession while creating barely any chances and with a huge imbalance of players looking to be in space and those picking up, so when we lost possession, with every other team still looking g to counter directly taking the shortest route to goal, we shipped goals

There was no cut and thrust variation tempo intensity picking up press or counter press, this was categorically the result of Slot’s tactics

That has been demonstrated by him changing up to playing as we did for 10 years in the few games we won and then keep changing back to what will never work in this league

[Nineteenx]

Pressure on the ball pressing and counter pressing picking up

Without these things your defenders don’t do as well as they need the team doing that to hold a line for offside, or play high up 1v1 which is both Virgil’s and Ibou’s greatest strength

Picking up and pressure on the ball lets the defender be with their man and see when the ball is coming, it’s essential to top class defending

As I told you for years about the difference between 433 and 4231 our wide forwards were forwards who played on the shoulder and made runs in behind, dropping them 20 yards and insisting on every pass being a short one doesn’t play to their strengths, they also lose out on the not picking up as we used to regularly win it back quickly and release them when the opposition defence wasn’t set

Macca plays LCM he arrived into a 10 position from there and played nice diagonals switches and criss field passes

If Wirtz is in the space he used to move into and every pass is made to be short it obviously massively inhibits his contribution, low and behold when we’ve played with 3 up ahead of Wirtz and more direct and with the team baking the play not all trying to put it through one player as we have in 3 of the last 4 games Macca has improved significantly

Stats don’t tell you how the game really works understanding the things there aren’t stats for does and some of them like pressure on the ball are so very basic

[jozza800]

Use your eyes then it’s absolutely on Slot

In too many games we play a walking pace 4231 with short passes only with players seemingly instructed to try and make all the play go through Wirtz

Consistently dominated possession while creating barely any chances and with a huge imbalance of players looking to be in space and those picking up, so when we lost possession, with every other team still looking g to counter directly taking the shortest route to goal, we shipped goals

There was no cut and thrust variation tempo intensity picking up press or counter press, this was categorically the result of Slot’s tactics

That has been demonstrated by him changing up to playing as we did for 10 years in the few games we won and then keep changing back to what will never work in this league

This is absolutely not what has happened. The only similarities between our recent games and Klopp's are the results.

I absolutely 100% reckon, had we played the exact same way as we did vs Qarabag and Newcastle and say only scrapped 1-0 v Qb and drew 1-1 with Newcastle rather than scoring 10 goals, you'd have been complaining about the tactical set up.

Defensively and off the ball we're virtually identical to earlier in the season. We were more direct (slightly) vs Newcastle. Difference being the lads up top appear to have clicked a little bit.

[ianlfc]

It's been a below par season from everyone, so far. Things have been picking up in Europe which we all hope helps us kick on in the league as well
Wirtz and Ekitike are forming a understanding which helps us in the future and hopefully we see it on Sunday.

[Nineteenx]

This is absolutely not what has happened. The only similarities between our recent games and Klopp's are the results.

I absolutely 100% reckon, had we played the exact same way as we did vs Qarabag and Newcastle and say only scrapped 1-0 v Qb and drew 1-1 with Newcastle rather than scoring 10 goals, you'd have been complaining about the tactical set up.

Defensively and off the ball we're virtually identical to earlier in the season. We were more direct (slightly) vs Newcastle. Difference being the lads up top appear to have clicked a little bit.

I’ll agree to significantly differ

We were awful first 30 minutes v Newcastle too then changed it up

Look at the goals on highlights, Ekitike first goal, played to Wirtz with 4 ahead of him making space in between defenders

Well that wasn’t happening in too many games it was short pass short pass slow slow slow one up everything through Wirtz

Ekitike’s second goal, Wirtz was in the half space left, in most of our game this season it would have been okayed to him under instruction Kerkez went directly to Ekitike

Ekitike has made that run numerous times this season and it’s only attempted to be connected twice

Third goal, 3 ahead of Wirtz plays it wide to Mo who gives it him back

We’ve been playing no tempo no intensity football too many players standing getting ahead of the ball in space not enough picking up

In 3 of tge last 4 games we’ve mixed it up more, more players have been involved in making the play more have been picking up, we’ve attacked at speed

If it were almost the same I’d have been moaning like fuck in the match thread, against Bewcastke first half hour I was as we were doing the zero intensity sli sliw side to side routine thry were nicking it by pressing us and countering at speed, there were a number of games we tried to play absolutely everything short and through Wirtz as part of this seasons disaster class from Slot

[Nineteenx]

This is absolutely not what has happened. The only similarities between our recent games and Klopp's are the results.

I absolutely 100% reckon, had we played the exact same way as we did vs Qarabag and Newcastle and say only scrapped 1-0 v Qb and drew 1-1 with Newcastle rather than scoring 10 goals, you'd have been complaining about the tactical set up.

Defensively and off the ball we're virtually identical to earlier in the season. We were more direct (slightly) vs Newcastle. Difference being the lads up top appear to have clicked a little bit.

‘Difference being’ we were playing different obviously

Loads of times this season we played the shithouse Dutch 80’s crap and we only had Ekitike up ahead of Wirtz and Mo or a full back joining late on the right, very obviously missing a forward and that’s why we were creating aid all chances

[jozza800]

I’ll agree to significantly differ

We were awful first 30 minutes v Newcastle too then changed it up

Look at the goals on highlights, Ekitike first goal, played to Wirtz with 4 ahead of him making space in between defenders

Well that wasn’t happening in too many games it was short pass short pass slow slow slow one up everything through Wirtz

Ekitike’s second goal, Wirtz was in the half space left, in most of our game this season it would have been okayed to him under instruction Kerkez went directly to Ekitike

Ekitike has made that run numerous times this season and it’s only attempted to be connected twice

Third goal, 3 ahead of Wirtz plays it wide to Mo who gives it him back

We’ve been playing no tempo no intensity football too many players standing getting ahead of the ball in space not enough picking up

In 3 of tge last 4 games we’ve mixed it up more, more players have been involved in making the play more have been picking up, we’ve attacked at speed

If it were almost the same I’d have been moaning like fuck in the match thread, against Bewcastke first half hour I was as we were doing the zero intensity sli sliw side to side routine thry were nicking it by pressing us and countering at speed, there were a number of games we tried to play absolutely everything short and through Wirtz as part of this seasons disaster class from Slot

You're off your head if you think after 35 minutes Slot has shouted 'Switch' and they've suddenly reverted to playing the way Klopp did ala Micky setting Rocky up to switch his stance mid fight in Rocky 2.

And Wirtz has been playing as a number 10 in recent games. And we played with a 10 last season.

[Nineteenx]

I think the players go Kop On Portugal on Slot tbh “Fuck for this”

Either 10 often moved into that position from LCM or RCM last season, mostly Szobo although he spent plenty of time on the right too we didn’t regularly have a designated 10 in that position you can see that by watching last seasons goals you’ll see Macca there or Szobo a lot sometimes Grav having driven forward

It’s better to have forwards stretch the space for players to move into in my opinion and for a 10 to receive the ball by arriving into that space not standing in it

[Nineteenx]

You're off your head if you think after 35 minutes Slot has shouted 'Switch' and they've suddenly reverted to playing the way Klopp did ala Micky setting Rocky up to switch his stance mid fight in Rocky 2.

And Wirtz has been playing as a number 10 in recent games. And we played with a 10 last season.

That made me laugh 😆

There was a definite shift in directness tempo and intensity

The intensity we had came from the press and counter press for me, because you’re attacking while defending and defending while attacking we use to have games we’d have loads of possession and good opposition would barely get a kick in our half, can’t be doing that much running playing most of the game in half of the pitch

You’re always picking up to join an attack if it opens up that way, that gives intensity

You’re also picking up to quickly win it back if we lose it starting a new point of attack the opposition aren’t set for again intensity

You’re regularly communicating with each other about your position, that’s actually come back in a bit more in recent games players pointing where each other need to be Szobo and Mac often ignore this though 😆

[Nineteenx]

There’s just a chemistry of it where the players all move better off one another and have a greater appreciation of each others positions and the likely runs, automation

I looked some games and I could see 5 to 7 of our players standing in space wrong side of the ball waiting for another nothing 5 yard ball and when we lost it they ran straight at us with Virgil and Konate trying to defend with no pressure on the ball, which is pretty much impossible

[jozza800]

I think the players go Kop On Portugal on Slot tbh “Fuck for this”

Either 10 often moved into that position from LCM or RCM last season, mostly Szobo although he spent plenty of time on the right too we didn’t regularly have a designated 10 in that position you can see that by watching last seasons goals you’ll see Macca there or Szobo a lot sometimes Grav having driven forward

It’s better to have forwards stretch the space for players to move into in my opinion and for a 10 to receive the ball by arriving into that space not standing in it

So if the players are picking and choosing their moments as to when they ignore Slot's tactical instruction, what's their excuse for the first 5 months of the season?

[Nineteenx]

So if the players are picking and choosing their moments as to when they ignore Slot's tactical instruction, what's their excuse for the first 5 months of the season?

Slot’s changed up it wasn’t just me commenting we were trying to play everything through Wirtz and players were trying to g to be in space for him to play off and that we were ignoring opportunities to release runners over and over and that we were crowding ourselves out by having too many if out own players blocking the space in opposition boxes while not picking up leaving ourselves wide open in the counter constantly

They’d have one attack and score because they released a runner edge of the centre circle out side in transition time and time again, that never used to happen except fir Fab leaving his man sometimes, barely happened last season either

But wait, we’ve not changed tactics it’s just the players 🤣😮😂 go ant watch last seasons goals again come back here and spin that guff again

[Nineteenx]

Just asking you please watch last seasons goals thrn come back and clarify if you stand by your positions we have t changed how we played or the style and that the players weren’t naturally assuming positions they did in play in the 433 a lot more last season

It’s all over it plain as day

[jozza800]

Slot’s changed up it wasn’t just me commenting we were trying to play everything through Wirtz and players were trying to g to be in space for him to play off and that we were ignoring opportunities to release runners over and over and that we were crowding ourselves out by having too many if out own players blocking the space in opposition boxes while not picking up leaving ourselves wide open in the counter constantly

They’d have one attack and score because they released a runner edge of the centre circle out side in transition time and time again, that never used to happen except fir Fab leaving his man sometimes, barely happened last season either

But wait, we’ve not changed tactics it’s just the players ������ go ant watch last seasons goals again come back here and spin that guff again

Think we're getting our wires crossed. We're as different this season from last season, as last season was to Klopp's last season.

I'm saying we haven't changed an awful lot this season. Up until we scored v Newcastle and for most of the first half of the game v Qarabag it was pretty much the same as the rest of the season.

The only games where we've genuinely changed the way we play were against City (a), Inter (a) and Arsenal (a) where he did what we did what he did to great effect against City last season, which was playing with two atacking midfielders rather than an out and out forward.

We'll play that way again on Sunday.

But after that we'll go back to playing what we have played all season - 4231 and we'll try to keep possesion and push everyone forward.

It will be the hill he dies on.