Slot

[Steveo]

Wirtz not working as a 10.
Wirtz doesnt have the pace wide attack.
Now in your opinion doesnt have work rate as false 9.
He will be selling programmes at this rate.

Possibly - he has quality, just don’t see him holding up the ball like Bobby did, a huge part of his link up play. Bobby a big strong lad beyond the finesse

[jozza800]

Possibly - he has quality, just don’t see him holding up the ball like Bobby did, a huge part of his link up play. Bobby a big strong lad beyond the finesse

Yep, totally different beasts.

[redgold]

Wirtz not working as a 10.
Wirtz doesnt have the pace wide attack.
Now in your opinion doesnt have work rate as false 9.
He will be selling programmes at this rate.

I'm sure everyone thought that Wirtz was going to be our de Bruyne (which we haven't really needed because of the faster pressing, counter attacking and Trent of previous seasons), and we've kind of set the side up for that eventuality. Sadly, however good his ball skills may be, he hasn't the physicality or speed for the Prem. We can't afford to wait around like we did with Darwin for him to take off. We have to cut our losses very soon and revert to our 433 and keep Wirtz as a luxury sub when the game is won.

[Red October]

It's looking a bit of a mess so far. Hard to tell if that's all on Slot or on the transfer committee or both. It looks like we've signed players and don't know how to use them....Wirtz especially. To be fair that might be partially because Kerkez hasn't been working out as planned, Isak's been injured and Frimpong's been injured a lot. So maybe Slot hasn't really got to use his ideal first 11. And the ones he has used haven't been doing it.

[miller0863]

Well so far Kerkez looks to be a mistake and Wirtz looks a huge mistake, not just ability wise but bringing in a 10 at all.

[teesred]

Kerkez has a "Ziege" look to it at the moment.
I remember him having a blinder season for Boro then we bought him and it was a case of "has anyone actually checked if this guy can defend?".
To be fair he was the standout left back last season, he hadn't just turned shit so I'm hopeful he'll come good.
Wirtz is simply not getting to grips with the pace. Three occasions yesterday he tried to shoot but it was so slow he may aswell have sent them a letter last week letting them know when and where he was going to be.
He wants far too long, I'm really surprised at how slow he is.

[Red October]

I just posted this on a different forum.

There's a lot of moving parts in a team and right now many of them aren't clicking which were last season. Mo is slower and not offering much threat. We've lost Trent who provided a threat from RB (albeit a liability going the other way), Wirtz in theory is a quick-footed attacking mid/10, but in reality is lightweight and games are passing him by a lot. We need pace desperately. I feel a bit sorry for Slot as he's not even getting to play all the new players which is maybe why things are looking more disheveled that they might. If Frimpong was on the wing instead of Mo he would offer a threat with Bradley behind and then both can get up and down quickly. Play Mo as a 10 in and around the box off Ekitike. If Isak was fit maybe he'd begin to offer a threat going forward.

At the peak of Klopp's team we had Mane, Bobby and Mo who all provided threats and interchanged quickly so defenders were very occupied by them. We then had a fairly workmanlike midfield of Wini, Hendo and Fabinho. We had pace from FB and crosses from Trent. There were multiple threats for opposition to deal with. Everything was played at pace when we were at our best.

Not sure how Slot wants to set up in his ideal scenario but right now we don't have enough threats around the pitch so we become predictable and opposition let us play it out from the ponderous Konate who looks as comfortable as a sandpaper blanket. Szobo is a threat. Mo from time to time. Ekitike in some games….that's about it