GWT: EPL - Matchweek 3

[cgf]

Schade scored a cracker for his first goal for Brentford. Hopefully this gives him confidence. He's actually had a great half on both sides of the ball.

Would be great for things to click for him this year. I don't rate him with the Adeyemi's, Moukoko's, or Brunner's of our youth program, but I also wouldn't be surprised if once things clicked for him he shot up the ranks the way Sane did when he exploded onto the scene.

I think we're trying to eliminate Palace's speed on the counter. It's working so far, and Schade dropping back is allowing Henry to push forward and cause a mismatch on the left.

The kid has always worked hard, so it makes some sense that he could do it well. That effort, his physical tools, and his touch are what make him intriguing despite how inconsistent and raw tactically he still is.

 

[KJS14]

Assuming nobody has anything good to say about Kai, but how are Schade & Janelt looking today?

Nothing particularly bad to say about Kai, but his inclusion has had a bad domino effect on the tactics. The blame lies more with Arteta, but it's taken away from the chemistry all around the pitch rather than just Kai needing to build chemistry with the players.

 

[al secord]

Would be great for things to click for him this year. I don't rate him with the Adeyemi's, Moukoko's, or Brunner's of our youth program, but I also wouldn't be surprised if once things clicked for him he shot up the ranks the way Sane did when he exploded onto the scene.


The kid has always worked hard, so it makes some sense that he could do it well. That effort, his physical tools, and his touch are what make him intriguing despite how inconsistent and raw tactically he still is.

I still wouldn't rate him for Germany either. He has a lot of work to do to get to that level. But he's young and has the ability.

 

[Savant]

Don’t know if you can put that goal on bad defense though. It was just a horrible gift by Saka. Defense looks fine.

I am just saying (correctly now) there is pattern of Arsenal conceding at home. They are good so it might not matter, but for context LFC in 13/14 who was a miserable defensive team kept more clean sheets at home than that.

 

[cgf]

Nothing particularly bad to say about Kai, but his inclusion has had a bad domino effect on the tactics. The blame lies more with Arteta, but it's taken away from the chemistry all around the pitch rather than just Kai needing to build chemistry with the players.

Yeah, Kai's capable of filling the role you guys bought him for...but I didn't love the idea. Feel like he'd fit what you had going on last season better rotating in through the wings & 10, or as a false-9 who creates space for Saka, Martinelli, & Odegaard; than as a 8/10.

 

[Jussi]

Casemiro started looking not great when he came back from that three game suspension for the stupid putting his hand in the guys face (against Palace I think?). Last season we played without possession a lot meaning he could sit back and wasn’t getting into foot races. These past 3 games we’ve gotten countered A TON leading to Casemiro getting caught out and not being able to keep up (half the time not even wanting to keep up).

That's a perfect assessment.

 

[Savant]

Oh, Palhinha is back

 

[Jussi]

Varane off? Injured again?

 

[Savant]

Klopp also doesn’t think we need anymore defenders. Press conference yesterday was so disappointing on many levels. They should have just signed Mickey Long Legs when they were in the drivers seat for that, but they have no idea what they are doing

 

[KJS14]

Yeah, Kai's capable of filling the role you guys bought him for...but I didn't love the idea. Feel like he'd fit what you had going on last season better rotating in on the wings or as a false-9 who creates space for Saka, Martinelli, & Odegaard; than as a 8/10.

Agreed. I think he's ideally the first sub off the bench either in midfield or as a false 9. Rather than change the entire system, they should have just used him like that, and he'd get plenty of minutes rotating with Jesus, Martinelli, or Partey/Rice.

Best starting XI we can put out is clearly:

Martinelli - Jesus - Saka
Rice - Partey - Odegaard
Zinchenko - Gabriel - Saliba - White​

 

[maclean]

I didn't like the Haavertz move from the outset but at this point I have little choice but to hope he suddenly clicks

 

[Brunkmeister]

I am just saying (correctly now) there is pattern of Arsenal conceding at home. They are good so it might not matter, but for context LFC in 13/14 who was a miserable defensive team kept more clean sheets at home than that.

I agree with you on that. It’s frustrating. We shouldn’t concede like that since we’re in controll most of the games at home. But there is a tendency to give away easy goals. Pure gifts.

 

[Jussi]

Casemiro!

 

[Chimaera]

Klopp also doesn’t think we need anymore defenders. Press conference yesterday was so disappointing on many levels. They should have just signed Mickey Long Legs when they were in the drivers seat for that, but they have no idea what they are doing

He likes his guys. I don't really blame him to some extent. It's wrong, but he doesn't want to just have 2 international level players just rotting on the bench. You can't quite say, f those dudes they will never play with his loyalty and budget. You can't move them, and he is likely hopeful he can use them.

 

[Gecklund]

I don’t know if that was onside but if it was that was pretty. Yep onside

 

[Blender]

That was some brutal defending by NFO.

 

[Gecklund]

That was some brutal defending by NFO.

You cannot seriously be blaming the defending on that. That was a beautifully worked play by United.

 

[KJS14]

Zinchenko masterclass incoming

 

[Savant]

He likes his guys. I don't really blame him to some extent. It's wrong, but he doesn't want to just have 2 international level players just rotting on the bench. You can't quite say, f those dudes they will never play with his loyalty and budget. You can't move them, and he is likely hopeful he can use them.

They wouldn’t be rotting on the bench though. Andy Robertson is basically playing CB. Matip and Gomez are washed. Virgil needs less games. Konate is injury prone and has to do the running of three players when he is healthy. It’s absolutely insane. The I could get this if the bench was good enough and the personnel was a good fit. Neither is the case

 

[maclean]

Immediate improvement

 

[Blender]

You cannot seriously be blaming the defending on that. That was a beautifully worked play by United.

There were 4 United players behind the defensive line. They all rushed forward after the initial set piece and got caught out.

 

[Gecklund]

There were 4 United players behind the defensive line. They all rushed forward after the initial set piece and got caught out.

And 99% of the time they’d be totally fine with that because Bruno made a beautiful run and Rashford made a beautiful pass.

 

[Chimaera]

They wouldn’t be rotting on the bench though. Andy Robertson is basically playing CB. Matip and Gomez are washed. Virgil needs less games. Konate is injury prone and has to do the running of three players when he is healthy. It’s absolutely insane. The I could get this if the bench was good enough and the personnel was a good fit. Neither is the case

my statement was towards Matip and Gomez rotting on the bench. Washed or not, I don't know honestly. They've looked shit, but they've also had a preseason and maybe with a DM, it helps cover some deficiencies. I just think he doesn't feel he can just say, get me a central defender when he has 2 backups who aren't teenagers making real money, who he could not likely sell. Shit, didn't they even extend Gomez last season? We are not City. He can't just flog off dudes and buy 60 million pound players.

Honestly, the system is the issue more for me. It was a gimmick that has run it's course.

 

[Chimaera]

what a stupid challenge.

 

[Savant]

my statement was towards Matip and Gomez rotting on the bench. Washed or not, I don't know honestly. They've looked shit, but they've also had a preseason and maybe with a DM, it helps cover some deficiencies. I just think he doesn't feel he can just say, get me a central defender when he has 2 backups who aren't teenagers making real money, who he could not likely sell. Shit, didn't they even extend Gomez last season? We are not City. He can't just flog off dudes and buy 60 million pound players.

Honestly, the system is the issue more for me. It was a gimmick that has run it's course.

We made a 110m pound bid a little over a week ago. They have the money. The issue is this team will not pivot from a primary target anymore. There is a middle ground between being City and whatever the hell this is. If we hadn’t wasted time messing around with Colwill (who was never coming) they would have had Mickey Long Legs. They were in the drivers seat there and said no thank you. Gomez (who they need for the HG spot) and Matip not being able to be flogged has nothing to do with the fact that they are borderline unplayable over an extended period. Yeah maybe getting a DM helps, but guess what - we didn’t do that either! Everyone complained about the midfield and they forgot about the defense. They need defenders more than a midfielder right now