Florian and the (Slot) Machine

[rurikbird]

He looked good, but Frankfurt's level makes it hard to draw any conclusions

He generally looked good whenever he played deeper this season though. It seems to suit him.

For one thing, I was pleasantly surprised by his range of long passing - we didn’t see much of it when he played as a #10. More and more it looks like he’s been misprofiled.

 

[Frogfish]

I think he's due a cheap assist given the amount of times his teammates have butchered other opportunities...

No no we don't talk about those - they don't count because there were no goals involved. But we can rightly discount ones that don't suit the agenda (though I do get the point, I've said it before so I can't be hypocritical - even though I'm being hypocritical).

 

[Frogfish]

On a related topic - how does everyone like Szobo in a deeper role? Seems like him and Jones gave Wirtz a better platform to express himself than in many other games.

He's looked great there - his range of passing and creativity to say nothing of his energy and ability to get around the pitch in an area that it's required to shut down opposition midfielders. This also allows him to get to the edge of the box later, a little unnoticed, for his long range shooting.

It's good that our midfielders have that flexibility to be able to look good in a number of positions. Gives us options.

 

[MomoWASright]

Missed a sitter and looked poor and weak. He just can’t be one of our middle three.

 

[tomasjj]

Up front, starting position wide left pocket?

 

[MomoWASright]

He looked better midweek being in that forward right position. But Slot had to put Salah there.

 

[binomial]

Missed a sitter and looked poor and weak. He just can’t be one of our middle three.

He could, but not with the lack of defensive discipline behind him, which neither Jones nor Szobo have the natural instincts for.

If he was playing as the most advanced in Arsenal or Chelsea’s side, then you’d see the real Wirtz.

We’re in the bottom 5 for sides with the most tackles/interceptions, it’s embarrassing.

 

[MomoWASright]

So he can’t be one of our three then?

 

[tomasjj]

No

So he can’t be one of our three then?

not in midfield
Makes us too weak. And we already have issues there in protecting the back four