Biggest scalp in world football rn.

Slot needs to remind the players thats the case maybe.

Do think Slot needs to rotate some players a bit more, especially in midfield. Elliott being back will help with that but I was hoping he'd trust Endo a bit more than only bringing him on in the 88th minute.

Grav could probably do with coming off around the 70th minute in any games we're winning comfortably over the next month, and definitely should not play v Southampton in the cup.

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 11 minutes ago
Do think Slot needs to rotate some players a bit more, especially in midfield. Elliott being back will help with that but I was hoping he'd trust Endo a bit more than only bringing him on in the 88th minute.

Grav could probably do with coming off around the 70th minute in any games we're winning comfortably over the next month, and definitely should not play v Southampton in the cup.
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I do think that Grav being overplayed is going to cost us at some point. I agree, no chance he should play in the cup.

He's been immense this year, but we have to protect him as he's our only option in that position.

Slot prob wanted us to go out with more intensity and purpose and get the job done early then rest some, he lined up strong as he could.

comment by Inbefore (U20589)

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Yeah, they definitely used it as a cup final kinda moment. A big test to try and kickstart their season. Lot of teams will be doing that vs us this season. Newcastle did.
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Howe was quite open that his team were knackered against Brentford after the efforts against us, thought was quite interesting. Especially as they seem to have a full team available

I feel the same as a few of you in here, would like to see Endo playing more. Gravenberch is playing twice a week after not playing as much the past two seasons. Endo might not be the ideal Slot player but drop him in alongside Jones, that should be more than enough cover you'd think

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 2 minutes ago
comment by Inbefore (U20589)

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Yeah, they definitely used it as a cup final kinda moment. A big test to try and kickstart their season. Lot of teams will be doing that vs us this season. Newcastle did.
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Howe was quite open that his team were knackered against Brentford after the efforts against us, thought was quite interesting. Especially as they seem to have a full team available

I feel the same as a few of you in here, would like to see Endo playing more. Gravenberch is playing twice a week after not playing as much the past two seasons. Endo might not be the ideal Slot player but drop him in alongside Jones, that should be more than enough cover you'd think
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The whole "Slot player" thing is a bit nonsense tbh. If there is no player who fits the bill aside in world football from Ryan Gravenberch, then perhaps he needs a different kind of player?

Otherwise we're a bit fecked when Grav inevitably gets injured.

Also I watched the highlights last night again, honestly I think Nunez had a decent game. He should have done better with that lofted ball to the left where he fluffed heading into the middle but when he was put through twice, he had a good shot from his left and right. Low and hard, towards the corners - it's just they were both saved.

He could do better with the chances he gets, but also he doesn't get a tonne of service if we're honest. Salah is creative for others, Diaz meanwhile isn't. Nunez might look better with Gakpo left I think

comment by Fred Slot (U3979)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 11 minutes ago
Do think Slot needs to rotate some players a bit more, especially in midfield. Elliott being back will help with that but I was hoping he'd trust Endo a bit more than only bringing him on in the 88th minute.

Grav could probably do with coming off around the 70th minute in any games we're winning comfortably over the next month, and definitely should not play v Southampton in the cup.
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I do think that Grav being overplayed is going to cost us at some point. I agree, no chance he should play in the cup.

He's been immense this year, but we have to protect him as he's our only option in that position.
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I’m wondering if Slot knows someone is arriving in January….

comment by Fred Slot (U3979)
posted 32 minutes ago
comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 11 minutes ago
Do think Slot needs to rotate some players a bit more, especially in midfield. Elliott being back will help with that but I was hoping he'd trust Endo a bit more than only bringing him on in the 88th minute.

Grav could probably do with coming off around the 70th minute in any games we're winning comfortably over the next month, and definitely should not play v Southampton in the cup.
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I do think that Grav being overplayed is going to cost us at some point. I agree, no chance he should play in the cup.

He's been immense this year, but we have to protect him as he's our only option in that position.
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We'll see if Grav has the physio to handle it.

Henderson and Wijnaldum used to do it all season.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 6 minutes ago
Also I watched the highlights last night again, honestly I think Nunez had a decent game. He should have done better with that lofted ball to the left where he fluffed heading into the middle but when he was put through twice, he had a good shot from his left and right. Low and hard, towards the corners - it's just they were both saved.

He could do better with the chances he gets, but also he doesn't get a tonne of service if we're honest. Salah is creative for others, Diaz meanwhile isn't. Nunez might look better with Gakpo left I think
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All of his shots looked straight at the keeper to me, but yeah, he did well getting into positions.

comment by Mamba - I filter right back (U1282)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 6 minutes ago
Also I watched the highlights last night again, honestly I think Nunez had a decent game. He should have done better with that lofted ball to the left where he fluffed heading into the middle but when he was put through twice, he had a good shot from his left and right. Low and hard, towards the corners - it's just they were both saved.

He could do better with the chances he gets, but also he doesn't get a tonne of service if we're honest. Salah is creative for others, Diaz meanwhile isn't. Nunez might look better with Gakpo left I think
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All of his shots looked straight at the keeper to me, but yeah, he did well getting into positions.
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He always does well getting into positions, but his finishing hasn't improved at all since he joined. I just don't think he's very good.

Good squad option, shouldn't be starting.

comment by The Duality of Van (Dijk) (U21747)
posted 13 minutes ago
Also I watched the highlights last night again, honestly I think Nunez had a decent game. He should have done better with that lofted ball to the left where he fluffed heading into the middle but when he was put through twice, he had a good shot from his left and right. Low and hard, towards the corners - it's just they were both saved.

He could do better with the chances he gets, but also he doesn't get a tonne of service if we're honest. Salah is creative for others, Diaz meanwhile isn't. Nunez might look better with Gakpo left I think
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the 2 shots he had were decent, he took them early no time to think dont think there was much wrong with them, keeper did well. The attempted header to 2 players on the 6 yard box for a tap in he got horribly wrong, caught in 2 minds, doubting himself? His face and general demeanor he didnt look too happy and lacking confidence.

I can take the poor finishing, this season his hold up play overall plays improved a bit. Biggest issue i have is his pressing intelligence compared to Jota is a massive drop off. Jota was leading the press so well, Nunez offers next to nothing in that regards.

Nunez causes problems which makes like easier for Diaz and Salah etc, he gets chances even when the service isnt the best or theres not much of it. Which again last night wasnt huge amounts of service for him. Girona looked like Forest at times with that low block theres simply no room for him outside crosses into the box. 8 corners, and not a single decent threat from one either was another disappointment.

Salah prob had the best chance of the night btw, that half shot half cross volley could have put it on a plate for a tap in for Nunez. He prob have missed it but still it was out tbest chance of the night?

James Peace reporting Slot looking at squad changes which may potentially include a no.9

Can't see that happening in Jan personally, maybe summer. Still have Jota coming back and Cheisa eventually too. Elliot getting minutes might help Nunez too, who knows

I do think regardless of Nunez's performances, there's a case that we currently don't create all that much for the striker in general under Slot.

Jota had 2 goals in 7 PL games before injury and Nunez's xG in the PL is only 2.64, so likewise only scoring 2 PL goals can't be too much of a surprise.

Will be interesting to see if that changes with Jota back or whether it is just Slot wanting to do everything through the wings.

He's come out saying he expects more goals & assists from Szob so I do think he probably wants more creativity centrally. It's probably now just a nice-to-have since Salah has decided to carry the team

xG only counts shots on target doesn't it?

Two recent examples that I'm assuming are excluded- sitter on the line against Newcastle and 1 v 1 against the keeper v Villa, missed completely and skewed horrendously wide.

While I think it is a good statistic to use for most players, probably not so in Nunez's case.

"Mbappe back in form, just after playing Liverpool. Scousers luck is unbelievable.."

Another one from the Arsenal fans last night.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 11 minutes ago
xG only counts shots on target doesn't it?

Two recent examples that I'm assuming are excluded- sitter on the line against Newcastle and 1 v 1 against the keeper v Villa, missed completely and skewed horrendously wide.

While I think it is a good statistic to use for most players, probably not so in Nunez's case.
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I think it's any shot but to be fair it might not count the Newcastle one as he didn't touch the ball.

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 34 minutes ago
I do think regardless of Nunez's performances, there's a case that we currently don't create all that much for the striker in general under Slot.

Jota had 2 goals in 7 PL games before injury and Nunez's xG in the PL is only 2.64, so likewise only scoring 2 PL goals can't be too much of a surprise.

Will be interesting to see if that changes with Jota back or whether it is just Slot wanting to do everything through the wings.
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Jota uncharacteristically missed some sitters before his injury.

comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 16 minutes ago
"Mbappe back in form, just after playing Liverpool. Scousers luck is unbelievable.."

Another one from the Arsenal fans last night.
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Chelsea getting a 7pm Sunday kick off because of the travel time to Kazakhstan. Not that I disagree, but I don’t see the PL giving much of a shiiiiit about other teams with tough travel schedules.

I posted this on another LFC article, I dont know if it would get more debate on this one, but here goes:-

Most concerning for me is Darwin Nunez, how much longer are we going to keep saying about him fulfilling his potential ?

He is starting to become a bit of a liability with the chances he spurns. I honestly believe we should have put Newcastle out of sight with some of the chances he missed in that game and there are countless others as well in other games.

We cannot keep saying he is a rough diamond or there is a player in there, or that he creates chaos.

We look at completely different team with Jota in the side.

Look, I am not here to berate one of our players, but there is going to be a time when we must all talk about the elephant in the room.

Perhaps Darwin Nunez needs to played wide left rather than up the middle. We are seeing Slot playing Diaz up the middle recently rather than Nunez, perhaps he is seeing it as well.

I suppose we were spoiled with Bobby, we are now seeing the difference without him.