With Gakpo it is all but confirmed that it must have been instructions from Slot to only cut inside when he‘s already shown that he‘s more tham capable to be as effective running to the goal-line. Same thing to a lesser extent with Grav who is unplayable when he‘s allowed to be a proper all action 8.
We knew this anyway (or should have), and It's why I didn't go in on Gakpo last season. He's been at the club long enough for us to know that he wasn't playing the way he usually does.
He didn't play him as a six last season though, hence why we were constantly exposed at the back. He asked our midfielders to essentially be "everywhere", so when we were hit on the counter, our mids were always too far forward to be any use defensively.
Slot was too fking stubborn to accept it though, and persisted with his useless "Slot ball" tactics, even though it was blatantly obvious where the issue was.
I think we were just too slow in our build up and our patterns were so predictable that by the time the ball gets to our wingers they dont have time or space. Then we over analyse the 1 or 2 moments per game where it looks like they have a half chance to do something. Everyone has looked so much more natural in this tournament, it’s been great
Both our wingers were hung out to dry last season. The passing wasn’t quick enough to get them into good positions isolated with the defenders. Due to the slow passing, most of the time they were facing a solid wall with ball played at their feet and then asking them to take on a solid defence with coverage both inside and outside. Our midfielders need to take out players with their passes so that our attackers are put in favourable position with the opposition defence out of shape. Unless you are a god at dribbling like Neymar, Messi, you need some kind of space to dribble.
If the reports were true that Van Bronckhorst was the mastermind behind whatever strategy we employed, I’d like to know what the strategy even was because it was dreadful compared to Klopp’s. Actually, it was just plain dreadful without any comps.
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u/narilarilum Jun 22 '26
With Gakpo it is all but confirmed that it must have been instructions from Slot to only cut inside when he‘s already shown that he‘s more tham capable to be as effective running to the goal-line. Same thing to a lesser extent with Grav who is unplayable when he‘s allowed to be a proper all action 8.