When Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz for a then membership report payment, the German playmaker arrived having been given assurances of his tactical position because the Reds’ No. 10.
It was a daring tactical plan, one which each Wirtz himself and Arne Slot have since confirmed was mentioned earlier than his signing. Experiences prompt it was one of many causes the 22-year-old dedicated to Merseyside over changing into Kevin de Bruyne’s inheritor at Man Metropolis.
Pre-season and the opening video games of the season noticed Wirtz, who performed most frequently for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany from a left-sided place quite than purely within the centre, within the No. 10 place as Slot adjusted his midfield from a 1-2 setup to a 2-1 setup to accommodate the brand new man.
It meant that one among final season’s midfield trio, who complemented one another admirably, needed to make manner. Harm and lack of type for Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai being requested to do the okey-cokey and play proper again, centre midfield and typically No. 10 all inside the similar match, means we don’t precisely know what the popular midfield three is now.
Certainly, we don’t have any concept what the precise plan is right here.
The query, more and more, is whether or not Slot has a plan to accommodate Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Mo Salah in the identical facet?
To be frank, it doesn’t actually appear potential until you shift Ekitike – arguably essentially the most in-form participant this season – to the left, and drop Cody Gakpo. Not many could be in opposition to at the very least seeing that.
However what was the plan initially?
As a result of signing Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz appears nice in idea however in apply it doesn’t actually appear believable. It is vitally a lot a Actual Madrid Galactico period drawback.
As soon as Ekitike got here in and regarded so sturdy because the No. 9, it turned laborious to see how he and Isak fitted in.
Sure, after all, gamers rotate and wish relaxation, however proper now how can Slot justify Isak beginning forward of Ekitike?
Facet notice however you’ll be able to say the identical for Milos Kerkez beginning forward of Andy Robertson. The Hungarian has proven no motive why he must be beginning each single recreation forward of the skilled Scot, who would at the very least present continuity and expertise in a staff that’s being reshaped.
Signing good footballers however do they match the system?
Liverpool, be that Richard Hughes, Michael Edwards, Slot, whoever, have signed a trio of excellent footballers, however is there truly a plan for easy methods to get the three of them taking part in alongside one another?
What was the plan if Wirtz was to be the No. 10? And now, why is Wirtz, the person round who this new staff was going to be reshaped, being benched?
What should he be pondering? What should Ekitike be pondering?
What should the prevailing Liverpool gamers be pondering? Seeing these three arrive however seemingly with no concept the way it’s going to work.
We’re 12 video games into the season, Isak’s ‘pre-season’ is over, but our final two video games have seen Wirtz and Ekitike on the bench and there aren’t any indicators of what the precise plan is.
Is the plan to hope Isak begins scoring, then to carry Wirtz in at that time? However that wouldn’t precisely make sense to get Isak in control with out Wirtz then change it once more.
For what it’s value, Wirtz hasn’t truly been unhealthy and the issue hasn’t been Wirtz. The issue has been the change in system to accommodate Wirtz into a job that he isn’t precisely acquainted with and appears a bit utopian.
Wirtz behind Ekitike, Isak and Salah; would that actually work?
Wirtz behind Ekitike and Isak, transferring to extra of a 4-diamond-2; would that work? How do you drop Salah after paying him £400,000 per week?
Once more, what was the plan there? What’s the plan going ahead?
The most important fear – Slot’s blindspot
Maybe most regarding, apart from there being no indicators of an precise plan, is that Slot is publicly declaring that issues aren’t as unhealthy as they appear.
After current defeats, he has indicated that the gamers should imagine within the ways and all will come good, that we aren’t far off final season’s degree.
Which is alarming, given the whole and utter lack of management and stability that has disappeared from this staff.
Final season’s success, and nice shock, have been the managed strategies and method so rapidly getting its rewards. Now, it’s frantic, transitional, vast open – every little thing Slot himself stated he didn’t need.
Once more, that certainly isn’t the plan? Similar to Wirtz as a sub certainly isn’t the plan.
Szoboszlai taking part in three positions each match; certainly not the plan.
Kerkez, famend as an overlapping, marauding full again, taking part in principally as a 3rd centre-back; certainly that wasn’t the plan? And if it was, why?!
Enjoying Curtis Jones and Wirtz as a two-man midfield in opposition to Man United; that certainly wasn’t the plan? Why on earth was it?
Was the hierarchy’s plan to signal nice footballers misaligned with the top coach’s plans for his system?
What was the plan? What’s the plan? It turns into much less clear with each efficiency, for us and the gamers.
