When Liverpool signed Florian Wirtz for a then membership report price, the German playmaker arrived having been given assurances of his tactical function 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 urged 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 relatively 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 in all final season’s midfield trio, who complemented one another admirably, needed to make method. 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 generally No. 10 all throughout the similar match, means we don’t precisely know what the popular midfield three is now.
Certainly, we don’t have any thought 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 attainable except you shift Ekitike – arguably probably the most in-form participant this season – to the left, and drop Cody Gakpo. Not many can be in opposition to at the least seeing that.
However what was the plan initially?
As a result of signing Ekitike, Isak and Wirtz appears nice in idea however in follow it doesn’t actually appear believable. It is vitally a lot a Actual Madrid Galactico period downside.
As soon as Ekitike got here in and regarded so robust 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 word however you’ll be able to say the identical for Milos Kerkez beginning forward of Andy Robertson. The Hungarian has proven no cause why he must be beginning each single recreation forward of the skilled Scot, who would at the least present continuity and expertise in a group 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 superb footballers, however is there really a plan for easy methods to get the three of them enjoying 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 group was going to be reshaped, being benched?
What should he be considering? What should Ekitike be considering?
What should the prevailing Liverpool gamers be considering? Seeing these three arrive however seemingly with no thought 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 on top of things with out Wirtz then change it once more.
For what it’s value, Wirtz hasn’t really 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 basically 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 latest defeats, he has indicated that the gamers should consider within the techniques and all will come good, that we aren’t far off final season’s degree.
Which is alarming, given the entire and utter lack of management and stability that has disappeared from this group.
Final season’s success, and nice shock, have been the managed strategies and method so shortly getting its rewards. Now, it’s frantic, transitional, vast open – all the pieces Slot himself mentioned he didn’t need.
Once more, that absolutely isn’t the plan? Similar to Wirtz as a sub absolutely isn’t the plan.
Szoboszlai enjoying three positions each match; absolutely not the plan.
Kerkez, famend as an overlapping, marauding full again, enjoying principally as a 3rd centre-back; absolutely 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 absolutely wasn’t the plan? Why on earth was it?
Was the hierarchy’s plan to signal nice footballers misaligned with the pinnacle 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.
