One of your best pieces, Josh. Slot has an unprecedented chance to experiment heading into next season. If the Frimpong links are real, I suspect you'll be proven correct. TAA leaving the club will have forced Slot's hand to a certain extent—but I love the idea of him proactively changing play to keep us at the top.
Excellent piece Josh. I am particularly fascinated with the transfer window and next season as it will be more of a Slot team, playing in his style. I suspect he's watched and learnt his and other teams play. I feel next season's team will be more adaptable esp in game. A full pre-season will also help them get the tactics right.
I'll be celebrating this season but am excited about what's to come next.
While it would be surprising if Edwards/Hughes spent £30 million on a full back, Frimpong might be the exception because he has ELITE attacking attributes and, if it doesn't work out, we have a high-potential alternative in Conor + you'd definitely recoup your investment (sell to a team that plays a back 3). It's not a clear cut one but it's interesting to think about it.
The negatives: in the build phase, it's not clear that he has the technical skills to receive/pass when he's needed behind the ball vs. the release valve ahead of it or the "free man" in space. We need to become more press-resistant next season. He's really short which is a worry on corners / long throws / set pieces. He'll definitely press / counter-press with vigor and has the pace as a recovering defender but does he have enough nous, in general, to defend?
There are definitely positives & they are unique. Thinking of how Frimpong could combine with Mo in the attacking phase has me salivating. His elite pace can really open up the space to Mo's right on the overlap. With Trent so focused on playing from deeper, that space to the right of Mo has been largely ignored for a few seasons now.
It puts opponents in a really tough spot. Mark Frimpong's overlaps? Mo drifts into the right half space and will burn you with balls to our other attackers. Get tight to Mo? Mo passes to Frimpong who carries it rapidly into your area near the byline. That unpredictable dynamic is killer in transition but can also unlock a low block, similar to how City use the pace of Doku and Savinho. Unlike some moves we could make, this one has the added benefit of fitting very nicely in an attacking sense with getting the most out of Mo. It's interesting.
I don’t think we can underestimate what having an actual pre season could mean for slots build-up patterns.
Frimpong and Bradley being similar in flying style could be easier to plan around too.
What I also think will be really interesting is how Salah is fed, and how to get him in behind early.,,
do they look to use the build up pattern so midfield are baited forward, the RB pushes high and wide, dragging the fullback across and creating space for through balls into Salah between the CB and Fullback..
For me this is the big question with keeping Salah and wanting to get the very best out of him…
Bang on, mate. Similar to how PSG operate with Hakimi and Mendes. When Bradley plays instead of Trent, he always seems to end up in and round the box when we have a chance and that says to me that's how Slot would utilize his right back if he hadn't had the unique option in Trent
This was definitely an exciting glimpse into Slot’s ideas. The main issue I foresee is MacAllister in Jones’ spot. Turning fluidly against pressure and covering ground quickly to get into open positions are not his strong points. If Slot is looking to put more influence on buildup, then guys like Stiller or Wharton, or even Bajcetic are better buildup players than MacAllister
Yeah, the question is whether Slot is looking to do De Zerbi-type, close connection patterns, or if he wants more movement and individualism. Because you're right, Macallister can thrive in those specific situations, but if more mobility and carrying is the priority, then Jones, Grav, Bajcetic, and whoever the new midfielder is may be seeing more time. We'll see!
I’d be amazed if Mac alister sees less time though, absolute key cog and where we’ve seen a lot of him as a tenacious fighter this year, I think we’ll see more of him as a footballer next year once the team is a bit more cohesive
People calling Frimpong a "right back" clearly haven't been watching him playing for Leverkusen, where he appears to be playing in Mo's position. We all know Mo can't last forever. We should also be cognisant that a lot of Mo's goals are pens so whoever comes in to replace him does NOT need to match Mo's total goals tallies, just his non-penalty goals (and assists). And not even that. Nobody is going to replace Mo's output. Gonna have to be a team effort. Has Cody believes in Jesus scored as many non-pen goals as Mo this season? Feels like he has.
I've flat out stated we won't be signing Frimpong, but that's as a right back. Not really arsed about data. From the usual youtube scouting videos, all of 8 mins long, which we all know are infallible indicators of a player's talents, he looks like he can play in the front three to me, albeit as a right-footer in the right-hand slot, so the 'inverted winger' thing would be in the bin, for the time being, but we shouldn't superglue ourselves to it, even if it's produced unsurpassed points and is my preferred system (as a result).
Do you go for a brilliant rightie or a not so brilliant leftie? Will Spearman (et al) will have a view.
JF noise seems to be player/agent driven to me, and any interest from Hughes is guesswork, although JF's clearly an exciting talent and it would be strange that we're not looking at him.
Possible factor in favour: Slot mentioned a few weeks ago about the bonus of players being able to play in multiple positions. Coincidence or not? I know he was talking about Curtis, but?
Possible factor against: Slot called Bradley 'world class' (presumably meaning potentially) and I'm pretty sure that signing JF for the right back slot would mean Conor Bradley deciding to head for the exits, having waited out Trent, but not wanting to wait out Frimpong as well.
Possible factor against: Is JF even any good defensively? Any data will now be years old.
Possible factor against: Do players that have made their mark in the front three ever get put back to play in defence? I can't think of one. Michail Antonio was a full back, I think, but since going up front for West Ham has stayed there. Kevin Phillips was released by Arsenal as a young fullback but then went on to score 1,000 goals a minute for Sunderland. Gareth Bale! There must be forwards (successfully) converted to fullback but I can't think of anyone and I wonder whether Frimpong would be mad keen on the idea. I mean we could tell Dom he's playing right back next season and see what he says. He's arguably a way more obvious Bradley-a-like than Jarell, JoGo or Curtis. I doubt Dom would be chomping at the bit to play there. Same for JF?
Of course if JF doesn't fancy playing right back, he'll be even less up for getting Chiesa's five minutes a season when Mo has been subbed off 23 seconds before the end of the match.
And does he really want to be a bit of a right back and a bit of a right forward? A little bit of this (Monica), a little bit of that (Jessica). And do we really want to risk Mambo Number 5 (Frimpong reshape) taking off on the Kop, given how many shite tunes we've already got?
And yet. It does sound like he's mad keen on playing for us (or his agent is just being agenty).
Gut feeling (and I did have two and a half kebabs last night – true story – I'm applying to be in the Huyton Fatties) is: I kind of want us to get Frimpong in and then see where it takes us.
Brain says not sure (and defo not if it means Conor Bradley's off).
Dunno.
I think we may well be going with the flying fullbacks theory and I'm all in favour of it. I've always hated this invertoshambles shite (and I'm sure Klopp did too, given his account of Lijnders virtually begging him to do it). The full back output during peak Klopp was amazing. Encore!
There's a sweet spot for midfield. We got schooled at PSG. That was horrific. I want us to be able to hold possession in midfield, not just in the centre backs. But I don't want us to turn into Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, putting together 543 passes before losing the ball: cue swearing.
I’ve also noticed the more adventurous build-up, Josh, and I’m really excited to see the evolution of this team. Slot’s very intuned with game state and is happy to sit back and defend. But the problem is that we get pinned back deeper and deeper while our pressure relief valves - Mo and Gakpo - lose the ball quite easily, and we ended up withstanding wave after wave of attack. Not sure if you think this is still by Slot’s design?
So exciting to have genuine pace out wide again. Haven't had that since hey days of Sadio and Mo. An extra more athletic 2nd pivot would allow Macca higher up where he can do his best work. Slot/Hughes 1st real window is exciting. Build when you're in front.
PSG did this repeatedly against us, particularly at Anfield. One of the little CMs (I think usually João Neves) picks up the ball off the centre back in the left back space except *really* deep knowing he's so good on the ball he won't lose it under pressure from our forwards, then a little dink into Nuno Mendes who is in buckets of space and who marauds up the left flank turning the entire team around. Problem is when we get it to Robertson there's no real danger with the ball, his crossing, passing and shooting are all really poor these days.
One of your best pieces, Josh. Slot has an unprecedented chance to experiment heading into next season. If the Frimpong links are real, I suspect you'll be proven correct. TAA leaving the club will have forced Slot's hand to a certain extent—but I love the idea of him proactively changing play to keep us at the top.
Excellent piece Josh. I am particularly fascinated with the transfer window and next season as it will be more of a Slot team, playing in his style. I suspect he's watched and learnt his and other teams play. I feel next season's team will be more adaptable esp in game. A full pre-season will also help them get the tactics right.
I'll be celebrating this season but am excited about what's to come next.
This is exactly the sort of piece we subscribe for!
An original and convincing piece of analysis which we can repeat in the pub and sound smarter than we are.
While it would be surprising if Edwards/Hughes spent £30 million on a full back, Frimpong might be the exception because he has ELITE attacking attributes and, if it doesn't work out, we have a high-potential alternative in Conor + you'd definitely recoup your investment (sell to a team that plays a back 3). It's not a clear cut one but it's interesting to think about it.
The negatives: in the build phase, it's not clear that he has the technical skills to receive/pass when he's needed behind the ball vs. the release valve ahead of it or the "free man" in space. We need to become more press-resistant next season. He's really short which is a worry on corners / long throws / set pieces. He'll definitely press / counter-press with vigor and has the pace as a recovering defender but does he have enough nous, in general, to defend?
There are definitely positives & they are unique. Thinking of how Frimpong could combine with Mo in the attacking phase has me salivating. His elite pace can really open up the space to Mo's right on the overlap. With Trent so focused on playing from deeper, that space to the right of Mo has been largely ignored for a few seasons now.
It puts opponents in a really tough spot. Mark Frimpong's overlaps? Mo drifts into the right half space and will burn you with balls to our other attackers. Get tight to Mo? Mo passes to Frimpong who carries it rapidly into your area near the byline. That unpredictable dynamic is killer in transition but can also unlock a low block, similar to how City use the pace of Doku and Savinho. Unlike some moves we could make, this one has the added benefit of fitting very nicely in an attacking sense with getting the most out of Mo. It's interesting.
Great article.
I don’t think we can underestimate what having an actual pre season could mean for slots build-up patterns.
Frimpong and Bradley being similar in flying style could be easier to plan around too.
What I also think will be really interesting is how Salah is fed, and how to get him in behind early.,,
do they look to use the build up pattern so midfield are baited forward, the RB pushes high and wide, dragging the fullback across and creating space for through balls into Salah between the CB and Fullback..
For me this is the big question with keeping Salah and wanting to get the very best out of him…
Bang on, mate. Similar to how PSG operate with Hakimi and Mendes. When Bradley plays instead of Trent, he always seems to end up in and round the box when we have a chance and that says to me that's how Slot would utilize his right back if he hadn't had the unique option in Trent
This was definitely an exciting glimpse into Slot’s ideas. The main issue I foresee is MacAllister in Jones’ spot. Turning fluidly against pressure and covering ground quickly to get into open positions are not his strong points. If Slot is looking to put more influence on buildup, then guys like Stiller or Wharton, or even Bajcetic are better buildup players than MacAllister
So I think there is lot that can be gained from build up patterns.. Mac alister was very fluent in build up in de zerbi’s Brighton double pivot.
I agree he been caught at times particularly at 6 for klopp, but I do hope having an actual pre season would allow slot time to train this
Yeah, the question is whether Slot is looking to do De Zerbi-type, close connection patterns, or if he wants more movement and individualism. Because you're right, Macallister can thrive in those specific situations, but if more mobility and carrying is the priority, then Jones, Grav, Bajcetic, and whoever the new midfielder is may be seeing more time. We'll see!
Yeah definitely interesting.
I’d be amazed if Mac alister sees less time though, absolute key cog and where we’ve seen a lot of him as a tenacious fighter this year, I think we’ll see more of him as a footballer next year once the team is a bit more cohesive
People calling Frimpong a "right back" clearly haven't been watching him playing for Leverkusen, where he appears to be playing in Mo's position. We all know Mo can't last forever. We should also be cognisant that a lot of Mo's goals are pens so whoever comes in to replace him does NOT need to match Mo's total goals tallies, just his non-penalty goals (and assists). And not even that. Nobody is going to replace Mo's output. Gonna have to be a team effort. Has Cody believes in Jesus scored as many non-pen goals as Mo this season? Feels like he has.
I've flat out stated we won't be signing Frimpong, but that's as a right back. Not really arsed about data. From the usual youtube scouting videos, all of 8 mins long, which we all know are infallible indicators of a player's talents, he looks like he can play in the front three to me, albeit as a right-footer in the right-hand slot, so the 'inverted winger' thing would be in the bin, for the time being, but we shouldn't superglue ourselves to it, even if it's produced unsurpassed points and is my preferred system (as a result).
Do you go for a brilliant rightie or a not so brilliant leftie? Will Spearman (et al) will have a view.
JF noise seems to be player/agent driven to me, and any interest from Hughes is guesswork, although JF's clearly an exciting talent and it would be strange that we're not looking at him.
Possible factor in favour: Slot mentioned a few weeks ago about the bonus of players being able to play in multiple positions. Coincidence or not? I know he was talking about Curtis, but?
Possible factor against: Slot called Bradley 'world class' (presumably meaning potentially) and I'm pretty sure that signing JF for the right back slot would mean Conor Bradley deciding to head for the exits, having waited out Trent, but not wanting to wait out Frimpong as well.
Possible factor against: Is JF even any good defensively? Any data will now be years old.
Possible factor against: Do players that have made their mark in the front three ever get put back to play in defence? I can't think of one. Michail Antonio was a full back, I think, but since going up front for West Ham has stayed there. Kevin Phillips was released by Arsenal as a young fullback but then went on to score 1,000 goals a minute for Sunderland. Gareth Bale! There must be forwards (successfully) converted to fullback but I can't think of anyone and I wonder whether Frimpong would be mad keen on the idea. I mean we could tell Dom he's playing right back next season and see what he says. He's arguably a way more obvious Bradley-a-like than Jarell, JoGo or Curtis. I doubt Dom would be chomping at the bit to play there. Same for JF?
Of course if JF doesn't fancy playing right back, he'll be even less up for getting Chiesa's five minutes a season when Mo has been subbed off 23 seconds before the end of the match.
And does he really want to be a bit of a right back and a bit of a right forward? A little bit of this (Monica), a little bit of that (Jessica). And do we really want to risk Mambo Number 5 (Frimpong reshape) taking off on the Kop, given how many shite tunes we've already got?
And yet. It does sound like he's mad keen on playing for us (or his agent is just being agenty).
Gut feeling (and I did have two and a half kebabs last night – true story – I'm applying to be in the Huyton Fatties) is: I kind of want us to get Frimpong in and then see where it takes us.
Brain says not sure (and defo not if it means Conor Bradley's off).
Dunno.
I think we may well be going with the flying fullbacks theory and I'm all in favour of it. I've always hated this invertoshambles shite (and I'm sure Klopp did too, given his account of Lijnders virtually begging him to do it). The full back output during peak Klopp was amazing. Encore!
There's a sweet spot for midfield. We got schooled at PSG. That was horrific. I want us to be able to hold possession in midfield, not just in the centre backs. But I don't want us to turn into Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, putting together 543 passes before losing the ball: cue swearing.
I’ve also noticed the more adventurous build-up, Josh, and I’m really excited to see the evolution of this team. Slot’s very intuned with game state and is happy to sit back and defend. But the problem is that we get pinned back deeper and deeper while our pressure relief valves - Mo and Gakpo - lose the ball quite easily, and we ended up withstanding wave after wave of attack. Not sure if you think this is still by Slot’s design?
So exciting to have genuine pace out wide again. Haven't had that since hey days of Sadio and Mo. An extra more athletic 2nd pivot would allow Macca higher up where he can do his best work. Slot/Hughes 1st real window is exciting. Build when you're in front.
PSG did this repeatedly against us, particularly at Anfield. One of the little CMs (I think usually João Neves) picks up the ball off the centre back in the left back space except *really* deep knowing he's so good on the ball he won't lose it under pressure from our forwards, then a little dink into Nuno Mendes who is in buckets of space and who marauds up the left flank turning the entire team around. Problem is when we get it to Robertson there's no real danger with the ball, his crossing, passing and shooting are all really poor these days.