David Clouser

Is it okay to love your animals but sort of wish they didn’t always live with you?

It’s a suggestion that Isak shouldn’t have played Utd/Frankfurt back to back. It’s a bit hindsight 20:20 because the plan was for him to be ready to go after the October break and he played 90s for Sweden no problem.

It think it’s primarily a fitness issue. Gakpo can put the minutes in the others can’t.

Maybe the answer was Macca and Mo play better and it all makes a bit more sense.

a cloud with lightning strikes and rain coming out of it ALT: a cloud with lightning strikes and rain coming out of it

Arsenal Points/game by month (in brackets > under Arteta)

2.11 September (2.33)
2.10 October (2.10)
2.04 March (2.35)
1.97 May (2.23)
1.95 February (2.00)
1.84 August (2.06)
1.84 April (1.60)
1.83 January (2.00)
1.77 December (1.68)
1.59 November (1.81)

Nasty November, Dodgy December & Awful April

Curious how Elliott would help defend set pieces or add defensive solidity to the midfield🤷‍♂️.

I sort of think both things can be true. Clearly judgment on the window will come in time, but I also think they built the squad to win the CL more than the PL and they maybe didn’t grasp the speed at which the league would turn in a long ball/set piece league.

John obi mikel is spot on …….

We certainly do and if he wasn't going to Afcon it would make sense to continue to work to get him in form and find a solution that includes him, but even if they find something that works, we'll need to find something new in a month.

Salah is obviously struggling, probably off the pitch as much as on. He's off to Afcon in a month, so I think the path forward needs to be finding what works without him. If he discovers form, we can reassess, but the squad was built for a post Salah world, so might as well lean it to it.

I honestly don't know what to do with Salah. We've been continuously exposed by wing backs in space he is unable to cover. Considering his form and the only lineup that has really worked was the 442 at Frankfurt, I'd be inclined to continue with that and start both Ekitike and Isak with Wirtz.

That lineup is about what I was expecting. Bit surprised with the bench, but considering injury situation, shouldn't be all that surprising Slot is holding players back with a Villa, RM, City week coming up.

I find it pretty surprising that people have already given up on LFC winning anything this season. Perhaps I’m the eternal optimist but I’m still of the mind they get it together before too long and a January signing or 2 could help kick them on.

That’s true, but if you don’t define the line it will continue to move. They did it keepers and it’s improved things. No reason they can’t do the same with on set pieces.

The answer is to establish a time limit on throw ins, set pieces and corners. Throw ins should be on the order of 8 seconds from ball out of play, set pieces should be maybe 15 from time ref marks the spot and corners 20 from time ball goes out.

I think Leoni would change the dynamic if he didn’t get injured, but also think you need 5 CBs.

I could go either way on it. Fair argument to be made we need and should start them both for the upcoming games next week, so if be inclined to give the minutes to Salah and see if he can build on his goal.

I’d be inclined to start Salah and not rush Isak back.

You could give VVD and Konate both 45, but don’t really want to. I’d be inclined to play Rhys or another U23.

Biggest question is what to do at CB, considering I'd likely prefer Endo in midfield with Macca/Nyoni.

As much as we don’t like it, time will resolve these issues. I believe in the manager and these players, but a January signing or 2 wouldn’t be the worst thing.

I also think the Leoni injury was a massive blow. Not only the emotional blow of seeing him go down, but it limits what Slot can do defensively. It means he can’t really start a 3rd CB against teams like Brentford. Gomez has to be kept in reserve. He can’t change out Konate.

You could argue that Slot should start that process now, but Isak’s fitness kind of forces his hand to keep Salah in the team for now. Hopefully the goal settles him.

down the pecking order to players who aren’t necessarily ready to take it on.

The squad was built with a view to playing without Salah, assuming it would still work with an in form Salah. With Afcon coming, it will be interesting to see what it looks like with him gone for a bit.

in selection, so the new hierarchy of the group hasn’t been established.

I assume there was an assumption that the established hierarchy from last season would generally remain and the new lads would settle in over time.

The form of Salah, VVD, Konate and Macca has forced responsibility

LFCs current struggles feels more like the Covid season where the emotional toll of injury and grief created doubt and uncertainty rather than 22/23 when the midfield lost it legs.

Due to circumstances, some of their own making, some out of their control, Slot hasn’t been able to have consistency

We should recall Kostas so Mo has someone to laugh with.

Hopefully we found answer with the setup on Wednesday.

If we are within 4 points by January, we have every chance to reel them in. Might not do it, but it’s by no means over, but we need to stay on their heels. Fixtures are kinder over next 2 months.

If doing a lot of work there 😉. Maybe they can get there doing because they have elite defense and any goal can win them the game but once it stops working for less good teams, they’ll give it up.

I think 3 at the back and wingbacks is more our kryptonite than long balls honestly.