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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

I get the frustration, irritation, even anger (especially for travelling fans watching one uncontested duel/second ball after another).

I just think - collectively - there’s a panic now. And it’s helping no one. I expect more from Arne. It was his composure that we loved. He’s panicking too.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… treated as such: a BALANCE of experimentation and safety.

Not a rush to find the optimum squad to surround Wirtz - who needs to be way more consistent himself. Not a rush to throw in Isak.

I’d be starting with Dom on the team sheet and working out how best to go forward. Probably naive.

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

We want everything so immediately and that leads to panic. I don’t think that’s very different from the staff and the players either.

But, clearly, that ‘atmosphere’ or ‘expectation’ is becoming detrimental. And there’s obviously lots of finger-pointing.

If it’s a transition season, it needs to…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

aside from form and confidence (can come back) and tactics.

So, yeah, it’s on Arne and staff to think about the squad, not individuals for me. Have a bit of humility - or rationality - in terms of what we are capable of at the moment.

And I think it will come. They’re not ‘unsuitable’ for the PL.

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… attack (we still could - look at goal 2).

So, for me, if I’ve managed to say it in a roundabout way, the squad are perfectly capable - there’s just tweaks that need to be made to help them exist at the moment.

If I put our lads’ names next to Arsenal’s - I don’t see the difference -

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

Someone’s mentioned on here about being more compact, drawing back to keep the team together, think it was Kev. I think that’s it… the lads can’t play to their capability in this league when there’s too much ground to cover. We can’t press with an aging Salah and without Dom behind the…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… let him down massively. As it did for every player aside from, for me, Dom and Curtis.

Hugo’s most stand-out quality for me so far has been his tenacity and it was absent yesterday. Few half-hearted flicks the equivalent of Wirtz’s poor pre-sub cross post-Dom’s tenacity.

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… anonymity.

I feel like those are the basic things I’m able to recognise.

But what I don’t understand is, if those players are on song, how they can’t come together to compete. Why they aren’t a squad for ‘this version’ of the PL.

Wirtz is an incredible player but it was his nonchalance that…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… the team, looks stretched and cannot possibly cover the big gaps other teams know they can run into.

Isak was not ready to be launched back in, seemingly was done so to get him going, and now he’s injured. Hugo looked the ‘explosive, gets-everywhere’ but proved that he can be forced out into…

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… similar this season in terms of freedom to push further on. That has become an issue - the lack of discipline in those positions. Grav pushing on and Mo not having to monitor the wing messes with the balance. Thankfully, Dom is a machine and can help - but as a result, he, like the rest of…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… case for Kerkez from his Arsenal performance. Like Connor, he’s not adapting to what’s expected (or not suited) and his confidence is shot.

Salah mentioned at the end of last season that Slot had given him a freedom he’d asked for and to be able to avoid tracking back; Grav said something…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

… now has some personal issues he’s dealing with; Mo is getting older and no longer fighting for contract. That’s four would-be regulars from last season who have dropped off and you would expect to handle duels well.

Kerkez and Wirtz seem pretty lightweight at the moment. But we know that’s not…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

A few have made mention to the physicality and the ‘direction’ the PL is heading.

Generally combative players like Ibou, Mo, Connor and Alexis have been way off expected standard. Ibou is a baffling one; Connor seems to have been affected by tactics not suiting him; Alexis is tired and we know…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 1d

I’m not sure I ‘understand’ certain takes. It might be above me, to be honest - but I don’t see how, as difficult as it is to be patient, that this squad is not capable of coming good once it settles. (If, of course, the coaching/tactics are right).

There is lots going on individually…

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 2d

Szobo’s tenacity.

Exactly why Wirtz got subbed off. I know it’s been questioned - especially since it was Gomez - but that’s what it’s gotten us.

Hugo’s been weirdly anonymous. Didn’t think that was possible.

Any of the frontline could have went off.

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 2d

Would bring Chiesa and Mac Allister on for two of the forward line.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 2d

Exactly what I was thinking.

Add their injury, the substitution and their two goals?

Was never 3 to begin with.

Lee @kopace74.bsky.social · 2d

They take a minute for every throw in and boo about time added.. fuck off!

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 2d

No surprises there.

Up the Reds.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

45 of Fede?

I swear down, football gods. Back off.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

IN ME BONES.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

In me bones.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

Going to win this.

Feel it in my bones.

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

In me bones.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

Going to win this.

Feel it in my bones.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

Going to win this.

Feel it in my bones.

lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

FS.

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Reposted by lws

Zo @bfootball.bsky.social · 5d

Florian with the 50 yard thread. Here for more of that.

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lws @lfclws.bsky.social · 5d

Thought the subs did well last game in terms of intent and linking up. Quicker, faster, more intricate. That’s surely what unleashes the best of Wirtz too.