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Roberto De Zerbi *OFFICIAL*

MartyFunkhouser said:
Im not knocking the bloke or trying to create a non story, but he looks like he has lost some oomph about him. Maybe thats just me, but not seeing much of this fiery spark I saw last year.

Early days still, but hope to see something sooner rather than later
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I thought we were the better team this evening, we just didn’t take our chances. I thought our football was good to watch though and we didn’t deserve to lose. I like the passing patterns and the number of forward central passes that we play. I think we’re improving and the results will come soon.
 
Finney Is Back said:
I thought we were the better team this evening, we just didn’t take our chances. I thought our football was good to watch though and we didn’t deserve to lose. I like the passing patterns and the number of forward central passes that we play. I think we’re improving and the results will come soon.
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We missed two literal tap ins with Kudus and Bergval and lost to a worldly, another excellent finish outside the box, and what I can generously describe as loose defending by Gray to allow Gakpo all the time on his stronger foot to pick out a finish.

All to say, I think if you watch this game and don’t see progress, you are never going to see it. I thought it was really clear. Liverpool were good too, they press high, they had a home crowd behind them and were up for it, and forced us into some errors. Thomas Frank always spoke of ‘adding layers’ and we never ever saw it, but we saw it tonight.

It seems like we’ve really worked on defensive solidity first, with the expectation that the possession game would come. Against Everton after the first 20 mins I didn’t think we looked cohesive, but tonight I thought we did. We created excellent chances. We looked like we had a plan. There are still some moments where I see a player making a great run and I feel like our guy with the ball either doesn’t see it or chickens out of making the pass, and I think that needs sorting. But by and large this was very much progress. We’re getting there.
 
SissokoWasGood (BoL) said:
We missed two literal tap ins with Kudus and Bergval and lost to a worldly, another excellent finish outside the box, and what I can generously describe as loose defending by Gray to allow Gakpo all the time on his stronger foot to pick out a finish.

All to say, I think if you watch this game and don’t see progress, you are never going to see it. I thought it was really clear. Liverpool were good too, they press high, they had a home crowd behind them and were up for it, and forced us into some errors. Thomas Frank always spoke of ‘adding layers’ and we never ever saw it, but we saw it tonight.

It seems like we’ve really worked on defensive solidity first, with the expectation that the possession game would come. Against Everton after the first 20 mins I didn’t think we looked cohesive, but tonight I thought we did. We created excellent chances. We looked like we had a plan. There are still some moments where I see a player making a great run and I feel like our guy with the ball either doesn’t see it or chickens out of making the pass, and I think that needs sorting. But by and large this was very much progress. We’re getting there.
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Every game has had progress, and I think this is where it differs to Frank's time. We missed a trick not signing an out and out striker, and clearly managing player minutes - while important considering last couple of seasons - naturally has some adverse effects but still, we are starting to look better.
 
demotw said:
Every game has had progress, and I think this is where it differs to Frank's time. We missed a trick not signing an out and out striker, and clearly managing player minutes - while important considering last couple of seasons - naturally has some adverse effects but still, we are starting to look better.
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Totally agree,
It is also a relief that De Zerbi absolutely knows where we're at and what we need to be doing better.
That was NOT the case this time last season when the football was brick yet we were told it was really good!
 
Right now, I'd just like someone to take him to one side and make him repeat the word PROCESS ten times. A minor irritation in the scheme of things, I will admit, but there it is.
 
SissokoWasGood (BoL) said:
We missed two literal tap ins with Kudus and Bergval and lost to a worldly, another excellent finish outside the box, and what I can generously describe as loose defending by Gray to allow Gakpo all the time on his stronger foot to pick out a finish.

All to say, I think if you watch this game and don’t see progress, you are never going to see it. I thought it was really clear. Liverpool were good too, they press high, they had a home crowd behind them and were up for it, and forced us into some errors. Thomas Frank always spoke of ‘adding layers’ and we never ever saw it, but we saw it tonight.

It seems like we’ve really worked on defensive solidity first, with the expectation that the possession game would come. Against Everton after the first 20 mins I didn’t think we looked cohesive, but tonight I thought we did. We created excellent chances. We looked like we had a plan. There are still some moments where I see a player making a great run and I feel like our guy with the ball either doesn’t see it or chickens out of making the pass, and I think that needs sorting. But by and large this was very much progress. We’re getting there.
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We are winning on stats, the question is -> does that ever get there?

We can pass (levels above anything in last 2-3 seasons), we can recycle possession (I actually think a midfield of Fernandes/Tonali/Bentancur could sleep walk protecting a lead if we had one), we also can beat players (Savio, Marmoush, Kudus, eventually Deki).

The problems (that I see) are tempo and finishing.

Tempo I can see some light, first 25 mins against Everton and at points in both halves vs. Liverpool we pushed the game. That said, the system doesn't seem designed around tempo, we often default to a mid block or fudging around with the ball baiting the opposition, it slows the game down, makes it more comfortable to play against, gives opposition chance to recover, set themselves, get some confidence. We need to change this?

Finishing, unlike others, I'm not completely convinced the only answer is a 20 goal a season striker (would be nice), but what I don't quite understand is what is the plan for who to score? e.g. with Ange there was a clear winger to opposing winger at back post play, in prime Son days it was getting him on edge of box to shoot, what play is RDZ running for who to score? how are we getting the tricky wingers isolated against their FB (Tel should have been under instruction to get Frimpong sent off after first yellow), who is making the run into the box? without natural high number goal scorers, those patterns must exist and for a system manager, I'm not seeing it (maybe just me).

Today we looked significantly better when Fernandes and Maddison came on, I have no doubt if we could play every game with Maddison, Fernandes, Porro, Udogie, Savio and Kudus, we would win more than we lose, but surely we have to be able to win without some of them?
 
Raziel said:
We are winning on stats, the question is -> does that ever get there?

We can pass (levels above anything in last 2-3 seasons), we can recycle possession (I actually think a midfield of Fernandes/Tonali/Bentancur could sleep walk protecting a lead if we had one), we also can beat players (Savio, Marmoush, Kudus, eventually Deki).

The problems (that I see) are tempo and finishing.

Tempo I can see some light, first 25 mins against Everton and at points in both halves vs. Liverpool we pushed the game. That said, the system doesn't seem designed around tempo, we often default to a mid block or fudging around with the ball baiting the opposition, it slows the game down, makes it more comfortable to play against, gives opposition chance to recover, set themselves, get some confidence. We need to change this?

Finishing, unlike others, I'm not completely convinced the only answer is a 20 goal a season striker (would be nice), but what I don't quite understand is what is the plan for who to score? e.g. with Ange there was a clear winger to opposing winger at back post play, in prime Son days it was getting him on edge of box to shoot, what play is RDZ running for who to score? how are we getting the tricky wingers isolated against their FB (Tel should have been under instruction to get Frimpong sent off after first yellow), who is making the run into the box? without natural high number goal scorers, those patterns must exist and for a system manager, I'm not seeing it (maybe just me).

Today we looked significantly better when Fernandes and Maddison came on, I have no doubt if we could play every game with Maddison, Fernandes, Porro, Udogie, Savio and Kudus, we would win more than we lose, but surely we have to be able to win without some of them?
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Great post. You're basically saying that the sum of the parts is gradually coming together. Every week we see more players getting into higher gears. Personally, I think our strength eventually becomes the depth of the squad. There will always been a healthy robust conversation about who should start, but it's the bench that should be changing games.

Aston Villa, 4 games, 1 goals scored, 7 goals against. They are sitting in 19th with a single point. They've lost Rogers, Tielemans, Watkins and Konsa plus have injuries to Pao Torres and Onana who are big players for them. On the flip side, they've also bought some big players this summer. They will need their newbies to hit those gears as well.

Saturday lunchtime suddenly starts to feel like quite a tense affair. I hope we get to see close to our strongest attacking eleven and a bench that can help us prevail.
 
Jurgen the German said:
I guess you’ve missed some of the nervousness around our spending this summer. It must seem strange to certain posters that we got business done early and didn’t drag it out until 20 minutes before the deadline just so we could “win the deal”. Whether the signings turn out to be successful is another matter, but I’m pleased there is intent.
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Na, I haven't missed anything, I just think you are applying a narrative that hasn't existed just to have a pop, I am unsure how or what you are trying to prove with the highlighted, its just odd mate

No one was nervous with signing or spending money, people debated the rationale of spending and selling players who they deemed good enough (they also might be right BTW, time will tell).

I don't think questioning signings and if some were worth the fees, which is at worse whats been discussed, is anything like what you are painting it out to be. Are we not now allowed to debate the merits of some signings at risk of being mocked? Is that what the forums descended to? Fcuking ridiculous if thats the case.

Absolutely not seen anyone scared or reluctant to spend money, wanting it spent smartly isn't the same thing and seeing as we are a RB and Striker short, I think those people are likely being proven right compared to people coming on to take cheap shots

Ironically you were in another thread on off topic complaining about the exact same tone you have used in your last couple of post
 
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MartyFunkhouser said:
Na, I haven't missed anything, I just think you are applying a narrative that hasn't existed just to have a pop, I am unsure how or what you are trying to prove with the highlighted, its just odd mate

No one was nervous with signing or spending money, people debated the rationale of spending and selling players who they deemed good enough (they also might be right BTW, time will tell).

I don't think questioning signings and if some were worth the fees, which is at worse whats been discussed, is anything like what you are painting it out to be. Are we not now allowed to debate the merits of some signings at risk of being mocked? Is that what the forums descended to? Fcuking ridiculous if thats the case.

Absolutely not seen anyone scared or reluctant to spend money, wanting it spent smartly isn't the same thing and seeing as we are a RB and Striker short, I think those people are likely being proven right compared to people coming on to take cheap shots

Ironically you were in another thread on off topic complaining about the exact same tone you have used in your last couple of post
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Questioning the sale of certain players is fair. I’m not 100% behind every move we’ve made myself; I just appreciate the protectiveness, especially as we’ve been tardy in previous years and windows.

Some of the transfer fees for incoming players have been high, but it’s not really a buyer’s market at the moment. You’ve most definitely missed posts claiming we’ll be going out of business if we keep spending the way we have.

I haven’t seen anyone claiming that every move we’ve made has been great, or that we can’t discuss and question the transfers. Ultimately, we probably won’t know whether these decisions were right for at least another six months to a year.
 
Raziel said:
We are winning on stats, the question is -> does that ever get there?

We can pass (levels above anything in last 2-3 seasons), we can recycle possession (I actually think a midfield of Fernandes/Tonali/Bentancur could sleep walk protecting a lead if we had one), we also can beat players (Savio, Marmoush, Kudus, eventually Deki).

The problems (that I see) are tempo and finishing.

Tempo I can see some light, first 25 mins against Everton and at points in both halves vs. Liverpool we pushed the game. That said, the system doesn't seem designed around tempo, we often default to a mid block or fudging around with the ball baiting the opposition, it slows the game down, makes it more comfortable to play against, gives opposition chance to recover, set themselves, get some confidence. We need to change this?

Finishing, unlike others, I'm not completely convinced the only answer is a 20 goal a season striker (would be nice), but what I don't quite understand is what is the plan for who to score? e.g. with Ange there was a clear winger to opposing winger at back post play, in prime Son days it was getting him on edge of box to shoot, what play is RDZ running for who to score? how are we getting the tricky wingers isolated against their FB (Tel should have been under instruction to get Frimpong sent off after first yellow), who is making the run into the box? without natural high number goal scorers, those patterns must exist and for a system manager, I'm not seeing it (maybe just me).

Today we looked significantly better when Fernandes and Maddison came on, I have no doubt if we could play every game with Maddison, Fernandes, Porro, Udogie, Savio and Kudus, we would win more than we lose, but surely we have to be able to win without some of them?
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This part I think is situational rather than by design. Yes RDZ clearly likes the idea of playing around a pressing block but many times the ball ends up going unduly sideways or backwards from a forward posisition or momentum moment more so because of the attributes of the player on the ball in that moment. We started with Gallagher, Bergvall and Bentancur in midfield. Add Gray and Tel and even Kudus and you have a bunch of players who are all decent on the ball but lack quick vision when it comes to passing it. Or if they do have the vision (Gallagher demonstrated it a couple of times yesterday), they lack the quality of execution. Its a small thing but that holding on to the ball for a second too long, or that slightly heavy touch that doesn't push the ball out from your feet quite far enough. All of these things slow the play down just by a few seconds but those seconds are where the moment is lost.

We saw the change up when first Fernandes and then latterly Maddison came on because both have a better 1st touch (Fernandes in particular). Then their second move but first thought is where to play the ball and importantly they have the quality to execute which what we were lacking from Gallagher and Bergvall yesterday although both were overall promising. Its why we started to see Marmoush receiving the ball in much better spaces. He might only be a few CM further away from the defender but that space buys him the time to sort his feet out and then attack the space.

In terms of winning without the names you mention i don't know if that is realistic. I'm going to do the obvious but look at the results we've had over the previous 2 seasons when the mix of players you're suggesting weren't available. 2x 17ths and one very real relegation battle. That is the truth of the ability level and effectiveness of the squad outside of the new arrivals.
 
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