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Roberto De Zerbi *OFFICIAL*

Does anyone think that as a squad we still look unfit?? I'm not really buying that excuse. I didn't see a any lack of energy or effort today. I just saw chances not being taken and defensive lapses being exploited but I couldn't lay the blame at any sort of low fitness level. Yes some individuals might not be quite match fit, let's say Kudus or Maddison but that will be the same for every team with returning players. And to my eye I'm just not seeing a bunch of unfit players....🤔
Just players who lapse in defending situations and not able to implement a plan in the final 1/3.
And if he could stop changing the team each game, that may also help.

Heard somewhere we are one of the highest who have had made the most changes to the team. As in every game it's different
 
At Brighton he had 2 points from his first 5 games and they had only scored 4 goals, 3 of which came in 1 game. So thata fairly similar to the position we are in now. He got 3 wins and 2 draws form the next 5 although it included 2 cup games against lower league opposition. Then it was the winter World Cup so a long break before playing again and after that the team took off.

At his last 3 non Prem clubs.

First 7 Games

Sassuolo - 2018
4W 2D 1L - 15 Goals

Shaktar Donetsk - 2021
5W 1D 1L - 25 Goals

Marseille - 2024
4W 1D 2L - 15 Goals

There are plenty out there with it
But the ha rent comfortable yet
I lived Toisin being a pain for the ref midweek for example
We have already seen Fernandes give it out on the pitch
What I think we’re missing is a player or players who really get the club. Guess that it’s because we have no one that’s come through here
Exactly
 
Sorry so is that Savio on left or right? Everyone has such different views on where he and Maramoush should play
For me
With the available, so called fit players, I’d play


Savio left wing, Marmosuh middle and Kudus right
All behind Solanke
I think Marmosuh is better getting it deeper with more room like he did in Germany
Savio played left wing in Spain
Solanke is there to work the CBS and press
And kudus plays right wing
Then behind them it’s Fernandes and Bentacur for me in a 2 or I’m fine with Tonali too instead of Bentacur
 
For me
With the available, so called fit players, I’d play


Savio left wing, Marmosuh middle and Kudus right
All behind Solanke
I think Marmosuh is better getting it deeper with more room like he did in Germany
Savio played left wing in Spain
Solanke is there to work the CBS and press
And kudus plays right wing
Then behind them it’s Fernandes and Bentacur for me in a 2 or I’m fine with Tonali too instead of Bentacur
I am in a minority here who still thinks Solanke can be decent. Then again watching him today, he was flat footed and seemingly unfit when running back. Definitely one who needs to up his fitness and game.
 
For me
With the available, so called fit players, I’d play


Savio left wing, Marmosuh middle and Kudus right
All behind Solanke
I think Marmosuh is better getting it deeper with more room like he did in Germany
Savio played left wing in Spain
Solanke is there to work the CBS and press
And kudus plays right wing
Then behind them it’s Fernandes and Bentacur for me in a 2 or I’m fine with Tonali too instead of Bentacur
We need to be solid across the back 4 first and foremost. Today is the 3rd game we’ve conceded 3 goals this season and we have only played 6 games! And against a Villa team themselves struggling to score. Everything flows from a solid base.
 
We need to be solid across the back 4 first and foremost. Today is the 3rd game we’ve conceded 3 goals this season and we have only played 6 games! And against a Villa team themselves struggling to score. Everything flows from a solid base.
But we were blunt and not solid despite having all the ball
So what do you do
Put more midfielders on and create even less
I think his football is all about scoring first and opening up the opposition
 
I am in a minority here who still thinks Solanke can be decent. Then again watching him today, he was flat footed and seemingly unfit when running back. Definitely one who needs to up his fitness and game.
RDz says he is unfit
That may be true (eye test says so)
But the way the players try to pass to him is bad execution too
The header he had was decent and that was from a corner IIRC
The ball he fumbled for savios first shot wasn’t a great pass to him but he also messed it up
But
If your manager chooses to not even put in the squad the only other (in theory) real CF
What do you do
Marmoush cannot play that role as he just gets bullied. That was even clearer today when AWB and him clashed and the ref sees the weaker man and doesn’t give a thing
 
For me I would give Tel a go as a CF. We have nothing to lose trying to and everything to gain. He has performed poorly as a LW. Solanke is giving us nothing. The qualities that Tel lacks we also do not get from Marmoush. Had he played 5 games as a #9 this season I think he would have got us a goal or two.
 
We need to be solid across the back 4 first and foremost. Today is the 3rd game we’ve conceded 3 goals this season and we have only played 6 games! And against a Villa team themselves struggling to score. Everything flows from a solid base.

Brentford was genuinely a poor defensive performance. Liverpool was all worldie goals that are low percentage to score.

The previous 2 games we defended very well. But I’ve seen it many a time even in teams I have played for if you don’t have confidence that the team can score a goal, once you go a goal behind mentally you switch off. Thats human nature.
 
So you would have signed Palhinha and just stuck with what we did the last 7 games?

Yes, bought Palhinha, not bought Tonali (Bentancur can do his job).
Kept Spence, not got Robertson
Kept Vuskovich over Sensei & Tosin
Sold Richi and Solanke, spent the 100M saved from Tonali plus whatever we get on a top tier striker, kept Lankshear
Bought a #10

Lots of decisions that in hindsight start to look really bad if this doesn't turn around quickly.

And it's not just RDZ neck on the line now, surely the Vinai/Lange review is up again?
 
Yes, bought Palhinha, not bought Tonali (Bentancur can do his job).
Kept Spence, not got Robertson
Kept Vuskovich over Sensei & Tosin
Sold Richi and Solanke, spent the 100M saved from Tonali plus whatever we get on a top tier striker, kept Lankshear
Bought a #10

Lots of decisions that in hindsight start to look really bad if this doesn't turn around quickly.

And it's not just RDZ neck on the line now, surely the Vinai/Lange review is up again?

I agree with almost all of that, But I dont think it was just hindsight. a lot of us on here were saying these things as they happened.

And as much as people may deny it, the “Levy Out Crew” were loving that we were spùnking big money on players because I meant we were “acting like a Big Club” what utter bullshít.
 
For me I would give Tel a go as a CF. We have nothing to lose trying to and everything to gain. He has performed poorly as a LW. Solanke is giving us nothing. The qualities that Tel lacks we also do not get from Marmoush. Had he played 5 games as a #9 this season I think he would have got us a goal or two.

I’d put Tel in goals. Kinsky in the 10 role. Maddison at CB. RDZ up top. The big bald kit man out on the right wing, and I’d try to get Donna Cullen back to boss the middle of the park.
 
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