Issue 6 - Best Look To Wirtz

Before we get into the cut and thrust of this issue, a big thanks to everyone who has subscribed up until now. Not only do I now have 25+ subscribers, you also seem to be engaged. Massive help in this early stage, time to keep on moving.

The Evolution Will Be Televised

One of the most impressive elements of Arne Slot’s first season in charge at Liverpool was just how seamless the evolution from Jurgen Klopp’s management to his Dutch counterpart turned out to be.

One could argue that the evolution was always going to be relatively smooth when you consider the talent that was on show but as has been seen in the past, big managerial shoes can be incredibly difficult to fill (Moyes, D. Manchester United for example).

Very limited transfer business at Anfield 12 or so months ago, business that saw Federico Chiesa make a very limited contribution to Premier League proceedings due to a lack of fitness and ongoing injuries. Business that saw a Georgian goalkeeper parked elsewhere.

Missed the previous issue of the Real Football Filter?

Business or no buisness, Liverpool were the business during the 2024/25 campaign and with evolution being perceived to be smooth as possible under Slot - the previous light touch from the former Feyenoord manager now is set to be more substantial.

Part of it out of necessity, part out of choice. The necessity coming the shape of Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid. The choice coming in the shape of Liverpool’s new arrival.

An arrival that sees Liverpool break their own transfer record and by some distance. In doing so, it means the arrival of Florian Wirtz to Merseyside, it also means an outlay of £100m+ to be added to a squad that already has the world’s most expensive goalkeeper and defender (at their time of capture) among its ranks.

The One Hundred Million Pound Man

Wirtz was reportedly on the radar of Europe’s elite from Madrid to Manchester, the German international was topping shopping lists. Only problem was that the price tag became too much for many to stomach.

Real Madrid’s interest never really saw its flame ignited - even if the obvious subplot of linking up with Xabi Alonso after success at Bayer Leverkusen would have been an interesting back story to the move. Manchester City said thanks but no thanks after being told the cost for Wirtz’s services would be £125m or so.

Not a price that neither Bayern Munich or Liverpool would be detered by, even if the player in question was detered by staying in Germany and with a guaranteed fee of £100m being agreed before performance-related bonus, Slot has got his man,

Of course, that is not the only man that Slot has already got this summer and with Jeremie Frimpong also joining from Bayer Leverkusen only a couple of weeks ago, this current Anfield cycle could be closer to revolution than evolution.

Revolution that comes in tactical shape and with Frimpong’s athletic prowess giving him the ability to play as a wing-back, the decision to revert to a back three will be highly tempting for the 46-year-old Slot.

Frimpong on one side, Milos Kerkez’s probable arrival from Bournemouth on the left and the team quickly has a different guise to it. Even more so, if the 4-3-3 shape that won Liverpool the league last season is morphed into something different.

Something Different Perhaps

Something different that allows Liverpool’s latest recruit Wirtz, the opportunity to play through the middle in his favoured attacking midfielder role and if a club is spending £100m or more on one player, you would imagine they will look to be accommodating as possible.

Does that accomodation come at the sacrifice of Mohamed Salah’s powers from out wide. The Egyptian has many tricks in his toolbox, the sight of him cutting from out to in and firing home from the edge of the box has to be his most dangerous.

However, if a back three with wing-backs because of Liverpool’s new shape, then sees Wirtz playing off Salah through the middle, the gamble of that comes at a starting price of £100m.

Then again, there are other options and the alternative could be one that sees Wirtz operate as the false-nine in the standard back four. If that’s the case, then Darwin Nunez’s time at the Kop must be surely coming to an end.

As things stand, Liverpool boss Slot does seem to have an abundance of versatile forward. Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota have all been key contributors to the cause but you do get the feeling it now be one too many.

Regardless of what ins and outs still take place before the 2025/26 Premier League season gets underway, Liverpool should definitely be commended for not standing still as defending champions. It’s difficult to win the Premier League, its even harder to defend it.

Thomas Tanked It

A certain managerial Thomas has been making the news in the past few days and although Frank’s move from Brentford to Tottenham has now been announced as expected, it is Tuchel’s unexpected blip on Tuesday which is the larger talking point.

With England’s 3-1 defeat to Senegal at the City Ground being recorded, it means a first ever defeat for the Three Lions to an African nation and due to that loss, the mumblings of discontent have already begun in this current international cycle.

Admittedly, it was a poor performance from England, of that there can be absolutely no doubt. At the same time and to try and offer some form of mitigating circumstance, the international friendly is one that gives players and to a greater degree managers a hiding to nothing.

The players largely do not want to be and a tactical late-season ‘injury’ can make sure such attendance is not required unfortunately for those in charge, they do not have the same get out clause.

Due to that, there can be no real net gain from the necessary evils that are fixtures such as the one against Senegal on Tuesday. Had Tuchel overseen a second win in four days, it would be meeting expectation and nothing more - simply doing what the German is paid to do.

At the same time, with so few international dates that offer absolutely nothing in the way of jeopardy, the opportunity to rest players and blood new talents/ideas are very few and far between. So few, that change was always on the horizon on Tuesday.

Any Spare Change?

Change that was largely wholesale in defensive terms and unfortunately the treble of Trevor Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Myles Lewis-Skelly all took substantial knocks to their international football stock value.

Then again, there is always a sense of damned if you and damned if you don’t at international level and if an opportunity to not make wholesale changes was not taken in a game of this stature, the natives then shout for such and such to get their chance.

Chances given in terms of the starting eleven, chances wasted on the field of play to make it a miserable night for England and one that came just days after a rather agricultural win over Andorra last Saturday.

The optimism around England has certainly subsided in the post-tournament lull but there are signs of xenophobia creeping in. Not only did England lose to Senegal, they did so with a German at the helm.

Would the same “Tuchel has not got a clue” vitriol be thrown towards men such as Graham Potter or Steven Gerrard if they were in charge of the England team this week. I don’t think it would.

That is not to say the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss gets a free pass from here until to North America (on the non-outlandish assumption we do reach the 2026 edition of the World Cup), but his nationality should not be the easy stick to beat him with.

One could argue that it was tactical change in a game of higher stakes that saw Tuchel given the England managerial call in the first place. Were it not for Lee Carsley’s tactical suicide at home to Greece when caretaker, the former Everton midfielder could still be England manager now.

Carsley spectacularly failed his job interview when all he had to do was wear a shirt and tie and remember a few names. Tuchel’s tenure has not got off to the most exciting start but will anybody care about Senegal if he does deliver a second World Cup crown in 2026?

I can answer that now. Trust me, they won’t.

The Filter Five

People liked ‘The Filter Five’ - they want more of it.

Trent The Brand

Real Madrid get their man. The man has had a change of moniker. No longer, Alexander-Arnold, now it’s Trent. The morph from player to brand is now in full effect and it seems those Duolingo lessons have come in very handy for Real’s new number 12.

Viewing Figures Down, Firesticks Up

The Premier League reported that there was a 10% decrease in viewing figures at the end of the season. This can easily be explained by a lack of title race and no relegation battle to entice fans to its weekly soap opera.

Sky high costs to view Sky Sports and with the ‘product’ not necessarily being the hottest ticket in town - even with premium charges attached to it, it is absolutely no surprise that the reported use of Fire Sticks has increased substantially and will continue to do so.

Boom Boom Boom, Let Me Here You Say Mbeumo

Thomas Frank is Tottenham boss and the first rule of transfer journalism is that any new manager MUST go back to his old stomping ground in an attempt to bring a star player to his new one.

There is a lot of logic in Bryan Mbeumo moving to Tottenham - none more so than the Cameroonian would not have to leave London. As always with any Spurs signing, one wonders if Daniel Levy is prepared to loosen the purse strings to an adequate length.

Proxy War Cools Down

In the previous issue, I shone the spotlight on the proxy war between Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace as an ongoing row of multi-club models and European qualification criteria continues.

However, it looks like being bad news for Brighton who have been patiently waiting in the shadows. The letter from the City Ground to UEFA looks to have had little effect and Palace’s European Tour 25/26 is now very close to being rubber stamped.

Old Zealand vs New Zealand

Not quite Zealand (the large Danish island) but not a million miles from it as Bayern Munich begin their FIFA Club World Cup bid against Kiwi outfit Auckland City this Sunday afternoon.

In FA Cup terms this is David vs Goliath, in real terms its probably an even bigger scale. A part-time Oceania club that has only been in operation for two decades or so - a little known fact is that I’ve been to their Kiwitea Street ground before the club was even born, going up against German football royalty.

I will start the bidding at 6-0. Anything more than that and not only will it be embarrassing for the Auckland outfit but it will also be largely embarrasing for FIFA as well. Then again, if you’re Gianni Infantino, that embarrasment can quickly disappear if you focus on the $$.

Admin

Right, that’s the end of issue 6. Big thanks to everyone who not only subscribes but more importantly reads the newsletter. I have an open rate of nearly 60% which means nobody is bored and hopefully you can tell one more person about the concept over the weekend.

Also, feedback is certainly going to help drive this forward. If you want to take the time to tell me what you liked, what you didn’t like and/or what you want to see.

Consider these summer issues as a ‘soft launch’ - the concepts and ideas will be free-flowing when the season starts, I promise you there’s more to come!

My email for correspondence is

[email protected]

Issue 7 will be out on Tuesday June 17th

Thanks for reading

Dan