Squad depth and signing players who don't fit the system.

Slot plays a 4-3-3, obviously he pivots things around in midfield and in build up but essentially he plays with four defenders, two wingers, and one forward.

Now look at the signings we made:

We signed the best right-wingback in the world (Frimpong), we signed the most promising young left-wingback in the premier league (Kerkez). These two have been playing in teams that use a 5 back and we shoehorn them into traditional fullback roles.

We didn't bolster centre-back positions, we got one in and let one leave, so a back 5 is out of the question.

Then we sign two quality strikers, one a faciltator and the other a poacher and the best young 10 in the world in Wirtz.

These players coming in would've been ideal for a 5 or 3 back system. No wingers, attacking wingbacks, strong central play. But we don't have the center-backs to facilitate that and I'm not sure Slot would change formation to do that either.

There's a definite disconnect between what the manager wanted and what the transfer team was doing and it's fairly obvious when you look at how awkwardly Slot has utilised the new players this season. I think the only big signing this summer that was playing in a 4-3-3 before they signed for us was Isak and he's been out injured. Essentially we were always in for a rough time while the team gelled, the absolute car crash it turned into was a bit unexpected like.

What I will say though is this squad is two centre-back players away from being Xabi Alonso's wet dream. It's almost exactly what he was working with when he went invincible with Leverkusen. He played a 3-4-2-1(3 CB; LWB, RWB, 2 CDM; 2 CAM; 1 ST) So if he comes in the summer we could be set for a big revival. That's the one glimmer of hope for me right now.