Liverpool FC - Talk /Gossip/Rumours 25/25

I normally can't be arsed to put together such a long winded response, but this post has annoyed me, so I have.

I don’t think this season was the way Slot wanted to play. When he was first appointed the report on him was that he loves his wingers and he got none last season.

Slot:

“Me and Richard are going to work together when it comes to transfers but not only the two of us – there is a big backroom staff included in this as well,” the head coach explained.

“I think for me it is the way I have worked always and it for me is the ideal way of working.

“Because I can use the most of my time by working with the team and the time that is left will probably be a bit for the family and a bit to talk with Richard about how we can strengthen the team.

“But we already have a really strong team.”

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2024/06/arne-slot-reveals-his-role-in-liverpool-transfers-talks-held-almost-every-day/

I think you are cherry picking some of his quotes to twist an argument, he was actually very complimentary about his players on many occasions. Some of those players need to take a look in the mirror imo

No. I gave examples to support my argument that Slot is not a good man manager, and that he often openly criticised his players to the press. That is not common, and is a bad sign. That is one example of his bad man management. Another example would be how he allowed players in poor form to play week in week out, or didn't give opportunities to squad players unless he was stuck, or how the squad depth was unnecessarily thinned e.g. Quansah, Elliot - good players who could play a role.

If last season was an indication on the way he wants football played, then it’s Richard Hughes mistake for hiring him. His teams in Feyenoord didn’t play like we did last year.

These are quotes from Slot when he joined the club :

• On the squad quality: "I have inherited a really strong team... The quality of the players Klopp left was evident."
• On team culture: "The culture of hard work, not only from the players but also from the staff members, has been incredible."
• On tactical continuation: "There was not a reason to change lots of things, just keep the things they do really well. Both [Klopp and I] like to press really high and score goals."

Regarding Hughes, yes he has responsibility obviously, but it seems that Slot's approach ultimately morphed from what was expected. Slot said himself there was 'not a reason to change lots of things' and 'both like to press really high' - well, he did change things to our detriment, we lost our cohesive pressing, and we became slow and pedestrian.

Hughes said the following on the reasons for hiring Slot (I've shared this previously):

Evidently this did not pan out as expected, which is why the club are parting ways with Slot. His style, or whatever he was able to implement or ultimately presided over was not 'the Liverpool way'. It was not 'front foot, attacking football'.

Perhaps he has lost the dressing room and no one likes him I don’t know. I think it’s disappointing personally.

He has undoubtedly lost the dressing room. Of course it's disappointing. It was a bloody car crash of a season. I don't think we even saw such a player revolt under bloody Hodgson. Maybe never before to this scale. I can't be bothered listing all the 'worst stat in x category since ninety dickety'. Slot's Liverpool were diabolical this season.

I have always maintained that it was 33% Slot, 33% The Board and 33% the players

Another strange take. As manager, Slot is responsible for performances. The board gave him that opportunity. Yes, the players have been bad, but he is responsible for their performances and the results. He is leading them, coaching them, instructing them. He is picking the team, setting our tactics.

As we have seen, to some extent or another, the players ultimately pushed back and the Board have ultimately fired him.

Edit:

I don't intend to continue to rake over the past. I'm glad the change has happened, and I want to now look to the future.

That was not intended in that sense. An unfortunate coincidence in using a common metaphor

One of the few certainties is that Xabi Alonso was never likely to be part of what happened next. While there are assumptions in some quarters that dragging their feet over Slot cost Liverpool a shot at their former midfielder, who was appointed by Chelsea two weeks ago, Alonso was not a serious consideration for Edwards and Hughes.

That was made clear months ago when sources at Liverpool, speaking to The Athletic on the subject of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, dismissed the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid coach as a candidate in the hypothetical — and at the time both undesired and unexpected — scenario that they found themselves looking for a new coach.

I’m sure they considered it, and then for whatever reason (presumably something based around style of play and how effective they thought it would be with this squad/league) dismissed it.

I wonder if there’s a question over his style in the PL… doesn’t have a good record against English teams, the only one he’s beaten is West Ham, drew the other West Ham game, and has lost to us twice (including a hammering) and to Man City. Small sample, but maybe a sign of what the underlying data says about things. We’ll find out one way out another pretty soon though!

I'd heard it mentioned on a podcast that the term "manager" was suggested by Chelsea and was not a stipulation from Alonso. I don't see him taking control of recruitment at Chelsea and I doubt he would want that either.

This is a good interview with Iraola and offers some good insight into his views on football.

This quote was striking.

"I think we have to take risks when we regain. I don't like this 'security pass', as they say, to play with the 'keeper, to start building from the back. You have to do it sometimes, but it is not what identifies us. We are dangerous in fast attacks, when we recover possession as high as we can.

"I think we can find more goals that way than building from the back. Sometimes we score starting from the 'keeper, with a lot of passes, but the amount you score like this is a lot lower."