What's new
  • Club announcement
    New manager appointed
    Tranmere Rovers have appointed Darrell Clarke as the club’s new manager.
    View profile Discuss this

Liverpool

After the second title in decades and a fifth finish! As I put on another thread Carrick will go in the first dip. Mad
 
Madness. Winning the Prem guarantees nothing. Had they failed to qualify for the Champions League I could have understood it, but he deserved better.

It seems the Technical Director, Richard Hughes, didn’t like the style of play. I expect he’ll now bring in his own man, Andoni Araola, who he recruited when working at Bournemouth.
 
It’s surprising. After a title-winning first season, you’d expect some leeway after a less impressive second, but still making a Chimps League qualification spot. For whatever reason, substantial investment in their squad did not pay off.

However whether he ends up at Liverpool or elsewhere, Iraola is a quality manager who has had Bournemouth punching above their weight.
 
bring back the cowshed! said:
Madness. Winning the Prem guarantees nothing. Had they failed to qualify for the Champions League I could have understood it, but he deserved better.

It seems the Technical Director, Richard Hughes, didn’t like the style of play. I expect he’ll now bring in his own man, Andoni Araola, who he recruited when working at Bournemouth.
Click to expand...
I would have given Slot longer. However, given the Richard Hughes connection at Bournemouth I think Slot must have seen the writing on the wall.
 
Higgy said:
I would have given Slot longer. However, given the Richard Hughes connection at Bournemouth I think Slot must have seen the writing on the wall.
Click to expand...
Mo Salah won the title for Liverpool. 29 goals and 18 assists. Slot was along for the ride. Things started to go pear shaped when he started to impose his own controlled style. He had bad luck with the death of Jota and injuries but the squad was unbalanced. Isak was not needed but Guehi and a Diaz replacement were. Hughes must bear some responsibility for this so I suspect he has to get it right this time or he might be clearing his desk. He knows Iraola well so I am sure they will be collaborating on what is needed. Wharton would be my first pick to stiffen the midfield which was a revolving door last season. People blame the defence but if there is no cover it is exposed quickly. Thus, the criticism of VVD and Konate. Interesting that only the former, as captain, has thanked Slot. I think he lost the players and not just the fans.
 
In Slot’s first few months at Anfield I remember a Dutch reporter saying that, in his first season at Feyenoord, he just cleverly tweaked what he’d inherited then, from the second season, made big changes to the squad and imposed his own style. And that Liverpool fans could expect the same.

Trouble is, while adding a modicum of control to Klopp’s heavy metal football won them the title in his first season, the style he’s been trying to impose now is too far removed from what the fans (and seemingly the players) want, to the extent that the team is losing its identity. Slot might argue - with some justification - that he needs the summer window to complete the transition, but when the fans and players start losing faith it’s no surprise the board does too.

It’s not the finishing 5th that’s done him, it’s the loss of identity accompanying that.

It’s often a poisoned chalice succeeding a legend. He mastered it superbly in year 1 but it’s all drifted a bit too much since.
 
O4anotherplayoff said:
In Slot’s first few months at Anfield I remember a Dutch reporter saying that, in his first season at Feyenoord, he just cleverly tweaked what he’d inherited then, from the second season, made big changes to the squad and imposed his own style. And that Liverpool fans could expect the same.

Trouble is, while adding a modicum of control to Klopp’s heavy metal football won them the title in his first season, the style he’s been trying to impose now is too far removed from what the fans (and seemingly the players) want, to the extent that the team is losing its identity. Slot might argue - with some justification - that he needs the summer window to complete the transition, but when the fans and players start losing faith it’s no surprise the board does too.

It’s not the finishing 5th that’s done him, it’s the loss of identity accompanying that.

It’s often a poisoned chalice succeeding a legend. He mastered it superbly in year 1 but it’s all drifted a bit too much since.
Click to expand...
I would not disagree. I suspect that there is a view that Iraola will come up with something closer to what the fans and the longer term players are used to. See what happens!
 
The style reminded me of a witticism about Jack Charlton’s teams.

“Today, Arsenal entertain Man U, with Middlesbrough playing across the middle…. “
 
drwhoman said:
Mo Salah won the title for Liverpool. 29 goals and 18 assists. Slot was along for the ride. Things started to go pear shaped when he started to impose his own controlled style. He had bad luck with the death of Jota and injuries but the squad was unbalanced. Isak was not needed but Guehi and a Diaz replacement were. Hughes must bear some responsibility for this so I suspect he has to get it right this time or he might be clearing his desk. He knows Iraola well so I am sure they will be collaborating on what is needed. Wharton would be my first pick to stiffen the midfield which was a revolving door last season. People blame the defence but if there is no cover it is exposed quickly. Thus, the criticism of VVD and Konate. Interesting that only the former, as captain, has thanked Slot. I think he lost the players and not just the fans.
Click to expand...
Yes Salah's numbers last season were awesome, yet his form this season after the big contract fell off a cliff.
Variances like availability, no R.B. and bedding new players in may have affected his tactics.
Whether it was Issak, they needed a replacement for Jota and even Nunez. It'll be interesting to see how Issak platforms if he's injury free next season and whether he and Ekitikhe play together. Konate is on his way.
 
Higgy said:
Yes Salah's numbers last season were awesome, yet his form this season after the big contract fell off a cliff.
Variances like availability, no R.B. and bedding new players in may have affected his tactics.
Whether it was Issak, they needed a replacement for Jota and even Nunez. It'll be interesting to see how Issak platforms if he's injury free next season and whether he and Ekitikhe play together. Konate is on his way.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Thanks Higgy. A major reason Salah declined was not just about age. When he had TAA behind him he would get long balls into space whereas in Slot’s ponderous build up he usually got two defenders around him when he got the ball. People talk about Dom’s free kick goals but my favourite goal in 25/26 was a pass to Gakpo in the centre circle who immediately released it to Salah in space who put it on to the surging Dom’s boot around the penalty spot who put it in the net. For once a real team goal which reminded me of the best Klopp days. Cannot remember the other team Not sure if the new Manager will play Hugo (not fit for a while?) with Isak. Cherries tended to be 4-2-3-1. Shame about Konate but the lack of midfield bite did not help him and VVD last season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top