Arne Slot

[danperkins]

Imo I just don't see Slot coming up with any new strategy to get the team going. At the very least, a new manager bounce is a real thing, gets the players going, gets the fans going, gets some fresh ideas into the side & get some ****ing life back in the club. Under Slot we won't 'capitulate', instead we have that slow drip of win, lose, draw type of thing and I just can't see us making champs league under Slot. He just doesn't seem to have any cards to play. To me, it seems that the higher ups and praying for a miracle champs league run & we just aren't good enough imo. I have no doubts that behind that scenes, there is turmoil about whether to stick or twist.

[BG1973]

He gets 8-10 games to see what is working and which squad members need to be replaced for his playing style to succeed before the transfer window opens. It’s a professional rather than personal benefit.

As Doc says, there may be some ‘gardening leave’ contractual restrictions that may prevent it. Can you imagine we get past PSG and he is in charge for a semi final against Real??

If he doesn't get a bounce though he's already under a load of pressure.

Clean slate from June.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Imo I just don't see Slot coming up with any new strategy to get the team going. At the very least, a new manager bounce is a real thing, gets the players going, gets the fans going, gets some fresh ideas into the side & get some ****ing life back in the club. Under Slot we won't 'capitulate', instead we have that slow drip of win, lose, draw type of thing and I just can't see us making champs league under Slot. He just doesn't seem to have any cards to play. To me, it seems that the higher ups and praying for a miracle champs league run & we just aren't good enough imo. I have no doubts that behind that scenes, there is turmoil about whether to stick or twist.

Tudor and Spurs says otherwise. Think for every bounce type interim manager you get one where the results more or less stay the same, especially at the higher levels.

Really don't think there is anyone of quality, and by that I mean the bare minimum of being good enough to create a run of wins, available for an interim gig.


Also reckon that Alonso is not available, either by choice or by contract, until at least the summer. Real having gardening leave/non compete clauses in their pay offs is common enough. Usually applies to that manager joining teams still in the same competitions that season as them.

Then anyone potentially really good or potentially really good like Enrigue, Hoeness, Inzaghi or whatever name we throw out there is in a job at present and most likely not willing to jump ship until the summer anyway.


Really think it is simply a case of having to suck it up until we get to the summer and hope for the best that we get some luck in one or both cups and that the same applies in the league.

Another factor is that I think some of our players had little interest in upping their own work rates. That is just a gut feeling of course but think more than a few will continue to go through the motions until the summer regardless of who we have as a coach until the end of the season. An interim guy is not going to get players to work harder as they will knlow that guy is gone in the summer anyway.

What I do think needs to change come the summer is the experiment of going back to having a head coach instead of the guy in charge being a football manager.

[Doc_Piptorious]

If he doesn't get a bounce though he's already under a load of pressure.

Clean slate from June.

Yep. A new guy gets some of the **** sticking to him if he comes in now and there is not an immediate bounce.

Join in June, and there is a longer grace period that only starts from gday one. That clean slate you mentioned.

[danperkins]

Tudor and Spurs says otherwise. Think for every bounce type interim manager you get one where the results more or less stay the same, especially at the higher levels.

Really don't think there is anyone of quality, and by that I mean the bare minimum of being good enough to create a run of wins, available for an interim gig.


Also reckon that Alonso is not available, either by choice or by contract, until at least the summer. Real having gardening leave/non compete clauses in their pay offs is common enough. Usually applies to that manager joining teams still in the same competitions that season as them.

Then anyone potentially really good or potentially really good like Enrigue, Hoeness, Inzaghi or whatever name we throw out there is in a job at present and most likely not willing to jump ship until the summer anyway.


Really think it is simply a case of having to suck it up until we get to the summer and hope for the best that we get some luck in one or both cups and that the same applies in the league.

Another factor is that I think some of our players had little interest in upping their own work rates. That is just a gut feeling of course but think more than a few will continue to go through the motions until the summer regardless of who we have as a coach until the end of the season. An interim guy is not going to get players to work harder as they will knlow that guy is gone in the summer anyway.

What I do think needs to change come the summer is the experiment of going back to having a head coach instead of the guy in charge being a football manager.

in fairness Tudor & Spurs is a terrible example but I get what you're saying. I could use United or Madrid as a better example as what a new manager can do which are closer in quality to us than Spurs.

We are 5th, world class players & we wouldn't get getting some bum in. We just don't know if Alonso is available and that is the problem. IMO if he was available, willing to come now and he is our target manager after Slot, it's pure negligence not to jump all over that but again who knows. As for who else could come in, I don't know but what I do know is the current situation is not working & not getting champs league is a bit of a disaster.

Here's the thing, why do we see big work rate, aggression, fast tempo vs Gala at home, vs Madrid, vs Arsenal but not in most other games? So it proves we can do it when we want but why are we not doing it in most games? That's on the manager, that's the style he wants and it seems polar opposite to our lads, who seems so much more at home playing with a bit more freedom & a faster pace. We just look better playing a higher tempo & more aggressive style. Work rate and effort, is up to the manager to enforce that & select players that will do that. The question becomes, why keep playing lads like Mo, Gakpo, Macca who are functioning at a snails pace and legs look cooked when you have fresh legs of Rio, work rate of Chiesa and then the whole RB and Szob debacle, playing your best player in a position that is not his when you have actual RB's in the squad ready to go? It has been just rinse and repeat for the whole season and hence why he's under the microscope.

I get that it's a risk to give him the boot now but given what we have seen this season, it's also a risk to keep him when the evidence suggests that he doesn't have a plan b and he can't seem to get that desire, passion, work rate etc into the boys on a regular basis. It's a risky decision either way and I can see why the board would be cautious to make a change. It's a **** show & the fact we are still 5th is a ****ing miracle in itself & an indictment on the standard on the league.

[Cerbie]

If he doesn't get a bounce though he's already under a load of pressure.

Clean slate from June.

The blame for the current situation is on Slot, Xabi has loads of credit in the bank with the fan base for it not to put him under pressure.

Stick with Slot and we will be repeating the same mistakes and redundant tactics of replacing Konate with Rio or Fede when we are chasing a game. It’s Einstein’s definition of insanity.

Twist and we get a chance to do something different and maybe qualify for CL, or possibly (v long shot) win it. The only certainty for me is that neither of those things happen if we stick. We are already 2 months late in making a change and now the task for the interim or new long term manager is getting more difficult by the week.

The apparent indecision/disinterest in making a change by the Board does raise the question why? Is there a new owner incoming to complicate the situation in the summer?

[Doc_Piptorious]

in fairness Tudor & Spurs is a terrible example but I get what you're saying. I could use United or Madrid as a better example as what a new manager can do which are closer in quality to us than Spurs.

We are 5th, world class players & we wouldn't get getting some bum in. We just don't know if Alonso is available and that is the problem. IMO if he was available, willing to come now and he is our target manager after Slot, it's pure negligence not to jump all over that but again who knows. As for who else could come in, I don't know but what I do know is the current situation is not working & not getting champs league is a bit of a disaster.

Here's the thing, why do we see big work rate, aggression, fast tempo vs Gala at home, vs Madrid, vs Arsenal but not in most other games? So it proves we can do it when we want but why are we not doing it in most games? That's on the manager, that's the style he wants and it seems polar opposite to our lads, who seems so much more at home playing with a bit more freedom & a faster pace. We just look better playing a higher tempo & more aggressive style. Work rate and effort, is up to the manager to enforce that & select players that will do that. The question becomes, why keep playing lads like Mo, Gakpo, Macca who are functioning at a snails pace and legs look cooked when you have fresh legs of Rio, work rate of Chiesa and then the whole RB and Szob debacle, playing your best player in a position that is not his when you have actual RB's in the squad ready to go? It has been just rinse and repeat for the whole season and hence why he's under the microscope.

I get that it's a risk to give him the boot now but given what we have seen this season, it's also a risk to keep him when the evidence suggests that he doesn't have a plan b and he can't seem to get that desire, passion, work rate etc into the boys on a regular basis. It's a risky decision either way and I can see why the board would be cautious to make a change. It's a **** show & the fact we are still 5th is a ****ing miracle in itself & an indictment on the standard on the league.

Cannot disagree with a lot of that, but think it all boils down to, assuming we are looking to change, to whomever we want not being available until the summer and that anyone that is available on an interim basis right now is either unwilling to step in and/or not good enough to step in.

In terms of risk I reckon changing now is a far bigger risk than changing in the summer especially if there is truth to there being changes upstairs in the summer.

Think the war in the middle east has changed quite a few things too. Highes was rumoured to being going to Saudi. Salah was rumoured to be going to the same club as Hughes. Both might be having second thoughts now with all the ****e going on over there.

We also have a few players that hit the end of their contracts come June.

And a few players that are **** showing week in week out.

Might be a new guy does not want to have to juggle those balls and would prefer to have a clearer picture with regards to his own starting point with the club.

Join the club in June and a lower starting point buys you more time to do your own thing as even small improvements will be seen as green shoots.

Could also be that there is legs to the Ajax and Slot rumours and that a mutual agreement type situation of us having to pay a lesser fee or no fee at all to let Slot leave in June may be on the cards. We don't have to pay off the final year of his contract allows for maybe a slightly bigger starting fee for a new guy.

Is all speculation of course, but do not see many upsides to trying to change right now. My take is the worst it can get to is where were were a number of months back and if it stays as we are now there we have a good chance of still making the CL as everyone else is as equally inconsistant as we are.

Only way I would change now is if a top guy said he would leave his current club right now and we were also able to get his club to agree terms to allow that to happen. But that is not going to happen.


Though the slightly sadistic side of me would kind of get a kick out of Sean Dyche coming in for 2 and a bit months

[Lee]

He gets 8-10 games to see what is working and which squad members need to be replaced for his playing style to succeed before the transfer window opens. It’s a professional rather than personal benefit.

As Doc says, there may be some ‘gardening leave’ contractual restrictions that may prevent it. Can you imagine we get past PSG and he is in charge for a semi final against Real??

World Cup summer too so the earlier Alonso (or whoever it is) comes in the better for a number of reasons.

[danperkins]

Cannot disagree with a lot of that, but think it all boils down to, assuming we are looking to change, to whomever we want not being available until the summer and that anyone that is available on an interim basis right now is either unwilling to step in and/or not good enough to step in.

In terms of risk I reckon changing now is a far bigger risk than changing in the summer especially if there is truth to there being changes upstairs in the summer.

Think the war in the middle east has changed quite a few things too. Highes was rumoured to being going to Saudi. Salah was rumoured to be going to the same club as Hughes. Both might be having second thoughts now with all the ****e going on over there.

We also have a few players that hit the end of their contracts come June.

And a few players that are **** showing week in week out.

Might be a new guy does not want to have to juggle those balls and would prefer to have a clearer picture with regards to his own starting point with the club.

Join the club in June and a lower starting point buys you more time to do your own thing as even small improvements will be seen as green shoots.

Could also be that there is legs to the Ajax and Slot rumours and that a mutual agreement type situation of us having to pay a lesser fee or no fee at all to let Slot leave in June may be on the cards. We don't have to pay off the final year of his contract allows for maybe a slightly bigger starting fee for a new guy.

Is all speculation of course, but do not see many upsides to trying to change right now. My take is the worst it can get to is where were were a number of months back and if it stays as we are now there we have a good chance of still making the CL as everyone else is as equally inconsistant as we are.

Only way I would change now is if a top guy said he would leave his current club right now and we were also able to get his club to agree terms to allow that to happen. But that is not going to happen.


Though the slightly sadistic side of me would kind of get a kick out of Sean Dyche coming in for 2 and a bit months

all fair points. I do think Slot will be here until the summer & depending on what happens, will tell whether it was a mistake to stick with. I'm finding it hard to see how he motivates the players, I felt that his antics on the touch line last 2 games were slightly performative, maybe that's harsh.. I liked it but it just felt a bit forced imo. I feel Anfield, the fans and the players respond better to that. We have the potential to have away sides come to an absolute cauldron but it's dead most of the time, that 12th man is a huge advantage. The style of play is just so slow or boring and we have such good players, I always feel the faster we play, the more comfortable the boys seem & the fans respond to. Arne's job to to try secure champs league spot for next year and some how do something in the champs league. I can't see us beating PSG over two legs but stranger things have happened but that 4th spot, **** man we just keep blowing chance after chance to take advantage of teams dropping points around us. It's very frustrating, as the league is so weak, we know we have bags of talent but forgetting the results, even performance wise.. we just look so far off it this season & that's the real kicker for me why we are delaying the inevitable sticking with Arne. Right now would be so perfect for a new guy to come in and make a push in the league and bring those good times back but yeah **** knows who's available.

[Catrin]

As far as I’m aware the EPL is very likely to have 5 places next season, and of late Chelsea’s form has been even worse than ours. There is still some hope. Expect the worst but it might not happen. Unless Hugo’s dead leg has put him out for the season. Then we are screwed.

[BG1973]

The blame for the current situation is on Slot, Xabi has loads of credit in the bank with the fan base for it not to put him under pressure.

Stick with Slot and we will be repeating the same mistakes and redundant tactics of replacing Konate with Rio or Fede when we are chasing a game. It’s Einstein’s definition of insanity.

Twist and we get a chance to do something different and maybe qualify for CL, or possibly (v long shot) win it. The only certainty for me is that neither of those things happen if we stick. We are already 2 months late in making a change and now the task for the interim or new long term manager is getting more difficult by the week.

The apparent indecision/disinterest in making a change by the Board does raise the question why? Is there a new owner incoming to complicate the situation in the summer?

If he came then agree most..fans would not be stupid enough to blame a new manager. Some idiots still would of course.

However...a few defeats and the negativity remains... and possibly doubt in the players minds.. I don"t like that. I would rather players went away with mindset that this season in entirety was an exception but next season is a complete reset and something to feel very positive about.

[peterbread]

Is Sebastian Hoeneß the coach they say is similar to Klopp?

I do like Alonso but also think part of the attraction is that he’s a former player. I honestly don’t know if he’s the right option as I didn’t watch a huge amount of his Leverkusen team.

He did amazing things but it’s not just about how good you are it’s about the right fit for the squad and the club. We know Alonso fits the club and gets it but would his football be right. Maybe others who know more about it can give me an idea of what he’d bring.

Sebastian Hoeneß does have a beard and wears a baseball cap

[Doc_Piptorious]

all fair points. I do think Slot will be here until the summer & depending on what happens, will tell whether it was a mistake to stick with. I'm finding it hard to see how he motivates the players, I felt that his antics on the touch line last 2 games were slightly performative, maybe that's harsh.. I liked it but it just felt a bit forced imo. I feel Anfield, the fans and the players respond better to that. We have the potential to have away sides come to an absolute cauldron but it's dead most of the time, that 12th man is a huge advantage. The style of play is just so slow or boring and we have such good players, I always feel the faster we play, the more comfortable the boys seem & the fans respond to. Arne's job to to try secure champs league spot for next year and some how do something in the champs league. I can't see us beating PSG over two legs but stranger things have happened but that 4th spot, **** man we just keep blowing chance after chance to take advantage of teams dropping points around us. It's very frustrating, as the league is so weak, we know we have bags of talent but forgetting the results, even performance wise.. we just look so far off it this season & that's the real kicker for me why we are delaying the inevitable sticking with Arne. Right now would be so perfect for a new guy to come in and make a push in the league and bring those good times back but yeah **** knows who's available.

We have touched on it before, but think that is only half right.

It is a weak league in terms of sheer quality and spectacle. It is a weak league in terms of how lacking it is in free flowing football. It is a weak league in terms of clever tactics etc. Imo to all that and the next bit of course.

But in terms of physicality, wars of sheer attrition, diving/cheating/timewasting, and a lessening gap in terms of physical output (distances run/ active presses etc) I think it is the league in Europe with possible the highest levels of those things and those are things that the so called lesser teams can now match the big teams for.


So we go to play in Europe and we meet teams that want to beat us at football, that want to go at it tactically and that will do less of the simulation crap (usually but not always on that latter bit) and against those team we will do well as we have the talent in our team to play football when allowed and when the other team does not have the ability to out run/out physical us.

PSG I am not really that worried about. Last year we met a more dominant PSG team at a time when we were out on our legs and they still needed penalties to get past us (that super show by Ali in the first league did not hurt either ) .

Though when I say I am not worried about PSG that does not mean I think they will be easy or that they do not have the ability to punish us badly, it is just that they will come at us and look to play football. On our day we can go toe to toe with that and to be fair against that sort of team coming at us we tend to have a lot of good days.

Same with whichever team wins out of Real and Bayern. If we are lucky enough to get past PSG then we meet another very good team that will come at us and give us chances to go at them.


Think the other side of the draw, the "easier" side has more teams in it that would give us harder games than the better team in our side of the draw.


There is also another issue a new guy coming in right now would have. There would be next to nothing he could do about the conditioning of our squad in the short term so any changes in tactics, pressing etc would still be dictated to by that, and if there is a general malaise amongst the non new players that has lingered since the summer (and Kelleher came out and said just that in his recent interview. That most of the players he used to play with did not care about this season and that it was written off from the start by many), then a new guy gets a squad containing players that have already given up on the season for the most part. Is another reason why I think a new guy coming in at the start of the summer gets an easier ride of it.

Much easier to draw a line under a period you had no part of than doing so under one you came in and were a part of yourself.

[vlahka]

Sebastian Hoeneß hasnt done enough for me to even consider him an option.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Sebastian Hoeneß hasnt done enough for me to even consider him an option.

Yeah but you also think Nat Philips is a footballer so what do you know!