Arne Slot

[Slinky Skills]

Who is the answer then this is the thing? I've no idea who else bar Iraola that's available and would come to us.

[Catrin]

Emotions aside, I’m far from convinced Alonso is the answer.

Same to be honest. If he was such a tactical genius how come his record against us is played 2, lost 2, 0 for, 5 against.

[kingfunk]

Who is the answer then this is the thing? I've no idea who else bar Iraola that's available and would come to us.

My own preference would be Sebastian Hoeneß, stylistically he’s a good fit for the club, but again I’m not sure if it’s because he’s the closest thing to Klopp out there. Then if we get a new manager in and it’s all going tits up after 10 games, what do we do then… it’s easy for us I guess.

[Catrin]

Who is the answer then this is the thing? I've no idea who else bar Iraola that's available and would come to us.

I’l get pelters about this but I’m curious about Graham Potter. His Brighton were super organised and on that basis alone he would be an improvement on Slot. Chelsea and (to a lesser extent) West Ham are basket cases so not sure how fair it would be to judge him on his results there.

[Yozza]

Pelters to you….

[Norbs]

No way does Alonso go to Chelsea, the club is a complete disaster and he doesn’t come across as the mercenary type. Why are people even paying attention to these stories?

You'd hope so but he'd get a 3 year contract and almost certainly wouldn't last that long

[Deano]

You'd hope so but he'd get a 3 year contract and almost certainly wouldn't last that long

Del

[Deano]

I’l get pelters about this but I’m curious about Graham Potter. His Brighton were super organised and on that basis alone he would be an improvement on Slot. Chelsea and (to a lesser extent) West Ham are basket cases so not sure how fair it would be to judge him on his results there.

Nope, I'd also say Gary O'Neil, but its near remote that either would come clos - Some talented coaches out there, but very few that could carry this club and tbf I'd doubt Alonso could either.

[peterbread]

I went back and read an old article posted at the start of this thread abut who the other top candidates were to replace Klopp. The part about Amorim and his playing style are interesting considering what Slot has done to this team this season.

For at least three weeks after Alonso ruled himself out of contention, the coach most persistently linked to the Liverpool job was Amorim, who has led Sporting to the brink of a second Primeira Liga title in four seasons, and who before his appointment had not won the title in 19 years.

In the second week of April, reports in Portugal suggested Amorim had been offered the position as Klopp’s successor and had verbally agreed a three-year contract. Liverpool vehemently denied that, as did the man himself. “There was no interview and certainly no agreement,” the 39-year-old said on April 11.

The reports about Amorim — whose fitness coach at Sporting, Paulo Barreira, was a former Anfield staff member — caused a degree of annoyance at Liverpool, who did not want any candidate, such as Slot, thinking the job had been offered to anyone else. The reality is that Amorim, who was keen to move to the Premier League, did feature on Liverpool’s list, having scored well in much of the data analysis, but he was never a front-runner. Amorim’s agent Raul Costa came to Merseyside in early April but that trip was primarily to visit Luis Diaz, the Liverpool winger he also represents.

While impressed by his record, Edwards and Hughes had doubts about Amorim’s compatibility with the Liverpool job specifically.


Ruben Amorim was not favoured for the Liverpool job, despite widespread speculation (Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
They were unconvinced that his preference for a three-man central defence — shared by Alonso at Leverkusen, incidentally — would suit many of the players he would be working with. But more significant was a nagging concern about Amorim’s playing style. Sporting may have scored 96 goals in 34 league matches this season, but theirs is regarded as a slower style that is less front-foot — both in and out of possession.

There were similar conclusions about De Zerbi at Brighton and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Like Amorim, De Zerbi was on a theoretical shortlist but not one of the first names on it. Playing style and compatibility with Liverpool were again considered to be a factor.

Others who were discussed briefly included Iraola, whose Bournemouth contract had been due to expire in 2025 (he signed a new one last week), and Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe, having both worked under Hughes at Bournemouth, together with Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness (whose data scores were closely aligned with Klopp’s, and who had many admirers at Liverpool) and Michel, who has enjoyed a superb season at Girona in La Liga.


Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi (a well-respected coach whose lack of English was potentially problematic) and Lille’s Paulo Fonseca (now interesting AC Milan) were also considered, but they were never seriously in the frame.

Bayern’s outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel, who succeeded Klopp at Dortmund in 2015 and won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, was not in contention. Indeed, many of the names linked to the job were either never in the frame due to being incompatible with Liverpool’s criteria or were simply pushing their candidatures.

The claims of Ernesto Valverde, however, were regarded by Liverpool as much stronger. The 60-year-old was a leading contender, having won two league titles at Barcelona, three championships in Greece with Olympiacos and recently ended Athletic Bilbao’s 40-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Copa del Rey last month. He would also have fitted the ‘brave’ ‘criteria laid out by Hughes and Edwards.

Luciano Spalletti, 65, was also of significant interest. Last season, he guided Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, but he had only been appointed to manage the Italy national team last August. The fact that both men were seriously considered, however, suggested that age was not a major consideration in Liverpool’s thinking.

When Edwards and Hughes set out to find Klopp’s successor, they envisaged a process where they might start with 20 candidates and gradually whittle them down to 10, then perhaps five and then three for a final round of interviews.

It ended up being more straightforward than that. They might have had a notional shortlist, but they also had settled on Slot as their preferred candidate and successfully persuaded Gordon and the rest of Liverpool’s ownership team to open formal negotiations with Feyenoord.

[Tatterdemalion]

I think there are enough mitigating circumstances around this season for the owners to continue to believe - even if we think they are kidding themselves - that they made the right choice in getting Slot, so I think he stays.

I agree we need a change, but I'm not convinced Alonso is the one (although I did want him before Slot). I think this season has taught us that in the PL we need to play on the front foot all the time and I don't know if that is what Alonso would do. Happy to be told otherwise. Whoever comes in, or if Slot stays, I would like to see a return to pressing in packs, fast counter attacks and less faffing and passing around at the back, pretending to build an attack. We need another leader and I as much as I would like it to be true, I don't think it is Szobo.

On another note, if Salah really is blaming 'things happening behind the scenes' for his departure, then it shows a staggering lack of self awareness in a player being paid multiples of his team mates' salaries, but delivering mostly frustration. If I was 'behind the scenes' I would be promoting his departure - I love him, but his time has passed.

Oh and great post above, Peterbread

[Doc_Piptorious]

Nope, I'd also say Gary O'Neil, but its near remote that either would come clos - Some talented coaches out there, but very few that could carry this club and tbf I'd doubt Alonso could either.

I actually think that is not the wildest shout at all. Not sure he is ready to step straight in as the coach or manager of Liverpool but think he is a far better coach than he might be given credit for.


Think if we had a very good short term coach with O'Neil as his number two as part of a very clearer defined succession plan, then it might work.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I went back and read an old article posted at the start of this thread abut who the other top candidates were to replace Klopp. The part about Amorim and his playing style are interesting considering what Slot has done to this team this season.

For at least three weeks after Alonso ruled himself out of contention, the coach most persistently linked to the Liverpool job was Amorim, who has led Sporting to the brink of a second Primeira Liga title in four seasons, and who before his appointment had not won the title in 19 years.

In the second week of April, reports in Portugal suggested Amorim had been offered the position as Klopp’s successor and had verbally agreed a three-year contract. Liverpool vehemently denied that, as did the man himself. “There was no interview and certainly no agreement,” the 39-year-old said on April 11.

The reports about Amorim — whose fitness coach at Sporting, Paulo Barreira, was a former Anfield staff member — caused a degree of annoyance at Liverpool, who did not want any candidate, such as Slot, thinking the job had been offered to anyone else. The reality is that Amorim, who was keen to move to the Premier League, did feature on Liverpool’s list, having scored well in much of the data analysis, but he was never a front-runner. Amorim’s agent Raul Costa came to Merseyside in early April but that trip was primarily to visit Luis Diaz, the Liverpool winger he also represents.

While impressed by his record, Edwards and Hughes had doubts about Amorim’s compatibility with the Liverpool job specifically.


Ruben Amorim was not favoured for the Liverpool job, despite widespread speculation (Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)
They were unconvinced that his preference for a three-man central defence — shared by Alonso at Leverkusen, incidentally — would suit many of the players he would be working with. But more significant was a nagging concern about Amorim’s playing style. Sporting may have scored 96 goals in 34 league matches this season, but theirs is regarded as a slower style that is less front-foot — both in and out of possession.

There were similar conclusions about De Zerbi at Brighton and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Like Amorim, De Zerbi was on a theoretical shortlist but not one of the first names on it. Playing style and compatibility with Liverpool were again considered to be a factor.

Others who were discussed briefly included Iraola, whose Bournemouth contract had been due to expire in 2025 (he signed a new one last week), and Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe, having both worked under Hughes at Bournemouth, together with Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeness (whose data scores were closely aligned with Klopp’s, and who had many admirers at Liverpool) and Michel, who has enjoyed a superb season at Girona in La Liga.


Inter Milan’s Simone Inzaghi (a well-respected coach whose lack of English was potentially problematic) and Lille’s Paulo Fonseca (now interesting AC Milan) were also considered, but they were never seriously in the frame.

Bayern’s outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel, who succeeded Klopp at Dortmund in 2015 and won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, was not in contention. Indeed, many of the names linked to the job were either never in the frame due to being incompatible with Liverpool’s criteria or were simply pushing their candidatures.

The claims of Ernesto Valverde, however, were regarded by Liverpool as much stronger. The 60-year-old was a leading contender, having won two league titles at Barcelona, three championships in Greece with Olympiacos and recently ended Athletic Bilbao’s 40-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Copa del Rey last month. He would also have fitted the ‘brave’ ‘criteria laid out by Hughes and Edwards.

Luciano Spalletti, 65, was also of significant interest. Last season, he guided Napoli to their first Serie A title since 1990, but he had only been appointed to manage the Italy national team last August. The fact that both men were seriously considered, however, suggested that age was not a major consideration in Liverpool’s thinking.

When Edwards and Hughes set out to find Klopp’s successor, they envisaged a process where they might start with 20 candidates and gradually whittle them down to 10, then perhaps five and then three for a final round of interviews.

It ended up being more straightforward than that. They might have had a notional shortlist, but they also had settled on Slot as their preferred candidate and successfully persuaded Gordon and the rest of Liverpool’s ownership team to open formal negotiations with Feyenoord.

Sebastian Hoeness is a bit raw and untested, but like O'Neil I do think he has something about him. We might be a job too soon for him at present, but would not be upset either were we to take a punt as long as we backed him with the style of players he wanted to bring in.


Inzaghi has widely been reported to have been learning English the past 12 months or so. If his english was at a comeptent enough level he would be my pick as he has a very good track record tactically, all his teams work hard as a single unit, usually being very fluid in terms of in game changes, and his man management is generally regarded as being amongst the best in footy.



Michel has been very effective with Girona but not so sure how he likes to set up his teams, and he tends to like some variation of three/five at the back almost all the time, would work when the expectations are to beating all the other teams rather than being a team that is hard to beat. He also likes a slow build up from the back and to circulate the ball in midfield in order to draw the other team onto his team so a counter attack can be sprung, he would not get that luxury at a club like Liverpool when other teams are playing low blocks and looking to draw us out to be countered.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I’l get pelters about this but I’m curious about Graham Potter. His Brighton were super organised and on that basis alone he would be an improvement on Slot. Chelsea and (to a lesser extent) West Ham are basket cases so not sure how fair it would be to judge him on his results there.

Can see why Potter would catch the eye. When within a stable set up, his teams do look hyper organised and very effective against bigger clubs.

Do think he might be a bit similar to Michel at Girona though in that he makes teams that are difficult to beat and but not teams that go out expecting to be giving the beating each week.

Also think that we need to be careful saying this manager or that manager is an improvement on Slot. Many on paper would look to be an improvement on Slot based only on this season, but if we change we need a guy that is potentially better than the Slot of last season and better than the Slot that won silverware in the Netherlands. We need to be setting the bar at that level imo and not looking to just be better than this season's Slot.

[Charly]

I remember that article, which is why im confused as to what has happened this season.

Slot has now changed things to be the exact opposite of how Klopp played.

He has had opportunities to reverse things to play the winning hybrid formula from last season but instead persisted with whatever you call our style now.

For that reason I want him gone. The tactics dont work, and its clear that is how he want to play. The PL wont give him the time on the ball, and unless we are spashing 100m on every position we wont be able to outplay other teams this way.

Other teams can make up the talent gap with hard work, and tbe gap isnt that great anyway.

[Doc_Piptorious]

I remember that article, which is why im confused as to what has happened this season.

Slot has now changed things to be the exact opposite of how Klopp played.

He has had opportunities to reverse things to play the winning hybrid formula from last season but instead persisted with whatever you call our style now.

For that reason I want him gone. The tactics dont work, and its clear that is how he want to play. The PL wont give him the time on the ball, and unless we are spashing 100m on every position we wont be able to outplay other teams this way.

Other teams can make up the talent gap with hard work, and tbe gap isnt that great anyway.

TBH I don't really care if a new manager or coach changes things to what the previous one did as long as it works. Last season it did work and then some, this season it has looked slow and disjointed.

Looks all the world like a system or set up has been put in place but with some of it's parts missing.

It also looks like a set up that tactically can better most of the league, hence our position in said league, but without the pieces that bring mobility and the ability to progress the ball/play quickly the same set up stutters and stalls more often than ot works fluidly.

Said it plenty of times that despite how lanquid we have looked this season I do think we are in a position where maybe three first team pieces (and some decent squad cover) would transform our ability to play in a more uptempo and fluid manner. Think we need those additions regardless of who the next coach or manager is.

What makes it so difficult to guess as to what players we might go for and what set up we might use next season are the vast differences in how the coaches/managers we have been linked with all set up their teams. Sure managers will change formations but they do tend to have an ethos and playing they like implement and the names we have been linked with, say Alonso, Iraola, Inzaghi, Hoeness, Valverde and even Enrique (no chance but he has been mentioned) all set up their teams using very different fundementals and styles of play for the most part.

The only ones from that list with real common ground are Inzaghi and Enrique as both prefer their players to be very fluid positionally and expect everyone from the star name to the grunts to all put in the same level of effort. Both like their players to hunt in packs and press off the ball too. On that latter point Hoeness has a little cross over with both.

Alonso is closer to Slot in that he likes a slow build up and sets up his teams in a similar manner. Michel likes a slow patient build up but tends to go with 3 or 5 at the back and his system relies heavily on the goalkeeper being a big part of the on the ball build up play at the back. Michel also goes quite narrow in the centre often using a diamond or two sets of two there.

Iraola then plays probably the quickest tempo play of the lot and a big part of his game is to get the ball into the other team's final third as fast as possible, often by going long. His team tend to use physicality over build up play, relying on the ability to break fast and also the ability to harry quickly when off the ball. They play a lot like Leeds under the bucket sitter which is fine for a smaller team trying to upset the bigger guns every now and then but at a bigger club unless all your players also have the abilty to be elite on the ball you will come undone against other big clubs that have the ability to switch it up.


Think Klopp ball is dead for the most part now as even mid table teams these days have the fitness levels to press and harry to a high level and as such have the ablity to counter press another pressing team. Plus grok ball has made a big comeback on account of fitness levels levelling out for the most part.

Think the way to beat things nowadays is to try to create teams that are very fluid in how they play and that contain six to eight outfield players that can swap positions with ease (not unlike PSG under Enrique or Inter under Inzaghi). As such you then need teams that have lots of quick, mobile physically capable players that are no mugs when on the ball either and that are very capable of playing short balls in the middle and final third but that have the players to play long passes from their own defensive third (a la VVD and also a la Jacquet who looks very good at doing that)