Brighton score a deserved goal a magnificent bike.
Bournemouth are so boring.
2 Likes
The only “cloud” over Alonso’s possible appointment at Liverpool that I’m seeing at the moment is how he reacts to what I perceive as crumbling of his dream to manage Real Madrid. That said, I don’t think he’ll consider joining another club prior to the summer.
I said it many, many times - I think he’s one of the most cunning, savvy people in football. Even if he leaves or rejects your club, he does it in such an elegant manner that you don’t feel rejected.
I felt he’d been planning his whole managerial career towards the ultimate goal of becoming a managerial legend at Real Madrid - so, what now when he needs to recalibrate his goals? Would he treat Liverpool as the pinnacle or a stepping stone?
That said, I don’t have many worries about the tactical side of his game. Real Madrid were mostly excellent under him according to stats - prime donne playing there were the end of him, that much was obvious. I’d be worried about the amount of injuries they were having while he was there, though, as well as our club’s hierarchy and probable necessity to have another summer of huge changes when it comes to playing personnel.
3 Likes
I’m pretty sure Xabi will give his normal 100% wherever his next job is. Another one of his ex-clubs or something completely new.
I don’t think this will crumble him, as in Real was his dream and everything else doesn’t motivate him enough. There are many different challenges that can be motivating, fulfilling.
And this was perhaps not his final opportunity at Real.
He knew what club he was joining and to become a Real coaching legend (because a Real legend he already is) for a long time… takes some work, it’s not something you can really plan or count on.
4 Likes
I’ve been expecting the latter for a few months now, but they’re letting him muddle along. I’m becoming increasingly convinced that they’ll keep Slot on until the end of the season.
2 Likes
I think this is the one slight benefit, if he had come here first the links to Madrid would soon have been around if he had been a success. I don’t think that will be there.
Is possibly Bayern but if he comes here you’d expect he would give it a good go for several years.
4 Likes
******“I think his future’s already set, to be honest. It’s been so pronounced, the decline, for such a long time. It is only a case of getting to the summer, albeit if he starts to lose six, seven on the bounce again, he will get bulleted because they’ll feel forced to go for an interim. They don’t want to change; they really would prefer not to.**David Lynch
That is some difficult fixtures for Slot. Bournemouth and newcastle might see draws. As for the city’s match, let’s hope that citeh have a similar collapse to what they experienced at old toilet!
1 Like
For all we know, Xabi’s confidence has been ripped to shreds because of his RM sacking. Whose to say he won’t want another Bayer Leverkusen appointment first and foremost to re-build his self belief.
Enrique would be an interesting choice though. Experienced guy.
i strongly doubt it has knocked him around significantly enough to damage his career, and id imagine most clubs wouldnt even take it in a a factor to his suitability.
having said that, its not IMPOSSIBLE it hasnt knocked him around a bit.
as @Limiescouse said elsewhere, one of the issues with Slot coming in is his career has never had a set back until now, and there were question marks over how he reacts to that.
employing Alonso after his first set back will have its own jeopardy, but at least he had his first issues on someone elses football feild, its gonna be very very interesting to see what happens for Xabi next ( regardless of if its with us or not)
4 Likes
If one of the main issues with Slot is his challenge/inexperience working with, and managing several “big name” and up and coming super stars, then I think Xabi has the same problem. They both need another 5 years to get the experience and gain that ability to command respect and be a ruthless leader.
Pep, Ancelotti, Maureen, Klopp, and recently Enrique are managers with such credentials and experience.
Back to the problem with not making a change soon, I think FSG have already calculated the CL minus EL revenue and opportunity cost…
While there’s no guarantee that changing managers will deliver a CL spot, it seems to be more bullish than staying the course. Plus it’ll come with a renewed appetite for all LFC stakeholders. It’s sad that it’s about marketing, selling kits and TV contracts, isn’t it?
1 Like
The calls to “Bring Xabi home” grate on me as Xabi has proved many times he just doesn’t like us as much as we like him.
What will we do when Arne leaves by mutual consent three weeks before Xabi is announced as Gladioli’s successor?
Then what?
I am almost certain the club will have a successor signed on the dotted line, before Slot is told
8 Likes
Of course. The hierarchy have proved they can handle transitions seamlessly. That’s why we’re having this conversation.
2 Likes
the transistion WAS seamless… we also then went on to win the league… no one anywhere can garuntee sustained success.
Slot might not even be done here…
3 Likes
well then we dont get Xabi as a manager.
Slot will be maintained in the job or not based onhis performance and our options otherwise.
if Slots sacked, id be gobsmacked if we dont have a candidate lined up and a few irons in the fire aswell.
2 Likes
I think Xabi will wait until the summer. There’s a chance both this job and the Bayern job will open (If Kompany takes over for Pep). There’s also a chance that the PSG job will open if Enrique leaves to take the Real Madrid job.
Those are some elite clubs that’ll need managers. There’s no rush.
So, what’s your solution then? Because this rot can’t go on.
I understand your frustration.
Don’t really have an answer as to why. Could it be that failing to complete a high risk pass whilst we are camped in the oppositions half could see us turned over with a lot of space to attack, players out of position. Whilst, around our own box, there is less room for the opposition to take advantage of a players are in their positions to react?
Also, at home hoofing the ball up the pitch - whilst sometimes the better option - it brings groans from the crowd and gives the impression we are under pressure 
.
I don’t recall it being this vocal. Isn’t going from dreadful to mediocre pulling it back 
.
I personally think Klopp would have got more shit off the fans if it was his 2nd season and if he didn’t have the progression of the previous seasons in the bank, plus we all loved his character, again built up over a few seasons.
I’m not making excuses or defending Slot, just trying to put a perspective on things.
Klopp had a squad he built and that had developed together over a few seasons - stronger bonds.
Slot, has been handed the task of overseeing a massive overhaul in personnel, a lot of new players trying to fit in, make friends, understand each other. Managing out the old guard/legends like Salah/VVD. Also, and I’m not using it as an excuse the passing of a friend/team member. All in the Shadow of our most successful manager since 1990.
Also, Richard Hughes has massively put his head on the block with the money spent during the summer, i’m pretty sure he will be looking to find a scapegoat, someone to blame and putting pressure on Slot. I’m sure the media will be given a slow, but increasing trickle of stories from an unnamed source close to the club portraying the usual favourable narrative of the Clubs higherarchy.
Look at what has happened after Fergie at Utd. Wenger at Arsenal, Mourinho at Chelsea, the Fans expectations changed, demanded more and as a result put more pressure on the board, result a revolving door of managers. It will happen at City after Pep.
I understand peoples frustrations and maybe Slot isn’t the right man, but as you alluded to with Alonso and @Mascot touched upon about a magic solution, it doesn’t mean another Manager will be more successful because we believe they will be. We beat Alonso’s Madrid comfortably where the score flattered them. We also beat his Leverkusen team convincingly, so why is he the answer. Also, how did Alonso’s Leverkusen fair defending their Title? They finished 21 points off the Champions!
As I say, Slot may not be the right Manager, but in my opinion he deserves more respect and understanding from a fan base that pride’s itself on its YNWA values.
The grass is not always greener and the fall guy is not always the problem.
5 Likes
I completely agree, I believe that if Alonso/RM parted ways a month or so earlier he would be overseeing our game on Wednesday.
I personally believe Alonso will learn and be stronger from his RM experience. He comes across intelligent, level headed and importantly humble. However, this doesn’t guarantee he will be successful in any of future roles.
On a slight tangent - I am a massive fan of Alonso, as a player/manager/human the problem with management is that it is hard to change something if it is not implemented straight away.
Trying to relate to (but in no way comparable) my own job role as a Site Manager, you need to set/balance your authority straight away. Once you are undermined by one it is hard to enforce it on the others. It is also harder if the previous manager was a little bit more lenient, had strong relationships with the personnel because they will become disgruntled and start creating unrest.
Thankfully, I can Red card someone from site and never see them again . The point I am trying to make is when you have characters who are used to being the centre of attention, getting their own who have a crowd of followers/fans it is hard to manage. It takes experience or a very Klopp type persona to succeed.
Looking at it from a present perspective, it was a very bad decision by Alonso. Hopefully, the future will show it to be an important bad decision - although only if he manages us.
I hate to say it, but we would have been a better choice/environment for him, if his desire was to have been successful at Madrid.
1 Like