Arne Slot - Head Coach

[sandsoftime]

Paul Gorst - Liverpool Echo

Good article from Phil Thompson here… I remember in his playing days it was said Thommo could smoke a cigarette in the rain without it ever getting wet… going by this recent picture, I see what they meant :0)

Liverpool FC legend Phil Thompson has hit back at Arne Slot’s critics, insisting the Reds boss deserves more respect for what he achieved last season by winning the Premier League.

“I’m more than pleased with Slot. I get really disappointed at the moment with some of our fanbase. People want a change in the manager, but six months ago we had the parade of all parades after winning the league trophy, and everyone says, well it was Jurgen Klopp’s side, no, he still got to do it.

“Where are we going with this? We’ve just won the league, people swarmed into Merseyside from all over the world for the parade of all parades, and you think, what short memories. We like to think we’re different, but we’re going down the other way with this.

“I take Manchester United for this, with their struggles for many years, and why? Because they’ve changed and changed managers all the time. That brings about a change of players all the time, and what happens? You spiral out of control. I don’t want to go back to that. We’ve been there and had too many Manchester United fans laughing at my football club, and now we can do the same for them.

“It’s far too soon to be questioning the manager and the team when it was a settled team that he had from Jurgen Klopp, and we had so many top players, and then we had Diogo Jota and his brother dying, they are young men. How have they had to deal with that afterwards?

“This is not what we do, it’s not us. Give the fella a bit of slack. Be careful what you wish for. I can’t sit here and say there’s not a problem, I get it. Fans want a bit more excitement, but we are getting better. I always said we would be better in the second half of the season.”

[RedOverTheWater]

I like that from Thommo. Elder statesman having his say. Backing the manager, calling for him to get a bit more respect. Reminding us of the recent league win and parade.

Still realistic and acknowledging there’s a problem.

Good on him. In the polarized world in which we live, where everything seems to be in camps, he just reminded us of something.

I’m not saying it means Slot stays for the duration, as there must be some improvement, so let’s see.

[JibJab]

That idiot who asked Slot about Alonso should have his press privileges revoked. How did he expect Slot to answer a question about a potential successor? It’s cruel and unprofessional.

[RedWhippet]

@sandsoftime

I remember in his playing days it was said Thommo could smoke a cigarette in the rain without it ever getting wet

A friend of mine (Leeds fan) used to say that Liverpool’s dominance of the game in the 1970s and 80s was down to an unusually large number of players with big noses. He even drew up a Big-Conk XI. It was a really decent side.

[redfanman]

@RedWhippet

A friend of mine (Leeds fan) used to say that Liverpool’s dominance of the game in the 1970s and 80s was down to an unusually large number of players with big noses.

Perhaps its the same science as Robbie Fowler’s nose strips in the 90’s

[Sportbilly1966]

I should have been around then I may have made the grade at one level

[Thomas1195]

Well, Slot is really really obsessed with that PSG loss last year…

Since the last season we have lost the ability to kill our opponents with just 2-3 passes. On top of that we have lost long passing capability with TAA’s departure and Macca’s horrible form, and we haven’t brought any good long passer to replace TAA’s role. The crazy thing that we could have easily bought one such midfielder and a winger with Isak money.

Dom, Curtis, and Grav don’t know how to make pinpoint long passes, while Wirtz plays to high up the field to fulfill that role.

[Mascot]

@JibJab

That idiot who asked Slot about Alonso should have his press privileges revoked. How did he expect Slot to answer a question about a potential successor? It’s cruel and unprofessional.

As I keep saying, these questions should be addressed to Hughes.

[RedArmada]

@RedOverTheWater

calling for him to get a bit more respect

I’ve seen similar appeals and I don’t understand where they are coming from. Who has disrespected Slot apart from a tiny fraction of idiots that hurls abuse online, which every fanbase has?

If Thompson is equating the calls for Slot’s dismissal with being disrespectful, he is very much wrong. He may not agree with them, but they are justifiable.

If anything, considering the performances and the results, Slot has had it easy. Most fanbases would have turned toxic against him by now.

[Mascot]

@RedArmada

If Thompson is equating the calls for Slot’s dismissal with being disrespectful, he is very much wrong. He may not agree with them, but they are justifiable.

Being unsure about Slot is one thing, but I think there has been a tone to the criticism that in some cases has been pretty nasty.

[Quicksand]

@Mascot

@JibJab

That idiot who asked Slot about Alonso should have his press privileges revoked. How did he expect Slot to answer a question about a potential successor? It’s cruel and unprofessional.

As I keep saying, these questions should be addressed to Hughes.

First of all, its a crass and stupid question at a press conference. Slot shouldn’t have answered, even though he did handle it well.

Secondly, why would Hughes be asked the question?
He isn’t in charge of what happens on the pitch. Our form, our football is on Slot and the players. Thats the press conference stuff, none of which relates to Hughes.

[rab]

@Mascot

@RedArmada

If Thompson is equating the calls for Slot’s dismissal with being disrespectful, he is very much wrong. He may not agree with them, but they are justifiable.

Being unsure about Slot is one thing, but I think there has been a tone to the criticism that in some cases has been pretty nasty.

I’ve seen a bloke who has won league titles in two countries, neither time going into the season as favourite, be called “clueless” and “useless” by people who’ve probably never even coached kids football.

Also the suggestion that Alonso getting fired immediately means he’s under more pressure is pretty disrespectful.

There’s questioning if he’s getting enough from the team, he’s not, but it’s not even as close to as bad as when Kenny, Rafa or Rodgers got the axe. The recent success has lead to large swathes of fans to expect success every season and they want blood the second that isn’t looking likely. The lack of patience and the vitriol is worse than ever. There’s ways to express dissatisfaction or question whether we need to make a change without revelling in the distasteful discourse and language that increasingly goes with it.

[Limiescouse]

@rab

Also the suggestion that Alonso getting fired immediately means he’s under more pressure is pretty disrespectful.

He was required to address it at his very next press conference. We can expect this sort of thing to create noise around him for as long as results are sub par. I dont see how acknowledging that likelihood is disrespectful.

[Limiescouse]

As for the Thompson piece, I acknowledge him battling Slot’s corner, but his argument unraveled pretty quickly. Utd arent shit because they changed manager too often. They changed managers so often because they are shit.

[Quicksand]

@Limiescouse

@rab

Also the suggestion that Alonso getting fired immediately means he’s under more pressure is pretty disrespectful.

He was required to address it at his very next press conference. We can expect this sort of thing to create noise around him for as long as results are sub par. I dont see how acknowledging that likelihood is disrespectful.

Because the man is still in post. He is Liverpool manager. Asking about potential replacements is the height of disrespect.

[Limiescouse]

Huh? No one here was the person who asked Slot the question, any one of us can still acknowledge that Alsono’s new found availability will be something that hangs over Slot as evidenced by that clown at the press conference.

You can criticise the rudeness of the question without denying the reality of what caused it to even be thought of.

[Mascot]

@Limiescouse

He was required to address it at his very next press conference. We can expect this sort of thing to create noise around him for as long as results are sub par. I dont see how acknowledging that likelihood is disrespectful.

Slot did very well not to tell the reporter to fuck off. I would have.

He should not have to deal with reporters asking him questions about a potential successor for his job. The club should be making it clear to journalists that this is off limits.

[Zoran]

Not the first time journalists ask such things.

Although the noise about Xabi is still largely from fans and part of media, there aren’t reports about anything being close. Us being potentially interested in Xabi if Slot isn’t here whenever in the near future… that’s not big news.

Then we have how the question was even asked, so childish that it made everyone laugh by the end.

I thought it was that Hungarian clown for a moment, but then he was next I think. With another gem of a question about Szobo scoring in the CL this season, so does that mean he’s an effective goalscorer.

A question so dumb that Slot then went on a little monologue about us more in general this season, pretty much off topic of the question.

Yeah… asking for accuracy and morality in press conferences, you’re at the wrong place.

[Mascot]

@Quicksand

Secondly, why would Hughes be asked the question?
He isn’t in charge of what happens on the pitch. Our form, our football is on Slot and the players. Thats the press conference stuff, none of which relates to Hughes.

Because the decision to sack Slot and appoint Xabi is nothing to do with Slot and it isn’t about the match or the playing staff. It’s entirely to do with Hughes.

It’s a problem that the only person who is ever wheeled out to speak to the media is the head coach.

[Zoran]

Slot also spoke in detail about Quinten Timber possibly joining Marseille from Feyenoord…

And yeah, the coach being the only one (apart from players) facing with media in press conferences, answering sometimes questions about things that aren’t his responsibility is not good. It’s not often though, we’re well organized in that aspect and Slot deals with it pretty well.

There are things that are given a pass, I mean Tony Barrett can come in and react, but from what I saw, Slot didn’t mind answering the question, especially as it ended funny the way it was asked.