Arne Slot - Head Coach

The Albert
8615

I can agree with this. Klopp was pretty skilled to be fair in managing the press. He’d say a lot, but not a lot at the same time.

I would add though that top level football is an absolutely brutal business. The number and of players from kids through to professionals every club discards en route to their first team squad is astounding. And so much of it is driven by opinion. I’ll concede data plays an increasing part in that decision now though.

That aside I’ll admit I’m a little concerned that we seem to jumping through hoops to make Slot a “wrong’un” from Day 1. I’m not sure that’s right or fair. Building or transitioning a side takes skill in coaching but also in the market, and I’d argue there’s very few out there that do it well.

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8616

Yeah, I was not referring to you, but I’ve read a bunch of different theories why the Guehi deal didn’t happen.

Comes from disappointment I guess and the need to find someone guilty.

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8617

I was very confused what we were trying to build as the summer went on.

There was not a single formation that gave answers to all questions.

Clarity got lost in all the general excitement about us being league champions, the club looking stable, soon to have record revenue, bringing targets we want, splashing a big net spend, etc.

We didn’t get the balance right and a lot of question marks will remain either for Slot or someone else. Hughes or someone else. Edwards or… who knows if he leaves if he will be replaced.

6 Likes
8618

He had someone he could replace Quansah with?

When he took Quansah out, Konate was sat on the bench ready to go, and when he came in there was nothing he did that would justify taking him out again.

Who was Slot able to replace Konate with this season? When Konate looks he has forgotten what a football is, and Slot looks at his bench, what is seeing? A lad who looks likely to break down as soon as he looks at a pitch, and he is nervous about playing.

Same question about Salah? Who is he dropping him for? Chiesa? Fuck that. And Gakpo’s replacement is a 17 year lad who we need to look after.

Mac Allister is being preferred to Jones, and fuck knows why really. I’ve already been quite vocal about my opinion of Mac Allister this year, but even that presents issues, as Jones hasn’t exactly been on fire this year.

But the bigger issue here is around squad management. Slot management of his playing squad this year has been poor. I believe he has been left short, and he’s been unlucky with injuries, but he still hasn’t done well enough this year. The result of this is our league form has collapsed, and Slot’s position is now in question, if not hurtling towards untenable.

Last season his squad management was nigh on faultless, and we won the league.

So criticising his for the former is reasonable, but criticising him for the latter seems pretty unfair really. Didn’t you enjoy winning the league?

I think what is happening here is that people are angry at Slot, and I totally get that. But that anger is now leading people to actively look for things to criticise him for, and refusing to give him credit for things that he actually did well in the past.

I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to accept that he did brilliantly in 24/25, won the league and we all had a great time. But then he is going really poorly in 25/26, we’re awful and we’re having a miserable time.

4 Likes
8619

I agree with this.
And my view doesn’t change the fact that I suspect Slot loses his job in the coming days or at the end of the season.

1 Like
8620

is there more?

didnt realise.

8621

I’m like you. Although I think he’ll get the bullet at the end of the season - if this international break was an option I think it would have happened by now. I think it will be announced as a ‘mutual decision’. And I think that it will be the right decision.

But that doesn’t change the great time I had watching this team win the league and have respect and fondness for Slot and how he got us over the line.

I really don’t understand why people find this so hard. It’s not like the experience of having something great go wrong is totally alien. We’ve all had relationships, or friendships, or jobs etc that have been great and we’ve really enjoyed, and then they’ve gone wrong. Things do sometimes hit the skids and it’s right to end them, but that doesn’t mean you can’t remember and enjoy the good times.

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8622

Yep. The decision to put Gravenberch at the base of the midfield was genius last year.

What the hell has gone wrong with that same midfield this year I don’t know.

I’m disappointed how things have turned out but it is what it is. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a manager struggle after a good / great start.

Inner peace and all that.

3 Likes
8623

Good post.

My overall view of Slot:

First season -
Deserves a lot more respect - It took a lot of bollocks to step into Klopp’s shoes. Given the success he brought and affection we held him in, a man whose charisma is unrivalled.
People will say he won the League with Klopp’s team, the same team which had fallen short the year before - aside from a few minutes for Chiesa.
So, was it Houlliers team or Benitez’s team in 2005? Is it Slots fault the Club didn’t sign anyone?
He also had the Contract situation hanging over his head at every interview.
Won the league at a canter but the two losses Newcastle/PSG, saw an anti-climax to the season where we stumbled over the line.

Unfortunately, it’s been down hill since.

Second season - bit of a perfect storm. Trent/Diaz going, the passing of Jota. A number of new players, coming for high fees. The Isak saga and the media that came with it, the injuries at RB and the Form of some key players bombing - Macca, Konate, Salah to name a few. The over expectation of the majority of Fans and the Media.
We just never got going, we started leaking sloppy goals, to address that we played a bit more conservatively and we lost shape, continuity, however the players also need to take some accountability.

As you, I like many other fans enjoyed last season. Yes, it wasn’t without fault but after Klopp leaving, it was that last thing I expected.
I think we are both agreed that there will be a mutual parting of ways in the Summer, I get the frustration amongst the supporters and it is clear he has lost the majority.
The sad thing for me is that due to the discontent/feeling at the moment, I feel his short tenure will almost be forgotten, when actually he delivered us a Title.

It would be nice, if for the remainder of the Season we could drop the ‘hate’ for Slot by some and turn that energy into supporting the Team and whether we are successful or not, still give him a lot of love at the last game of the season.
Who knows maybe he will get his big bald head printed on a certain flag in the Kop :joy:

5 Likes
8624

I think there is an element of most people now thinking/preferring that there has to be a change of management come end of season or even before it. With that in mind, and people having accepted that in their head, you almost don’t want to see the team do too well before that happens. A proper improved run of form that sees us get to (or even win*) the UCL, or a more assured run in the PL that secures UCL football for next season early, might mean he stays.

I don’t think, having accepted he should go, people are willing to go back on that thinking and potentially have another similar season next year. So reactions and support are tempered by those thought processes.

* Obviously not going to happen, but I think there are some surprises still to come there.

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8625

I can completely understand this point. Us humans are a strange bunch :joy:

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8626

few articles out today about slot:

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8627

Two obvious factors - opposing teams have altered the way they play against us and changes in personnel on either side of the midfield has left it further exposed. Then you can perhaps add the additional arguments on training and or match day set up.

On the first point, that started happening the second half of last season when performances and results started going down hill. Hence why I think looking at things as an either this year or last year focus risks missing key underlying issues that may be present.

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8628

so help me understand, Chiesa was “returned to sender” because he is UNFIT???

8629

I would go as far as saying that the issue wasn’t given enough attention, and then not addressed by recruitment. Or possibly that Slot simply doesn’t have a solution that he likes with the current squad.

The latter is a bit of an issue for me, given he’s had more than a few weeks to address it and a transfer window for that matter (ignoring spending limits). You like to see something different if you’re in a rough patch. Bar the Galatasaray game, we’ve been the perfect example of how to define idiocy.

8631

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2026/03/hoeness-valverde-more-12-managers-liverpool-considered-before-hiring-arne-slot/

8632

Amorim🤣…

Whats the Germans thoughts on nagelsmann?

Would he be a good choice ? I mean we didnt do to bad under the last German manager did we :raising_hands:

8633

I’m surprised to see that the article says he was considered a poor fit tactically?

8634

From what I know, Nagelsmann is under contract with Germany until 2028.

I literally give zero f*cks about their nationalities, because one could say the same about Amorim (could still do well in his career) coming from the same country as Mourinho and get to no smart conclusions.

Talking about these things, it’s far more important that the person is at least competent in English.

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8635

I think it’s already there?

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