Arne Slot - Head Coach

Fully agree with this. Slot is a goner and I’ve already started curbing my expectations about what the next guy can do. This is no longer a team of outstanding characters. Those that have been good leaders in the past are now managing their own age-induced decline

I think Bavaria is a really beautiful region.

That’s how they get you, with their mountains and lakes.
Next thing you know you’re in Lederhosen and evil has started to happen.

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Sadio: Why didnt anyone tell me before?

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Is he still here?

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We couldn’t tell!

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Because fan media YouTube clips have about as much impact as anyone posting on here even those posters of the year.

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Is that you Brendan?

You’re right, there isn’t another Klopp out there. Even Alonso - as much as I think he’d be a great hire - isn’t Klopp. And I’m not opposed to the structure they’ve put in place - I think it’s a good idea to have multiple voices debating the merits of a decision and reaching consensus.

But while you can’t find another “Klopp,” you need a manager who is more than an extension of that structure. Because Hughes/Edwards aren’t interacting with the players on a daily basis and navigating their various issues. They aren’t on the touchline making spot decisions. They aren’t answering questions to the press. They are not facing the supporters in good times and bad.

The skills of your manager go beyond just executing a vision formulated in a conference room. You need someone who demands respect, has emotional intelligence and drive, and has the skills necessary to rally the supporters and players and drive them. Slot is not that kind of manager…err, head coach. He’s got a very smart footballing mind and I’m sure he works his ass off at the technical aspects of coaching. But he manifestly doesn’t have the charisma and drive needed to rally the club towards belief.

The problem with hiring someone with a personality like that is, inevitably, there will be conflicts between the sporting department and the manager. Frustrations about a lack of funds to sign players the manager wants. Disputes over which players to sign. Disagreements about tactics. Only one of those voices will have the public pulpit to state their agenda. And while Klopp generally toed the company line during his tenure, obviously there was a bit of a power struggle with Edwards et al and Klopp won. They might not want to have to deal with something like that again.

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There has clearly been some kind of disconnect. If you are going to take the recruitment off the head coaches plate, you have to absolutely crystal clear on the system and style that is being recruited to.

I think Hughes and Slot have been a bit guilty of getting good players and assuming they would be able to make it all work, because they are really good at football.

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Well, if there’s one thing that’s become evident this season, it’s that we don’t play with any sort of tactical identity. I find it hard pressed to figure out what we do well. We don’t defend well, we don’t attack well, we don’t press or counterpress effectively. What was the vision that Slot had going into this year? How did he expect us to play? It’s hard to see.

Is that a problem with recruitment or a problem with coaching? I’m inclined to blame the latter. Because while I definitely think there were some missteps in recruitment, I do think that a manager with the right vision could have gotten more out our players because they are good enough to play at this level.

There seems some disconnect between our first team and our youth set ups mind.

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In what ways do you mean?

Just the way we play seems chalk and cheese, I thought the idea was to bring this closer together.

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This is clearly incorrect.

We do play with a tactical identity. Perhaps you can’t see it.

The problem is that we cannot sustain it. And not just in one game but in the entire season so far, bar 2-3 games, if that…

For instance it was there at the Etihad, but for just over 30mins…

Not that it necessarily makes the situation more acceptable, I should add…

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Yeah, I’m more of a soft drugs guy :zany_face:

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So is it that the players are not buying into the tactics or are they just unable to maintain it because of lapses in concentration?
And judging by what you’ve said, Slot is being stubborn with his setup, hoping that it will click, but it hasn’t and it’s looking increasingly unlikely that it will ever work with this group of players.

Like weed and Viagra?

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Pretty sure viagra is a hard drug

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