Arne Slot - LFC Manager (Head Coach)

Even back in November, I didn't for one second agree to the narrative that "Klopp left a great squad behind." Yes Klopp did some very unselfish things in how he navigated leaving the club, but Slot could have easily grumbled for every tiny thing that was different no matter how big or small it was.

He did tremendously well to acclimatize himself to the new place and people and never talk about it. I find that incredible and always felt he deserved more credit than he was taking. Since "sewing up" the title he's finally getting praise.

Slot's game plan was the Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope plan...let them exhaust themselves, run themselves into the ground, then send on Elliott Ness to administer the 'coup de grace'..and presto hey..it worked..the Parc des Princes Miracle.

 

I remember Sir Bob use to sit in the directors box in his mac coat, surveying....got that Vibe watching Arne today

People were always making comparisons with Bill and Jürgen....God if Arnes the new Bob!!!

I remember Sir Bob use to sit in the directors box in his mac coat, surveying....got that Vibe watching Arne today

People were always making comparisons with Bill and Jürgen....God if Arnes the new Bob!!!

Just needs someone to introduce him to racing and a subscription for the Racing Post.

Just needs someone to introduce him to racing and a subscription for the Racing Post.

And the wearing of a flat cap.

Even back in November, I didn't for one second agree to the narrative that "Klopp left a great squad behind." Yes Klopp did some very unselfish things in how he navigated leaving the club, but Slot could have easily grumbled for every tiny thing that was different no matter how big or small it was.

He did tremendously well to acclimatize himself to the new place and people and never talk about it. I find that incredible and always felt he deserved more credit than he was taking. Since "sewing up" the title he's finally getting praise.

You can give him praise, while recognising this is Jürgen's squad. The squad was in tatters 18 months ago, out of the European Cup, and the midfield torn out. Jürgen had just weeks to rebuild it, and make us competitive again, up against rampant rivals winning trophies from 15 game winning runs.

Every player out there atm was either bought or brought through by Jürgen. Last year, Arne wasted fortunes on a goalkeeper we don't need, and an injury prone forward out of his depth.

So far, everything is rosy. But what happens if the squad starts to break up during the summer. How will it be rebuilt? How will he manage it? Will there be an impact? It took Jürgen years to rebuild the squad from what he inherited and make us winners. Arne has had a ready made squad built for him. He has to build on whatever we achieve this year, before he can be compared to Jürgen.

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Slot has been absolutely terrific, he's about to lead us to Number 20 and the magnitude of that can never be under-estimated. However, I feel he has gotten his team selection wrong in recent weeks'. His lack of faith/trust in and reluctance to play fringe players like Elliot, Endo, Chiesa etc has become a problem in recent weeks as the schedule has kicked in to 2 games per week. A number of players have looked leggy in recent weeks, particularly the midfielders (for example, Grav looks like he needs a month off). We saw this last night, and in the first half vs Saints at the weekend. I think it may also cost us at the weekend because he will play the same team (minus Trent) and if it's a close game, I suspect we'll see more lazy passes, mis-hit shots and a less effective press.

Clearly we need to improve the squad and bring in players that Slot trusts to give him the confidence to rest his starters. The schedule will lighten now that we're out of Europe and I suspect we will see improved performances (hopefully starting Sunday but in all likliehood, after Sunday).

Slot has been absolutely terrific, he's about to lead us to Number 20 and the magnitude of that can never be under-estimated. However, I feel he has gotten his team selection wrong in recent weeks'. His lack of faith/trust in and reluctance to play fringe players like Elliot, Endo, Chiesa etc has become a problem in recent weeks as the schedule has kicked in to 2 games per week. A number of players have looked leggy in recent weeks, particularly the midfielders (for example, Grav looks like he needs a month off). We saw this last night, and in the first half vs Saints at the weekend. I think it may also cost us at the weekend because he will play the same team (minus Trent) and if it's a close game, I suspect we'll see more lazy passes, mis-hit shots and a less effective press.

Clearly we need to improve the squad and bring in players that Slot trusts to give him the confidence to rest his starters. The schedule will lighten now that we're out of Europe and I suspect we will see improved performances (hopefully starting Sunday but in all likliehood, after Sunday).

Largely agree with that, but no excuses for this Sunday. Five days for elite athletes is plenty of rest. They should be in perfect condition for the game, albeit without Trent.

But yes, he doesn't trust players. Binning Chiesa after Plymouth (when the whole team was sh*te, Jota completely anonymous as he often is), is the one that really looks like unfair treatment. Having been talked up before that game, don't think Chiesa has played a minute since.

Largely agree with that, but no excuses for this Sunday. Five days for elite athletes is plenty of rest. They should be in perfect condition for the game, albeit without Trent.

But yes, he doesn't trust players. Binning Chiesa after Plymouth (when the whole team was sh*te, Jota completely anonymous as he often is), is the one that really looks like unfair treatment. Having been talked up before that game, don't think Chiesa has played a minute since.

I am not really fixated on Chiesa as such, I think he was simply a late punt by Hughes, and I strongly suspect Slot wasn't really consulted whether he wanted the player. We can see quite clearly that he does not rate him at all.

As for the 5 days rest, i wouldn't be so sure. Last night will have taken a lot out of them and many looked knackered at the weekend just a few days earlier. Fatigue is cumulative and a number (if not all) of these players will go into Sunday below 100% You can carry a couple of players being below but it becomes very difficult if the majority of the team are a bit below par and more so, if pressing is a big part of your game.

It obviously takes more than 24 hours for me to get over a Liverpool side being put out of the Champions league at Anfield, so reading Slot saying "It's the best game of football I've been involved in" Doesn't fit well with me....No game LFC loses can be the "Best game"..Vent over.

It obviously takes more than 24 hours for me to get over a Liverpool side being put out of the Champions league at Anfield, so reading Slot saying "It's the best game of football I've been involved in" Doesn't fit well with me....No game LFC loses can be the "Best game"..Vent over.

Was an odd thing to say. He was also praising them too much after the first leg. Bigging teams up at half time is not a good idea. Yes they outplayed us but his job was to get the players to believe they could turn it around. Not going OTT on it, just thought it was unnecessary.

Was an odd thing to say. He was also praising them too much after the first leg. Bigging teams up at half time is not a good idea. Yes they outplayed us but his job was to get the players to believe they could turn it around. Not going OTT on it, just thought it was unnecessary.

May have been he was trying to get them over-confident. Not sure they needed help with that, they were pretty arrogant to start with so you are probably right, he should have focused on passive aggressively tearing them down a bit.

One thing for sure, it proven enough, that Arne   will never play players he didn't like, no matter their qualities, no matter the situations.

How him and the recruitment team work for signing players is interesting to wait and see.

May have been he was trying to get them over-confident. Not sure they needed help with that, they were pretty arrogant to start with so you are probably right, he should have focused on passive aggressively tearing them down a bit.

I don't remember ever going into a meeting and saying: "First off, everyone in this room needs to know, you're all more talented than me"
How he thought saying how great they are was going to, A. help the team...and B. not piss the supporters off, is beyond me.

I don't remember ever going into a meeting and saying: "First off, everyone in this room needs to know, you're all more talented than me"
How he thought saying how great they are was going to, A. help the team...and B. not piss the supporters off, is beyond me.

Coaches and managers "big up" their competition all the time. It's a mind game tactic just like many others. Not sure there's much merit to it, but I'm not going to worry too much about whether Arne was being genuine or not. It is what it is.

One thing for sure, it proven enough, that Arne   will never play players he didn't like, no matter their qualities, no matter the situations.

How him and the recruitment team work for signing players is interesting to wait and see.

This will be the 'acid test'. This squad could lose 3 of the best in the squad.Add them to the list who aren't quite good enough and the next window or two could determine how long Slot stays here. He has hardly put a foot wrong, one or two minor issues but on the whole he's doing great. Never going to be a clean sweep, get the title and he's had a great season.

But the Jury will have to reconvene next season and continue their deliberations on the subject of his his transfer dealings. All rise.

This will be the 'acid test'. This squad could lose 3 of the best in the squad.Add them to the list who aren't quite good enough and the next window or two could determine how long Slot stays here. He has hardly put a foot wrong, one or two minor issues but on the whole he's doing great. Never going to be a clean sweep, get the title and he's had a great season.

But the Jury will have to reconvene next season and continue their deliberations on the subject of his his transfer dealings. All rise.

He was bound to have one or two issues in his maiden season...all relatively minor (so far)...all of which could be dealt with without the scrutiny of a Jury.

But the Jury will have to reconvene next season and continue their deliberations on the subject of his his transfer dealings. All rise.

They're not his transfer dealings though.

He's the Head Coach.

One thing for sure, it proven enough, that Arne   will never play players he didn't like, no matter their qualities, no matter the situations.

How him and the recruitment team work for signing players is interesting to wait and see.

We will wait and wait and wait……

They're not his transfer dealings though.

He's the Head Coach.

That is the thing he is head coach.  I would have thought his involvement in the transfers is a lot less than Jürgen. 

That is the thing he is head coach.  I would have thought his involvement in the transfers is a lot less than Jürgen. 

Jürgen had alot of power, power that has now been taken back.

Arne will have alot less say but hopefully the chiesa situation is a lesson in that he pushes back more on players he doesnt want because we cant have players taking home 150k a week plus that he doesnt want. Even worse when its a big transfer fee.

He has his feet under the table now and hopefully a developing foundation in place with hughes/edwards and we wont have the above situation again.