Topic: Arne Slot

[Zlen]

Welcome Arne!  Presumably also welcome to a new backroom team but maybe they'll be announced individually over the coming days. I feel a bit like a Spurs fan in that next season I'm content with being entertained, a decent cup run somewhere and achieving CL qualification.  I think Man City will go at 95+ points next season and Arsenal likely won't be far behind that. It's asking a huge amount from Slot to match that pace in his first season. A summer where we sort out new contracts for Trent and maybe Virgil would be fine by me.  Unless there's a world class #6 on the market then I don't see the point in signing players for the sake of it.  Let's see what Slot can do with the current squad and the youth players on the fringes of it.

I think the minimum I would find acceptable is to get 80+ points, getting to a cup final or two would be a good bonus and obviously not embarass ourselves in Champions League. But this squad is good enough to aim for 80+ points next season, new manager or not, anything below that and we would need to see something amazing in bloom not to feel concerned. It's not an easy task, it never was no matter who took over.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Those features with former players aren't really informative in the nitty-gritty. What we don't know is how Arne Slot will coach players who have considerable more skill than any he has coached before - showing them videos of Liverpool as an example would be quite amusing, granted. He certainly can't show them videos of their competitors and by inference suggest they are not on the some level. Be interesting to know how he adapts his tried and tested methods to elite athletes. Also, to the fact that for the first time he's coaching players who have considerably more experience of success than he has.

You're talking as if he's joining from Blyth Spartans

Not saying Feyenoord are at our level, but they are a Champions League calibre team full of internationals.

[rob1966]

You're talking as if he's joining from Blyth Spartans

He'll have seen and worked with Dutch children with better touch and skills than fully fledged Premier League players

[missis sumner]

Debased comment

This Monkey's Gone to Heaven.

[Fitzy.]

Those features with former players aren't really informative in the nitty-gritty. What we don't know is how Arne Slot will coach players who have considerable more skill than any he has coached before - showing them videos of Liverpool as an example would be quite amusing, granted. He certainly can't show them videos of their competitors and by inference suggest they are not on the some level. Be interesting to know how he adapts his tried and tested methods to elite athletes. Also, to the fact that for the first time he's coaching players who have considerably more experience of success than he has.

I think you're overstating your point here. Most top managers weren't top players and most top managers emerged from a modest starting point and worked their way up. It's a very normal trajectory. That doesn't mean Slot will succeed, I just don't think relative skill levels of footballers he's worked with is a central concern as it stands. Squad building, cultivating the right culture and a clear vision for the playing style appear to be the factors that have attracted Edwards et al.

[Fitzy.]

Huge news. Gigantic, in fact.

It's bigger than that. It's enormous.

[lucabrasi]

Welcome Arne. We are now part of Arnies Army

[Skrtelonparole]

Seen a variant to this, to the tune of Beautiful South:


It could be Rotterdam or anywhere
Liverpool or Rome
With Arne as the manager, you'll never walk alone

Welcome Arne Slot, give us your best shot.

He came from Feyenoord and Rotterdam,
Now Liverpool is home
With Arne as the manager, you'll never walk alone
Never walk alone

[redk84]

Welcome

He's got a lot of work to do but everything is set up for him to succeed

First season will be settling in - I would hope we dont drop too much in standard but a lot of factors will come into that..
Aim to stay within that top 3 subset of teams and

Anything on top of that is good

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Does he play a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3? Sounds like either way he likes a double pivot?

[No666]

I think you're overstating your point here. Most top managers weren't top players and most top managers emerged from a modest starting point and worked their way up. It's a very normal trajectory. That doesn't mean Slot will succeed, I just don't think relative skill levels of footballers he's worked with is a central concern as it stands. Squad building, cultivating the right culture and a clear vision for the playing style appear to be the factors that have attracted Edwards et al.

Yeah, I am overstating the case but there are valid question marks about him. I was just reading Samie's post about Henderson finding the level of skill and mentality at Ajax a huge disappointment. (Yeah, my heart bleeds). Granted Ajax has fallen below Feyenoord but still.

[mattD]

Yeah, I am overstating the case but there are valid question marks about him. I was just reading Samie's post about Henderson finding the level of skill and mentality at Ajax a huge disappointment. (Yeah, my heart bleeds). Granted Ajax has fallen below Feyenoord but still.

Assuming what Jordan says is correct about Ajax, what's going through my mind is what the hell has happened to Ajax these last few years?

They were a club that epitomised what a brilliantly run club should be only a few years ago. Their structure was so sound from senior to youth. It was almost a plug and play system there where any semi-talented coach could look great.

The whole thing there has fallen apart.

Bringing it back round to Arne Slot, I guess its encouraging that he came into a dilapidated Feyenoord and turned them around. I'd be more concerned if it was a Ten Hag situation where he was obviously benefiting from what was then a world class footballing structure at Ajax.

[Walshy nMe®]

As basic as it sounds, having a Dutch international (and greatest CB of all time) as his captain, will be a great weapon for Arne.

[DonkeyWan]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

[TheMan]

Promising but unproven, lots of positives but let's focus on the unknowns

1. Will success at a lower quality league be replicable in the Premier League?

2. How will we (fans and players) adapt to the slower style of build-up play?

3. How will he handle dealing with world-class players and the pressure of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world?

4. Will the fact that he is following a legend mean he is unfavorably compared when things aren't going so well?

5. Will we recruit disproportionately from a substandard league (Dutch) as that is the market he knows?

6. Is this effectively Liverpool 3.0 as Liverpool 2.0 was only given one season to develop now that so many staff have left, and if it is Liverpool 3.0 then will the fanbase accept a season when we are not challenging for the big honours?

[amir87]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

The situation at Utd was very different as Ten Hag came in and said he didn't want Ragnick to stay as Sporting Director and he ended up having way too much authority for someone with very little proven pedigree.

With the structure we have in place that won't be happening.

[Suareznumber7]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

We've got a football structure above the head coach that should take that worry away.

[Dim Glas]

Promising but unproven, lots of positives but let's focus on the unknowns

1. Will success at a lower quality league be replicable in the Premier League?

2. How will we (fans and players) adapt to the slower style of build-up play?

3. How will he handle dealing with world-class players and the pressure of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world?

4. Will the fact that he is following a legend mean he is unfavorably compared when things aren't going so well?

5. Will we recruit disproportionately from a substandard league (Dutch) as that is the market he knows?

6. Is this effectively Liverpool 3.0 as Liverpool 2.0 was only given one season to develop now that so many staff have left, and if it is Liverpool 3.0 then will the fanbase accept a season when we are not challenging for the big honours?

why would that be the case? He won’t be recruiting.

He won’t be rebuilding a team here. Of cousre there will be some settling in to do, but I’m presuming here that there isn’t expected to be that huge a shift in how the team plays, and the expectations will actually be high from the get go. 

[Too early for flapjacks?]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

That's why we have a bunch of nerds sitting in the basement with 4 monitors each. They'll profile any players Slot likes against the players we already have and other players in the market.

[Sir Capon of Debaser]

Welcome Arne

None of this shit ever again please

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

It's impossible for him to do that with the structure we have in place. That's the whole point of him being the head coach rather than manager.

[Agent99]

[Rosario]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

I think with the setup that FSG are building around him with the likes of Hughes, Edwards, Ward, ect. there is  next to no chance of this happening. Unlike United we clearly have a plan and structure that we’re are looking to execute.

[Draex]

Eggsellent

[killer-heels]

[Clint Eastwood]

Ten Hag has really damaged the reputation of Dutch football hasn’t he?

Pretty much every article or opinion piece on him says ‘but don’t worry, he’s not like ten Hag’.

Who is the last successful Dutch manager? Certainly can’t remember any in the PL that come to mind. Slot has the opportunity to rebuild some respect here.

[Peabee]

Booting the ball high into the air from kick off to make the opposition look into the sun, scored 7 times in the first 30 seconds. I hope we do that at least once

Haha. He also moved training to the evenings if they had an evening game, so they could adapt better to playing at that time. Is this something "new" or do most clubs do this now? It's one of those changes that seems like it should be obvious once you hear about it.

[telekon]

Huge news. Gigantic, in fact.

It can be big big love.

[mickeydocs]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

He is head coach. Player recruitment is not his role although he has a say. This has been mentioned across a large range of articles and on podcasts.

[Chakri]

Most clean sheets
Most points gained from loosing possession with Feynord   

Exited  welcome Mr.Slot

[Peabee]

I think the worry for me is he will bring in ordinary Dutch players (like Ten Hag did) and they fail to make the step-up. A lot of money could end up wasted on Europa League standard players (which is about where Feyenoord are)

We've made new appointments to roles overseeing recruitment, led by a guy who is a data evangelist. And Slot is now in the role of "head coach" rather than manager being supported outside of coaching so he can concentrate on coaching. What about all this except he's Dutch and bald, neither attribute having any actual meaning, makes you think we and he will recruit like United and Ten Hag? Until recently, the only data science team that United had was in the commercial dept. They're still building their data led recruitment.

[stewy17]

Schupherb

[Peabee]

snip

[gazzalfc]

Up to £9m compensation package to Feyenoord (which I assume is linked to some pretty substantial performance metrics)

The Head Coach designation is very important. It's going to be a very different dynamic to the coaching. Hopefully the players are receptive to it.

Pre-season cant come round quickly enough

[danm77]

Slot’s first interview as Liverpool manager now out:

https://youtu.be/2B8zCQyMS-I?si=bPQDzOvJol13sQVo

[RedBlakey]

Fuck sake 

[telekon]

What impresses me the most and what I'm most looking forward to with having Arne, is the job he did with Alkmaar. I'm surprised it didn't make a bigger splash internationally - possibly due to Covid and the ridiculous "null and void" attempts - which is exactly what happened in the Dutch league.

AZ Alkmaar, after 25 games played, were level on points with Ajax, being second only on goal difference. It was his first season in charge. World football superstars Myron Boadu and Oussama Idrissi were in the top 5 of goals scored. They drew with Manchester United at home in the Europa League, ultimately being eliminated by LASK in the knock-out phases. The only known player in the whole squad (for me) was Owen Wijndal. In his brief time at AZ he averaged 2.11 ppg, the highest of any coach in the club's history.

[No666]

Haha. He also moved training to the evenings if they had an evening game, so they could adapt better to playing at that time. Is this something "new" or do most clubs do this now? It's one of those changes that seems like it should be obvious once you hear about it.

Jurgen did it here, I believe.

[Peabee]

Jurgen did it here, I believe.

Cheers. That's good to hear. The lads are already used to it then, so no big upheaval in their schedules.

[Dim Glas]

Jurgen did it here, I believe.

yes he did, and a few players didn’t like it at first, but learned to get used