Liverpool Banter

24 Apr 2024 17:46:27
“That’s why I can be very frustrated when a referee even makes the slightest mistake to your disadvantage. This can have so much influence while you’re not able to control anything. All preparation can be ruined because of a referee mistake. This can be my biggest frustration! - Arne Slot

He’s going to love the prem this guy!

24 Apr 2024 18:00:34
His first signing will be Mark Clattenberg.
Forest have had no luck since he went there 😂.

24 Apr 2024 13:57:58
If the runours we are signing Slot are true are we getting the best man for the job, the man who is best qualified to continue our winning ways and further progression from the Klopp Era?
Or, are we getting the guy that suits Edward's and Co and their supposed agenda of keeping control of everything and the new manager just being a coach?

What's your thoughts Ed1 and fellow posters?

{Ed001's Note - agenda? Surely the agenda they have is bringing in the best coach to progress the club?}

24 Apr 2024 15:03:50
@Ed01, that’s way to simplistic a way to look at things, mate.

24 Apr 2024 15:17:29
If 2 months ago we were all told that Klopp was going to be replaced by a manager that many of the fan base had no knowledge of and with limited CL experience then I’m sure we would have all been worried.

Alonso was definitely coming and then so was Amorim. I’ve always said whoever comes in has huge shoes to fill but the comfort factor for me is that we have one hell of a squad.

The new manager is 100% happening next season see might as well all get onboard and let it all play out and hopefully we hot the ground running.

Biggest negative is that Arsenal and City under Arteta and Pep will also still be there next season.

24 Apr 2024 16:06:48
Any manager coming in would be a risk to varying degrees. Now, I don’t claim to know much about the Dutch league but since last night I have tried to gain a better understanding of the man that is Arne Slot and the opinion of him by all Dutch fans via varies forums, interviews, what journalist say about him and players currently playing under him, and those that have in the past, along with tactical analysis videos.

My personal opinion, and I could be wrong here is this might be a masterstroke by Edwards. I read he was on course to win the league with a team called AZ, which would have been something close to a miracle. But the season was cut short due to the C.V. and as a result no one was declared the champions that year. Opposition fans have said he is nothing like Ten Hag and are confused at our fanbase having meltdown due to his impending appointment. They say they have never seen such good football from any team in recent memory and that he will shock a lot of us. The way they’re talking, and that includes opposition and direct rival fans of Feyenoord took me back, in a good way. Here is just one comment I read on a forum and there are countless others from Feyenoord and rival fans that echo the same sentiment:

“I’ve followed Feyenoord for 40 years. Not since the days of Johan Cruyff at Ajax in the 1980s has there been a coach so attack-minded in the Dutch league. Cruyff only had a few disciples who followed him and one of them was Pep Guardiola. ” “I would say Slot is a Guardiola-style manager based on everything I’ve seen over the past couple of years. The fans of Feyenoord can’t believe what they’ve seen over that time. ”.

24 Apr 2024 16:25:12
Alonso, from what little I have read about him, I'd agree with your assessment.

He is giving me 'Endo-like' vibes - Feyenoord fans are all going to be really sad to see him go as they have come to love his football, but all wish him nothing but the best at Liverpool.

24 Apr 2024 16:26:38
I'll explain a bit better, by agenda I mean that it is being reported that Amorim wanted more say in the transfer but was told that won't be the case. So we are going for a manager that is happier to have less say in purchases.
Weren't all those Dutch forums and fans and papers also saying the same about Ten Haag before he went to Utd.

24 Apr 2024 16:27:41
Ten Hag’s Ajax played some excellent football @Alonso. I wouldn’t mind if Slot is anything like Ten Hag. He flopped at United for many other reasons.

24 Apr 2024 16:46:58
Everything is a gamble and that includes Klopp when he came in. We had NO idea we would be where we are and have won the lot esp. at the beginning when things weren't working out and we could not get over the line despite playing the best footie I personally, had ever seen us play over the years back then. Klopp says til this day that he would be forever grateful to FSG for NOT quitting on him during those years, btw.

Slot is by all accounts, forging a good reputation for himself and he has shown that he can win the league, win other trophies (like the Dutch Cup Feyenoord won last Sun) and compete in Europe albeit in the Conference League.

Also, don't forget that as is the norm with our recruitment of players, Slot is prolly according to Edwards and his bros. the next best thing in management coming up the ranks (after Xabi and prolly Amorim) and feel they'd better get him now before he explodes cos then he would be exploding with LFC, the same way recruiting players like Salah, Mane, Bobbie, VVD, Ali and the rest we signed when they were right at the cusp of blowing up. We know the results of such investments. If Slot comes good anywhere near that then, we will be well on our way again.

24 Apr 2024 16:52:29
Jurgen Klopp himself was a so called ‘yes man’. He agreed to defer responsibility to scouts and analysts when signing players. It was a relationship that led to us signing the likes of Salah. Jurgens willingness to collaborate is one of the main reasons we were so successful.

Brendan Rodgers was not a ‘yes man’. He was an arrogant blert who argued the toss over transfers and then bleated to his media buddies that he was being oppressed. The club had to buy him Benteke as a consolation for accepting them pushing Firmino onto him. All of the signings made off his own back were rubbish.

I want a manager happy to work within the structure that bore fruit for us in the past. Many were happy when Edwards returned, but are now annoyed that he is doing his job in the way he has always done it?

Embarrassing contradictions being thrown about everywhere.

24 Apr 2024 17:03:38
@Zeddicus. I'm with you on the Endo-like vibes. And the Feyenoord fans are completely distraught.

@TheBeekeper. According to Ajax fans, Ten Hag’s football as good as it was, and I quote, is not in the same stratosphere tactically, both defensively in the way they press and in particular attacking wise. Plus, their demeanours are very much different. Slot apparently has more presence and authority. He is known for his excellent man management and closeness with the players and fans. However, as we know nothing is guaranteed in football, so we will have to see how he fairs over here.

Having said that, and I could be completely off with what I’m about to say. I’m very optimistic that he is going to be more successful than any of us could have predicted.

24 Apr 2024 17:22:04
Edwards and Co keeping control of everything? He's only been back at the club two minutes! And the same goes for the bloke from Bournemouth. Hughes, is it?
So Alonso decides to stay where he is, Amorim isn't viable, we have to look elsewhere and fans are losing their heads 😂.
There's only one Klopp and we had him for nine years but it's time to move on. We can't just appoint a big name that everyone knows and wants and give him billions to spend.
That's not how it works and I should be surprised that fans don't know this but I'm not.

24 Apr 2024 17:28:36
The last year Ten Hag won the league with Ajax, the manager of the year award went to Slot rather than Ten Hag. He sounds excitingly progressive in his approach on the field and in terms of his approach to the game would seem a younger, more energetic version of Klopp.

24 Apr 2024 17:33:49
What kind of football he play Alonso and formation wise.

24 Apr 2024 17:53:51
4.3.2.1 or 4.3.3 jk23 with inverted goalkeeper as Ed said.

24 Apr 2024 18:09:47
@JK23. Starts of as 4-2-3-1 but often switches to 4-4-2 when the opposition is attacking to provide a solid defensive shape. He has thrown surprises if he feels the opponent is inferior. This is to completely dominate and suffocate the opposition into submission. Slots is meant to be very good tactically and his teams PRESS. Apparently, he will not accept any passengers in his side. I read that over a few seasons (can’t remember which ones) teams managed by him had the most chance created and shots on goal from any team across the top leagues in Europe. I’m by no means an expert on Slot, in fact far from it. Just passing on what I have gathered so far. But in short Its defensively sound, extremely high pressing, ultra attacking, fast paced, goal filled, exciting football.

24 Apr 2024 18:23:33
They’re calling him the Dutch Guardiola.

24 Apr 2024 18:26:55
He plays the double inverted nipple pivot so brace yourselves. Both trent and robbo will invert into midfielders.

24 Apr 2024 18:47:50
Is the beekeeper a troll? Spouts utter nonsense.

24 Apr 2024 18:59:36
Alonso said rejected the opportunity to be our manager as he wants Madrid. Amorim was interested but not on our terms, if Slot has said unequivocally yes then that’s great, he’s got a growing reputation, Bayern, Barca, Milan and Juve were all sniffing around and they’re not going to employ a Brendan Rodgers. Slot rejected Spurs and Chelsea last year which would have been the easy option. He’s got a reasonable pick of clubs. Given that Alonso and Amorim either said flat no or made demands that the club are not willing to meet, he’s the best option. No one can seriously say that they’d want any of Kovac, Tuchel, Frank, De Zerbi or Fonseca over Slot can they?

24 Apr 2024 13:14:57
Hats off Ed002. I know it's not a done deal but was scratching my head when you were mentioning Slot as he was nowhere in the betting and not mentioned by ANYONE else as far as I could see.

I know you don't need kudus from us but Slot and Gravenberch is impressive info.

Have you ever revealed your occupation or why you provide us with cool info for free?

{Ed033's Note - Ed002 is [allegedly] a retired rodeo clown, but still a gentleman adventurer, as far as i know.

24 Apr 2024 13:45:47
Ed002 may not need any kudus from but I would still very much want Kudus from West Ham 😁.

24 Apr 2024 14:45:28
A Chelsea fan with obvious insider knowledge when it comes to Dutch individuals. Obviously Ed002 must be Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink! (or possibly Ed de Goey)

24 Apr 2024 12:08:55
Question for Ed1.

Was reading a post from 2023 about Ramario v Suarez.

You're always an insightful read.

Got to thinking.

Who's your all time Liverpool FC picks for

Striker
Mid
CB/ FB
Keeper

I'm a child of the 80s, so I think back to Rush and Barnes, King Kenny then Torres, Suarez, and now of course Salah. Hard to pick.

Mids, Stevie G, Alonso. But so many across the decades.

Defenders, Hansen? Hypiia? VVD?
I know the game has changed, so where does someone like Trent fit in to this?

Keepers. We've had some diamonds but I've got a special place in my heart for Bruce (I'm a Zimbo), but is Becker perhaps the only true worldie we've had?

{Ed001's Note - keepers is the easy one, I loved Brucie, met him a few times and he was a great keeper, but Alisson is the best I have ever seen. I believe him to be the GOAT keeper in the whole of football, not just with us, so it has to be him.

Full-back is difficult. Rob Jones was by far the best defensively I have seen but Trent's delivery is unbelievable. I would still pick Jones though, because he was just so good as a defender.

Centre-back has to be Hansen. Hyypia was too slow and simply not as good as Hansen anyway. Lawrenson and van Dijk would be the two close to him, but I just think overall it would be Hansen. Very close though.

Midfield would be Souness. Alonso was a better player overall, but not until after he left us. Gerrard would be the best if he had just had the right mindset when it came to defending. He had the technical ability at every level of the game and in every way to be the best, but would get caught napping defensively far too often. That led to dangerous tackles in the box when he just needed to be alert to the danger and see it out.

Left side would be Barnes by a mile. Mane was great, but Barnes was unbelievably good.

Right side would be Salah. Though if Gerrard had stayed there, instead of throwing his toys out of the pram and refusing to play there, I think he would have been the best we had there.

Striker is Fowler. He was special, just injuries that cost him. Torres was close but just didn't do it for long enough. Suarez was too much of a problem for the club, which ruined his time with us. Firmino didn't score enough. Rush was sensational but Fowler just had magic in his boots and could do it all, beat a man on the dribble, put a free kick top bin, pretty much anything. Actually no, Dalglish. It has to be Dalglish. Truly legendary player.}

24 Apr 2024 12:55:58
I would love to have Prime Fowler in our current team. He would ruin riot.

I often see people on Facebook suggesting Owen was a better player than Fowler. Absolutely blows my mind.

24 Apr 2024 13:01:07
Difficult so many great players so cannot disagree with Ed at all there. KK was special though
Up the pool.

24 Apr 2024 13:15:40
"Digger" was immense. He would be untouchable had he played in this era, IMO.

24 Apr 2024 13:27:36
Agree on all but Trent, Ed. He's a unicorn and has to be ahead of Jones.

Left back? Is Robbo in the reckoning? Aurelio was brilliant but always injured. Phil Neal used to play left back from time to time, apparently. Alan Kennedy probably gets it.

24 Apr 2024 13:44:03
Great reply Ed. Ta.

Obviously I loved God also, maybe it was just a pity we didn't have home long enough and he was with us when we were a bit. lost? . After Kenny's time, which was the end of an era of our great managers.

Shame it went so wrong second time around.

Big love, Reds.

24 Apr 2024 14:16:16
Rob Jones was excellent but it's Steve Nicol at right back, for me.
Poor pundit, mind.
Mark Lawrenson was that good he could play left back and that would allow VVD to play alongside Hansen.

24 Apr 2024 14:18:27
It’s mental how Rushie who will likely be our highest goal scorer forever never seems to get thought of amongst our greatest players.

When we mention our best strikers automatically we think Fowler, Suarez and Torres etc.

We even nicknamed a forward that came after him god despite him scoring only just over half the amount that Rushie did.

Let’s be honest though as fans we have certainly been spoilt over the years with some absolute fabulous footballers.

24 Apr 2024 12:44:53
Love it Ed, especially the twist at the end!

Great question Robboz, I'm also of the same vintage, started following the side in the early-mid 80s.

Hansen was just so majestic, whilst looking like a Bambi on ice when he ran - all angles and knees! I'd definitely pick him, as well as agreeing with Becker in goal.

Midfield is a really tough one, and as I sit here looking at a signed photo of Stevie from 2005, it has to be him. Souness was on the way out or had left by the time I registered our players - earliest midfield I remember was McMahon and Molby - so it'd definitely be Stevie for me.

Has to be Fowler for me up front - King Kenny was slightly before my time, was was player-managing mainly, and Rush was close, but as Ed001 said, God could do EVERYTHING!

Prime Fowler with prime Gerrard behind him - just amazing! A pity that by the time Gerrard established himself in midfield, God was suffering from injuries and falling out of favour with Ged in favour of the blue eyed boy - Owen (*spit*)

{Ed001's Note - I can't believe I forgot left-back! But that is the toughest one as we never really had great left-backs. Even Robbo, much as I love him, has a lot of flaws. But it would have to be Robbo I think. Aurelio was never fit. And none of the others that I can remember were outstanding. In fact I would say Nicol is probably the best I can remember. Or Lawrenson, but I only really remember him at centre-back. So I would have to go with Robertson.

As for the twist, Dalglish was fading by my time, so I wasn't going to say him, but then I remembered how good he was even in his final days. He was just a player ahead of his time. He was a Firmino who scored regularly. Paisley would move him around to suit the opposition because he knew Dalglish was so good he could play whatever role he was asked to.}

24 Apr 2024 13:40:48
Left back ed1? Robbo not doubt best I've seen in my time anyway.

{Ed001's Note - yeah it would have to be him, we haven't really been blessed in terms of left-back in terms of outright ability.}

24 Apr 2024 15:29:49
Kennedy for his European cup winner.

24 Apr 2024 17:54:08
Rush would be my number 9, without a doubt.
Dalglish as 7. He was an unbelievable player. He had a fantastic football brain but he was incredibly strong which often gets overlooked. Opponents would talk about him backing into them with his big backside. He could be a target man and a brilliant number 10 all in one.

24 Apr 2024 18:01:51
Alan kennedy left back for me over robbo Kennedy scored important goals that won us big trophies and was a top defender . The late great Ray Kennedy should be in any midfield what a left peg he had . jockey and larwo
Outstanding right back Chris lawler he was a attacking full back before it was invented and a goal scorer.

24 Apr 2024 18:29:57
Lb stig or riise where decent to be honest, Steve Staunton was very good too. But robbo takes it for me 2nd I’d have riise.

24 Apr 2024 19:02:27
Alison is the best keeper I've ever seen in my life. Full stop. Some are better shot stoppers, some are better passers.

There has never been such a good one on one keeper while I've been alive. Also when do you see him drop shots, crosses or corner? Extremely rare.


Hansen is the best defender we've ever had and people who it's van dijk never saw Hansen play.


Midfield goes to Gerrard for me, had the talent and influence to change games alone and did so with often inferior team mates.

Striker is probably the hardest, my heart says Fowler or Torres but if we are being really really honest it's rush. He was a pressing forward at a time when almost nobody did it, scored massive amounts of goals in all kinds of games at all levels and was unbelievably dependable. Very rare rush went more than three games with no goals, and even when he did he turned up other aspects of his game.

Rush is probably the most complete striker ever to play for Liverpool.

24 Apr 2024 19:14:21
Edd001 what would you call robertsons flaws?

{Ed001's Note - his delivery is extremely inconsistent, brilliant at times, dreadful at others. But his biggest flaw is his rashness, he gets caught up field constantly chasing when he should have dropped off, or rushing out to cut out a ball he is never getting to. His positional sense is good, but he will forget it to rush out far too often. The other flaw is that he rarely, if ever, cuts out crosses. He stands off and lets the wideman put the ball in under little pressure. Though I think that must be an instruction as Trent does the same. I don't understand it though as it does not take much to get a step closer and pressure the man on the ball.}