26 Jul 2024 11:56:28
1 thing I didn't agree with slots press conference yesterday was he said this squad Is capable of challenging and its very hard to improve the current squad. I strongly disagree! the 2 teams above us have already strengthened and the reason we finished 3rd last season was because there squads were stronger and we were weaker in key areas . If we don't address this we could easily slip out of the top 4 never mind challenging.
26 Jul 2024 12:18:48
In fairness if that’s what slot and the club thinks then great.
If they believe this squad can challenge then let’s go out and give it our all.
But if we don’t challenge then they can’t say it’s because the squad isn’t strong enough.
We had this a few seasons ago when Klopp told the world we didn’t need a midfielder to then 180 with a few days to go of the window and sign Arthur.
I’ve liked Slots press interviews and he can certainly talk the talk. Let’s hope he can walk the walk as well.
26 Jul 2024 12:32:42
I'm not so sure Hailstones - we fell away the last 5 weeks but were top at April
We looked like we could concede but were scoring a lot before those last few weeks so honestly think if they work on the defending as a unit etc and make us harder to break down we'll not be too far off tbh
Though, even those games we lost we had an absolute plethora of chances that none of the front ones could bury - it was like everyone in the team forgot how to actually finish a chance
Then you have the abundance of referee and VAR calls that just cost us points after points.
Look, not saying we do not need players but we do have a decent team I think.
26 Jul 2024 12:42:43
It's probably him just playing to the media Hailstones and supporting his players in public.
He said himself that he was watching LFC for a while already, even before he was officially announced as head coach.
I have no doubt that he is fully aware that we need to reinforce.
26 Jul 2024 13:16:24
The team last year was ruined with injuries. Not much to improve really replace Matip and Diaz if he goes (hopefully) and maybe cover for endo but bajetic is back. If we can sort the injury / recovery time out that would be a great help.
26 Jul 2024 13:33:59
He comes across quite diplomatic and he will be optimistic and excited for the season ahead I would think stepping up from Feyenoord.
He’s unlikely to say the team needs serious surgery. I don’t think that is in his character and he will be optimistic that it will be strong enough to challenge
Equally I don’t see him as a mourinho or conte type that might use media interviews to leverage something within the club anyway.
I still expect (like slot) that at least 1 player will sign, hopefully more.
If Salah stays I think a RW signing is less essential. At this stage for me, a left sided defender and a centre midfielder would be what is needed. Unless key players leave in which case they would need to be replaced most likely too.
I can’t see the club doing anything drastic like selling Nunez for a new CF, or selling VVD for a new CB. Minor tweaks at most I think.
26 Jul 2024 13:44:17
We lost not because of players but because the way we was playing was unsustainable and a loss of form from key players in the business end of the season.
26 Jul 2024 14:25:45
Challenging and winning are two entirely different concepts. He is absolutely right in that this squad can challenge because it did that last season.
There's over a month left in the window and he is hardly going to come out and say "the squads crap, probably looking at top 4 if I'm lucky"
26 Jul 2024 14:27:48
Hardly going to come out and say the squads rubbish is he.
26 Jul 2024 14:58:00
We will find out the ambition of the club under Slot in this window.
This squad can’t and won’t win the league.
26 Jul 2024 15:12:49
Hailstones if Slot said "we shall see if we can challenge" or something like that, what message is he sending to the Salah"s, Ali's, VVD's and Trent's of the world, some of whom have said that regardless of who the manager is, the standards do not change? Ali said the exact same thing last season when he was asked about Slot coming in. We challenged last season so in the players' eyes and minds, what stops them from doing so this season? It's a mentality thing, my guy.
Slot is saying what the players (esp. the ones I mentioned) want to hear as that will spur them on to challenge esp. since they are used to challenging on all fronts regardless of success or not. Players at the club right now ain't trying to hear "Oh, we won't be challenging this season" cos that's not in their DNA anymore. These guys grew from "Can we? " to "Yes, we did" under Klopp. That will not go down well in the DR and that's not the way you want to start your reign at an institution like LFC who are used to competing and winning over the past decade or so. Just my opinion.
26 Jul 2024 15:26:51
Two things which are weird habits. For some reason everyone thinks we were really shaky at the back when in reality we tied arsenal for best defence until about march or so.
Secondly that we were awful all year, we were top for significant parts of it just failing after those spirit crushing two defeats against United. If either of those is a win im confident we be champs now.
26 Jul 2024 15:27:04
LiverpoolFC8
The money is there to spend, the ambition will be down to Hughes, slot and the recruitment team - Not FSG.
26 Jul 2024 15:29:29
He said it's hard to improve the squad also. This by definition is true as there are a couple dozen players in some positions to possibly only a couple of players if any that improve us depending on the position. And when you remove the ones that are literally not available at any price plus the ones that would cost outrageous fees / demand wages way outside of our structure, well then you realise that it is actually quite difficult to improve the squad and especially the starting 11.
26 Jul 2024 16:19:20
Nice summary PickleRick.
26 Jul 2024 17:09:59
you disagree as you want a Shinny new toy soon as we sign someone you will be ecstatic. Sad and pathetic OG.
26 Jul 2024 17:11:21
stevie Wonder can see that we need atop No 6 , macca needs to be higher up the pitch, wasted at No 6, BAJ needs to be eased back in
.
26 Jul 2024 20:46:40
A new coach and tactics can make all the difference. If Leicester can win the league after almost getting relegated than a team that finishes third can certainly challenge and win.
27 Jul 2024 03:04:52
Problem is, Nevada, that we were poor even though we were top of the league for periods last season. I lost count of the games we narrowly drew or won by a goal in the last 5 minutes. Overall, our performances were pretty average.