27 Oct 2025 11:23:53
Bit of info on the manager situation:
Don’t usually post this kinda stuff but asked the question coz of all the noise rn. Just passing on what was told to me by someone v close to things inside the club (not management side) . Take it how u want tbh.
There’s been some quiet convos internally about what options might be there if things don’t turn around soon. Priority is still to back Slot and give him proper time but they’re keeping an eye on the wider picture in case a call has to be made sooner than expected.
Apparently Slot’s been asked to put together a detailed report during the intl break. More like a review on progress so far and what’s next tactically.
Names mentioned so far:-
De Zerbi: Quite appreciated internally. Fits the style, Prem exp, buyout clause helps.
Iraola: Klopp type model, suits current players.
Sebastian Hoeneß: Good at developing players, flexible tactically. Not sure if ready yet tho.
Others:-
Glasner: Solid but not a style fit, prob ruled out.
Zidane: Not seen as realistic atm.
As for Klopp:
Bit more nuanced than people think. Officially no contact and the club have full respect for how he left. But those close to him say he hasn’t completely shut the door on managing again at some point. Timing would have to be spot on tho, has to feel right for both sides.
For now Slot’s safe but the next few weeks could be big. Club won’t panic but they also won’t just sit on their hands if things don’t pick up.
Cheers.
27 Oct 2025 11:40:39
That list of names doesn’t sound any better than where we’re at pre-Slot being signed.
27 Oct 2025 11:49:58
A large aspect of management in any industry is the ability to manage change. Leading your team through that change curve is bread and butter for any successful manager. In order to succeed you have to be focused towards the objective but also adaptable if things are not working.
Its Slots current stubbornness to adapt which is concerning. He will need to self-adapt quickly in order to move his team forward. Let's see if he can.
27 Oct 2025 12:01:19
Any list which has De Zerbi is invalidated.
27 Oct 2025 12:01:41
Appreciate the info Red Bird. Honestly, it's how I expected/ hoped the club would be behaving. Not jumping the gun, but also keeping a keen eye on the situation rather than just hoping it'll fix itself.
I personally think it's wise to try to give Slot the time and support he needs, but to also have ideas on what to do if things continue getting worse.
27 Oct 2025 12:04:28
I can understand why the suits would want to keep Slot time to turn this around. Slot is their man. Edwards and Hughes also have to take some of the blame too as the defensive recruitment looks completely misprofiled for both the system Slot is trying to implement AND the way the Premier League is heading. A collective blame.
Hopefully there will be practical steps taken this week. Deprioritising the cup game and spending as much time on the training pitch re defensive drills, intensity, developing partnerships and fitness would be the right thing to do.
And then they have to try and add some physicality in January.
27 Oct 2025 12:06:05
Thanks Redbird.
To be honest im intrigued as to who the world class managers are which are available to take the reins if required? Maybe I am wrong but the only world class manager around is probably Pep G. Except for him, I think everyone else is generally very unproven. That includes Nagelsman etc.
Eds please can someone help me figure this out, What’s happened to our press? Surely winning second balls and pressing is the least the players can do? That’s what is concerning me most at the moment. I really want slot to succeed but can’t see how he wants us to play or why the players are so lost and bereft of confidence? I thought he would sort it out during the last international break but watching us on Saturday it hurts to see how far we have fallen in a matter of months!
{Ed001's Note - Slot is worried about burn out for the players, so playing with a lower intensity, which means the press can't work. You have to play a press with a high intensity.}
27 Oct 2025 12:14:08
Finally, someone throw in names of the "world class queue". Cheers, Redbird
I know De Zerbi had one very good season with Brighton. Still a gamble.
Iraola is exciting. PL proven as well.
Sebastian is regarded highly by Stuttgart fans. Still risky.
Not a fan of Glasner’s style. Not sure it suits us.
I really hope Slot fixes it. If not, then my 1st preference would always be Klopp. And thereafter, Iraola.
27 Oct 2025 12:36:28
Is t there a good chance Nagelsmann comes to us in 2026 after a caretaker stint at Anfield by Klopp, who then takes over the Germany side after the World Cup?
27 Oct 2025 12:37:01
Oh and thanks for the info, Red Bird.
27 Oct 2025 12:36:23
Ed01 so essentially, the same thing Klopp was afraid of for the disaster we know it to be, right?
Also, you say that while at the same time had said that the players aren't fit. Hence, is this a case of the training staff cutting back on the training intensity cos players aren't fit and the solution around that is to play a slower brand of footie?
{Ed001's Note - fitness staff and Klopp used to have a running argument about the training. Klopp wanted it higher intensity to make games easier and reduce injuries. Fitness staff felt it caused burnout and reduced the ability of players to compete at the top end for long periods.
Personally I think fitness staff are talking bollox as the players that train with the highest intensity and then go home and train further tend to have the longer careers ie Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo. It is the lack of fitness that causes injuries and shortens careers. It is when they stop getting up and working as hard on it that they lose their way early.
And if it does cause burnout, what does it matter? We are better getting three or four peak high quality years out of players, then replacing them, than we are getting ten years of this crap.}
27 Oct 2025 13:04:46
Wasn’t Nagelsmann at the game coincidentally? Or was that the Frankfurt match? I remember the cameras zoomed in on him in the crowd.
{Ed001's Note - Frankfurt.}
27 Oct 2025 13:40:46
De zerbi is terrible, I would actually be incredibly upset if he ended up as our coach somehow.
27 Oct 2025 13:57:42
Thanks, Ed. And to further support your point of Klopp wanting players to train harder with high intensity and how it made the games easier, here is your quote:
"Klopp wanted it higher intensity to make games easier and reduce injuries. "
Marco Reus alluded to this in a past interview during his time at BVB. He said Klopp used to ride them hard cos you guessed it, the games became easier hence, why the back to back titles they won under Klopp were at a canter. The other teams couldn't cope with the way BVB were playing them.
Of course it leads to burnout BUT what happens if the oppo. is training the way Klopp wants? You get dominated, outworked, outrun and outfought regardless of your talent. Exactly, the way we are being dealt with by the oppo. right now.
So like you, the other way the fitness coaches wanted is like you say, bollox.
27 Oct 2025 14:08:40
Lets not forgot that asking Grav to get forward more was, at first seen as a genius move by Slot, who was hoping to emulate peak Pep, by the looks of things.
That combined with having Wirtz in MF instead of our solid 3, plus a new forward that does not press and all else that has been written about has changed a delicate balance a great deal.
27 Oct 2025 15:10:50
I'm not to bothered if we have a press or not, but if you don't press then you need to sit back deep. We can't not press but still being so open through midfield and defence, not that it would make any difference with our CB's massively underperforming right now.
got to win the first header, of you don't then it's a lottery where it ends up, and more often than not recently that's been in the back of our net.