18 Mar 2026 09:21:06
Props to whoever came here with rumours that Hughes is a possibility for Al Hilal ages ago. It's in the Telegraph today.
18 Mar 2026 12:07:39
Yeah, Silvered. Looks like that's a great possibility.
18 Mar 2026 12:26:29
To be fair, Hughes and Edwards have been linked to Saudi jobs for the last couple of years. Clearly they are interested in what is developing there.
18 Mar 2026 12:41:43
I believe that started back in January. It was not really a rumour when it was all over the web, with numerous articles on it back then too.
18 Mar 2026 12:48:58
How do these ppl who fail at jobs get other lucrative jobs? Someone must be putting good words in for them.
18 Mar 2026 13:16:29
When you say fail, Strom, do you mean by being part of a club that won the PL? Twice in Edwards's case.
18 Mar 2026 13:19:33
Failing upwards is a common occurrence in all sorts of industries.
18 Mar 2026 13:21:02
I guess what we fans deem as a successful Sporting Director is not exactly the same for the clubs.
I would think their reputation amongst other Sporting Directors and the big agents will be a big factor as much as being able to articulate a sporting vision across all levels of the club and with commercial partners.
Unfortunately, we never get to see any of that. We can only interpret things through the coaching performance and team results.
18 Mar 2026 13:27:35
Well, Rome, they've failed miserably this season, haven't they n plus we had a legend called Klopp who was the main man who made the team that won us trophies, not two men behind the scenes.
18 Mar 2026 14:14:52
No, Strom, they haven't. They've given the coach some world-class players. It's not their fault he can't shape them into a winning team.
They haven't sacked Slot because the right person to replace him isn't immediately available, and they don't want to be knee-jerk and just get anyone in. That makes perfect sense to me.
18 Mar 2026 14:25:54
Agree with you there, Strom. But if it's fair game to slag them off when we're shite, it's only fair that they get praise when we're good.
18 Mar 2026 14:39:45
I think it kind of is their fault. The job of a sporting director is not to buy the best players available in an abstract fashion, but the best players to fit what the coach wants to do, to have a broad plan for replacing players and shaping the team over a few seasons, but also to make hard decisions, in constant communication with the coach, when contingencies arise and those plans might have to be moved around.
Yes, Hughes and Edwards bought some great players, there is no question about that, but the question is whether they were what we needed at that precise time to get us best prepared for the league this year. Let's say Slot wanted a full back who could tuck in or play center half ala Hincapie and Geertruida, and Hughes went and bought Kerkez and Frimpong instead.
Yes, Kerkez and Frimpong are fantastic players, but if Slot didn't want that sort of player (I'm speculating), was it really a good move?
Also, the decision not to back Slot in January when we needed a center half and a wide player is extremely questionable. Okay, maybe they thought Guehi and Semenyo were overpriced and they have better targets in mind, so are waiting for the summer window, but they didn't even want to bring Geertruida in to give us some help when Slot was pressing for him on loan.
If we don't make it in the Champions League places, I'm not sure the blame falls squarely on Slot. Obviously, he has to take a large proportion of the blame, but the hierarchy have some big questions to answer.
18 Mar 2026 15:40:19
Varry, yes, they've given them some great players, but some weren't needed, n most wanted to come anyway. But look at Isak, it took months to get across the line, yet it looked like we panicked n bought Ekitike with no plan if Isak came.
They should have looked where we were short, like CB n midfield, and left us short, didn't they? I don't blame Slot for buying players, I blame him for our terrible season. This season is a collective mismanagement from top to bottom.
18 Mar 2026 15:45:12
Rome, I agree with that statement, but if we never had Klopp to gel everyone, players, fans, etc., then no one would even know who the behind-the-scenes men were. I remember players were midfielders at CBs because we were short, then they left 3 senior players' contracts to all come to an end at the same time, not top class work in my eyes.
But ppl may disagree.