22 Mar 2026 07:23:59
A bunch of random thoughts
I caught the last 2 matches, albeit it only from the 60th min for the UCL game. Whilst happy with the win, I don't see as winning the UCL, especially with PSG being our opponents next. They are physically and tactically superior to us.
I don't see us winning the FA cup too with City in our way.
Feel like this season will be empty handed after hefty spending, yet we are still lacking in GK (don't think Mama is a good enough replacement for Alisson when the time comes), CB (VVD is no longer imperious and Konate looks what he's worth when he leaves this summer). We do have a good midfield and frontline when everyone's fit. Hopefully the rebuild won't be as extensive.
Much have been said about the coaching team and the players having to share in the responsibility of the shambles this season. I note some EDs and posters here can much more semi and pro sports experience but I can only share the little I know from personal experience:
I came from a school that was regionally 2nd and nationally top 16 to top 4 in a team sports for 3 years running. The only reason we never came first in the region or reached the national finals even once was because the very dominant national champions for those 3 years came from the same region. Due to the bracketing of the nationals, we did face them each them and get knocked out. Regardless, you can say that we had a very good team, a nationally ranked team. In the next year, the coach left, along with some of the senior players. But the team was still a very good team. The new coach had very little local experience and certainly didn't have the elite vibe about him. The team didn't even reach top 4 in the region, so didn't qualify for the nationals too. From then on, the school eventually lost its status as a strong team in this sport recruitment became tough. It never recovered. The only thing that changed was the coach, but it changed everything and a school once well respected for its achievement in this sport was lost forever.
On hindsight, it's becoming increasingly evident Slot rode on the coattails of Klopp's squad who had great players and amazing fitness and wonderful stadium atmosphere. He did bring some defensive solidity and control that was needed. But instead of progressing, he seems to have regressed and it shows in fitness levels, play styles.
I'm not sure if and when he'll be gone but I don't think we can recover from this season if he's still around next. I can only hope whoever comes in next has the pedigree to keep and attract players, put some fire back in the players and the fans, and be usher in another great era.
Truth be told, at one time I thought Slot could be the Paisley that followed Shanks, alas it wasn't meant to be.
22 Mar 2026 08:14:12.
I won a National Championship once. The next year, with half of that team still eligible to play in the same age group, including myself, we lost in the very first round. Who's fault is that?
22 Mar 2026 08:18:18
I really think we should reserve judgment on some of the players until we have a different coach at the helm, hopefully playing a style of football that suits them better.
I do agree, though, that a major overhaul is needed of our most experienced players, which is natural.
What hasn't been handled well is that we haven't been proactive enough to manage this, so we're now in a place where too much change is forced at the same time.
22 Mar 2026 08:38:26
Florian, all depends, mate. Were you pub players going up against 11 Ivan Dragos?
22 Mar 2026 09:12:19
We came third in Klopp's final season, then Slot took a near-identical team to champions the next season. I'm all for getting a new manager in the summer, but let's not belittle Slot's achievements by suggesting he was "riding on Klopp's coattails".
22 Mar 2026 09:17:26
No, JK, these guys weren't even Clubber Langs.
22 Mar 2026 09:27:19
Could it be a case of players downing tools, in the hope of getting a manager sacked.
It's been a successful tactic at many clubs, many times.
Yet those that have the power to do it (for whatever reason) are just not biting.
It's slow, laborious and inept, and you'd expect better from an U12 side.
22 Mar 2026 09:27:40
The way Klopp's team only faltered towards the end of that season had me knowing that this was a team ready to win the PL, and they duly did so. As I said at the time Slot took over, he was fortunate to have taken over a team ready for success. It might not have been "riding on Klopp's coattails", but it wasn't far off it.
22 Mar 2026 09:36:12
I don't wish to show my age, but I remember Shanks winning his last title in 73 and the FA Cup in 74, and Paisley ended up with no trophies, finishing 2nd in his first season, 20 wins, 11 draws, 11 defeats. Yes, 11 defeats. I would say in today's world there would be some on here wanting him gone. The next year he won the UEFA Cup and league title, and what followed was unbelievable.
Paisley followed Shanks' blueprint for success, but he did it his way. The one main thing with Paisley was that if he thought your legs had gone, or your form was slipping, or you weren't good enough, you were gone.
He was ruthless.
Most of his players didn't make it to 31. There were a few exceptions: King Kenny, Cally, Smith, though Tommy was allowed to go on loan to America twice. Even Kenny was dropped a couple of times in Bob's last season as manager. I don't remember the Scottish King coming out with scapegoat statements.
I know the times have changed, but Bob Paisley made the decisions, even to stop Shankly coming back to the training ground for a chat, because they still called him Boss.
I am still of the opinion that our team lack a few players with a bit of fight.
22 Mar 2026 09:41:43
Hoof it, looks like Slot has downed tools.
22 Mar 2026 09:54:12
Itstrue, unfortunately, times have changed and managers at top level clubs don't get time to build or re build nowadays with the concept of the Champions League - it's unfortunate but that's the financial reality!
The best at that is Fergie, year in, year out, he was ruthless & constantly freshened up a couple of squad places.
22 Mar 2026 10:05:41
Paisley never lost 11 league games in a season, Itstrue. Just like Klopp never lost 10 in a season, and 9 on two other different occasions. We've never been in the lowest depths we've sank to this year. Even though we've finished 5th or lower 8 times in the last 20 years.
22 Mar 2026 10:17:51
Squad places shouldn't be for players who are no longer good enough for the first team, because they often find themselves in the first team.
My point was Bob Paisley used to ship his older players out when they stopped performing, not keep them around if they weren't good enough.
22 Mar 2026 10:19:19
Everyone has opinions and sees things differently. That's the beauty of the game.
Personally, in Klopp's seasons that he struggled, I still went to games excited and with expectations.
This season I've turned down more games than I've been to.
Last Sunday was the final nail in the coffin for me for this season.
The players and Slot have let the fans down.
The players' jobs are to give 100% week in, week out.
A manager's job is to get the best out of his players, with selection and tactical nous.
It's clear neither of those things are happening, and if history tells us one thing, it's 1 person who will pay the ultimate price.
22 Mar 2026 10:56:40
Itstrue, he came 2nd, mate, and spent a hell of a lot less than £450 million. That shows nothing but promise. At this rate, Slot will be lucky to finish 5th, 7th is a very real possibility. Attempting to compare the total number of losses between 2 teams 50 odd years apart is totally irrelevant, especially without context.
You're talking about a time when 55-65 points won you the league. Derby won the title that year with 11 draws, 10 losses and only 53 points on the board. 53 points wouldn't get you in the Conference League these days. Completely different times. Incomparable in many regards.
22 Mar 2026 11:14:59
If you had a car that kept stop starting every time you used it, what would you do?
Keep it in hope it will work every other day!!!
Or bin it and look for a new car!!!!
22 Mar 2026 11:18:15
Was that when it was two points for a win, Chewy?
22 Mar 2026 11:41:39
Yep Chewy, it was two points for a win back then. Totally different times, alright. Incomparable.
22 Mar 2026 12:55:03
Florian, my point is that the standards have changed. 11 draws and 10 losses give you a total of 62 points for the season by today's standards. Do you see anybody winning the league with 62 points? The record low is 75. The average over the last 10 years is 92. Yes, totally different times, for sure.