18 May 2026 11:51:24
Honestly, I am pretty gutted we let Xabi Alonso go to Chelsea. They might be a basketcase of a club but one thing you cannot accuse them of is not being decisive.
Obviously, we don't really know what is happening at our club right now, though it is difficult not to conclude it's a complete and utter shambles behind the scenes.
The one thing that really gets on my pip is that it feels like this is one big game to the directors. They seem to get off on obfuscating via press briefings, running deals up to the 11th hour, choosing to do deals which are the most difficult to do, gamble with positions across the squad while continuing to project their myth of being the smartest and long-term thinking football operators around.
And don't get me started on being data-driven. If your data has determined that signing Frimpong and Kerkez as flying fullbacks without having a defensive midfielder is correct, then your data models are trash. If your data has determined that we could progress the ball from the back without replacing Trent's ability, then your data models are trash. If your data determined that giving Salah a new deal while also taking away the ball progression is correct, then your data models are trash. And if your data model completely missed the direction of travel of the Premier League, in terms of percentage play and set-pieces, then your data models are trash!
It all smacks of arrogance and narcissism, and possibly worse, incompetence and laziness.
18 May 2026 12:13:41
Have you ever considered that he simply wanted to go to Chelsea and never Liverpool?
18 May 2026 12:20:39
They've become a laughing stock. Edwards and Hughes are an embarrassment.
18 May 2026 12:21:22
The Lid, sure. However, that wasn't my point if you read the rest of the post.
18 May 2026 12:26:25
... We let Xabi Alonso go to "Chelsea". ??? That was awfully good of us. I hear we are letting Martin O'Neill stay as manager at Celtic next season too.
18 May 2026 12:33:29
They are anything but decisive. They may luck into Xabi working out for them.
18 May 2026 12:38:58
Edwards and Hughes are too big for their boots. Without a great manager like Jurgen or Iraola, their actual level has been exposed.
18 May 2026 12:49:58
I'd argue it's their lack of thought into the decisions they've made has put them in a right mess.
You should act with pace, not haste.
Agreed that Xabi is one of their better decisions though.
18 May 2026 13:05:51
Pelican, I too, am gutted that Xabi wasn't hired, but such is life.
18 May 2026 14:49:23
When we won the title last year, the acclaim was not just for Slot, but it must have been for Edwards and Hughes too, in FSG's eyes. Who can blame them for it? And maybe that's why they have waited so long to take action? I have no idea how many other coaches and sporting directors FSG has talked to since things started falling apart, but the point remains that you move slower when you still retain confidence in people who won for you last year.
Just human nature.
{Ed025's Note - i dont think FSG know that much about football to be honest ArAy, they care about profit and profile mate..