Liverpool rumours 2

23 Apr 2024 20:57:06
Hi Ed2

Thanks for your constant hard work and knowledge which is hugely appreciated.
You called the Slot option a few weeks ago and tipped him to be a very good klopp replacement.
Is he well rated out of the current crop of upcoming young managers? My concern is that we haven't seen very many successful managers from the Dutch league so for me a huge risk? Is there anything the club would expect from him as a minimum target next season?
also what can we expect style wise?

{Ed002's Note - He is a very good and very respected coach and I think might be able to keep Liverpool progressing. Klopp worked hard to overcome his issues and I think Slot could inherit a decent side and deal with issues over aging players over the next couple of years.}

23 Apr 2024 23:42:46
So we're signing frimpong, malen, hanko and wieffer

Dutch ball (I know hanko isn't Dutch) ;)

24 Apr 2024 04:28:21
I miss Kuyt.

24 Apr 2024 08:38:09
We should get Kuyt, Zenden and Ryan in the Babel copter.

23 Apr 2024 22:02:25
Hi Eds in your opinion would Slots appointment secure further contracts for Virj and Trent? And are there any foundations in rumours of Diaz heading to Barcelona for circa £100mill plus as thought they were under financial constraints and Salah to Saudi for a similar amount? I’d personally live to see us go all out for Isak as again Arsenal and Barcelona are sniffing him out - any chance? 🙏🙏.

{Ed002's Note - The appointment of a coach will have no bearing on contracts wjich will need to be dealt with by Michael Edwards. I am not aware of any £100M offer for Diaz but there may be an opportunity for a part echange. There will be an offer from Michael Emanalo for Salah. Isak is of no interest to Liverpool.}

23 Apr 2024 23:17:09
What’s his strengths as a coach Ed? Would he be involved in transfers? Does he have a preferred style/ formation? I can’t say I’ve watched any eredivisie.

{Ed002's Note - It would be an attacking formation and he advocates open and attacking play. He may have a back seat in the transfer process which has caused concerns to others.}

24 Apr 2024 00:13:06
Ed, it looks like with this new structure that Liv are looking at someone who is more of a head coach instead of a manager like Klopp. That is why someone like Amorim is now considered unlikely as he wants more control over players that club will look at.

Do you think that this is a good way to go post Klopp era? And is it safe to assume that Slot is now the club preferred option to replace Klopp?

{Ed002's Note - I think you are largely correct. It is an approach that has been used for some years in Italy and is advocated by Damien Comolli, who Liverpool may soon be linking up with again.

The preferred option will likely now be Arne Slot.}

24 Apr 2024 09:14:28
Hoping he gives his countryman Sepp vDB a chance, if he comes of course.

24 Apr 2024 11:02:24
I don't think Barcelona could afford to buy Diaz even if they stuck him on Klarna.

24 Apr 2024 11:52:05
Is it the case that the linking up with Damien Comolli would come in the form of FSG looking to buy out RedBird Capital at Toulouse?

{Ed002's Note - It is not a case of buying Red Bird out, but extending the relationship.}

24 Apr 2024 12:33:30
Thanks Ed002, makes sense.

24 Apr 2024 14:49:07
Hi Ed, when you say 'it is an approach that has been used for some years in Italy and is advocated by Damien Comolli, ' is that a good thing or not and if so, why? Love to hear your thoughts.

{Ed002's Note - Some of the very best coaches in the world have had to get used to it but I think they should have at lease some input to the process.}

24 Apr 2024 15:23:47
I prefer the head coach approach in current times. Coaching, recruiting, evaluating scouting, and everything else is way too much for one person to handle well anymore. You can do it, but with compromises and those compromises will likely put you at a disadvantage against clubs that employ more specialized positions. With that said, I think Liverpool's structure under Klopp had some weaknesses, centered around defining roles and responsibilities in recruitment (or maybe Klopp was just too big of a personality to be contained) . This led to dysfunction, key departures (Edwards being one of them) and internal turmoil.

With that said, would Klopp accept being a head coach? Probably not. So the drama/ dysfunction came with the territory with him and the pay off far exceeded the issues it created. Heading into the future though, I'm happy to see LFC shore things up a bit and address some of these issues. Hopefully it will pay off and keeps us a couple steps ahead of our competitors.

23 Apr 2024 20:39:38
ED002-Full credit goes to you for suggesting Arne Slot. This looking more likeky now do you think? If so, will he bring his assistants with him or will need to bring someone else in to support on the coaching side?

{Ed002's Note - Great coach and nice guy. Mosyt coaches will want assistants or control over assistants.}

24 Apr 2024 08:15:05
Edd002 what's his style of play? I'm hoping we ditch the inverted fullback nonsense.

{Ed002's Note - It would be a fast attacking soccerball style with an inverted goalkeeper.}

24 Apr 2024 10:22:45
Inverted goalkeeper. OMG can't stop laughing.

Looks like Ed02 is on all time high :-)

24 Apr 2024 10:52:22
Nice One Ed, Do you think Alisson or Kelleher is best suited to the inverted goalkeeping role. I personally think Alisson has more presence in the opposition box to be better at the role than Kelleher.

24 Apr 2024 12:23:33
Nice one, inverted goalkeeper.
I was for a moment how technically that can be done.

23 Apr 2024 16:54:53
Hi Ed2,

Thought I’d ask a slightly different question about our manager search if that’s ok.

You’ve stated that control over transfers/ squad has been seen as a negative for both Nagelsman and potentially Amorim.

Of the names we’ve been linked with otherwise, are you aware of any who would have less of an issue with this side of our structure?

Thanks in advance.

{Ed002's Note - Slot, Haise, O'Neil, Kovac, Fonesca, de Zerbi and Schmidt may see it as no issue.}

23 Apr 2024 16:51:39
It seems like Slot is mentioned as the preferred choice for Liv now and Amorim looking rather unlikely by the media. Ed2, you do mentioned that for you Slot is a good candidate and a good fit for Liv.

With many top clubs looking for a new manager, I would assume he would be looked by others as option. Is there any other clubs interested in him other than Liv?

{Ed002's Note - Arne Slot (C) Complete wildcard, but a great coach and very good option for many of the sides looking for a coach. Will be considered by Barcelona and by Bayern Munich. He and his coaches have done a great job at Feyenoord and got them back ahead of PSV and Ajax to win the league a couple of years ago. He is an excellent manager and a very pleasant guy. Previously of interest to Spurs and Chelsea. Would be my pick for the Liverpool job.}

24 Apr 2024 09:14:33
top kudos to you Ed002 for mentioning Slot a while ago,

24 Apr 2024 11:37:31
Thanks Ed002, always value you opinion and Knowledge of the game!

Out of curiosity, how would you compare slot vs Amorin? Outside of the obvious formation wise

Style play, style of management etc.

{Ed002's Note - I would not consider them entirely different.

23 Apr 2024 17:11:18
Looks like Arne Slot is the new man.

23 Apr 2024 17:42:46
I expect a period of transition no matter who the manager is but so long as we play exciting football to watch, I’ll be happy in the short-term.

23 Apr 2024 18:08:22
Respect to Ed02 who has been suggesting Slot for a while now.

23 Apr 2024 18:10:30
Ed2. Has been mentioning Arne Slot from the beginning.

Paul Joyce tweeted 2 hours ago “Feyenoord coach Arne Slot interesting Liverpool. “

Fabrizio Romano just tweeted the following “One more direct contact will take place soon between Arne Slot and Liverpool board to discuss more key points of the project.

Slot, keen on Liverpool job and concrete option as he’s highly rated by #LFC. ”

I don’t know much about him as I don’t watch the Dutch league. All I know is he turned down both Spurs and Chelsea in the last few years.

All I know is when Joyce is very reliable when it comes to our Liverpool affairs. So it looks like our next coach is Arne Slot.

23 Apr 2024 18:43:07
*All I know is Joyce is very reliable when it comes to Liverpool affairs. So it looks like our next coach is Arne Slot

Autocorrect 🤦‍♂️.

23 Apr 2024 18:54:00
Impressive call by Ed to be fair. He did say he would be a good choice some time back and the one to watch.

23 Apr 2024 19:12:03
Mr Amorim (or his agent) might have blown the opportunity to manage LFC by being too quick to yap to the media too often.
As we all know LFC like to keep things inhouse and he has shown himself to be the exact opposite.
We don't need a drama queen at this club.
Rumours have it he is also looking for £200,000 per week after tax!
A double barrel straight in the foot there.

23 Apr 2024 19:27:23
I have a strong preference for not a Dutch manager. No disrespect to Slot or any other Dutch manager some of whom have been great players and outstanding coaches in the Dutch league. But, culturally they are not as compatible with the English game and player/ club culture as some other cultures. I'm not going to quote names, but there have been more than 2! This is not intended as anti-Dutch, its just an observation.

23 Apr 2024 20:06:12
I can think of some very successful Dutch Managers. I think ETH at Man Utd has people worried that every coach from the Dutch league will be as bad as him.

I have no idea about Slot. He could be just as bad, he could be worse or he could be amazing. He has done well in his short managerial career so far.

If he gets the job, he'll have my full support, just as anyone who we hire.

23 Apr 2024 20:22:25
I'm inclined to agree with Viva. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but a Dutch manager has never competed for a title in PREM and have only been decent 'cup' managers.

He might succeed where gullit, Jol, van gaal, de boer, ten Haag have failed but I think Dutch coaches are too wed to the 'dutch philosphy' and not really flexible enough to succeed here.

23 Apr 2024 20:51:11
Hiddink did okay at Chelsea.

23 Apr 2024 20:58:51
English and Scottish managers are by far the most successful nationalities in English football so the next manager has to be either Gareth Southgate or Steve Clarke.

23 Apr 2024 20:59:52
Not like those German managers with their 100% win rate.

23 Apr 2024 21:10:26
In fairness Nevada, none of those managers had squads or were at clubs with a structure to win a title.

23 Apr 2024 21:15:32
I'm not overly in awe of Slot as a choice either but if it is him he'll have my support.

23 Apr 2024 23:19:23
Isn’t it a fact that no English manager has ever won the prem?

{Ed001's Note - yes. But how many of the top clubs have had English managers?}

24 Apr 2024 04:25:24
How many top grade English managers have there been in the PL era?

24 Apr 2024 08:05:39
Are we saying that football management ability varies from nationality to nationality? That’s a pretty wild theory. Wouldn’t it be more the case that footballing management ability varies from person to person?

23 Apr 2024 11:49:30
I’ve not heard much talk about Simone Inzaghi. (Apologies if I’ve missed a discussion) . Having won a league title and CL would he be the kind of profile FSG are looking for?

{Ed002's Note - Simone Inzaghi is not of interest to Liverpool.}

23 Apr 2024 12:39:32
When did Inzaghi win the CL?

23 Apr 2024 12:54:35
Parallel universe Ed. Definitely not here!

24 Apr 2024 07:30:12
People are worried about slot being a Dutch manager but surely the same concerns about other candidates, alonso one yr managing? Amorim. From the Portuguese league? Alonso could have fallen flat as could any manager, so let’s just support who ever we get and be grateful hodgeson has retired.

23 Apr 2024 11:40:38
good morning ED’s is the gary O’neil rumours true that he has had a interview at the club?
thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Gary O'Neil (C) If Moyes departs, O'Neil will join the likely candidates for West Ham. I suspect he will stay where he is. Links to Liverpool are likely just to be with the input of Richard Hughes – I really cannot see the club going that way – it would be a shock and I think risky with so little experience.}