Is this sustainable?

[bluebell]

It is not supposed to be provocative, its the truth, I should be feeling we will get stronger next season and be even better but this Slot style is so fucking slow its unreal, we are likely to draw more games next season if he does not sort out the shitty turd of football he is getting them to play.

I always beleived that had we had baller midfielders like we have now then Klopp woulf have won titles more easily and he almost pulled it off last season but for bad finishing. Slot has won this league by rotating the midfield slightly to avoid burn out, and won it despite his idea of football tactics because of the world class players he has inherited. Its aweful, everyone can see that once people start getting over the fact that we have won a title.

You are miserable sod. You are critiquing a guy who in his first season has won the league with possibly 4 games to spare. He has proven his method is sustainable because he won the league. If anything this season has proved, its impossible to call what will happen next season. I am sure Hughes and Slot know we lack speed in the wings, and fitness at the back and accuracy uptop. They have had a season of learning and drawing up the list and in the summer I hope they will be addressed.

 

[mark1975]

I wish people would stop taking this as a personal attack on Slot, it simply isn't.

 

[Hansern]

Sustainable? That depends on whether its personnel or playing style we are talking about.

Regarding personnel and players. No, its not. We need an upgrade with quality players in certain positions, squad players that fit the managers tactics and roles. This season has seen to much weight being loaded on a few players. That shouldn't happen in the future.

Regarding tactics. This is the managers first season. Its a bit weird to think that how we play now is an exact image of what he wants us to look like. We'll be a different team and tactical unit going forward. Its actually very impressive that a Slot in phase 1 can win the title before an Arteta in, what, phase 5 or 6.
We're winning games but probably peaked to early in terms of form. Players need to be rotated.
All this is something Slot will address this summer and in the years to come.

In regards to "limping over the line".
For the last two seasons Arsenal and City have had 74 and 75 points and 76 and 79 points after 33 games.
Not only do we have 79 points this season but we also had a 26 unbeaten game run that City in all their time with dominance didn't match.
Some poor performances, other teams failings or not being "easy on the eye" in every game shouldn't invalidate what a remarkable season this is turning out to be, and certainly shouldn't take anything away from Slot winning in his first season.

After 33 games in the league we have the most shots, most shots on target, most big chances created (30 more than City and 40 more than Arsenal) attacking wise, and most clean sheets (14), second best defensive numbers and second best in terms of conceded goals.

Is it sustainable? Well, we are the best attacking side (by a pretty large margin to our closest rivals) and the second best defensive side over 33 games.
If we're limping now then God knows how fucking good we're gonna be in the future when Slot sorts us out properly..

 

[bluebell]

Sustainable? That depends on whether its personnel or playing style we are talking about.

Regarding personnel and players. No, its not. We need an upgrade with quality players in certain positions, squad players that fit the managers tactics and roles. This season has seen to much weight being loaded on a few players. That shouldn't happen in the future.

Regarding tactics. This is the managers first season. Its a bit weird to think that how we play now is an exact image of what he wants us to look like. We'll be a different team and tactical unit going forward. Its actually very impressive that a Slot in phase 1 can win the title before an Arteta in, what, phase 5 or 6.
We're winning games but probably peaked to early in terms of form. Players need to be rotated.
All this is something Slot will address this summer and in the years to come.

In regards to "limping over the line".
For the last two seasons Arsenal and City have had 74 and 75 points and 76 and 79 points after 33 games.
Not only do we have 79 points this season but we also had a 26 unbeaten game run that City in all their time with dominance didn't match.
Some poor performances, other teams failings or not being "easy on the eye" in every game shouldn't invalidate what a remarkable season this is turning out to be, and certainly shouldn't take anything away from Slot winning in his first season.

After 33 games in the league we have the most shots, most shots on target, most big chances created (30 more than City and 40 more than Arsenal) attacking wise, and most clean sheets (14), second best defensive numbers and second best in terms of conceded goals.

Is it sustainable? Well, we are the best attacking side (by a pretty large margin to our closest rivals) and the second best defensive side over 33 games.
If we're limping now then God knows how fucking good we're gonna be in the future when Slot sorts us out properly..

I think some people have bought into rival narratives that we are lucky and credit should go to Klopp and Slot just happen to be there at the right time to ride the wave. We have won our 2nd Prem title and 20th title overall. No one at the start of the season had us coming top two let alone winning the title.

 

[Whaddapie]

@peekay - good post and some very strong points. Here are my feelings so far:

1) Slot has been very lucky - what we know about him are the following:

- He don't give a shit about player feelings
- He is a coward and always goes with stability and what he knows first- only grows a pair when things look completely fucked
- He is a 2nd half merchant.
- His style of play which is what we are seeing now in its near fullest - is not PL winning material - my view is that the first half of the season was 70%+ KloppBall and 30% Slotball, since February - we can say that its been switched over, and in all honesty 2025 has been shit for us in terms of our overall results.
- He has been lucky because of what he has inherited from Klopp / Salah having a freak season / VVD being back at nearly his best - what I can credit him with is his better use of the midfield talent we have to sustain their fitness through most of this season and not running them to death like Klopp did. I terms of his tactics - they are still under question because lets be honest - we have had better 2nd halfs for most of this season -which tells me he is not setting up the team correctly.


2) Transfers will make or break us - I think:

- both VVD/Ibou have been our rocks at the back and if we lose Ibou because we are not willing to pay him his market worth then we are fucking dumb fucks to start with. That said, we need to bring in the eventual replacement for VVD and to rest him and Ibou in games.
- obviously we need an LB,
- we definitely need a more physical/dominant CM who we can rotate and especially use in games where we come up against the Newcastle brutes of this world. I think we need to bring in that CM in addition to keeping our current main stable of Mac,Grav,Jones,Szobo,Endo - so yes we need 6 possible starters for the whole season
- If we lose Elliot we need a reputable/reliable No. 10 type - I like Simmons and I like the idea he can play on the right to give Salah a rest.
- If we lose Diaz - we need another LW to replace with pace and ability to duel 1-on-1
- If we lose Nunez - we need a striker replacement obviously - I would love us to sign that Delap kid from Ipswich.
- if we lose TAA - we should just get our own quality freebee from Forest as a replacement.

I want FSG/Slot - to keep to the promise of ensuring that we recruit will allow us to complete in ALL competitions next season.

Note if we lose Ibou this summer - there is not guarantee of anything next season - as I don't think there are many defenders better than him we can get in world football. It would a fucking stupid decision. Throughout Liverpool's history the years we win stuff - has always been because of having a stable defensive unit.

I really, really, REALLY hate how some people use that fucking word... Fucking ridiculous, baseless claim.

 

[localny]

It's just incorrect application of the English language. It happens online.

"He's too cautious" would be a better way maybe?

Someone said we are boring. Let's win the league 3-4 more times this way, and we can go back to the Gung Ho land.

 

[Whaddapie]

I get the gist of this thread, and I share some concerns about our recent displays, of course.

But when people ask about sustainability, I keep coming back to this... We've won 9 and drawn 2 of our last 11 matches. We've lost 2 league matches all season. Yes, we've probably ridden our luck somewhat with the overuse of the core players, but other than that, there's not been anything that's glaringly unsustainable... We've not played well, we look flat, but we're winning.

That's what the scum did for entire seasons, and kept doing it. I'd rather we don't, of course, but that could happen to us, too. As somebody said earlier, if this season proves one thing, it's that nobody knows what could happen, from season to season... Wonder what odds you'd have gotten on us winning and Forest coming 2nd or 3rd, this time last season?

 

[binomial]

It doesn't get much better than winning the league in your first season but it's still not enough for some. There's been a sense of arrogance and entitlement with the fanbase as the season's gone on, so much so that they'd let trivial matters bother them more than their joy of winning #20 allows them to, which is quite sad.

The same narratives being rolled out like a parrot, Why don't we start fast? Why don't we put more teams to the sword? Why do we drop off again after we score? Why aren't squad players getting more time? These are all things Arne directly impacts, his vision and philosophy hasn't changed much since Ipswich. You're either behind him or you're not.

 

[localny]

Yeah, honestly, I just think we are all used to being disappointed, we're not accepting this win. And finding criticisms to help next year, because we don't expect the gods to be with us next year.

But really, the assignment now is to enjoy the ride. Feck next year. That comes in August, and the club know they need to invest.

So let's do something we haven't done since the 80s. Enjoy sauntering to a title. If it's another 30+ years, most of us may not be here!

 

[doctor_mac]

It doesn't get much better than winning the league in your first season but it's still not enough for some. There's been a sense of arrogance and entitlement with the fanbase as the season's gone on, so much so that they'd let trivial matters bother them more than their joy of winning #20 allows them to, which is quite sad.

The same narratives being rolled out like a parrot, Why don't we start fast? Why don't we put more teams to the sword? Why do we drop off again after we score? Why aren't squad players getting more time? These are all things Arne directly impacts, his vision and philosophy hasn't changed much since Ipswich. You're either behind him or you're not.

Yeah, I find it hard to fathom some people on here. It's like we win it every year and and we can now complain about the manner of the winning.

In the early 80s we were the masters of boring teams to death with a million passes between Hansen Lawro and the keeper until the opposition fell asleep and then bang, 1-0 to Liverpool. It wasn't always pretty, or exciting, but we won trophies. It looks like Slot has a knack. I wonder were supporters whinging their arses off the year after Shanks left? Maybe so. I'm sure they soon caught themselves on though.

 

[keniget]

Yeah, I find it hard to fathom some people on here. It's like we win it every year and and we can now complain about the manner of the winning.

In the early 80s we were the masters of boring teams to death with a million passes between Hansen Lawro and the keeper until the opposition fell asleep and then bang, 1-0 to Liverpool. It wasn't always pretty, or exciting, but we won trophies. It looks like Slot has a knack. I wonder were supporters whinging their arses off the year after Shanks left? Maybe so. I'm sure they soon caught themselves on though.

It's not always been a case of boring teams to death through control though and I think concern is raised due to games feeling like they're on edge and hanging in the balance.

 

[peekay]

It's not always been a case of boring teams to death through control though and I think concern is raised due to games feeling like they're on edge and hanging in the balance.

Also, the way we waved a white flag in PSG first leg and cup final, that is so not us.

 

[moron]

Guys, I think some of you are over doing it, I am just putting it on the table in terms of worries based on what I am seeing on the pitch. The counter attacking is so slow, and also I am not sure his man management skills are all that, he has completely lost Darwin and what we could get out of him.

The team we have has many good players of a high level (nearly all are crucial for their national teams), they are a mix match and none of them are the same, and Slot has utilized them well, and no one can say anything to put down a man who is gonna win the PL first time of asking with zero signings (Chiesa does not count as a signing, he has not been played at all , I just ignore him as a signing full stop).

For the record, if we continue to win titles playing like this, I have no issues, but its highly unlikely.

 

[bluebell]

It's just incorrect application of the English language. It happens online.

"He's too cautious" would be a better way maybe?

Someone said we are boring. Let's win the league 3-4 more times this way, and we can go back to the Gung Ho land.

Guys, I think some of you are over doing it, I am just putting it on the table in terms of worries based on what I am seeing on the pitch. The counter attacking is so slow, and also I am not sure his man management skills are all that, he has completely lost Darwin and what we could get out of him.

The team we have has many good players of a high level (nearly all are crucial for their national teams), they are a mix match and none of them are the same, and Slot has utilized them well, and no one can say anything to put down a man who is gonna win the PL first time of asking with zero signings (Chiesa does not count as a signing, he has not been played at all , I just ignore him as a signing full stop).

For the record, if we continue to win titles playing like this, I have no issues, but its highly unlikely.

You called Slot a "Coward" for playing slow football. Slot has said its gonna be a busy summer and over the next two season we will see a squad in his image

 

[Modo]

You called Slot a "Coward" for playing slow football. Slot has said its gonna be a busy summer and over the next two season we will see a squad in his image

 

[darkstarexodus]

There's a few things to unpack here:

1) The way we played in the first half of the season will have us competing for the title in any season.
2) The results we've gotten down the stretch run would have us competing for the title in any season.
3) The actual play we've witnessed down the stretch run is nowhere near good enough for a title contender.
4) The squad would be less likely to taper off in quality and intensity in the second half with a bit more consideration given to rotation/substitutions.
5) The manager has not yet been backed in the transfer market. This summer, as usual, is quite important.
6) We need significant refreshment of our attackers.
7) We need at least 1 more midfielder, ideally someone who can play the 6 in rotation with Gravy.
8) We need new fullbacks. We should not sell any centrebacks unless they force a move.

Ultimately, we've managed to squeeze out the points in recent weeks despite what have objectively been fairly middling performances. But we can have no illusions that 38 games with these types of performances will yield a title contention. Any criticism of the manager is predicated on the notion that we won't have a double digit lead in the back half of every season and it would be just dandy if we didn't completely peter out in the last couple months.

We should be in good position to be competitive again next year and will hopefully start the season strong.

 

[moron]

You called Slot a "Coward" for playing slow football. Slot has said its gonna be a busy summer and over the next two season we will see a squad in his image

He is, the way he reverted to type against PSG at home despite what he witnessed in the away leg when Curtis/Nunez came on. Against Newcastle in a cup final he did fuck all to change things until it was too late. He has faults that he needs to overcome.

Also do not forget that to win titles it takes players with a strong mentality, so when I said he was lucky , his methods whatever they are, worked because we have experienced players, would they have worked if he had no title winners with that experience ? I DO NOT THINK SO.

 

[rubans]

One token black guy, which racist ai image gen did you use for this?

 

[Modo]

One token black guy, which racist ai image gen did you use for this?

I asked for a team of Guardiola lookalikes...

 

[rubans]

I asked for a team of Guardiola lookalikes...

AI image gen is not very good still. I got paid midjourney sub and that is decent but not worth the money.

 

[dogboy]

I asked for a team of Guardiola lookalikes...

Soooo where are the dogs?

 

[Hansern]

There's a few things to unpack here:

1) The way we played in the first half of the season will have us competing for the title in any season.
2) The results we've gotten down the stretch run would have us competing for the title in any season.
3) The actual play we've witnessed down the stretch run is nowhere near good enough for a title contender.
4) The squad would be less likely to taper off in quality and intensity in the second half with a bit more consideration given to rotation/substitutions.
5) The manager has not yet been backed in the transfer market. This summer, as usual, is quite important.
6) We need significant refreshment of our attackers.
7) We need at least 1 more midfielder, ideally someone who can play the 6 in rotation with Gravy.
8) We need new fullbacks. We should not sell any centrebacks unless they force a move.

Ultimately, we've managed to squeeze out the points in recent weeks despite what have objectively been fairly middling performances. But we can have no illusions that 38 games with these types of performances will yield a title contention. Any criticism of the manager is predicated on the notion that we won't have a double digit lead in the back half of every season and it would be just dandy if we didn't completely peter out in the last couple months.

We should be in good position to be competitive again next year and will hopefully start the season strong.

I agree with several of your points and the rotation bit is key going into next season with the squad built to suit Slot and our team/tactics.

But, in terms of the bit in bold. We have been the best team attacking wise through the season and the second best team defensively. We have created more chances and expected goals than our opposition in the league this season in every game bar one, ONE. Against Everton away.
In terms of output We're the best team the last 5 games. The best team the last 10 games. The best team the last 33 games.

If anything it just shows that its sustainable, and has been all through the season, in a title charge.

As said previously. Personnel and players wise, no. It has to change and be upgraded for rotation and improved players in specific roles.
But tactically and performance wise it has been.

If you create more chances and expected goals than the opposition in 97% of your games and has the second best defensive record - you're a title candidate.