Arne Slot is young, relatively inexperienced at this level and, like a lot of highly rated modern coaches, he can come across a bit arrogant, stubborn and slightly aloof. The thing is, those same traits are often what drive people to the very top in the first place. The key question for Liverpool now is not whether he is perfect, but whether he can reflect, adapt and grow. For me, it is pretty disappointing how many are already convinced he cannot, after less than half a season of uneven results.
Thrown Into The Fire, Learning In Real Time
Slot has been dropped straight into a cauldron. He is working with a squad that does not fully match the exact profile of players his system ideally needs, while handling major off-pitch and dressing-room challenges. That cocktail would test even managers with far more mileage in elite football.
He has made mistakes. Nobody sensible is pretending otherwise. Some selection calls, some in-game decisions, some of the way we have been set up at times have not helped us, and he will know that himself. But managers at this level do not suddenly become successful without taking a few hits early on. He is effectively learning on the job in the most unforgiving league in the world, under non-stop scrutiny, and you can tell he is too intelligent not to realise where he has gone wrong.
Can We Give Him The Time To Fix The Basics?
The immediate test is simple: can he tighten us up, cut out the silly goals and build a proper base for another side capable of challenging for everything? That has to come before we talk about being an all-conquering juggernaut again. It is understandable that supporters look at other coaches and imagine they would do better, but swapping names on paper is easy. Reality is messier.
Pointing to Xabi Alonso or Andoni Iraola as definite upgrades feels speculative at best. Both are impressive coaches in their own right, but there is no guarantee either walks in and instantly does a much better job in this situation.
Xabi, Iraola And The Grass-Is-Greener Syndrome
To be clear, this is not a lack of respect for Xabi or Iraola. If things really fell apart and Slot's position became completely untenable, most of us would be excited by either of those options. But Iraola is still an unknown quantity when it comes to managing a truly elite club with all the expectations, noise and politics that come with it.
And with Xabi, there is a bit of myth-making going on. If people think he is automatically a softer touch or a more flexible man-manager than Slot, they might be in for a surprise. He is known as a very cerebral, quite distant coach who keeps a clear line with his players rather than being one of the lads. In some ways, that is not miles away from what people are already criticising in Slot.
The One Big Question Mark: Youth And Development
Where you can fairly question Slot so far is around academy pathways and how comfortable he looks trusting younger players. It feels like there is a lot of room for improvement in how he integrates and develops talent from within. Xabi and Iraola might arguably offer more in that specific area, and it is something the club should be looking at closely over time.
But even with that, the bigger issue is still patience. We either accept that a young, ambitious manager will make mistakes as he grows into the job, or we chase the next name every time form dips. Right now, the more sensible route is to see whether Slot can learn quickly, shore up the basics and prove that those slightly sharp edges in his personality are the same ones that can drive Liverpool back to the very top.
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