I honestly despair at some of the opinions I’m reading on social media following Liverpool’s back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Fenerbahçe.
Apparently, because Andoni Iraola has lost two games in the space of a week, there are supporters questioning whether Liverpool should ever have sacked Arne Slot.
Seriously?
Have we really reached the point where two disappointing results are enough for people to start looking backwards and suggesting the club made a mistake?
I find it astonishing.
I wasn’t convinced Slot should have remained in charge long before his eventual departure. In fact, I’ve maintained that Liverpool should have acted earlier rather than allowing the situation to drag on for as long as it did.
But apparently, according to some people on social media, losing a couple of games under Iraola means we should have stuck with the previous manager.
That’s not how football works.
Two defeats don’t suddenly make Slot the right manager
Let’s get one thing straight. I am not defending Liverpool’s recent performances.
Losing 1-0 at Anfield to Arsenal was frustrating, particularly given the way the goal was conceded. The 3-2 defeat against Fenerbahçe was even more concerning, with Liverpool twice taking the lead before throwing the advantage away.
There are legitimate questions to ask Iraola about team selection, substitutions, defensive organisation and the mentality of certain players.
He isn’t beyond criticism.
But why are people using these results to suggest Slot should never have been sacked?
Slot’s problems weren’t caused by two defeats in one week. They had been developing over a much longer period.
His final season was disappointing, the performances were increasingly difficult to watch, and I had serious concerns about the direction of the team.
Winning the Premier League in his first season was a fantastic achievement, but it didn’t mean he deserved an unlimited amount of time.
You can appreciate what a manager has achieved and still believe his time at the club has come to an end.
Where was this support for Slot when things were going wrong?
This is what I find particularly strange.
When supporters were questioning Slot’s tactics, his selections and the overall direction of the team, plenty of people were already calling for a change.
The concerns didn’t suddenly appear when he was dismissed.
I was one of those who believed Liverpool should have acted earlier. I didn’t think he deserved to be given the entire season simply because he had won the league the year before.
Now, after two defeats under his successor, some of those arguments seem to have disappeared.
Are we supposed to pretend the problems under Slot never existed?
Are we supposed to forget the frustration, the performances and the feeling that Liverpool needed a fresh direction?
I certainly haven’t forgotten.
Iraola needs criticism – but he also needs time
I have never claimed Iraola would walk into Anfield and immediately turn Liverpool into title challengers.
There was always going to be a period of adjustment. He inherited a squad with weaknesses, particularly in midfield, and there are still decisions to be made about the players who fit his system.
I’ve already made my feelings clear about the need for a more defensively accomplished midfielder, better balance in the middle of the pitch and greater consistency from certain senior players.
I also believe Iraola needs to make some difficult selection decisions.
But that doesn’t mean we should be calling for another managerial change every time Liverpool lose a couple of matches.
If we are going to give managers time, that principle has to apply when results aren’t going our way as well.
Two defeats are disappointing, but they don’t erase the positive signs that were there before this difficult week.
Andoni Iraola needs to learn from these setbacks, just as the players need to take responsibility for their performances.
The players cannot keep escaping responsibility
One thing that frustrates me is how quickly the manager becomes the main target whenever Liverpool lose.
Yes, Iraola has made mistakes. His decisions deserve scrutiny, and he needs to find solutions.
But what about the players?
They are the ones going onto the pitch. They are the ones responsible for defending properly, winning their individual battles and showing the intensity required to play for Liverpool.
The Fenerbahçe defeat was particularly concerning because Liverpool had taken the lead twice and still managed to lose.
That isn’t something we can simply blame on the manager’s tactics.
Senior players need to stand up, take responsibility and start delivering the performances their reputations and salaries demand.
We cannot keep changing managers and expecting every problem to disappear overnight.
Liverpool needed a fresh direction – and I still believe that
I haven’t changed my opinion.
I believe Liverpool were right to move on from Slot, and I still believe they should have made that decision earlier.
That doesn’t mean Iraola gets a free pass. He needs to improve this team, make better decisions and start producing more consistent performances.
But judging him solely on two defeats would be just as short-sighted as judging Slot solely on one disappointing run.
The club made a decision because it believed a different manager was needed to take Liverpool forward.
We now need to give that decision a proper chance to work.
I’m not going to suddenly start campaigning for Arne Slot to return because Liverpool have lost two football matches.
I remember why I wanted him gone, and my opinion hasn’t changed.
Supporters are entitled to disagree, but let’s not rewrite history every time the results turn against us.
Liverpool need stability, better recruitment, a stronger midfield and players who are prepared to fight for the shirt.
Andoni Iraola deserves the opportunity to build that team.
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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