Liverpool manager Arne Slot is receiving a significant portion of the criticism for fielding visibly exhausted players in the Carabao Cup final.
Salah > Slot
When will Arne Slot begin facing criticism for lacking a Plan B and for his inability to enhance or motivate other Liverpool forwards when the strategy of optimizing Mo Salah's performance fails?
To be honest, it’s an impressive Plan A that will secure them the league, but I’d argue that’s more attributable to Salah’s brilliance than any sign of Slot’s coaching ability.
Liverpool have now been eliminated from three cup competitions because Slot seems to have limited strategies when Salah isn’t available to rescue him, and they would likely be contending for a Champions’ League spot rather than easily securing the league if Salah weren’t so exceptionally brilliant as frequently as he is.
I’ve sensed for some time that this Liverpool title victory resembles Van Persie’s inaugural season at Man Utd: an incredibly-gifted scorer guiding a disciplined, structured, solid-but-not-exceptional side to a double-digit points lead in the league for their 20th title, surpassing the club with the top defense, and I believe that’s what we’ll witness, with a similar inability to secure the title again afterwards.
I can't understand why the Liverpool board isn't investing all their resources to extend Salah's contract, as I don’t believe Slot possesses the talent required to reshape this Liverpool team and replace the output they'll lose when he departs.
Dan, Watford
Liverpool's athletes are in trouble.
Slot might deserve some acknowledgment for preventing the overuse injuries seen in previous years, but it has become evident lately that the players are exhausted, which is at least partly due to Slot's inability to rotate.
My main observation from the first PSG match, in particular, was that the entire team, especially Salah and the midfielders, appeared fatigued. It's unfortunate to conclude the season like this, but let's hope they can at least secure the league title.
Henry, Liverpool FC
…Credit goes to Newcastle; similar to PSG, they were the superior team and merited the victory. We would have enjoyed winning it, but I believe it will mean much more to their group, so fair play. That was evident on the field today.
With all that in mind, what was Slot considering? He has seen the team become fatigued and worn out, both physically and emotionally, against PSG and then sent the same starting eleven into the final. It was expected that Elliot, Jones, and Chiesa were the most attractive players on the field.
He has hardly rotated throughout the season, and I've consistently thought it was worrying; now it seems the consequences are finally catching up with him. I understand that we have a two-week break before facing Everton, but the majority of the squad is away on international duty, so they're gaining more playing time.
It’s strange since Jota typically recovered well from injuries and appeared fantastic; now he seems really poor and lacking confidence. We should acknowledge Slot for his work with Gravenberch, Szoboslai, and Salah, but he must also take responsibility for Jota’s decline.
Similar to Tuesday, it remains evident that Diaz, Nunez, and Robertson do not meet the standards for a starting XI aiming to secure several trophies. Slot has enjoyed a fantastic season, and winning the league is a significant accomplishment that no other foreign manager has achieved in their first year (possibly?). However, he must also take time to evaluate and identify his own areas for improvement this season. It’s at least somewhat his responsibility that this week has turned out as poorly as it could.
Minty, LFC
...The Slot machine appears to be malfunctioning outside of a national league at its weakest point in a considerable time.
Pete, (VVD dive haha) Cape Cod, USA
Another win for sportswashing, then.
It completely baffles me how Bruno and Joelinton manage to evade consequences for their actions.
Stu, Southampton
…I was thrilled that Newcastle secured a trophy, I entirely overlooked the human rights violations linked to their owners.
Best regards,
Simon, Deutschland
Newcastle supporters are quite pleased, however.
Greetings, Football Enthusiasts Across the Globe!
The trophy drought for the Magpies has finally come to an end. It has been a long wait of 70 years since we last secured a significant trophy in 1955 (defeating Man City 3 – 1 in the FA Cup Final).
We even had to take the tough route by defeating the top team in the Premier League this season. Throughout the years, I’ve consistently written to Football365 forecasting this moment, and rival fans considered me insane, yet I never lost faith in Newcastle.
This is truly a day of great significance for the Newcastle Family specifically, as well as for the Football Community overall.
Now onto the next goal: The Premier League Championship in 2027 (a century after our previous Top Tier Championship in 1927).
If this is just a dream, then I wish to remain asleep!
Andile Ndlebe, East London, SOUTH AFRICA.
…I do not appreciate that.
I would really enjoy it, truly enjoy it if we defeated them.
I’m heading out now to have my suit fitted.
Gorgeous from the animation, completely gorgeous! That midfield will likely dash home this evening!
Adore it.
Ratt Mitchie (never thought that would occur) NUFC
…Throughout my life, I had never witnessed us score a goal in a final until today; this is pure bliss, and the pubs up here will certainly be empty tonight and probably for the whole week, a well-earned victory and some outstanding displays! There are always detractors, but to secure this trophy, we’ve had to compete against Liverpool, Arsenal, Forest, Chelsea, and Brentford, as well as a potential upset from Wimbledon, a lower league team.
We absolutely triumphed! We achieved victory the tough way! And we earned it as well.
Experiencing pure joy and happiness, and the sights here were amazing as well; this hasn't yet registered, and in many ways, I wish it never does.
Affection to each one of you.
AD, NUFC
…It has been some time.
33 years for myself, 70 years for others. 4 months for my baby boy, who will never experience a true trophy drought.
And what a manner to achieve it – Wembley, against our nemesis team. No victories against them in 17.
However, to deliver an exceptionally remarkable team performance.
Two growling battling Brazilian Tyneside icons. A young fullback played in an unfamiliar role, containing the top forward globally. An experienced international who had faith in the project before nearly anyone else, swaying in the ideal corner.
A large man from Blyth, childhood supporter, wanderer, at last realizing his aspirations in his 30s, standing firm and jumping like a salmon.
A star forward, the son of Eritrean immigrants, possessing Swedish coolness, who received his lone opportunity and seized it. Two times.
A manager who seemed to be regarded as not top class by everyone outside the club. And everyone within it, we had always known he was.
45,000 Geordies going insane.
The lengthy wait has come to an end. It was absolutely flawless.
Great job, Eddie.
Roger, (HWTL), Newcastle located in London
…For now, the tears have stopped, but I’m still somewhat emotional, so this email might not convey all that I’m experiencing at the moment. I don't mind that it's just the Carabao Cup; it's still a trophy that everyone desires. Aside from the Championship and the [wince] Intertoto Cup, it’s the club’s first competitive trophy in my lifetime, and it signifies…a great deal. Ugh, those tears are coming back again. Since prior to the last whistle, I’ve been tearing up every ten minutes or so out of joy and relief. I became somewhat emotional wishing that Miggy Almiron could have joined us today; unfortunately, he had another commitment with Leonel Messi. Essentially, almost anything can cause me to cry at this moment.
Eddie, Bruno, Isak, Burn, Tonali, and perhaps everyone else on the field at Wembley today have become club legends, unforgettable in history. Certainly not at a club such as Newcastle United. Howe offered a daring plan, and his players executed it precisely as he requested. It was a focused, intentional display that clearly indicated a victory. Liverpool are an incredible team, but the Magpies silenced them just as they did with Arsenal.
My younger son and I visited the NUFC pub half an hour away in Vienna, VA, but quickly discovered there was no space for us, so we rushed home and managed to catch the broadcast before the opening whistle. My eldest son — away at university — texted me a selfie at the final whistle, and I've never seen him appear so cheerful in a picture. My nephew rang me an hour after the match; he intended to head (dressed in his stripes) to a Liverpool bar in Raleigh, NC with a Scouse buddy, but the buddy backed out last night. Grayson shrugged and wagered $25 on Liverpool to triumph. He claims it was the best $25 he ever used; he had been crying as well, and we shared a moment.
Aside from the days those boys were born, this has been the greatest day I've ever experienced. And it isn’t finished. I plan to view the replay once Paramount+ provides access. As I am typing this, the home match of the semi-final victory against Arsenal is playing in the background. I’ll view the emotional player clips that didn’t air on TV, and afterward, I’ll play some EA FC as the Ballon d’Or winner Newcastle rightfully deserves.
Mock all you want; it’s merely the Carabao Cup. However, it’s the first occasion I’ve witnessed my club claim a trophy, and it appears as though 30 years of loyalty and letdowns have been justified. This might mark the start of a successful legacy.
Chris C, Toon Army DC (The shirt today was fresh and has quickly become a classic: TOONALI 8)
Clearly, Stewie has an opinion…
Congratulations to Newcastle! Well earned. It’s a bit puzzling to see the ecstatic Geordies reveling in that final: isn’t securing second place in the league, 15 points shy of the champions, more of a “generational” feat for the Magpies?! I believed “everyone” would prefer to end in first-placed Loser rather than actually win a trophy?! I’m certain you Geordies would swap that trophy and those memories for a Fake Title journey or a 5-1 victory at home against Citeh!
After observing Liverpool’s consecutive defeats against PSG and then Newcastle, it serves as a reminder that while Liverpool is a fantastic team, they are certainly vulnerable to losing. This brings us back to the primary inquiry: just how terrible is Mikel Arteta to be thoroughly outplayed in the league like this?! We didn’t even have the chance to see the Easter Bunny before Antonio El Pulizon surrendered! FALSO EL ENGAÑO!
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