Holmesy

Not sure reacting the same way the scousers would if it was our player is the way we should be carrying ourselves, but each to their own. I'd rather not drop myself to their scumbag levels tbh.

Could just get an umbrella or a raincoat with a hood - you know, work around the problem.

That's awful to hear. I wouldn't wish that on any player regardless of who he plays for. Wishing the lad a speedy recovery.

This is purely opinion-based though and everyone is entitled to their own. What we are witnessing isn't just a downturn in form, it's a downturn in form that has now spanned a season and we are seeing no sign that things are being addressed to try and change it. Eddie is so wedded to his plan A that his only response when it doesn't work is plan A again. That's not something that inspires confidence. The difference from previous seasons is that plan A largely worked. Now it doesn't work and he doesn't seem to have an answer. Where you're coming from is essentially Eddie will get plan A working again, and you'd better hope he does because he clearly doesn't have another one. Just hoy some better players at the problem and we'll be back firing. Whereas I don't think it's unreasonable to suggest that a manager at a club of this size should have more in his arsenal than just one playbook. We haven't seen this weakness play out like this before, which is why people haven't spoken about him in these terms before. We signed Woltemade in the summer, clearly a very talented player. Rather than adjust the way we play to accommodate him and get the best out of him, he's either shoe-horned into midfield, with a winger playing up front, or he's benched. Shouldn't our manager have more flexibility than that, seriously? If you'd have asked me at the start of the season, after a few shit performances, i'd probably have said "Eddie will sort it". But it's not just the fact he hasn't, it's the fact we are still doing the same shit and getting the same results - he has caused the doubt through his actions (or inaction). It's not just a bunch of people going "we've lost a few games, get him out". We're watching a huge regression unfold in front of our eyes and the manager's response is to just do the same thing. That's why the belief in his ability to improve has been eroded, not because of entitlement or kneejerk reactions, because our manager is consistently showing us his limitations (for the first time).

I don't believe this and many others don't as well, and that sits at the heart of this argument/discussion. Not that he wasn't let down in the summer, I think we all accept that. But the tools he is working with are still, collectively very good and more than capable of beating many of the teams we have lost to. For me, that is not the reason for the struggle and isn't an excuse for what we are seeing on the pitch.

Because we hired shit managers to replace them. And that might be why so many people are shitting themselves about Eddie being replaced, because historically we've made awful decisions. But we're under new ownership now so hopefully it wouldn't happen again.

Were you saying the same thing when Pardew got us to 5th? He didn't spend anywhere near £700m to achieve that but still got labelled as lucky and a chancer (which he was). It's a slightly tongue in cheek question because Eddie is a very different human being and a far more talented manager but he is absolutely not beyond question, and I think some of these comments come from a personal standpoint rather than a footballing one because Eddie is a gentleman. If he had achieved what he has and was a total dick at the same time, would you still be making that comment? We are first and foremost supporters of Newcastle United. To be quite honest, I don't give a shit who is in the dugout as long as we're moving forward and the football is entertaining. I'd prefer it wasn't an arsehole but you know what, football and the success of this club comes first so if he is and he's doing a great job, so be it. Some believe Eddie will rise again because of what he has done in the past. Some believe there are mitigating circumstances for us looking shit for 25/6 of 32 games and consistently losing to inferior opposition. Some don't. That's football. His job is first and foremost to get results. Currently, we're seeing 11 footballers who aren't trying as hard as they can, in a system that has become predictable and stale, and a defence that look like they've never met each other before. And no improvement. And no one will convince me that poor summer recruitment, selling Isak and no D0F in the summer are responsible for that. We still have a squad full of international footballers who are capable of beating most teams in this league but aren't. There is nothing disrespectful in seeing this and questioning why things aren't changing. I personally feel his current approach has hit a ceiling but he should be given the chance to prove he can do things differently (and that is because he has credit in the bank). But I won't cry if he leaves - he leaves with millions in the bank, the well wishes and gratitude of the full fan base, and hopefully a statue. We moved on from Keegan, Bobby, Hughton and Rafa, and we'll move on from Eddie when the time comes.

This is the crux. He needs to the opportunity to show he can do it differently and is willing to more importantly. If he isn't that should be identified now and I think we have to make plans to move on.

Who's number 1 & 2?

There's more chance of me growing a second arsehole than there is Howe playing a #10

There's no way he'd work for a club that insists on buying his players for him, and nor should he. There's a reason they went for someone like Rosenior - no decent manager would work under the conditions they impose.

Of course they don't prefer his style of football. They were never going to - Klopp's Liverpool side were exceptional. Plus, they have one of the most exciting young managers in world football waiting in the wings. Showing a bit of ruthlessness and ambition to keep moving forward.

Our transfer record under Eddie has been exceptional by and large. I'm happy to give Eddie credit for all the good ones and the criticism for the shit ones as well. But unlike others, I don't think the summer signings are the biggest cause of our regression. I also don't think losing Isak late in the window is responsible for our horrendous defensive record, the fact we can't hold onto the ball, the fact our in-game changes are totally ineffective and the fact that we only have one plan (that no longer works). Eddie takes all the credit for what he has achieved to-date and all the criticism for the dogshit being served up at the moment.

It didn't really. He had a league title to his name and plays a style of football that Liverpool prefer so the transition from Klopp to Slot wasn't huge, and i'm sure that factored in their thinking. It's one of those discussions that ends up in he will/he won't so we moved on. It didn't fall down. We can carry it on if you want?

A manager who won the league last season? Why would they think of sacking him? Liverpool fans must have very short memories. No one else could have done what Slot did last season.

Fair I guess, although he did have a league title to his name. The key difference is that he favours possession-based football, he's essentially a manager who already suited the 'Liverpool way of playing' and had pedigree. As has been discussed on here many times - the top teams play possession-based football, which is why they go for possession-based managers. But yeah, I guess Slot didn't have the glittering career before he joined them. Who knows.

Eddie has taken a very small team to the top half of the PL table and us from relegation fodder to the CL + one domestic cup. Liverpool are trying to compete with the elite teams in Europe. If you're their Chief Exec, I don't think you take a risk on a manager who has never managed at their level, hasn't won leagues elsewhere, hasn't competed regularly in the CL and hasn't proven he can attract the best players in the world. They're literally going to be picking from the top 4-5 best managers in the world not taking a risk on someone who MIGHT be good enough. I might be wrong but I don't see him being on their radar.

I think you're overestimating his stock tbh.

The majority of teams that get relegated bemoan decisions that swung a game or chances missed that would've made the difference. Ultimately though, over the course of a season, you end up where you deserve to be.

Get in the bin - you for suggesting it, him for being a world-class bottlejob.

It's either this or they think we'll return to the football that won us the cup but with different players. Personally, I think the latter has been found out so the only option is the former. If we give him the summer's budget again and he signs more non-technical athletes though, it seriously hampers whoever comes next. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I'd be quite happy to see that in the last 20 minutes of games right now tbh. Would be a refreshing change.

It's too simplistic a view IMO. A fresh set of ideas and a new voice often injects new momentum. Look at Man Utd - no one is suggesting Carrick is of the requisite quality to manage a club like Man Utd long term but a fresh approach and new ideas have seen them kick on. We are stale as fuck at the moment in every department. It's not often a manager stays as long as Eddie has and when he is so wedded to his ways and staff, that's a long time to try and keep players motivated and engaged. Longevity worked for Fergie because he constantly renewed his coaching staff and assistant managers. It works for Pep because he continually evolves. The best comparison with Eddie is Wenger - what worked for Wenger for the first few years brought results and trophies but he never deviated and eventually it became stale. I just don't buy this idea that a new manager instantly sets us back at all. We have solid foundations, some seriously good players in the squad and the ambition to compete at the top table. It could be exactly the what the club and team need.

What he's trying to do isn't working and hasn't all season. Some of the excuses people are putting forward for this just don't wash - his job is to get our 11 players to beat the opposition's (often inferior) 11 players and we are routinely being out coached, out-worked and out-fought. Blaming a summer recruitment campaign that happened 32 games ago for our £700m squad, littered with internationals, getting convincingly turned over by inferior opposition is fanciful at best. You either believe he will get it right based on what he has done in the past or you think he won't because he has hit a ceiling. Either way time will tell. But I think it's obvious to everyone now that him getting it right again requires a change of approach, new ideas, and ideally a change of coaching staff - some of these players have heard the same voices and the same ideas for 4.5 years. I've been critical for a while now but I didn't expect that over the weekend. I thought we'd see a reaction but it was just more of the same. Plan A doesn't work, and the response is just more of plan A - you can't help but ask questions. I just feel complete apathy though - not angry, not disappointed, just acceptance born out of a season where the biggest thing to celebrate has been 3 good halves against Barcelona before getting schooled. If I was the board I would want assurances that Eddie is prepared to go in a different direction. If he is completely wedded to his plan A approach, his existing coaching team and his current playbook, I think we have to make a change. As sad as it is to say.

I think the only way he walks is if he loses final say on transfers and is under pressure to play certain players in a bid to increase their value. Based on everything he said in his presser, it doesn't sound like that's going to happen. He's realistic about us having to trade players as well by the sound of it so as long as he gets to decide on their replacements, from a pool of scouted players, it sounds like it's business as usual.