Coach Ralph Soccer Connection

WORLD CUPS OF MY LIFETIME #10: KOREA JAPAN 2002
The 21st Century opened with a first: joint hosts in South Korea and Japan. It was the tournament in which David Beckham and Ronaldo (the original one from Brazil!) bounced back from their mishaps four years earlier in France. It was also a tournament where the USA came of age. Italy ’90 saw the USA return after 40 years in the wilderness with a squad composed essentially of former and current college players. The ’94 tournament on home soil saw a gutsy campaign as they qualified through the group stage and lose by a solitary goal to the eventual winners, Brazil. 1998 was a disaster with three turgid performances and three losses. Thankfully, 2002 was a different tale to tell.

Bruce Arena, a highly successful coach in the early years of MLS, came on board and led his charges through the group stages. The makeup of his squad had advanced considerably from 1990. Arena had 23 legitimate pros on board, with MLS established, and a good number plying their trade in Europe at clubs like Ajax, Bayer Leverkusen, and 6 in the English Premier League. The Americans opened with a defining win over the highly fancied Portugal national team featuring the great Luis Figo of Real Madrid. At one stage, the USA led by three goals before facing a late Portuguese fightback, holding on to win 3-2. Advancing to the knockout rounds, neighbours Mexico were felled 2-0 before a gallant loss to eventual finalists Germany by a single goal in the quarter-finals.

In the final, the Germans faced Ronaldo at his peak, looking to make amends for the trials and tribulations of the 1998 pregame final shenanigans. He did so in fine style, netting twice to lead his country to a 2-0 win and a fifth World Cup title. He was returning less than a year after a major injury. The video below shows his effort, perseverance and how hard he had to work in the final to secure his double.

Another seeking ’98 retribution was David Beckham. In the group stage, Becks faced Argentina and Diego Simeone once again, recalling Simeone's provocation that led to a foolish retaliation and a sending-off. Beckham’s big moment came just before half-time as England were awarded a penalty kick. I was on my way to the ODP tournament in New Jersey. A bunch of coaches stopped off overnight in Central Massachusetts and were up early to watch the match. The tension when Beckham took the kick! It was converted, and the sins of ’98 were washed away in an instant. It was the only goal of the game.

South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals, while Senegal, on their World Cup debut, enjoyed a sensational opening game, defeating France, the reigning European and World Cup champions. Man-of-the-match was one El-Hadji Diouf, who went on to make the All-Star tournament team. Diouf, we subsequently discovered, was on his way to Liverpool!! Courtesy of the then Liverpool manager, Gérard Houllier. The move generated considerable excitement. What followed didn’t quite live up to the hype. Joining him as an All-Star was the USA’s Claudio Reyna. The only time to date an American footballer has been afforded the honour. 20 years later, his son Gio would be in the World Cup news under far less desirable circumstances.
YNWA

Ronaldo Nazário vs Germany 💀 - Bro wins a World Cup after one year injury 2002 ...

My Life as an LFC Missionary
I came to the USA to spread the gospel of ‘The Beautiful Game’. I still do that, but in time, as soccer has established a niche in the American psyche, I have become a missionary for Liverpool Football Club. Over the years, many of my former players have made a pilgrimage to Anfield to support the Mighty Reds. In the last 12 months, I’ve had players I’ve coached in the last couple of years follow suit. Elsie and Lily were there when the Reds clinched #20, Lucas and Jackson were there as the team spread Christmas joy, and Ethan was there when we said goodbye to Mo and Robbo. It’s gratifying to know that I am putting youngsters on a righteous path for the rest of their football lives. YNWA!

SOCCER SUNDAY SPRING 2026, #11 - NECSL week 8 - 5/31
The final day of league play arrived, and a strong season by all my teams ended on a positive note.

U9 GIRLS WHITE. This was the team that last September couldn’t get the ball out of their own penalty box. Two wins to end the spring season, with the second game featuring contributions from just about everyone. Great job, Girls!!

U9 BOYS BLUE. In both games, the team came through tricky periods before exerting superiority with good possession and skill in important moments. The team lost 5 of their first seven games in the fall. No more! The team had a strong showing this spring with several top-notch performances.

U9 GIRLS BLUE. Progress has been steady with the team over the soccer year. Sunday saw a narrow win and a draw in a game shortened due to inclement weather. The Girls do not take advantage of the chances they create. I intend to address this issue in the fall!

The spring record for my teams is good. Better still has been the level of their performances and the improvements each team has made.
U9 BOYS BLUE 14-1-1
U9 BOYS WHITE 15-0-1
U9 GIRLS BLUE 9-4-2
U9 GIRLS WHITE 9-5-1

Thanks to the players, the parents and a special thanks to the team managers John, Christina, Shannon & Erica, as well as my assistant Coach Mike.
YNWA

SUNDAY 31st MAY
SFC u9G White @ Western United Pioneers Won 4-2
(Sarai 2, Charlotte, Heba)
SFC u9G White vs NEFC Metro North Won 9-0
(Julia 2, Collins 2, Peyton 2, Lucy, Sarai, Heba)

SFC u9B vs NEFC Metrowest Northboro Navy Won 6-1
(Yaseen 4, Connor, Keanu)
SFC u9B vs Seacoast United Maine Carolina Blue Won 7-2
(Will 3, Yaseen, Keanu, Deven, Lucas)

SFC u9G Blue vs NEFC Blackstone Valley Red, Won 1-0
(Juliet)
SFC u9G Blue @ Old School FC Blue Drew 1-1
(Brianna)

PICS/VIDEOS:
Sydney, U9G Blue, on the ball.

WORLD CUPS OF MY LIFETIME #9: FRANCE ’98
The World Cup returned to Europe, landing in France for the first time since 1938. The tournament expanded to 32 teams, marking the opening of the door to wider representation across world football. Back in 1966, England had comfortably defeated France 2-0 in the qualifiers. France had enjoyed moments of brilliance in its history, notably under Raymond Kopa, who, with Just Fontaine’s record-setting goal tally in the 1958 tournament, led them to a third-place finish. Afterwards, French football languished for years, only to be revived in the late seventies by emerging talents like Michel Platini and Dominique Rocheteau. The eighties brought further glory, with France winning both the European Championships and Olympic gold. Who could forget the unforgettable 1982 World Cup semi-final, where France heartbreakingly lost to West Germany on penalty kicks? Before their crowning moment, however, the 1998 World Cup would be the year a teenager from Liverpool FC left a lasting impression.

Liverpool’s Michael Owen was just 18 years old. I vaguely recall his father, Terry, playing for Crosby Schoolboys and scoring freely — clearly, it was in the genes, as Michael knew where the goal was. Owen’s youth career was prolific; he routinely broke goalscoring records from his schoolboy days into his time at Liverpool’s Academy. Before France ’98, Owen had played only 46 senior games over two seasons, netting 23 goals — a remarkable feat for a striker once considered “diminutive” at 5’8”, but whose blistering pace set him apart. I recall England manager Glenn Hoddle faced mounting pressure to include Owen in the squad, and while he may have had doubts, he ultimately selected him, controversially leaving “Gazza” out. England began the tournament sluggishly, edging past Tunisia and trailing Romania when Owen came off the bench to equalise. With England behind once more, Owen struck the post in the dying moments, making it clear he was ready for a starring role.

Eventually, England was eliminated by Argentina in the knockout rounds, falling on penalties. Yet it was in this match that Michael Owen truly announced himself to the football world. He showcased his electrifying speed, surging past seasoned Argentinian defenders to score one of the most iconic goals in England’s football history. In the penalty-kick showdown, the teenager kept his composure to convert his penalty, while seasoned players like Hernan Crespo, Paul Ince, and David Batty all missed. From an English perspective, the match was marred by David Beckham’s infamous red card for foolishly retaliating after being fouled by Diego Simeone, forcing England to play the second half and extra time with ten men. What might have been!

The USA qualified for their third consecutive World Cup but endured a torrid campaign, losing all three group games. I followed the tournament while running soccer camps in and around Greater Boston. Notably, two US squad members — Mike Burns and Joe-Max Moore — I recall were formerly campers at the Vogelsinger camps I worked at. Both David Beckham and the US national team would later find redemption, bouncing back to make amends four years on.

The final pitted the hosts against defending champions Brazil. The match is perhaps best remembered for the pre-match drama surrounding Ronaldo’s participation. Initially omitted from the teamsheet, he was subsequently reinstated amid swirling speculation about the influence of Brazil’s kit sponsors, Adidas, and their desire for him to play. It later emerged that Ronaldo had been hospitalised earlier that day, only deciding to play after being declared fit.

On the day, with or without their star opponent, France won convincingly 3-0. It marked the moment the French found their place among the world’s footballing elite, with Zinedine Zidane starring, scoring twice to secure the trophy on home soil. For Brazil, it was a dark day; their performance may have been unsettled by the mysterious events before the match. Ronaldo, too, was another who would ultimately find redemption at the 2002 World Cup.
YNWA

Michael Owen Goal (England Vs Argentina 1998) World Cup 1998

SOCCER SUNDAY SPRING 2026, #10 - Wellesley Memorial Day Tournament - 5/23 & 24
Wellesley, Memorial Day weekend, 2 days, 16 games, the one weekend of the year when I might have to do some work! Usually, we are baked to a crisp under a hot sun; this year was a different story: perfect conditions on Saturday, neither hot nor cold, just right. Sunday! It rained, it kept raining, and then it rained some more from 7 am to 6 pm. By Sunday afternoon, it was becoming a very long day: saturated, a lost voice and freezing cold. Violins please.

Putting the trivialities aside, I learned a couple of big lessons from coaching at this age that will serve me well in the future. They are now stored on the memory chip for the fall season. A quick review of each team:

U9 BOYS BLUE (2-1-1). The Boys have had a very successful spring season. Even before their first loss of the season, in the third game of the tournament against Wellesley United Hammers, one limitation of the team had been exposed. We have been very good moving forward to attack this spring, but suddenly we were being exposed on the counter. Fall season, the next step is in my plans. The 4-4 draw with New England Force, who won the division, was a fantastic match with the team battling back from 4-2 down to secure a draw. With one weekend of play to go, the team record stands at 12-1-1 for the spring.

U9 Boys White (4-0-0). This team is one of those rare groups where I feel potential has been exceeded. Over 4 games at the weekend, the Boys scored 27 goals and conceded only once. At their best, the Boys are more than capable of moving the ball from one end of the field to the other. Individually, everyone has improved, with some players barely recognisable from who they were last September. With the age-group changes coming, the core of the group will remain at U9. They should have an excellent team next season. The spring season finishes with a record of 15-0-1.

U9 Girls Blue (3-0-1). The weekend did not start well! 8 am Saturday morning did not agree with the team, and the Girls looked poor in defeat against Scorpions. To be fair, the Girls did pull their socks up, raising their performance with 3 successive wins. Also, no goal was conceded after the first game. Good job, Girls! The team, after a shaky start in March, has made steady progress over the spring. With two games remaining, the team stands at 8-4-1.

U9 Girls White (1-3-0). Of all my U9 teams, this is the team that has made the most dramatic improvement. Last September, they couldn’t get the ball out of their own half. This past weekend was tough going, but the team emerged with some credit playing in difficult conditions on Sunday afternoon. The team that won the division blasted everyone away; they had a number of U10’s in their ranks, and we were the only team to score against them. The team will split up next season following the age-group changes, with some staying U9 and the rest coming with me to U10. They too will have 2 games next Sunday and currently stand at 7-5-1.

That leaves me with one week to play with, 6 games at Lancaster next Sunday, and a World Cup to focus on in June.
YNWA

PICS/VIDEOS:
1. U9 Boys White
2. U9 Girls White
3. Preaching the gospel to the U9 Girls Blue at halftime
4. Deven breaks away
5. Millie on the ball
6. With Joey, U9 Boys White

FORMER PLAYER SIGHTING: John Kyrios, who used to attend my soccer camp at Wellesley College, was the coach of the Wellesley United Hammers, who played my U9 Boys Blue team.

WORLD CUPS OF MY LIFETIME #8: USA ’94
Like many others, I came to the ‘new world’ in search of a new life and the proverbial road paved with gold. To be more accurate, to make a career in the game I love. At the time, opportunities in football were few and far between in the UK unless you had played professionally. Soccer, as a participation sport, was growing rapidly year on year in the United States, though the professional game continued to flounder. Participation in youth soccer up to the college level was significant, and then a void.

The backdrop to the 1994 World Cup was that the USA won the right to host without even having a professional league. When FIFA took the 1986 World Cup away from Colombia, the United States Soccer Federation made a concerted effort to step in as the substitute. Instead, Mexico was favoured, likely because it was a football nation and had previously hosted the tournament successfully. FIFA’s head was likely turned by the incredible attendances at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and the United States, when football was the top draw at the gate. The ’84 Olympics showed that interest was there, and the financial implications of an American tournament probably factored into the USA's selection second time around. And so it proved. The 1994 World Cup boasts the highest attendance numbers, and since then, the void has been filled professionally by the growth of the MLS.

Boston was one of the cities selected to host games. Foxboro Stadium was not the most convenient place to reach — 23 miles south of the city — and I was living on the North Shore. Nevertheless, the trek was made to watch Argentina play Greece, tolerating the traffic, parking, and humidity. Finding our seats, one of the highlights was seeing so many soccer people there who had become friends and colleagues over the years I had coached over here. Soccer was truly making its mark on the USA! As for the game itself, Gabriel Batistuta scored in the first couple of minutes (we were sitting behind the goal), as Argentina won 4-0 in a canter. Greece were not very good, to put it mildly. (Not to worry, Greece fans; I was in Portugal for Euro 2004 when the Greeks surprised the world, and probably themselves, by becoming European Champions!)

The most enduring memories of the game, in a funny way, came later. First, when Diego Maradona scored in the second half, his crazed face pressed into a TV camera as he celebrated his goal. Maradona subsequently failed a drug test and was sent home in disgrace, never to represent his country on the field again. Judging by the look on his face, it was perhaps not a surprise, as he already had a considerable reputation in this department.

Second, after England failed to qualify, a British crew made a documentary following the Greek team at the World Cup instead. The team moved to New Jersey, where they befriended a Greek waiter and even let him join a practice. On game day, the waiter tried to get on the bus to play with the team! He was furious when they wouldn’t let him on, screaming abuse at the team as they set off for the game. It’s absolutely brilliant and hilarious to watch.

I had bought a reasonably priced 6-game ticket package for two, but could only attend three games as my U19 Bolts team was having a great run in the national cup. What resonates when thinking back to 1994 is the excitement and anticipation that built up over several years. Jack Charlton brought the Irish national team to Tufts University in 1991 and 1992, where I was coaching. He was looking forward to ‘94 and to having his squad prepared for the conditions Ireland would face. The American trips paid off as the team defeated Italy 1-0, moving on from the group stage before eventually falling to the Netherlands in the knockout rounds. As noted, England did not make the cut. I was at Foxboro the day that Alexei Lalas put Graham Taylor’s boys back in their place. Taylor’s “Do I Not Like That” would come later in the qualifying rounds against the Netherlands.

In comparison, the buildup to the 2026 World Cup has been very different from that of 1994. This time around, it’s all about money, and, sadly, the country's unstable political situation has also intruded on the preparations. In the nineties, the USA may not have been regarded as a football/soccer nation, call it what you will, but the emphasis was very much on the sport, the game and the fans. We can only hope that when the first ball is kicked on June 13th, it becomes the focus once more. Unfortunately, it has not felt that way over the past months. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that when all is said and done, ‘The Beautiful Game’ will prevail. It did in 1994.
YNWA

ARNE SLOT: MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THE TALE OF TWO SCOTTISH FULLBACKS & THE MYTH OF A TITLE DEFENCE
Reluctant as I am to join the herd. And while it may not align with the traditional Liverpool Way, I believe the Reds must make a managerial change for next season. Before outlining my reasons, let me offer some context. I do not support those who have been relentlessly vitriolic toward Arne Slot since last November. Likewise, I think Mo Salah’s criticisms would have been better kept private. I have great respect for former players, journalists close to the club, and fans — many of those from my era — who believe Arne deserves another season after winning the title in 25-26. We have experienced two seasons of ‘Slotball’ and witnessed both the highs and lows of his coaching. However, it’s now clear how Slot operates, and change is necessary. The club are in decline, and I cannot see how it is going to change.

MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES 2024-25
1) Arne Slot inherited a squad of talented footballers. Several were amongst the best in their position in EPL history; nearly all were internationals for their countries; and there was a sprinkling of Academy talent in the ranks. It was not a squad that demanded an immediate rebuild or overhaul.
2) Liverpool’s squad had a culture and a spirit that reflected that of Slot’s legendary predecessor, Jurgen Klopp. This was a team that was continually in the hunt for trophies and had won its fair share. Add to that a togetherness. It was a squad that should at least have been contesting for a Champions League place.
3) The Reds had a favourable opening set of fixtures, which helped the new manager to bed in and set his stall up for a campaign that turned out to be highly successful.
4) Liverpool had relatively few injuries to deal with over the course of the season.

Arne should be given credit since taking over from a legend was never going to be easy. His approach was commendable. Though he prioritised possession over the more direct attacking style of Klopp, the team retained many characteristics of the swashbuckling Klopp-era attack. One major change was made to the personnel, with Ryan Gravenberch being converted into a #6. It was an inspired decision, with Gravenberch eventually selected for the EPL team of the season. Previously, he had been a squad player. The net result was that Liverpool strolled to the Premier League title, while their biggest rivals, Manchester City and Arsenal, had up-and-down campaigns; no other team emerged from the pack to seriously challenge Slot’s team. Based on what we saw in his debut season, Arne Slot appeared to be a smart, intelligent coach. He maintained the core of the team he inherited, made one significant change and tweaked the style of play here and there. He gave a degree of continuity to the team, and they responded in style, giving the club a second Premier League title in five years.

MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES 2025-26
1) The squad underwent a considerable overhaul, with several expensive additions and an even greater number going out through the revolving door. In hindsight, why was such an overhaul necessary?
2) The tragic death of Diogo Jota. It’s impossible to measure the effects of this tragedy on his teammates. Additionally, for new recruits to Anfield, it was an extra hurdle to navigate as they tried to settle into the squad. Diogo was neither their friend nor teammate.
3) Due to the success of 24-25, expectations were raised considerably. Throw in an uncharacteristic £450 million transfer splash on top talent, and some were saying hand Liverpool the title. Was it ever reasonable to expect so much?
4) The squad experienced more injuries than in the previous season, but not at a level I think can be classed as significant until the closing weeks of the season.

Liverpool opened with 5 straight Premier League wins, 7 in all competitions, yet the performances were far from convincing. As the results turned, the Reds went on a terrible run, with some disastrous individual performances, including the back-to-back Forest and PSV games. Question marks raised during those early victories were amplified:
• What were Liverpool trying to accomplish tactically? What was their style?
• How are they trying to attack? What are their patterns of play?
• Where was the Liverpool press? Could they press in this new regime?
• How are they organised defensively, both at the back and in midfield?
• Why was the team weak at restarts at both ends of the field?

With every passing week, there were more questions than answers. As the pressure began to rise, Arne’s press briefs were becoming as ponderous as the slow possession play of his team. The big spend of the summer had been lauded as a statement of intent: we are the champions, and intend to build a dynasty! Suddenly, it was a transitional year. Initially, Arne had said he wanted a smaller squad. When a few injuries hit, that changed; he did not have enough players. For me, the injuries were nothing compared to those in previous seasons and at several other EPL clubs. To lose top signing Alexander Isak to a broken leg was bad luck. However, on either side of that injury, Isak has had numerous niggling injuries. I always felt the amount of money paid for a player who has always had these problems was questionable.

The overall conclusion is that continuity of 24-25 has been jettisoned. In his debut season, Arne made relatively few decisions. The tools and the setup were already there. He essentially had to keep things running. He did so with aplomb. Fast forward, and numerous squad changes plus an initial attempt to shoehorn as many newbies as possible into the starting XI did not serve him well. Moreover, Liverpool became progressively worse as the season progressed. Many unwanted records have been set as the Reds have “enjoyed” one of their worst Premier League seasons in recent memory.

In 2024-25, Liverpool were only 2 points better off than in Jürgen Klopp’s final season, scoring and conceding the same number of goals for and against. 25-26, with one game remaining, has seen a dramatic fall, with 25 fewer points, 24 fewer goals scored, and 11 more goals conceded. This has to be a concern, even with alleged personnel problems, Arne Slot has failed to address many of the questions asked of him. The patterns of play under Jürgen Klopp were evident, whatever the various player setups. My conclusion is that one failing of Slot, and one that is critical for a manager at Liverpool Football Club, is that the manager is going to have to be resourceful. While the Reds are one of the richest clubs in world football, financially, they do not generally have the approach of Manchester City. During the FSG years, the club has been run in a fashion that is self-sustainable. That leads me to my next point: squad management.

ARNE AND THE STORY OF TWO SCOTTISH FULLBACKS
If Arne Slot’s inaugural campaign revealed one potential weakness, it was in his inability to rotate. The week of the Champions League clash with PSG and the Carabao Cup Final with Newcastle showed this to devastating effect. After being eliminated by the French champions, Newcastle comprehensively outplayed the Reds in every department in the final. It was evident that the use of the same players, game in, game out, over the season to date had taken its toll. Post-season, Arne admitted to this failing this past summer. However, this season has shown his continued unwillingness to rotate. Players like Federico Chiesa may only get a couple of minutes in a match. Is it any wonder he struggles on the rare occasions they are given more time on the field?

Earlier, I noted Arne tried to force his new signings into a team that had won the league. Could this have been done in a manner that mirrored the continuity of 25-26? Andy Robertson has been one of Liverpool’s key players both on and off the field. As he aged, it was understandable that Milos Kerkez had been brought in to replace him after the fantastic season he enjoyed at Bournemouth. Kerkez was another who made the EPL team of the 24-25 season, yet he struggled on his arrival. His struggles were not confined to just him. Van Dijk did not look as comfortable without Robbo at his side, and Kerkez was often bypassed as an option by teammates when he looked to get forward. He has improved, yet the team still looks much better with Robertson in it. Robbo may be past his peak, but then so are his LFC peers, Van Dijk, Alisson and Mo Salah. Milos Kerkez is the future who perhaps could have been introduced more successfully as a backup with increasing game time. Further, Robertson’s influence might have helped on the field as the team struggled to find its footing.

And then there is the case of Robbo’s fellow countryman, Calvin Ramsay. Ramsay is a right-back who was signed as a teenager from Aberdeen after a breakthrough season in the Scottish Premiership. I felt it was a strange signing as the Reds had a talented youngster, Connor Bradley, coming through the Academy to back up Trent. Since arriving at Anfield, Ramsay has had his share of injuries and loans. Right back is perhaps the one position where Liverpool has had more than its fair share of injury problems this season. It reached a point where Ramsay was promoted to the bench; he was a right back after all. He sat there for 17 games as Arne preferred to play midfielders there, including Dominick Szoboszlai, a move that seriously weakened Liverpool’s midfield. When questioned about the injury crisis and why he was playing midfielders at right back, Slot responded that he had no options there. That must have done Ramsay’s confidence the world of good! Why then put him on the bench? Ramsay was one bright light in the Crystal Palace debacle in the Carabao Cup. He scored a cracking goal for the U21 team against PSG a couple of weeks back. He has some ability, though he may not be at the level required to make the grade at Liverpool. Ultimately, he was never tested when opportunities arose, and Slot’s management of the player leaves much to be desired. It was pointless promoting him if he wasn’t prepared to give him a shot.

Jürgen Klopp built a squad designed to chase trophies on four fronts. It required using the bench to its full effect and promoting players from the Academy. Sometimes, Klopp’s hands were tied due to injuries, but his team had a philosophy, and he was resourceful enough to plug the gaps. Sometimes he may have fallen short, but it also reached its zenith in the 2024 Carabao Cup Final. “Klopp’s Kids”!! Remember them? Liverpool’s resources were stretched to a point that 7 Academy players saw time that day. No Salah, Trent, Jota, Matip, Nunez, Szoboszlai, Jones and Thiago. Gravenberch was injured after 28 minutes. Gakpo played as a central striker! Compare 25-26, Arne has been continually reluctant to give young talents Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni adequate minutes.

There’s a sense that for Slot to succeed, everything must be nearly perfect — a standard that’s unrealistic in football. Regarding the two Scottish full-backs, Slot effectively sidelined an experienced international in favour of a young player who was struggling to adapt in his first season. The Anfield Wrap’s wonderful feature on Robertson underscores his significance on and off the pitch. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl7KDpt0wuM) Marginalising Robbo neither benefited the team nor Slot himself. He was the team’s vice captain! As for Ramsay, he was placed on the bench seemingly without any real intention of playing him, which is hardly conducive to building team spirit, let alone competing on multiple fronts. These decisions have contributed to Liverpool’s disastrous title defence, eroding the culture and spirit that Slot was fortunate to inherit.

THE MYTH OF A TITLE DEFENCE
A claim of those who say Slot has earned a third season after winning the title is that his defence of that title is just as bad as the COVID season, when Jürgen Klopp attempted to defend Liverpool’s first Premier League title. I believe there is a myth surrounding the 20-21 season. It was a difficult, but in some respects better than many remember. It was a time that showed Klopp's ability to coach when things were not going his way. At Christmas 2020, Liverpool were 5 points clear at the summit, having only lost once and having just stuck seven past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. In early 2021, they went on a terrible run, losing their entire central defence and backups. As a result, the Reds lost 6 consecutive games at Anfield. Jürgen had made a critical error, which he subsequently acknowledged. Moving Fabinho and Henderson, his central defenders, into the back four unbalanced and unsettled the team. His solution was novel to say the least.

Promoting two Academy central defenders, Nate Phillips and Rhys Williams, he drew his favoured defensive high line 10 yards further back as the pace of Van Dijk & Co could no longer be relied upon. Fabinho and Henderson were restored to their usual positions, and the Reds ended the Premier League with 8 wins and 2 draws. Over the run-in to the season, it was the best record in the division. THIS IS COACHING! Some were critical of how Klopp initially attempted to solve his injury problems. Perhaps rightly so. The point is that Jürgen showed resourcefulness, thought outside the box and found a solution. If it had not worked, at least it would demonstrate a coach attempting to do something. Resourceful is not a word I would use to describe Arne Slot after observing him these past months. It is especially so considering how the same issues keep recurring game after game, with little to suggest solutions have been found or that anything has been done in that direction.

CONCLUSION
In several regards, the Arne Slot situation is totally puzzling. Initially, he did so well, taking over a strong squad and leading them to a Premier League title. He looked assured, smart enough to make only a few minor changes with one major decision - the conversion of Ryan Gravenberch into a #6. Gravenberch became an issue in Slot’s second season. Now, no longer a squad player, it was obvious that Gravenberch was not content to play there this season. Could the manager have handled this situation more effectively? He did have a good alternative in Wataru Endo. I’m sure Endo would be listed under Arne’s injury list complaint, as he did lose him for the season. However, he never played Endo that much, as he seems to have this thing about trusting players. I doubt he would have sought that solution had Endo been fit and available.

Slot’s decline after such an impressive start has been dramatic. Fundamental questions about Liverpool’s defending, attacking, pressing, and vulnerability at restarts have persisted since the first game of the season. There have been no answers. The rapid and arguably unnecessary dismantling of a title-winning squad may not be entirely Slot’s fault, but under his stewardship, Liverpool has entered a steep decline. There is little evidence in his coaching to suggest he can reverse this slump. Complaints about fixture congestion and limited training time ring hollow, especially since elimination from the Champions League left midweek opportunities to work on the team's shortcomings. It appears the extra time has been uncapitalised. The team has simply not improved.

I live in Boston. I hope John Henry and his cohorts at FSG across town are under no illusion about what is happening across the Atlantic. I’m aware that the Red Sox are currently having their own issues. As I write, it appears that Liverpool will crawl over the line ahead of Bournemouth to make next season’s Champions League. The Cherries are supposedly one of the smaller clubs in England’s Premier Division, with a stadium holding only 11,000. They are a team that lost their defence over the last summer to bigger clubs and their top player in the January transfer window. How then did they manage to run Liverpool so close? Perhaps the fact that they had a manager who is extremely resourceful and gave his team a clear style of play. That man, Andoni Irola, is available! Would he appeal to Liverpool fans? I suppose the response would be “what has he won?” Short of getting Luis Enrique, who do the fans of the Reds think they are going to get?

And to those who stall at the thought of firing a manager who has just won the Premier League, it is not unparalleled. Over the past 20 years, every manager who has won the league has been relieved of their duties comparatively quickly, bar Ferguson, Guardiola and Klopp. On this occasion, the Liverpool way regarding managers needs to change. Liverpool is said to be a data-driven club. The data surely has to support what Liverpool fans see with their own two eyes. Over two seasons, we have seen Arne Slot in good and bad times. Whoever is at the helm in August will be at the start of a major rebuild, and the likelihood is that the Reds may not be in contention for the title again for a few seasons. Based on what we have seen in 25-26, can that rebuild be trusted in Arne Slot's hands? I would find it very hard to say “yes”!
YNWA