Is there a premature crowning of Liverpool or is this the real deal under Arne Slot? And should Tottenham really get more credit?
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Will Liverpool be crowned too early?
I’ve been called a lot in my life, but Howard Jones suggested that I could be a would-be contributor really gave me a six. I spent the day (between work and typing this) pacing the hallway, occasionally looking in the mirror and asking myself, “Am I real?” – I’m having some sort of existential midlife crisis!
Howard offered me the red and blue pills and I took them both. Now I’m stuck in a Scouse matrix, chased by agent Tommy Smith and encountering an oracle obsessed with facts and net spend! In reality, Howard just let a joke slip and needs to lighten up a bit.
We’re only ten games in and Liverpool fans are already talking about titles and how Slot is the new messiah. Conveniently forgetting that Brighton should have been in fourth or fifth place at HT this weekend, they lucked out with a draw against injury-ravaged Arsenal (does Salah score that goal with Timber and Gabriel still on the pitch?), Chelsea deserved a goal. draw at Anfield (more clear cut chances), narrow wins against Wolves and Palace, and beaten by Forest. The rest were (four) good wins, including beating us at OT. But with a bit of luck the other way they would be in fourth or fifth place, and no one could complain.
Since only ten games have been played, it’s difficult to draw conclusions, but if you compare Liverpool’s averages from last season to this season:
fewer goals scored (2.3 vs. 1.9);
lower xG (2.4 vs. 1.8);
fewer goals conceded (1.1 vs. 0.6);
better xGC (1.2 vs. 0.8);
lower ball possession (61.3% vs. 57.1%);
lower successful passes in the final third (112 v 94);
fewer goal attempts (20.8 vs. 14.1); And
slightly lower major odds against (2.1 vs 1.8)
So far better defensively, but not as dangerous in attack. Considering they had a relatively good fixture list until recently, trying their luck, I wonder if Merseyside is celebrating prematurely. It is absolutely not like they book surplus victory buses, for example, this does not slip, etc.
Let’s hear from the Liverpool fans what has changed tactically that puts Slot on par or an upgrade over Klopp – and please back this up with evidence and statistics, not armchair anecdotes and unnecessary personal insults.
Garey (the real slim shady one) Vance, MUFC
READ: Liverpool’s nepotism is waning as Slot earns Alonso’s scalp as the dream debut season gathers pace
Let’s check…
So when does this tough series of games start for Liverpool, with Slot exposed as a fraudster?
Shiraz, Johannesburg
About the F365 ‘characters’
Reading Howard’s email on Tuesday morning got me thinking: how many people here are proudly associated with a specific club? We have some clear club ambassadors, such as Badwolf, Stewie Griffin and Barry Fox. But what about the rest of the competition? Where are the diehard votes for each team?
I would like to put myself forward as one of Chelsea’s representatives, although I know there are others who would be much better off waving the blue flag high in the letterbox. It’s curious how people like Stewie Griffin have become fixtures here – distinct voices for their clubs that feel almost woven into the fabric of F365.
And as much as it seems like they’re “characters,” I honestly believe Barry Fox and the others are real people. It would take some serious dedication (and a touch of madness) for everyone at F365 to concoct and maintain fake personas like this for so long. That’s next level dedication!
The administrator @ at the Bridge Pod
Arteta out? To behave
Arsenal may not have been in North London “forever”, but we have been here for over a century, and longer than Tottenham “Middlesex” Hotspurs.
As for the joke currently being written about Mikel, the last month hasn’t been great, but the reason no one is linking Arteta to the bag is because it would be a stupid move for the likes of Watford – let alone Arsenal. .
The Bank of England club doesn’t do reflex action or listen to people like Stewie.
I have only known FIVE Arsenal managers – Graham, Rioch, Wenger, Emery and Arteta in all the time I have supported the club and I am very happy about that.
Graham Simons, Gooner, Norf London
Some Spurs fans have their feet on the ground
Fuck me; a Barry Fox email and it only ranks third on the “most misled and outraged emails from Spurs fans” scale.
These people don’t speak for the majority of Spurs fans who recognize that the club is receiving just the right amount of praise and insults for its utterly inconsistent approach to the season. A team that is brilliant or terrible – no one really knows – and often within the same five minutes. Led by a coach who may be a charismatic genius, but is also dangerously stubborn and a prickly loser of rival Jurgen Klopp. Again, often all of these traits are highlighted within the same press.
It’s impossible to know what to make of what’s happening there, and bragging about their exploits with too much praise will inevitably end up with egg on your face in fairly short order.
It’s a strange old season and I discussed this weekend whether, with Liverpool unlikely to sustain a full-season title push under the new manager; Rodri-less Man City look unusually fallible; Arsenal a broken flush; Chelsea in “transition”; and Manchester United adapt to what it means to be Manchester United Football Club in 2024, then we could have an extremely open title challenge and I have no idea what this means for Tottenham.
So I’m betting that Spurs will find themselves in a two-horse title race with Nottingham Forest come Easter, somehow finishing third behind Arsenal.
Chris Bridgeman, Kingston-upon-Thames
…Oh my god, you absolute bunch of donuts.
It was a very good week for Spurs. I’ve been writing in Ange quite a bit lately. So to be fair, he deserves credit for two really good wins. Nice Inge.
The Aussie guy who told the 365ers to up their game (lol) wanted to talk numbers. Here are some for you. Spurs PL away form. Played 5, lost 3, won 1, drew 1.
We are terribly far away from home. Terrible. Have you seen the Coventry Game Boys? Some of these letters claim that Ange is an elite manager with a plan B, C and D for when things go wrong. He doesn’t even have a plan A. We are 7th because we can’t take away any points. If we had repeated our home form we would have 26 points and be top.
So just stop. Stop writing stupid letters, stop playing ‘Freed from Desire’ in the stadium when we beat West Ham. Chances are you’ll look weird at the end of next season. I really hope not. But history suggests so.
Andrew
Ps. Dom Solanke is a brilliant, selfless footballer. Much of what is created for the wingers is down to Solanke taking a number of defenders with him on his runs. I thought he might have gotten a mention in “winners.” Improve your game 365
Not an angry Spurs fan, but a disappointed Man Utd fan…
No one expects every winning team to be among the winners and losers. That’s a weak argument. However, given the narrative the site has built, the suggestion that Postecoglou is on borrowed time, while Spurs are “Spursy”, a crisis is brewing, dealing a blow to a team higher up the table, flying into the Champions League , after coming from behind, absolutely deserves a place in Winners and Losers.
I’m actually a Manchester United fan and honestly quote that they deserve the ridicule they get, but I’m sometimes offended by the obvious bias in the writing, the knee-jerk reactions. Disappointed too.
I respect that you post a critical letter, but this does not alter the fact that the quality of the site is deteriorating
Fadida, Australia
Let’s hear it for the boy
I was proud – and strangely touched – when I saw that a letter from my son Eli had appeared in the mailbox yesterday. It feels like yesterday he came home from hospital in an oversized Newcastle United romper.
Anyway, it occurs to me that we might be the first father-son contributors to the Mailbox. There is glory for you!
Chris C, Toon Army DC