Conor McConnell

[TobyWrites @tobyasky]

I just love when managers walk their way to the top, there's a sense of achievement and deservedness.

After his playing career at Bilbao, and retiring in the US, Iraola took a bold step to go to AEK Larnaca in Cyprus to coach, he proved himself immediately by winning the cup.

He came back home in Spain to Mirandes, they were in the Segunda division and he dragged them to the semi finals of Copa Del Rey, while beating few La Liga teams on the way.

He moved to Rayo Vallecano, also in the Segunda and promoted them to La Liga. The crazy thing about him is that he has a known style of play and very adaptable too.

Rayo got to the final of the Conference league this season, its not a fluke because guess who their coach is? Yes, Iñigo Pérez, who was Iraola's assistant.

Bill Foley, Bournemouth's owner and the Bournemouth hierarchy like Richard Hughes wanted to play in a particular way, they had been monitoring Iraola for a long time, eventually, they found out that he was available, they grabbed him so quick, sacking Gary O'Neil who had just saved them from relegating.

Iraola took Bournemouth to Europe for the first time in their history, while losing top players like Semenyo, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Solanke, and many more, on the way.

Liverpool players should be ready because he is a very demanding coach. Semenyo once said that immediately Iraola arrived at Bournemouth, they were training Monday to Sunday, something he'd never experienced before.

The mastermind behind this move is Richard Hughes, he was the Technical Director at Bournemouth, he sacked Gary O'Neil for Iraola. He is now the Sporting Director at Liverpool, he has just sacked Slot for Iraola again😅. He knows the Iraola train passes only once.

Congratulations to Andoni, I'm one of his biggest fans, and I think he suits Liverpool. Liverpool fans are going to see some serious high and aggressive hybrid pressing, they're also going to see some vertical and direct football which they're quite used to under Klopp and Slot's first season.

When they win the ball back, Iraola hates backward passes, he wants the ball played forward asap, in summary, quick transitions. I'm excited, are you?

[Adriano Del Monte @adriandelmonte]

Ollie Watkins just scored a double to beat Man City, away, after a 3 day session in Istanbul.

[A🤾🏽‍♂️ @Akzyy]

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, it’s all over

[DaveOCKOP @DaveOCKOP]

And this is why we don't want Arsenal to win the Premier League.

[LB @LBLFC_]

Gabriel Martinelli.. a little fucking bum who's won absolutely nothing in his career… like the rest of them. A team of little gobshites managed by a bum who won fuck all as a player. Losers.

[LB @LBLFC_]

Why's Declan Rice think he's dead hard 😂😂 he's a private school sausage who dances on Muller corner adverts. Fuck off you soft cunt.

[Football on TNT Sports @footballontnt]

Mikel Arteta was fuming that Martinelli went down off the pitch and ordered him back on to get treatment 😂

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Mo Salah. A very long read.

I think I know a little about LFC, its supporters and how they view their club. Shaped of course by Shankly then Paisley, Kenny, Jurgen and now now Slot.

One thing remains constant, perhaps more than any other English club, its always the club first and last, players and managers add their DNA to the club, but the club trumps the individual.

Now, Mo Salah has left plenty of winners DNA at Anfield and has taken his place in the pantheon of greats.

So it's interesting to see his interview, dropping a grenade into the club because if I know Liverpool and it's supporters at all (I think there may be even a generational difference in responses, younger supporting the grenade, older shaking their heads) then their first reaction will be..

Club, first and last, don't care who it is. Its a living and breathing mantra and one that even Mo Salah will find it difficult to duke it out against.

Now, could Arne Slot be less pally with players than Jurgen? Absolutely, he's a calm, relaxed, tad detached guy who ( if you remember) was unimpressed with Trent early doors and showed a nonchalant attitude in season one to "one of their own" who'd won everything there is to win. I think that's impressive, but not as impressive as winning the title in your first season. So he's earned his respect too.

The team are playing well in spurts, comedy defending and decision making at other times. That includes everyone, and if you ask 99.9% of players if they'd accept 2 or 3 games on the bench for not hitting levels, all will say yes. Only in the madness of 2025 modern football would the cult of personalities not only question a reasonable conclusion of "you're not playing well, here's a spell on the bench", but Mo maybe has almost tricked himself onto elevating himself to the untouchable status of Messi or Ronaldo, players who could, if they chose, literally do and say as they pleased in the last decade. Mo isn't them, and Liverpool as I said, isn't that club either.

I'm sure some of the youngsters will rant "he's right and Slot's to blame ", but without any evidence that Slot has deliberately ( managers NEED their star players to perform, not to be asked about them in every presser for the next 5 months....) ostracised anyone at the club other than do what every good manager has done since the invention of the game, namely leave someone out who's not playing well misses the point as every great club, team and manager have dropped great players at some stage. Some even when playing well!!

The solution to what is now a very open sore is simple (ish)

1. Player and manager talk privately.
2. Manager tells player what he wants from the player.
3. Player commits or tells manager he wants out.
4. If player wants out, make it happen quickly. If not, pick the player and let him be judged by his continued performances. If they're poor, manager can't lose, "I told you so". If they're great, manager can't lose. So Slot playing Mo is a very good starting point, especially as 2 very big signings have yet to make Mo " yesterday's man"

Arne Slot can help himself a little by using his natural openness to say " maybe I'm not Jurgen but I love my players and they couldn't have won a spectacular title last season without reacting to me and my methods a little too, but I hear Mo's comments and I can tell you all now, I love him to bits and he's ours to keep". That heads off any "seniors" with similar grenades to throw.

But one thing's for sure, I don't think there will ever be a Liverpool player past, present or future with valid gripes that would jeopardise the "club first and last" ethos of Liverpool, and those who've had legitimate concerns I'm sure aired them at an appropriate time, not a flash interview when emotions are high.

Liverpool FC have done as well for every player who's played for them as players have done for the club, so the institution has earned that private, rather than public critique. Whoever that's from.

[𝗟𝘂'. @ssc_zhith]

I might be the first in my lineage ever to read such a ridiculous bio.

Where exactly are we headed as a people?

[Callum Lyon @CallumLyon]

Minimum wage in 2005 was £5.05 and a Freddo was 10p. Meaning that one hour of work got you 50 Freddos.

Fast forward to 2025, minimum wage is £12.21 and a Freddo is 35p. Now one hour of work will only get you 34 of them.

That's a 142% rise in pay but a 250% rise in frog shaped chocolate bars.

If wages had kept up with the price Freddos, the minimum wage would be £17.50 an hour.

The economy’s in shambles and yes I’m measuring it in chocolate frogs. But this post is about more than that. Too many people are working full time and struggling to survive because absolutely everything is increasing faster than wages.

Something needs to change.

[Ruu | 🏆#14 | @ruukayo_]

Brings me so much joy to know that he is watching this nightmare unfold before his eyes.

[𝖂𝖊𝖑𝖑 @WelloEscobar]

I've been watching football for 25 years, and this is the best season kits for a football team I've ever seen

[Jack Moore @Jack_Moore7]

When we were first linked to Wirtz I remember thinking if we pull that off I would take a compromise of striker, like Delap and still be happy. We signed Ekitike and fucking Isak. It’s just astonishing

[Samuel @SamueILFC]

The greatest transfer window ever. 🔥

[indykaila News @indykaila]

Exclusive: 🚨🚨

Michael Edwards the chief executive of football at Liverpool Football Club has told Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group that Alexander Isak is the player to lead Liverpool number 9 role in years to come.

We understand Michael Edwards & Richard Hughes who overseen the club transfers are not afraid to spend £100m plus on who they believe will be the best number 9 in world football in the near future.

Darwin Núñez is expected to leave the club for around £60m - £70m in the summer and the funds could be used for Alexander Isak.

Watch this space #Liverpool fans

[Ste Hoare @stehoare]

Wirtz and Isak in one summer 😂🤯

[🥤 @TheImmortalKop]

Imagine losing to your title rivals and then five hours later they agree a British transfer record to sign the best striker on the planet my head would be fucking FLYING loooooooool

[Jamie Carragher @Carra23]

It’s not only about this game, it’s about the mentality of your manager (who I’m a fan of)
Merino starting tells you straight away about the mindset.
You didn’t create one chance against a team who have been exposed by three teams with less ability than yours.

[🧎🏾 @Luchoresi]

Bro this is like 5th time since fergie where I’m hoping United win games so their manager doesn’t get sacked