The Season So Far: Them? There? No Problem - by John Brennan

‘‘Arne Slot la la la la la la’’. Too soon? For sure, but I’m writing the day after battering ‘Them’, ‘There’. So I’ll sing what I want.

While the sample size is pretty small – just the three games – one can only be happy with what the Reds have served up so far, especially in the aftermath of a difficult few months (Klopp’s departure, the lack of new signings). To come out of the traps like we have done is as impressive as it is encouraging. Bigger challenges lie ahead, of course, but as we move into the first international break, we can be confident about this team’s prospects, certain in the knowledge that the players are all on board with the manager, who has already, in a short space of time, put his mark on the team. Equally impressive has been Slot’s demeanour, on the touchline and in the media.

The old expression, ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’ seemed apt on the opening day. A 12:30 kick-off away from home. Check. A largely insipid opening 45 minutes? Check. The Manager getting hold of them at half-time and instant second-half improvement? Check. Jota – who had been largely ineffective – getting his customary striker’s goal? Check. Mo continuing his opening-day brilliance? Check.

I’m being facetious obviously, but that said, there were a lot of similarities with the previous era. But for all the similarities, there have been subtle and not-so-subtle changes between this season and last. Since that first-half against Ipswich, the word that best typifies this team is ‘control’. This is something that had been spoken about throughout the summer and something that many of us felt was needed.

The ability to play games on our terms has been evident so far – I said in the last piece I wrote that conceding first was often the bane of our existence and led to us chasing games. That, for now, has been fixed: three clean sheets in three games. It took us ten games (October 29th) to reach that number last season.

If we can continue in this vein, we will always have a chance of competing, such is our quality up front. This has been evident on numerous occasions already: in the second-half against Ipswich with Jota’s clinical finishing; Diaz’s goal against Brentford after a hiccup-quick counter-attack; that move in the same game which would have been an early goal of the season contender; the high press and resulting quality finishes against United.

Last season, the front five plundered 87 goals between them, in three games, they have already got seven. If we can retain this lethal goals tally (142 in all last season) and continue to control games, the signs are positive.

Of course, every silver lining has a cloud, and there are a few dark ones over L4. Some are minor, but in the current social-media-obessed era, they can quickly become noxious. I’m referring to Trent’s insolence after his substitution against Brentford, mainly. As much as he knew what he was doing at Old Trafford when he came off (methink he doth protest too much…), he couldn’t have failed to realize that his reaction to his substitution would make the news as much as Slot’s Home debut (for that alone, he should be ashamed of himself).

He should, of course, see the substitution as a compliment. We are going to need him at his best all season if we are to compete. Indeed, Slot said as much in his post-match comments. By taking him off, he’s saying, ‘I am protecting you as I need you fit and fresh for the bigger challenges to come.’

Of course, this is the tree which hides the forest, with everything being micro-analysed due to Trent’s contract situation. This ties in, of course, to the bigger picture around contracts relating to Mo and Virgil. In as much as I understand the Club’s position in relation to these two, Trent’s situation is baffling.

One of the foundations of our stability – and thus success – has been our ability to tie down our players to long-term deals. That has two upsides: a) players thinking about signing can be ‘sold’ a long-term strategy and b) it allows us to command a fee (generally a big one) if we move them on. Maybe this is a moot point and the Club will announce something in the next few weeks, but January is getting a little too close for comfort for me. It should never have got this far and that’s on FSG.

When I say I understand the Club’s position in relation to Mo and Virgil, I mean I understand that that is the way they do business. But from a football viewpoint (and by extension from a business one) it makes no sense to not renew. First, it would cost a fortune to replace them, if, indeed, you consider they can be replaced! Second, if we keep them, we have a better chance of winning matches, their statistics speak for themselves.

Exceptions sometimes have to be made and for these two, FSG should power off their laptops and look at the bigger picture. I’m not sure what will happen, remember they don’t have Klopp going out to bat for them like he did in the past for Henderson, but if they go – for nothing – it will go down as the height of negligence.

I also said in the last piece I wrote the lack of signings this summer was ‘gross negligence’. Despite the great start to the season, I stand by that. Gravenberch was sensational against United but it’s a (temporary?) solution we stumbled upon out of necessity. Maybe Slot can coach him into the ‘6’ he wants, but I still feel that we should have strengthened there and at centre-back. I feel there is a slight tendency to downplay the lack of signings based on our start, but business is about to pick up – literally and metaphorically.

It’s all well and good vaunting the merits of the squad now – and I agree, we are very strong. But the start to the season has been pedestrian (Saturday, Sunday, Sunday). From now to the end of the year is a different kettle of fish: September 5 fixtures, October a possible 6 (depending on League Cup progress), November 6, December a possible 7 (depending on League Cup progress).

Add to the mix six international fixtures (there are three breaks) and that is a potential 30 games between now and the end of the year. And there will be may more high stakes ones than last season, where rotation was a much more viable possibility in the Europa League. I hope we are not basing out hopes on Slot’s ability to keep players fit: last season we played 58 games in all competitions to Feyenoord’s 48. 10 games is three to four weeks of football and that in a more demanding League.

Anyway, as things stand, we are sitting pretty and we can rejoice in those empty seats at Old Trafford as the Reds schooled United in their own back yard. On a weekend where two Manc twats bummed their fans, the Reds bummed the other Manc twats.

John Brennan