We will never replace Klopp the character+manager, but it's been mixed with Klopp, both a journey of pain and glory, and inconsistencies between seasons with little backing from the ownership. I think we can replace Klopp the manager.
Xabi Alonso
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I think the real test will be how Xabi deals with adversity. Everything seems to be going well for him.
Let's see how he copes when we beat Neverkusen in the EL final.
Let's see how he copes when we beat Neverkusen in the EL final.
Hopefully it’ll be a case of if you can’t beat them, join them!
Don't break my heart, Xabi. Not again.
Just to piss that doper Guardiola off is enough reason to get Alonso.
Knocking it out the park!
View: https://twitter.com/draper_rob/status/1763476524278165577
Abstract from the article above:
He is now of an age where alumni from his coaching school dominate. In 2004, when he had won his second La Liga title with Valencia, he and another upstart young Iberian, José Mourinho, were the hottest tickets in town. That year they became the Premier League’s first Portuguese and Spanish coaches; today there are six. “You’re in your 40s, you think you can do everything,” he reflects. “You are mistaken but it is how you have to be.”
Today Xabi Alonso is very much the “must-hire” coach. Twenty years ago he was a skinny, slow midfielder from Real Sociedad. “Everybody had doubts. Could he play in England? Not strong enough in the upper body, not quick. There were question marks. We knew he had the talent but there are a lot of players who have talent, who cannot cope with the physicality and pace.”
Benítez is all about the details. He analysed players’ haircuts before signing them: too zany might mean too individualistic to take instruction. He trusted Alonso partly because he was from the Basque country, where it rains for much of the winter: he wouldn’t be a homesick Andalucían pining for the sun in wet Liverpool.
Alonso was born to coach. “He was clever and analysed. When you explain things to some players, you have to repeat. Xabi was one who learned quickly.” One game stands out. Alonso was out for three months in that first season, the victim of a “Welcome to England” tackle from Frank Lampard. Liverpool were embarking on their epic run to that astonishing Champions League win in Istanbul – 3-0 down, they won on penalties – yet had to negotiate a quarter-final at Juventus, protecting a one-goal lead.
Alonso had no physical conditioning, having been out for so long, yet Benítez needed him. “They had Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alessandro Del Piero up front with Pavel Nedved between the lines. We had to play with three centre-backs. I changed to play 5-3-1-1, with Milan Baros up front, Igor Biscan and Antonio Núñez [in midfield] with Xabi in the middle. I told Xabi: ‘Stay in the middle! Don’t move!’ Because he couldn’t run. ‘Núñez will run! Warnock will run! You stay there! Be sure you protect the centre-backs from Nedved.” Alonso played the role perfectly and Liverpool drew 0-0.
“Tactically we did everything really well but the [key] thing was to recover Xabi quickly to make sure he could play as holding midfielder.”
He understands the clamour for Alonso at Liverpool but fears the impact of social media accelerates judgment. It took Benítez 15 years to become an overnight sensation at Valencia; Alonso is 17 months into his top-flight coaching career.
“He’s a big name, good professional, good lad, clever, doing really well so I understand why. [But] imagine Steven Gerrard was around and doing well. Then it would be: ‘Gerrard!’ With social media everything is going too fast so that people don’t see the big picture.”
There is a grimace relating to the tech habits of younger people. He tells the story of observing 14 of his Napoli team sitting in an airport lounge, heads down, transfixed by phones. “Nobody talking! This new generation [are] in the communication era but we don’t communicate!”
Not that he is down on Gen Z. He enjoys Jude Bellingham (less so when he scored an 82nd-minute winner against him). Has he seen a player ever make such an impact at Real Madrid? “No. Cristiano Ronaldo was scoring goals but he came from Portugal so has more connection. A player from England, a culture that is totally different, to come and adapt so well … in the past it was very difficult for a Spanish player to go to England and be successful. Then we had Luis García, Xabi, Fernando Torres, Álvaro Arbeloa and people could see successful players. He could do the same for the English players [here].”
It’s beginning to look embarrassing for Bayern
Interesting article:-
kwestthoughts.substack.com
Where have all the good managers gone?
As football clubs turn more and more towards running the club with data analysis, the number of elite managers has dwindled. Is this a coincidence?
kwestthoughts.substack.com
It was interesting but all I got from it was that @Rosco was right, managers don't matter.Interesting article:-
Where have all the good managers gone?
As football clubs turn more and more towards running the club with data analysis, the number of elite managers has dwindled. Is this a coincidence?
Unless they are exceptional like Kloppo
Yes! Same here
SN Germany reports Bayern have approached Alonso about replacing Tuchel ... you would be fucking buckets of shit at them if they were trying to poach your manager while sitting 10 points clear during the season. Bunch of cunts.
That’s downright disrespectful to try to poach the manager of a rival team in the middle of the title race. But then Bayern are not known for their subtlety.
Plettigoal.
There was a report earlier today saying we've offered a 3 year contract.
Plettigoal basically copied and pasted it but changed our name to Bayerns.
I think it has to be horseshit, surely they would be a bit quieter about it ... ? Entitled fannies like Barca and Madrid.
Is £21m for a personnel who has won Bundesliga (champions elect anyway) really that much when you compare it to what clubs pay for players?
Pretty sure they've Bayern had discussions with Xabi's Agent and BL, and Xabi's agent will recommend the club which gives Xabi's agent the most bucks. I am guessing agent fees on this one is £10-15m
It's also worth noting that most managers get fired, while players tend to be moved on for millions even if they don't particularly succeed at a club. So 21M would be a massive fee, especially if Xabi fails at LFC. We not only lose that money but also would have to pay him and his team millions in severance. But worth the risk IMO.
We made a ~£19m profit on Alonso so he's basically free now right? Right? Ah no, we spaffed it on bog-eyed Aquilani, with bones made of dried, autumnal leaves and inability to provide an assist if he was more then 20 miles from his Nana's linguini.
What a frustratingly shit time that was.
What a frustratingly shit time that was.
In his defence, he did assist 6 times in 28 appearances. Weirdly a similar rate to Alonso. Just played a lot less and we expected a lot more
Kieta cost how much and went for how much? Then remind me what we bought the following players for and what they went for... Balotelli, Lazar, Gini, Can, Lallana, Ox etc...
I just don't think the fee should be a deterrent. besides, what does this clause do if clubs have to pay compensation to get a manager. Lets say Barca came in who aren't one of the clubs, would their fee be higher?
