I’m fine with either of those choices.
I couldn’t stay awake. Never saw the end of a game.
2 Likes
I did like James Richardson.
2 Likes
Actually the more I look at our transfer business last summer, and compare it to how Bournemouth play, the more I think this squad was built with Iraola in mind… but I’m just being a conspiracy theorist now 
10 Likes
Tiki-taka still needs Messi and dozens of god-level ball-playing footballers to function. Pep always needs at least 3-4 elite dribblers in his teams to make it work.
We don’t have La Masia as a foundation. Finding someone who can outrun opponents is probably much easier than buying or creating 11 players with elite ball skills.
1 Like
I’ll say this at 9am this morning all journalists expected he was staying so I think take any proclamation with a pinch of salt.
2 Likes
Like others I believe we have a nucleus of quality players sadly not used to their abilities,sure an astute coach/ manager will look at this very closely before tipping half out.
I don’t believe Jones should be emptied without being assessed fully and expect that to be done.
Chiesa is a better player than we have seen here..just a couple of examples,i would hope to see dealt with early doors.
On the other hand we seem to have a couple of crocks but that is down to the new manager.
1 Like
I like the sound of this
“ Connections with those at the forefront of elite sport have led to interesting conversations. “We like to share things, share the methodology they use, the process they use, to show the players,” Iraola says. “For example, the discipline in cycling is so important … their body fats, their training, kilometres [ridden], everything is very measured to try to find the peak of their form in the season. It is very interesting, especially the sports science of it. As footballers, and if I consider myself when I was a player, we are not into so much detail: [looking] into everything you eat, how many hours you sleep. I like this process.”
2 Likes
He’s brilliant!
1 Like
And cyclists get injuries like muscle pulls way less than footballers despite pushing their bodies to the limits.
I have wondered at times, especially this season, if sports scientists in football are too focused on rest for recovery.
I don’t think players need to sit games out every time they feel a bit of a twinge.
4 Likes
I thinking we are drastically underestimating the quality of the squad.
My summation we had a squad built for years on pressing and physically football. We had a manager who wanted the opposite. It’s like having Peter Crouch in your team but on a philosophical level refusing to cross the ball.
The entire squad look a shadow of what they are capable of. A new manager playing to our strengths, I honestly think we could win the league.
In fact I would be against major summing of signing. Just a couple in key places. Brining in youngsters and some of those who have been on review of those sent on loan.
11 Likes
I still think Frimpong is the wrong move. Wirtz plays number 10. We have dynamic double pivots with ball-playing CBs. Kerkez bombs forward. The clear missing piece is a right back who can stay deep and form a 3-2 build-up.
1 Like
I think Conor Bradley will be first choice and fulfill that role. The upgraded Adam Smith essentially. Frimpong is a RB to me but he needs time on the training pitch to learn it. At least I have confidence now that it might happen.
Kerkez doesn’t mind sitting in either so I think it’ll just be a case of one goes, one stays.
3 Likes
im ok with iraola
1 Like
I haven’t given up yet, but it’s too hard to count on him as a first choice when he misses at least half a season every year. It’s too much risk, IMO. We need a more stable backline.
5 Likes
https://x.com/LBLFC_/status/2060697058806206880
Worth a watch …“no days off”
7 Likes
I think it’ll also help once the defending is being done higher up the pitch. Too often this year we were in a mid-block or even a low-block. Next season we should be going back to a high press (and a proper high press not just individual players occassionally trying). Someone like Frimpong won’t be a pure defender in that system and it’ll suit him a lot more.
7 Likes