@Sweeting mentioned this before, but Xabi’s unbeaten season and Bundesliga title win at Leverkusen had a number of matches were they trailed until the very last moments of the match and they equalised or went on to win. So Leverkusen enjoyed big slices of luck involved in that magical season, as magical seasons typically tend to have. So that alone would be taken as a question maarks on his consistency as a manager who delivers winning results. I do believe Bayern had a down season that season and so did Dortmund
In the few interviews I’ve watched, he came off as a bit unassuming and analytical and thoughtful and a bit in his own head - kind of like Arne. He didn’t come off as alpha figure like Klopp or Pep or Enrique or Mourinho or Brendan or Benitez. I guess that’s what I meant.
If it is Iraola, his style will have to adjust. If he’s hired, he’s going from coaching at Bournemouth with commensurate expectations and having one game to managing the best club in the world with three games a week. I’m not sure if the players we have are suited to a high intensity, high pressure style currently, and it’ll be even harder when trying to do that three games a week.
It took Klopp multiple seasons and successive transfer windows to adequately implement a similar style. It won’t be a light switch. I hope he gets some patience.
Another thing I would mention is that I think there is a bit of a changing of the guard happening at the top end of the coaching tree.
Look at the Premier League… the top clubs are managed by Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso. Even clubs like Bayern Munich are managed by Vincent Kompany.
These may become great managers but that isn’t exactly Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Antonio Conte etc that we had a few years ago.
I get the feeling its not a bad time to go and take a chance on that potentially elite coach from a level down. Whichever clubs get it right will have a big advantage over the next few years.
If anything, Stevie’s revamp and reinvigoration of the Rangers was a far more impressive feet than Brendan‘s multiple title wins with the already powerful Celtic. The chasm in class of leagues showed up when Stevie took over at Villa and things unravelled fairly quickly.
Rafa was 44 when he came to us. I for one consider this kind of age as ideal: still young and full of energy, but with the experience to go with. Klopp was a bit older, 48, which is fully ok too, but I don’t think that a 43-years old is too young to manage this club.
He’s a young coach, but we’d be the fifth club he’s managed, and all previous ones have been successful. It’s not like he’s a complete novice… he’s been a manager since 2018!
Nah, Dortmund weren’t in the top echelon of the Bundesliga when they got Klopp.They were still recovering from an almost complete bankruptcy and largely relying on youth players and unknown talents from non-major leagues.
That’s nothing against Iraola’s achievments, they are very impressive as well. I just don’t like this tendency that in order to make the case for someone you have to diminish someone else. I’m also fine with Alonso not coming, but what he did at Leverkusen was impressive as well, no idea how to rank that objectively Really more about the perfect fit for me, let’s hope Iraola is that guy.