Welcome to Liverpool, Andoni Iraola!

[Kopstar]

@GermanRed

Did I read somewhere that Donnie Iraola won’t be in charge for our first preseason match?

How is anyone supposed to know that?

[dalglish]

@GermanRed

Donnie Iraola

Read that as donnie darko for some reason

[Limiescouse]

@GermanRed

Did I read somewhere that Donnie Iraola won’t be in charge for our first preseason match?

There was an oddly worded announcement about his first games in charge at anfield will be after the US trip, because of course the US games will not be at anfield. My initial reaction, having over spent to go to the NYC game, was “fuck, he’s not going to be in charge by then?” But then I realized I had misinterpreted the announcement and I wonder if that is where your question is coming from?

[Arminius]

Hmm. I am dubious about that pronunciation of Iraola. That accent (the vowels) doesn’t sound Spanish, and in Spanish A and O are both strong vowels. Spanish doesn’t have any dipthongs composed of two strong vowels, pronunciation requires a hiatus and clear diction of the two sounds. I know very little about Basque, but it apparently doesn’t have an ao dipthong either. I am fairly sure that it is Ira-Ola.

[Livvy]

Basque pronunciation dictionary

https://forvo.com/languages/eu/

Take a look

You can enter the name into the search bar.

[GermanRed]

[Flobs]

Sounds like Iro-La to me.

Perhaps we should ask @tesh (doesn’t live too far away?).

[Arminius]

Yeah, much more ira-ola than the dipthong that other fellow made it sound like. Not sure what the native language for that youtuber is, but it is not a common dipthong.

[Arminius]

I was walking the dog this morning and reflecting on my expectations for this coming season. They are strangely liberating. Play one or two games a week that I enjoy watching. That’s it, that’s all. I expect a challenging season, I hope we can do well, but I am simply looking forward to enjoying watching the games rather than being relieved that we didn’t come out with a bad result. It has been damn near a year and a half since I watched most of a game with real enjoyment in the actual play.

[Livvy]

I do think there is a small difference between Basque and Spanish as well.

[FGred]

My sentiments exactly! But I will not mind if he hits the ground running.

[Arminius]

Definitely, Basque has a wildly different sound, and many more dipthongs. Just not that one.

[ZinedineBiscan]

@Arminius

I was walking the dog this morning and reflecting on my expectations for this coming season. They are strangely liberating. Play one or two games a week that I enjoy watching. That’s it, that’s all. I expect a challenging season, I hope we can do well, but I am simply looking forward to enjoying watching the games rather than being relieved that we didn’t come out with a bad result. It has been damn near a year and a half since I watched most of a game with real enjoyment in the actual play.

I’m absolutely the same mate. Just let me shut out the outside world for a couple of hours a week and be entertained by the football once again, and I’ll be a happy bunny.

And I do believe that entertaining football goes hand in hand with successful football, so let’s get that part right and let the rest follow naturally.

[Mascot]

@wyld.at.hrt

Yeah but not like we’re going to then play the Sunday directly after the Saturday and then do Wednesday and Saturday again. What we would do is Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday and Saturday or Sunday. That’s 5 games in 14 days. Three games a week is an exaggeration to show a hectic schedule. Not that it isn’t and the Christmas schedule is no joke but then it’s not like he isn’t used to that time of the year by now.

The point is that he is not used to playing the games that Liverpool have to play. This stuff about training them everyday won’t work at Liverpool when there is usually a midweek game to worry about.

Just like the stuff about all out attack. Teams are not going to come on to him and open up like they would against Bournemouth. It’s a different challenge and one he hasn’t experienced before.

That’s why it’s a gamble. He’s never had to work at a club where the expectations are so high, where the margins are so fine, and where the schedule is so intense. It’s a massive step up for him.

[koptician]

I would say it was just as big a step up for Slot, regardless of him having won the Eredivisie.
Iraola has at least been immersed in the league structure for some time. He’s probably better equipped to go into it.
I know people keep talking about extra games, teams dropping deep against us etc

Do you not think he’s thought about it?

It feels like a lot of lazy kidology being applied here. Not talking about your post necessarily @Mascot , I just see a lot of so-called pundits blathering on.

[ZinedineBiscan]

I think every conceivable appointment would be a gamble in different aspects. Even with the gold-standard option of Enrique you could say he has no experience of managing in the PL and has been used to being the dominant team in his division, which we aren’t at all.

I don’t think there is such thing as a perfect appointment. Even with Klopp, on my old forum back in the day I can remember getting into it with one lad (@Limiescouse would probably remember who) who straight up told me that he didn’t care for Klopp’s style and it wouldn’t work in England.

I do think Iraola ticks a good many boxes though - style of play, personality, experience of the league, familiarity working with our SD - so we’ll just have to hope he is able to dispel the doubts regarding other aspects.

[FGred]

Despite Klopps vast experience before coming to Liverpool, he was shocked as soon as we hit the heavy periods of November /December and January to may.

[Livvy]

At the very least, he has already proven that he is capable of delivering good results again after a rough patch—that is the first thing I looked for.

[Arminius]

@Mascot

The point is that he is not used to playing the games that Liverpool have to play. This stuff about training them everyday won’t work at Liverpool when there is usually a midweek game to worry about.

Just like the stuff about all out attack. Teams are not going to come on to him and open up like they would against Bournemouth. It’s a different challenge and one he hasn’t experienced before.

Of these two, I am far less concerned about the tactical aspect. No Spanish player of his generation will be at a loss about what to do against a low-block, it has dominated their thinking for fifteen years. On the other hand, the tempo is a legitimate concern - I note Bournemouth were out of both cups after their first match. That may have been something of a choice, playing a weakened team. He will have greater depth to call on at LFC, but higher expectations.

[Arminius]

@ZinedineBiscan

Klopp’s style and it wouldn’t work in England.

We heard that it wouldn’t ad nauseum for at least two years