New Manager

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

First, I wish the bloke all the very best of luck and hope he has a full squad back asap.

Looking at his footballing CV, he did quite well with NY in the MLS, he won a double with Salzburg but then when you look at how dominant they are - league champs every year since 2014 and been in ever cup final since then only losing two it is maybe less impressive.

He didn’t last long at Leipzig just 21 games leaving in December 2021 “by mutual consent”.

He doesn’t seem that experienced and his most recent experience in a competitive league with a decent squad (Laimer, Kampl, Gvardiol, Halstenberg, Szoboszlai, Adams, Klosterman, Nkunku) to name but a few of there seasoned internationals.

I hope he has the one quality Bielsa ran out of, luck, cos it sure sounds like we are going to need it!

[spaldy]

Dialing back training might us a lot. we are a worn down squad. Hard training for several years along with some aging has led to more and more injuries. we've been unlucky on injuries as well.

The well known "managerial bounce" that we've been the victim of quite a bit over the years might help us with a little luck.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Dialing back training might us a lot. we are a worn down squad. Hard training for several years along with some aging has led to more and more injuries. we've been unlucky on injuries as well.

The well known "managerial bounce" that we've been the victim of quite a bit over the years might help us with a little luck.

Great chapter on that in Soccernomics and whether it is really a think or just a natural regression to the mean.

Good point on less intensity in training but might that translate to less intensity on the pitch.

Zonal defence alone might help a lot or pressing in packs.

[Pacaman]

Just been watching YouTube videos. Similar style to Bielsa who he even references but there seems to be a major difference - the high press is based on getting to the goal and not just getting into the opponents half so the press does not include one to one marking. His coaching means his players hunt in a pack with a second wave always providing back up. No player has the duty of marking one opponent and set pieces are defended in a zonal manner. The ball is everything not a player so the focus is where the ball is and not a player. Interesting and it did use to annoy me when we were defending corners and free kicks that our players never looked for the ball. They always concentrated on the player and sometimes they didn’t even know when the corner ball was kicked. He comes across like a motivational speaker and has many coaching videos for people to subscribe to. May suit us, we’ll see. He believes in learning the culture of a club, particularly how the fans are engaged with the club and team and unlike Bielsa, he claims it is essential to learn the native tongue so to his credit he learned German. At least there can be no misunderstandings with a language barrier.
Comes across as being very confident, let’s hope…………….

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Hope the new lad does well and his press sounds more like what Liverpool do. I agree the way we set up at corners was maddening.

Bielsa by all accounts could speak decent English but preferred doing interviews the way he did.

[Pacaman]

Yes, heard that. Can’t blame him ! Sounds like this fella mainly uses a 4-2-2-2 formation so perhaps Raph and James could forge a formidable strike force.

You have to maybe think that our potential US owners have exerted an influence here. Truly hope he can save us, take us to the next level. If he doesn’t, there is alot of love out there for Bielsa which might make its voice heard.

On Bielsa, it’s sad we as fans can’t say a proper goodbye to a guy who gave us such a great 3 seasons. I would like the club to use the unveiling of his statue with a pitch walk. Not much to ask and the hierarchy might just get some cudos for doing it

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Yeah will be interesting to see who plays v Leicester.

Joffy must be crossing his fingers, toes and hairs in his nose!

Need to find goals from somewhere as well as stopping them at the other end.

[Pacaman]

Yep and I’m thinking Rodrigo will not fit into this man’s ethos

[ozleeds]

He'll need lots of luck with one game wonders Harrison James and one goal a season Roberts. I just hope he digs deep into the under 23s.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

I know it’s only twitter but lots of tweets saying Orta and Kinnear out this summer - looks like we are going full blown U S of A this summer and suggests Radz will have sold up then too.