The Special Ones (manager talk)

the1andonly3003

the1andonly3003

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very sad Edin Terzic quits Borussia Dortmund after 'violent confrontation' with Mats Hummels (telegraph.co.uk)
violent?

“I didn’t think it could go on like this. I felt insulted in my honour to stand on the pitch in that kit. So submissive, so inferior in footballing terms. The two Stuttgart games and the away game in Leverkusen. That was barricading with 11 men in the box.”

Hummels is not part of the Germany squad that is competing at the European Championship.
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Telegraph is so cold with that final sentence
 
67YAZ

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the1andonly3003 said:
Does Marseille have more budget than Brighton?
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Capology, not sure how rigorous they are, says Brighton spent about £9m more in wages this past season. The EPL really is at a whole different level.

Marseilles finished 8th, so no European football for them. If de Zerbi can implement his style quickly and make some smart transfers, they could make a run at UCL qualification. That would enhance his reputation. Treading water, ie no European qualification, would be a step back.
 
wonderland

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I’m really surprised he didn’t become Napoli’s manager. Napoli has generally played attacking football so the fit is there from a playing style. Maybe De Laurentiis realized they’d be butting heads non stop so better to go with Conte’s last chance.
 
OCST

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Cooper was announced. I’m not going to post the tweet because his face causes brain damage.
 
rguilmar

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It should be noted that Ecuador canned their manager Felix Sanchez hours after their penalty shootout loss to Argentina in the Copa America. I bring this up here because of the speed with which FEF made their decision compared to, um, other federations. Ecuador is an up and coming squad with some players we all know and others we will all know in due time. They had hoped to win the group but lost the opener to Venezuela after taking an early red card but taking the lead only to end up losing, similar to another nation in the Copa. That loss set them up with Argentina in the quarterfinals instead of Canada. Even though they played well, they lost. Right now Ecuador sit fifth in WCQ, and when you include Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay, most would agree that fifth is about where you’d expect them to be. Merely meeting expectations though is not good enough for Ecuador.
 
Jimy Hendrix

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Meanwhile Mexico quickly decided to stick with Lozano, if you're looking for a Goofus to go with your Gallant here.
 
rguilmar

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Let’s wait until US Soccer has fully reviewed its 22 coaching elements and 8 core competencies, then conducted a three day re-interview of Gregg, complete with an evaluation of his PowerPoints by Steve Ballmer and around-the-back passing by Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, before we declare anyone a Goofus.
 
the1andonly3003

the1andonly3003

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rguilmar said:
Let’s wait until US Soccer has fully reviewed its 22 coaching elements and 8 core competencies, then conducted a three day re-interview of Gregg, complete with an evaluation of his PowerPoints by Steve Ballmer and around-the-back passing by Jason “White Chocolate” Williams, before we declare anyone a Goofus.
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I heard Jurgen is a free agent
 
HowBoutDemSox

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In honor of this thread’s namesake:
Jose Mourinho was booked during Fenerbahce's 2-0 win at Antalyaspor on Sunday for placing a laptop in front of the TV cameras to protest an offside refereeing decision.

With Fenerbahce 1-0 up in the 76th minute, referee Cihan Aydin disallowed Edin Dzeko's goal for offside after VAR intervention.

Mourinho then proceeded to put a laptop showing a still image of that action and placed it in front of the broadcaster's ground camera as a sign of protest and was shown a yellow card.
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https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41525966/jose-mourinho-protests-var-puts-laptop-front-cameras

View: https://twitter.com/footballontnt/status/1840476658958012569
 
rguilmar

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InstaFace said:
Maybe we dodged a bullet by not hiring Bielsa:

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41598921/luis-suarez-blasts-bielsa-lack-respect-uruguay-players

Yes, yes, consider the source... but those are specific enough things that I mostly by it even from him.
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I’ve seen this article posted in several places with similar sentiments, so I guess I’m probably alone here in thinking this is not a big deal at all. The accusations seem to be that:
  • Bielsa separated staff from players, specifically at meal time, and they used separate entrances.
  • Bielsa asked the players not to greet the fans in NYC (Suarez said he would do so anyways)
  • Bielsa did not say good morning to the players.
I’m not seeing the issues here. It seems to me like he wants staff and players not to intermingle so that staff didn’t get too attached to players when they had been passed by newer players. It looks like he was trying to make sure players were not too comfortable, and one criticism I would have of the US MNT this summer was that the players seem too comfortable in their position and roles within the squad. I have always been a Bielsa fan, so perhaps I’m now an apologist. Maybe he isn’t the best fit for a young squad like the USMNT, but it is also a pretty experienced (though young) team by now. When I watch the way that Uruguay plays and the never-say-die effort they play with, I’d still want him to instill that in the USMNT which was sorely lacking that this summer.
 
Mighty Joe Young

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Jurgen Klopp has ended his hiatus - he’s back as Red Bull’s head of football

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5830469/2024/10/09/jurgen-klopp-red-bull/?source=user_shared_articleFormer Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to become head of global soccer at Red Bull

Unexpected - but it makes sense - this gig would appear to require far less emotional and physical energy than a manager at a club like Bayern or the German national team even. He wasn’t going back to the Prem. He gets to stay involved without the burnout risk.
 
sodenj5

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Mighty Joe Young said:
Jurgen Klopp has ended his hiatus - he’s back as Red Bull’s head of football

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5830469/2024/10/09/jurgen-klopp-red-bull/?source=user_shared_articleFormer Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to become head of global soccer at Red Bull

Unexpected - but it makes sense - this gig would appear to require far less emotional and physical energy than a manager at a club like Bayern or the German national team even. He wasn’t going back to the Prem. He gets to stay involved without the burnout risk.
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Basically the Theo of Red Bull. Several outlets saying that he has an out in his Red Bull contract to leave if the German National Team opening becomes available. So looks like he has his next two jobs lined up.
 
Jimy Hendrix

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A victory for cynicism, a defeat for those who thought Klopp was better than anybody else and only wanted to work for clubs that mean something, man.
 
Zososoxfan

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rguilmar said:
I’ve seen this article posted in several places with similar sentiments, so I guess I’m probably alone here in thinking this is not a big deal at all. The accusations seem to be that:
  • Bielsa separated staff from players, specifically at meal time, and they used separate entrances.
  • Bielsa asked the players not to greet the fans in NYC (Suarez said he would do so anyways)
  • Bielsa did not say good morning to the players.
I’m not seeing the issues here. It seems to me like he wants staff and players not to intermingle so that staff didn’t get too attached to players when they had been passed by newer players. It looks like he was trying to make sure players were not too comfortable, and one criticism I would have of the US MNT this summer was that the players seem too comfortable in their position and roles within the squad. I have always been a Bielsa fan, so perhaps I’m now an apologist. Maybe he isn’t the best fit for a young squad like the USMNT, but it is also a pretty experienced (though young) team by now. When I watch the way that Uruguay plays and the never-say-die effort they play with, I’d still want him to instill that in the USMNT which was sorely lacking that this summer.
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I dunno. I love El Loco too, but this seems like going off the deep end. It wasn't just Suarez complaining either. Uruguay is a pretty damn good Int'l job--if Bielsa can't keep the squad together or turn it over, he be gone. FWIW, Uruguay drew at home 0-0 to Ecuador, and lost @ Peru last week. Nevertheless, they sit 3rd in the CONMEBOL WCQ table, tied with Brazil on 16 points.

Mighty Joe Young said:
Jurgen Klopp has ended his hiatus - he’s back as Red Bull’s head of football

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5830469/2024/10/09/jurgen-klopp-red-bull/?source=user_shared_articleFormer Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to become head of global soccer at Red Bull

Unexpected - but it makes sense - this gig would appear to require far less emotional and physical energy than a manager at a club like Bayern or the German national team even. He wasn’t going back to the Prem. He gets to stay involved without the burnout risk.
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Klopp and RB is a really good match. German football culture is fascinating, and it will be funny to see how Germans react if Klopp goes from a reviled club in RB (as I understand it anyway) and then takes over the NT.
 
rguilmar

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Zososoxfan said:
I dunno. I love El Loco too, but this seems like going off the deep end. It wasn't just Suarez complaining either. Uruguay is a pretty damn good Int'l job--if Bielsa can't keep the squad together or turn it over, he be gone. FWIW, Uruguay drew at home 0-0 to Ecuador, and lost @ Peru last week. Nevertheless, they sit 3rd in the CONMEBOL WCQ table, tied with Brazil on 16 points.
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These poor results are showing Suarez to be a bit prescient. That being said, Ecuador is a very good team. I was in Peru for the Uruguay visit, and that whole country was rocking. I think Uruguay would need to fall way down the table for Bielsa to get canned. 6 countries qualify and seventh goes into the intercontinental playoff. Trailing Argentina and Columbia, while being tied with Brazil, is still a solid showing in the brutal CONMEBOL qualifying slog.
 
Zososoxfan

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rguilmar said:
These poor results are showing Suarez to be a bit prescient. That being said, Ecuador is a very good team. I was in Peru for the Uruguay visit, and that whole country was rocking. I think Uruguay would need to fall way down the table for Bielsa to get canned. 6 countries qualify and seventh goes into the intercontinental playoff. Trailing Argentina and Columbia, while being tied with Brazil, is still a solid showing in the brutal CONMEBOL qualifying slog.
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Agreed on all accounts. The problem for Bielsa/Uruguay is that this is getting close to a now or never situation. Bielsa runs a unique system highlighted by high and demanding pressing, and while it has many acolytes switching gears at this point is risky. Poch just started for the USMNT obviously, and Tuchel just signed and he will start managing in January. I don't know every example of last minute coaching changes at the international level but the most recent example that stands out is Lopetegui getting fired on the eve of WC 2018 for taking and announcing the Real Madrid job. Hierro took over and led an experienced squad out of a hard group (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Iran) before losing to Russia in the R16 on penalties. They did dominate the stats in that game, but my memory of that team is that it was quintessential Spanish NT football--lots of passes (over 1000 completed in fact) and possession (78%!), but not a lot of thrust to come of it. My memory being shite, Spain had 9 shots on target on 23 shots, so it's not like the attack was toothless, but I can't imagine any Spaniard was happy with that result. All that said, perhaps there was some fixing involved to get Russia another match on home soil. I'm sure there are posters in this sub who will give us some good color from that day!
 
rguilmar

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Zososoxfan said:
Agreed on all accounts. The problem for Bielsa/Uruguay is that this is getting close to a now or never situation. Bielsa runs a unique system highlighted by high and demanding pressing, and while it has many acolytes switching gears at this point is risky. Poch just started for the USMNT obviously, and Tuchel just signed and he will start managing in January. I don't know every example of last minute coaching changes at the international level but the most recent example that stands out is Lopetegui getting fired on the eve of WC 2018 for taking and announcing the Real Madrid job. Hierro took over and led an experienced squad out of a hard group (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Iran) before losing to Russia in the R16 on penalties. They did dominate the stats in that game, but my memory of that team is that it was quintessential Spanish NT football--lots of passes (over 1000 completed in fact) and possession (78%!), but not a lot of thrust to come of it. My memory being shite, Spain had 9 shots on target on 23 shots, so it's not like the attack was toothless, but I can't imagine any Spaniard was happy with that result. All that said, perhaps there was some fixing involved to get Russia another match on home soil. I'm sure there are posters in this sub who will give us some good color from that day!
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I love Lopetegui, wanted him for the USMNT job, but taking the Real Madrid job was a monumentally stupid decision. I know the intent was to keep it a secret until after the WC, or at least that’s how I remember it, but a Spain manager absolutely cannot take one of the big jobs in La Liga until probably a year after managing Spain, and possibly longer. He should’ve known better.

The last minute coaching change that paid off best for me is Walid Regragui coming in to manage Morocco just prior to WC22. Players were revolting against the previous manager, Halilhodzic, with some prominent players refusing to play for him (Ziyech among them) so the federation fired him. The rest is history.
 
Zomp

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at the end of the day, they went from 3rd to 8th to the bottom half of the table in his 2.5 seasons. Not even figuring the size of the club and wage bill, that is unacceptable.
I do feel for him. I think he was a bit unlucky with injuries, but some of his decisions were perplexing.
 
Vinho Tinto

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He’d be a great hire. At Sporting, he’s exclusively used a 3-4-3. Did not change while squad transitioned off the players from his first title.
 
67YAZ

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Amorim has been connected with most of the mega-club openings the past year - strongly with Liverpool and more recently floated as a Pep successor - so prising him out of Sporting mid-season would be a real show of intent by INEOS as well as a vote of confidence that such a hotly desired manager would take the plunge at Old Trafford.

The scuttlebutt around Anfield was that Amorim checks all the boxes for how a top manager operates - match planning, training players, developing youth, etc - but he was a stylistic mismatch with the squad as constructed. Amorim plays with a back 3 and wingbacks that hug the lines to provide width. His teams build from the back and ask the keeper to play an active role in that. Starting deep and maintaining full width makes space to progress through the middle with fluid movement and quick passing; if the ball is lost here, there's already a lot of players in the middle to try to press immediately. And, of course, Gyokeres is up top to finish off any and every opportunity.

No idea how Amorim would implement his philosophy with the current ManU squad, but this would be a hire to kickstart a rebuild.
 
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Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Getting the manager right is the most important thing so if they believe in Amorim they should do it.

But I do think the current United squad seems like a difficult fit for those kinds of 3-4-3 tactics. None of their fullbacks profile very well as wingbacks - let's not confuse 2018 Luke Shaw busting up and down the flank a few times for Gareth Southgate with whatever he is now, Dalot seems like a guy who is a very good FB that would be a decidedly mediocre wingback - and in most 3-4-3 setups the "wingers" are really pocket players who operate between the lines and receive to feet, which isn't going to suit either Rashford or Garnacho, the two wingers in which the club is most invested at this point. I could see Mount and Diallo being being beneficiaries in comparison.
 
Zososoxfan

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Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
Getting the manager right is the most important thing so if they believe in Amorim they should do it.

But I do think the current United squad seems like a difficult fit for those kinds of 3-4-3 tactics. None of their fullbacks profile very well as wingbacks - let's not confuse 2018 Luke Shaw busting up and down the flank a few times for Gareth Southgate with whatever he is now, Dalot seems like a guy who is a very good FB that would be a decidedly mediocre wingback - and in most 3-4-3 setups the "wingers" are really pocket players who operate between the lines and receive to feet, which isn't going to suit either Rashford or Garnacho, the two wingers in which the club is most invested at this point. I could see Mount and Diallo being being beneficiaries in comparison.
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I think that's mostly right. I do think Mazraoui is versatile enough that he'll do well as a 3-4-3 wingback. I also think the 3-4-3 typically helps CBs. You could probably hide Maguire as the MCB of a back 3, and Lisandro has a lot of the passing skills needed to be a LCB. De Ligt is kind of a mess, and I'm not a Lindelof believer, but no manager transition is going to be perfectly seamless.

Bruno as a winger in the 3-4-3 should work OK. Mainoo and Mount sounds like a pretty good MF 2 for this type of system. McTominay is another MF type who profiles well into a 3-4-3. Eriksen and Casemiro, not as much. I think Rashford could be OK as a winger in this system too. Garnacho might want to start talking to other clubs and see if he can sneak out in January or if not, in the summer.
 
wonderland

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Zososoxfan said:
I think that's mostly right. I do think Mazraoui is versatile enough that he'll do well as a 3-4-3 wingback. I also think the 3-4-3 typically helps CBs. You could probably hide Maguire as the MCB of a back 3, and Lisandro has a lot of the passing skills needed to be a LCB. De Ligt is kind of a mess, and I'm not a Lindelof believer, but no manager transition is going to be perfectly seamless.

Bruno as a winger in the 3-4-3 should work OK. Mainoo and Mount sounds like a pretty good MF 2 for this type of system. McTominay is another MF type who profiles well into a 3-4-3. Eriksen and Casemiro, not as much. I think Rashford could be OK as a winger in this system too. Garnacho might want to start talking to other clubs and see if he can sneak out in January or if not, in the summer.
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McTominay left this summer. He’s at Napoli.
 
OCST

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ETH never impressed me much, but that job, that ownership, that roster - it's a poisoned chalice.
 
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