IF only there was a manager a little older (56?) and who has won the Champions League with two different clubs and who is absolutely desperate to manage a team in the Premier League. A manger who considers the Premier League THE best league and watches it avidly and even more than he watches La Liga. And maybe this manager plays a really exciting form of football and is also remarkable in his ability to adapt tactics/formations. One of the greatest managers of his generation and he still has lots to prove and he really is just waiting for an English club to come in for him. Sure, he will not be cheap, but look at how much BlueCo. have wasted on Mudryck, Garnacho and Gittens - whats thats 150 million quid-ish. The next manager is crucial for those numpties who call themselves sporting directors. IF only there was a manager like that. . . .desperate to manage a premier league team with ambition.

13 hours ago, TheCeleryKing said:

IF only there was a manager a little older (56?) and who has won the Champions League with two different clubs and who is absolutely desperate to manage a team in the Premier League. A manger who considers the Premier League THE best league and watches it avidly and even more than he watches La Liga. And maybe this manager plays a really exciting form of football and is also remarkable in his ability to adapt tactics/formations. One of the greatest managers of his generation and he still has lots to prove and he really is just waiting for an English club to come in for him. Sure, he will not be cheap, but look at how much BlueCo. have wasted on Mudryck, Garnacho and Gittens - whats thats 150 million quid-ish. The next manager is crucial for those numpties who call themselves sporting directors. IF only there was a manager like that. . . .desperate to manage a premier league team with ambition.

That rules out @Zeta 🤔

6 hours ago, Valerie said:

That rules out @Zeta 🤔

yes, Yes it does.

AND IF we do not appoint a proper grown up and experienced World Class manager we are going to lose our players and/or have the largest bomb squad in the history of football. Players are going to leave OR want to leave - some of them do already. IF Blueco. want players to stay they are going to have to sort out their side - hire a proper manager and get a proper Sporting director (one - and not a team of eejits).

20 hours ago, dermott said:

He’s a control freak.

Like our strikers, not good enough, blown his big club credentials and career with the geordie tossers, theyve not progressed as they should... Unlimited funds, bang average returns, probably a match made in heaven with us given how low were sinking.

If I’m Filipe Luis I’m waiting to see what Simeone decides on.

Seems like the most nailed on long term replacement for the Argentine.

3 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

If I’m Filipe Luis I’m waiting to see what Simeone decides on.

Seems like the most nailed on long term replacement for the Argentine.

Same for Alonso and Slot tbf, unfortunately

23 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Same for Alonso and Slot tbf, unfortunately

Some destinies' just write themselves.

Like Silva becoming Chelsea manager because of Jorge Mendes' tentacles all over the club.

Kaveh on Sky Sports News said earlier today that Chelsea are looking to make a managerial appointment before the World Cup.

Alonso Iraola and Silva are suggested as potential front runners.

Kaveh although he has an annoying speak pause speak pause voice seems to be fairly well connected to info from the club. imo.

Edited May 11May 11 by OTL

I won't get excited until he's signing the contract, although it does seem legit that we want him. Don't f**k it up!

6 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

I won't get excited until he's signing the contract, although it does seem legit that we want him. Don't f**k it up!

Pointless unless he gets full control

Alonso doesn’t come to work under those muppet SD’s. If he’s coming it’s with total football control. Too promising a career to risk.

It’ll be Marco Silva unless Benfica do us a solid and appoint him.

10 minutes ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

Pointless unless he gets full control

No manager at a big club gets full control in 2026 apart from Pep, but yeah they would need to cede control somewhat. If we do get Alonso it's the first ambitious managerial appointment the new owners have made and it would suggest they've let Alonso have more control. But yeah we'll see, I won't get my hopes up just yet.

Anyone else think this is all waffle to try and stop the two protests coming up

2 minutes ago, Caps_Lock_King said:

Anyone else think this is all waffle to try and stop the two protests coming up

Don’t believe anything until he’s holding a Chelsea kit

Full control is a pipedream, and really isn't something you see at any big club.

But letting him identify 3-4 experienced players this summer whilst letting the SD's supplement with their conveyorbelt of teenagers is something that could feasibly happen.

Then if (big if) things go well, the cycle becomes manager asking for a couple specific players every few windows with SD's handling the players that are signed with a view towards developing them (either in house or on loan). That would get us somewhere closer to the model we saw under Abramovic and would allow the manager to feel he is able to plug gaps / pounce on players he wants, without him being responsible for the upkeep of the entire squad + loan army.

I think Xabi is likely the best candidate out there this summer. If he's willing to entertain the idea of managing us I think we'd be foolish not to try and get him in.

Even the sporting Director doesn't get full control . . .he has to share his job with 4 other blokes.

I am not really understanding the Xabi Alonso love. He's just another inexperienced manager imho. We need a proper experienced manager to manage these kids of ours.

After the World Cup there will be more managers available and the manager-go-round will start. I look to our cousins in France and I will keep an eye on what they are up to.

1 hour ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Even the sporting Director doesn't get full control . . .he has to share his job with 4 other blokes.

I am not really understanding the Xabi Alonso love. He's just another inexperienced manager imho. We need a proper experienced manager to manage these kids of ours.

To be honest, it shows the state of football at the minute. 10/15 years ago there was a long list of elite managers, now it's a struggle to name 3.

Things won’t change until the sporting directors change, however getting a manager that has actually managed at the top level before and played at the top level is a good start I guess.

3 hours ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Even the sporting Director doesn't get full control . . .he has to share his job with 4 other blokes.

I am not really understanding the Xabi Alonso love. He's just another inexperienced manager imho. We need a proper experienced manager to manage these kids of ours.

Tbf he’s more experienced than any manager we’ve appointed under this new ownership other than Poch, even though he isn’t Mourinho level experienced

1 hour ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Tbf he’s more experienced than any manager we’ve appointed under this new ownership other than Poch, even though he isn’t Mourinho level experienced

He did win the league over Bayern undefeated so I guess those are some good cress also managed RM plus a WC and multiple UCL winner- I would take xabi every day of the week over what we have seen at the club since bluefcks took over.

3 hours ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

Tbf he’s more experienced than any manager we’ve appointed under this new ownership other than Poch, even though he isn’t Mourinho level experienced

But Mourinho wasn't Mourinho level when we appointed him. In fact he arguably wasn’t Alonso level when we appointed him. He had massive potential and was managed from above very well. Not sure that is possible here.

But I think the importance of having a manager with an elite playing career behind them when having a young squad shouldn't be underestimated. The top level experience and success as players that Potter, Poch, Maresca and Rosenior have had in their entire careers combined wouldn't match one decent season that Alonso had.

I remember the effect that Hoddle had on our dressing room. Same with Gullitt and Viailli. Ultimately players know players. Alonso gets the players attention immediately if we appoint him, imo.

Edited May 12May 12 by WhiteWall