I'm not too familiar with Real these days, how did Alonso fail, couldn't handle the big egos in the dressing room? I suppose he won't have that problem with this team, the lads may just listen after the last pretender we had in charge.

20 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

I'm not too familiar with Real these days, how did Alonso fail, couldn't handle the big egos in the dressing room? I suppose he won't have that problem with this team, the lads may just listen after the last pretender we had in charge.

In short, he tried to address one of RM's big problems post-Toni Kroos: a largely AWOL midfield. He tried to introduce tactics. The super egos in the dressing room didn't appreciate being guided in how to play. The super egos won out. Going to be interesting to see how Mourinho deals with the issue.

44 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

I'm not too familiar with Real these days, how did Alonso fail, couldn't handle the big egos in the dressing room? I suppose he won't have that problem with this team, the lads may just listen after the last pretender we had in charge.

As Dermot says he tried to get them to play as a team with an actual game plan other than give it the attackers who will hopefully do something, but not bother to get back and defend anything. He expected them all to run and at the very least match the opposition for effort, players like Vinicius decided they didnt like that idea. Its a toxic as f**k dressing room, probably the worst in the top leagues as seen by them scrapping a few weeks back.

Read even like mynute things such as arriving early to training rubbed off some players the wrong way.

15 hours ago, JM7 said:

Someone convince me that Alonso isn’t all hype please.

sh*t Gareth Barry imo

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Read even like mynute things such as arriving early to training rubbed off some players the wrong way.

My madridista family told me that Alonso didn't allow arriving late for training and it meant that a player wouldn't play if they arrived late.

8 hours ago, RMH said:

My madridista family told me that Alonso didn't allow arriving late for training and it meant that a player wouldn't play if they arrived late.

Thats a pretty basic requirement imho. Turn up in time for training/work. Real Madrid players eh?

9 hours ago, RMH said:

My madridista family told me that Alonso didn't allow arriving late for training and it meant that a player wouldn't play if they arrived late.

If that was giving Madrid players the hump then they have a serious culture problem. That’s just basics turn up to work on time.

He asked Mbappe and Vini to press.

Both took the huff.

Players win.

Head coach sacked.

With James at the world cup we don't know what state he'll be in come the start of the season.

I just hope to Christ we sell Gusto before then. God help us if he's in the starting XI.

56 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

With James at the world cup we don't know what state he'll be in come the start of the season.

I just hope to Christ we sell Gusto before then. God help us if he's in the starting XI.

Its bad when were in a situation where we would rather have fewer options to cover James than one option of Gusto 😅

God I hate him.....

36 minutes ago, dkw said:

Its bad when were in a situation where we would rather have fewer options to cover James than one option of Gusto 😅

God I hate him.....

Acheampong, Antwi, or a new signing.

Please. Anyone but Gusto.

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Acheampong, Antwi, or a new signing.

Please. Anyone but Gusto.

The other day I was clutching at the thinnest of straws on here by putting forward the possibility of Alonso turning Gittens into a right wing back in the mould of Frimpong that he had at Leverkusen. Anything, anyone, just to bomb off that bloody Gusto.

1 hour ago, WhiteWall said:

The other day I was clutching at the thinnest of straws on here by putting forward the possibility of Alonso turning Gittens into a right wing back in the mould of Frimpong that he had at Leverkusen. Anything, anyone, just to bomb off that bloody Gusto.

I'd take him turning Sanchez into a RWB, gets rid of Gusto and Sanchez out of goals...2 birds and all that...

If City sign him I’ll laugh for a week then periodically a random moments during his time there I’ll laugh some more.

When I’m old and have lost my marbles I’ll suddenly remember City signed Gusto and have a little chuckle before getting back to choosing which dinner I’d like blended at 4.30pm.

Nurse doesn’t like me though. I’m only allowed to watch replays of the Chelsea 25/26 season. Terrible season but the right back was excellent. Gusset was his name I think.

On 02/06/2026 at 21:40, JM7 said:

Someone convince me that Alonso isn’t all hype please.

It's kinda weird that I always expected Alonso to go to Liverpool and I wanted Iraola and yet exactly the opposite has happened.

Also funny that I have mates who said, no Iraola is not good enough for us but now see he has taken over at Liverpool and suddenly think he might be decent after all.

Guess it will all come down to how well they are backed by their clubs. Iraola is inheriting a decent squad at Liverpool but he will need signings and I think he will be backed. I just pray Alonso isn't told "that's your squad - you have to work with and improve them". 'cos as the saying goes - you can't polish a turd and we have a few of them!!

3 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Guess it will all come down to how well they are backed by their clubs.

This.

I remembered posting this here during poch season.

There is also another video that I posted here of Alonso talking abou that he wanted more consistent players and leverkusen signed 3 elderly players.

Find it

Edited June 5Jun 5 by Bob stark

I like that ‘the system is a picture but the game is a movie’ quote.

Can’t stand managers who aren’t flexible, when you can clearly see ur system isn’t working as the game is progressing change it don’t just sit there waiting for the inevitable.

Just now, C3blue said:

I like that ‘the system is a picture but the game is a movie’ quote.

Can’t stand managers who aren’t flexible, when you can clearly see ur system isn’t working as the game is progressing change it don’t just sit there waiting for the inevitable.

Yeah cant stand theses ystem managers like Maresca, Amorim, Slott etc, one way of playing even if its completely unsuitable to the players they have, no idea how to do anything else.

Alonso seems to have played several different ways at the clubs hes been at so hopefully he looks at the squad and uses what suits them, like it always used to be. Best players in their best positions playing to their strengths.

13 minutes ago, dkw said:

Yeah cant stand theses ystem managers like Maresca, Amorim, Slott etc, one way of playing even if its completely unsuitable to the players they have, no idea how to do anything else.

Alonso seems to have played several different ways at the clubs hes been at so hopefully he looks at the squad and uses what suits them, like it always used to be. Best players in their best positions playing to their strengths.

13 minutes ago, dkw said:

Yeah cant stand theses ystem managers like Maresca, Amorim, Slott etc, one way of playing even if its completely unsuitable to the players they have, no idea how to do anything else.

Alonso seems to have played several different ways at the clubs hes been at so hopefully he looks at the squad and uses what suits them, like it always used to be. Best players in their best positions playing to their strengths.

Yeah. Be interesting to see what he does when he looks at Garnacho and Delap.

8 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Yeah. Be interesting to see what he does when he looks at Garnacho and Delap.

I expect a huge amount of head shaking and shoulder shrugging..

54 minutes ago, C3blue said:

Can’t stand managers who aren’t flexible, when you can clearly see ur system isn’t working as the game is progressing change it don’t just sit there waiting for the inevitable.

I think you misunderstood the quote, being flexible is not about the manager. Tactic is more about the quality of the playe and how the player interpret the situation.

9 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

I think you misunderstood the quote, being flexible is not about the manager. Tactic is more about the quality of the playe and how the player interpret the situation.

I think I understood it perfectly. How you set ur stool up to start with doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.

As for being flexible not being about the manager and the intelligence of players of course managers can’t micro manage every player choice in the pitch but if as we have watched time and again during a game all the space is in behind and we are struggling to play through the press players wanting to bypass the press and go long have basically been told their dropped if they don’t play out from the back that system rigidity has been directly from the manager.

Iraola appointed as Liverpool "Head Coach".

2 year deal.

An un precedented managerial merry go round, especially in the so called big clubs. But even the Bournemouths and Palaces who have had arguably their greatest ever seasons. Fulham…. Hope it doesn’t give Arsenal another title.