The College Dropout

But this same point applies to Xavi, Alonso, Arteta even Ole.. take it further Pirlo, Zidane, Inzaghi etc. Again tbf there's precedent on Europe for giving unproven managers a try and it becoming a success. My point is there's not much of a pathway for British managers (and language is a massive barrier... and talent/application). Similar achievements to what Brendan did at Leicester would have landed him another go at a bigger club if he did it in Spain, Italy etc. Likewise Potter gets his chance 16 months ago, Howe 4 years ago. Outside the real elite managerial talent, I do think those managers would've done better than some of the more recent Spurs, Arsenal and Man Utd managers.

He doesn't know how to defend. Beyond keeping a line, he doesn't know what to do. When the ball is not in his zone, he's just following the line - mind switched off. Even when it is in his zone, he's too easily beaten and then stops playing. There's this idea that "he's not that bad at defending". He's absolutely awful at nearly every aspect of it. Easily beaten by basic 1-2's, doesn't read the game defensively at all ahead of him - just stands there, doesn't swivel his head to understand dangers behind him, gives up running when he's beaten 1v1. Total system player.

Agree with this. Prefer Carra as he is more fun. Neville can make the game seem too serious. I enjoy the Keane and Micah dynamic. Need more Micah type characters and less Danny Murphy's.

Why so defensive? Bruno's had excellent form since he's started playing regularly in the team. He is in a rich vein of form. He's still new to the division. He hasn't proven that he's an elite level player in the PL. But atm he's clearly a very talented footballer - who is in good form. Keane (mostly) doesn't say someone is an excellent, top top player until they've proven it for some time which is fair enough. I watched it live but i'm re-watching now. He winces at "the best they've ever had" which is fair enough. "Good character.. fans have took to him.. added goals to his game, got football intelligence 3x". What's wrong with that? "Obviously a confidence player" is a stretch, Bruno might just be a confident player in the main.

You can name them all.. Rooney, Campbell, Scholes etc. It could just be that they are obviously pap and clubs know it. But I do think it's difficult for any English manager to land a top job in club football. If they managed in any other top 5 division, managers like Howe and Potter would have opportunities at clubs at the higher end of the table much earlier. There's an opportunity cost lost.

And NOT winning most of the major trophies would add to that. Apart from the CL - Pep tends to win which helps the spirit and mind go at 100%.

I wonder if he himself is a bit exhausted mentally and spiritually.

I see the vision. Don't like the execution.

I know. Still early. None of these jobs suggest they should land CL jobs in top 5 leagues or a top 6 PL job.

Next season imo. As long as they get top 4.

To be fair - I think he's right. Form and confidence are real things. He often doesn't go OTT with praise unless a player has been doing it year in year out. I prefer Keane to Souness. Souness let's image and stuff outside the game cloud his judgement. Probably just a generational thing. He hasn't been a pro footballer in over 30 years or a manager for over 15 years. His points of reference about the active game are at least that old.

Aye. I would have Targett at 7.5 and Burn as 7.

Real are doing well all over but Don Flo is at the helm of this. He doesn't want Real to start backsliding.

Ex-Spanish pros sure do land in some great jobs very early. Really i'm just thinking of Alonso, Xavi & Arteta but still. The best ex-English pros start off at Rangers. A massive club but it's not in the top 5 leagues. Lack of language is a barrier. Alonso presumably speaks German due to his time at Bayern. Arteta spent most of his career in Scotland/England. So they're stuck with British jobs - most of which go to experienced managers.

Aye you need a bit of luck in the draw to win a domestic cup outside the top 6. If you're lucky, you'll only have to beat 2 of them. The 2-legged semi final in January or early Feb is it? Makes it harder. On the back off a hectic Xmas period. And the big clubs don't usually have CL games at that time so can field stronger teams with the benefit of better depth.

I think the "development" pipeline will be key. We now have the financial pull to sign some potentially elite players in that 16-20 year-old bracket. At that age, they are able to come into the squad or first-team within 1-2 years if they are good enough. You can land most of these players from £5m - £30m on fairly low wages - therefore fairly low risk. Benfica & Porto do it with Portuguese and South American players. Red Bull & Dortmund are excellent examples. Chelsea & Man City do it all over the world with the intention to sell them for a massive profit. I assume this takes 2-3 years to become effective. Where as the academy seems like a 10-12 year thing if Chelsea and City are to go by.

Probably went there with an attitude that he was joining the MLS in LA or NY or something. Just dial it in for a couple years in a nice part of the world with less pressure.

Few top managers are good losers. Arsene Wenger became a good loser because his team fell off but in his pomp he was terrible. There is something particularly arsey about Klopp mind. I remember Man U had a couple years finishing 3rd and 2nd under SAF. The end of that latter day Keane to RVN era and they weren't it after dominating the previous decade never going more than 1 season without winning the league. I don't remember SAF acting all prickly like this. Although tbf the media scrutiny is worse these days. In those days you had newspapers, journalists and a few TV shows. Now it's a 24/7 media stornm.,

No never come across that but looks very interesting - thanks for sharing. From what i can tell this is right up my street - will dig in to this.

I agree with most of this. He's not a hoofball manager true but I don't think he has much of a plan as to how to attack either. Agree with your assessment of Gerrard as a player tactically. Lampard played in better teams but also learnt how to play a team role.

These aren't stats that suggest there's great coaching going on. Their GK is busy as are their defenders. Get good characters like Tarkowski & Coady (and players) in the dressing room, Pickford in good form and the fans behind you - yeh they'll make big saves, make the clearances and get the blocks in. Which is good management in the sense he's getting good players and characters in and they are all fully committed but that's not coaching. That's the Pardew skillset. And after all that, they are 3rd worst for expected goals against https://fbref.com/en/comps/9/Premier-League-Stats although from what i can tell they are mid-table for "big chances conceded" which are Xg shots conceded over 0.3 I think. Also being good defensively but not being able to score - isn't a good thing. He's yet to show he's able to find a balance. But as has been pointed out. He seems to understand management involves getting people (players, fans) to follow your plan with commitment. If he can do that, he will be ok in the short to medium term. Gerrard hasn't seemed to grasp that. The Mings thing was such a terrible move. Eddie has kept wor Jamaal as Captain and speaks highly of him... he probably gives him too many PL minutes.. but the respect is there and Lascelles has responded well. Keeping a key figure in the dressing room onside. From what i've read - Tuchel lost the dressing room by being extremely distant.

I take this back based on Brummie's reports. Gerrard seems to be an arrogant prick pissing off the dressing room and some fans. Somehow Lampard has the dressing room and fans behind him at Everton, which is a management skill/attribute in itself. He learnt the hard way about that at Chelsea.

I don't think he does. He's just gone full PFM while SG has just started the path. Lampard's success has come from getting in good characters and fostering a team spirit. Sean Dyche can do that.

Don't mind Gerrard - great hairline too. But it's not working for him and he's already lost his identity as a manager. Similar to Lampard. He's refining himself as a PFM which isn't goign to help him long-term. Thing with Lampard & Gerrard - they aren't good coaches.

We've also spent £250m in the transfer market in that year. It's a different job and a different club and i'm glad for it.