The College Dropout

The midfield shape and press is working great too

We look great overall today. We are so much better when teams come and play especially at home. Look fit strong and motivated

It’s Schar. Who has been poor.

No I don’t think he parked the bus. He was astute tactically defensively and built a platform to get the best out of his attacking players. But tactics weren’t the edge that won those European trophies imo. His ability to build a team so focussed, determined, great team spirit imo gave him the edge along with the defensive tactics and platform for the attackers. The UEFA Cup they were outright the best. But the 2 CLs particular the Man au and Barca games - his ability to get young men to lock in and put it all on the line, find a bit of magic when needed is what gave him the edge imo. Again - not to say tactics aren’t important. But it’s not the be all and end all. What made Mourinho truly great was a human thing. That’s what all the ex-pro’s say - he got into their heads and unlocked something. Until it stops working.

Don’t agree. At his pomp Mourinho was tactically great but he was never a manager to have a strong offensive tactical approach game to game. He let his offensive players express themselves. But he was a brilliant man manager at his pomp. The players believed in him and would run through brick walls for him. Which was needed because his management approach focussed on working extremely hard and putting bodies on the line. And he would bring fanbases with him. And that would always be his undoing - his abrasive motivation style stops working and it implodes. In 2024 tactically he’s not kept up with the elite - same as Rafa and to a lesser extent Carlo (who was always less tactically focussed anyway). But the bigger issue is he’s not able to bring players/fans under his spell anymore. Or for long enough. A lot of that is personality. The broadly defensive tactics doesn’t help with buy-in either. That buy-in is everything in football. A team that buys into the manager is a good team. Fast to the ball, sharp mentally etc. Similarly losing the dressing room is everything too.

You’re missing the fundamental point. I’m not claiming these managers have no tactics, are tactically incompetent etc. That’s impossible given their success. I’m saying that wasn’t what made them the best, not their USP. You’re doing the thing I’m rallying against. ‘Tactics’ isn’t the holy grail of football management. You’re reducing the rest of football management to ‘pep talks’ and it’s not that simple. The game is about getting the best out of 11 talented young men. Telling them in great detail what to do, isn’t always the best way to succeed. ‘Tactics’ aren’t the best and end all of football management is my core point - the best managers don’t have to be the best tacticians. Like the best player in the world doesn’t have to be the best athlete. The best player in the world can’t be a bad athlete, he has to be god enough but his relative strengths can lay elsewhere (substitute athleticism for technical ability or whatever else). —- Carlo’s ability to get the best out of elite players is his USP. He saw something in Jude no other manager saw and supported it tactically with the false 9. Or moving Pirlo to 6 from 10 then flanking him with runners. Thats how he finds his margins - creating platforms for the best players to express themselves. That can be more important than managers who focus more on tactical setups and coaching. That’s Howe moving Joelinton to midfield (although that was serendipitous). Like I said - listen to players talk about managers. Every player talks about how specific Rafa is tactically. Most of the more talented players don’t talk positively of it - it’s stifling. Henry complained about Pep telling him where to stand, where to run until he saw that it worked.

I’m saying ‘tactics’ aren’t their strongest point. Ancelotti doesn’t coach specific routes of attack. He has certain ideas and wants players in certain areas they can do damage. But it’s not a highly tactical and coached setup like Guardiola or a lot of modern German managers. He puts the most talented players in positions to succeed and lets them get on with it with a bit of direction. Listen to ex-Chelsea players or even Jude re: Carlo. They all love him. But he doesn’t provide detailed tactical direction compared to a Guardiola. Incidentally- Carlo was less popular at Bayern whose players preferred a more detailed tactical plan and intense coaching. Benitez is specific. He wants attackers to make certain runs again and again. Certain moves. And has deep analysis of the opposition and how to stop them. Benitez took over from Carlo at Madrid. It was reported that The players hated the meticulous training sessions and felt overloaded by tactical instruction. And Rafa is notorious for being a poor communicator and man manager. He succeeded through coaching and tactical edges. Listen to any Liverpool player they all say Rafa was hard to get along with. But he was so detailed as a coach and knew how to setup the side to succeed in a one-off game. i don’t know how you lot can watch a sport for 30+ years and not back yourself to understand more than 50% of what a coach is trying to do tactically.

I do think the technical limitations of Tino, Murphy & Longstaff doesn’t help any of them. The build up is painful to watch at times. Some of that is coaching too.

Love Tino but not been at his best this term. The passing can be poor. And he’s not dribbling as much. The final ball is bad too. The defensive side of the game is solid. But he’s not struck up a good relationship down the right at all (Tonali, Longstaff, Murphy). He looks marginally better behind Almiron who gives him more movement and space to run into imo.

Fullback is very much a learnt position. Most are failed CBs, CMs and Wingers. The season before we signed him, he played most of his first team games at LM. And played the most amount of games at CM/DM overall. This idea that he can only be a left back is too early in his development to confirm imo. I Don’t think Hall has the football IQ of Reece James which might be the difference. But I think he has a similar level of overall footballing ability (touch, dribble). And Transfermakt doesn’t seem to have the games. But I remember James playing in midfield for Chelsea under Tuchel a number of times (perhaps after starting at CB/RB/RWB) and looking seamless. But James is a very clever player and he played a lot at CM in the Championship too. Think James would be a great sitter for England actually. Less work on the knees than RB.

DCL is the player that has most under performed his Xg over the last 2 seasons. All players with decent minutes. It's him.

Ding. Ding. I've long held this view. It's not his primary strength. Same goes for SBR, Keegan, Ferguson, Wenger, Ancelotti, Mourinho - the list goes on. Doesn't mean he's not capable tactically but that's not his USP. Rafa's better than Carlo tactically. Ancelotti is a significantly better manager. Rafa's ability to coach/drill a compact shape and install game plans for a one-off game is among the best ever. Being so particular in coaching and not a great communicator/motivator is his primary weakness. That turns top players off who need more expression and egos massaged. As fans, we think Managers need to be smart. Many fans think the smartest thing you can be is smart tactically.

DCL played 33 games last season and has played all games so far this season. He'a just not v. good and hasn't been since the days of Carlo. 16 goals in 76 PL appearances. One of him or Bruno I reckon, at least. Due to age you would prefer Bruno. But contract wise you might be forced to sell Isak within the next 24 months anyway,.

Aye but there is a world of difference between a LB who inverts and an actual CM.

DCL has been awful this season and last. Rather have Osulu.

Hall was a CM more than a LB at Chelsea through the ranks btw. He has the right ball control for it too. it’s the lack of size /athleticism / aggression that he doesn’t have for CM.

Surprised there haven’t been more shouts to play him in midfield.

Also finished 4th. And we’ve brought in someone to help with injury prevention. this place is funny. Last year everyone swore the injuries were bad luck and nothing at all to do with Howe’s methods. Be that coaching, selection or style of play. Not really. They added Thiago and teams sat back so there were less opportunity to press. But he never abandoned the rocknroll high press style. And he pretty much stuck to 433. Liverpool also suffered when they had injury crisis. And if their press was just a little off performances and results would plummet (finishing 5th and the season Allisons header secured the CL spot). He should’ve switched it up mind. Slot has joined and added an element of control and reaping rewards. Klopp was married to a defensive line on halfway and high pressing.

I’m an Ange sceptic but this is extremely hopeful.

I was talking about signing Diallo last season. Think he could be a player. Has half a chance of signing him at that time. Grewt talent at the top academies and in the football league.

We’ll aye they have good revenues and maybe the best academy and youth recruitment in Europe. Even then Roman was paying Vitesse to develop their players on loan illegally. Id love us to have an academy like Chelsea’s but actually keep the players. What a team that would be. Defence would be crazy, Hall, Ake, Christensen, Livra, Lamptey, Guehi etc.

He’s a player though.

It’s Spurs/Man U that will go hell for leather to win it. Spurs played what looks like their strongest team against City. Would’ve preferred City to go through.

Yes.

Didn’t look it to me.