Sideshow Luiz

Got to be in the top 10 worst penalties I've ever seen

Maybe Jose was right. He got these guys playing above their level. Have no idea how these players won the league last season. Just not dynamic, at all.

No problem. I don't actually know too much about his past coaching career, so I had to look it up. Just about all of his time was spent at Mainz (5 years). He got them to 7th in the league for a Europa League spot, but hsi record was pretty patchy (good for Mainz though, I suppose). Schalke and Leverkusen both tried to get him. He asked to be released from his contract, spent a year away from coaching before going to Dortmund. I find him interesting because he was hired by Dortmund without having managed a "big name" club. They took a chance on him, and it's worked out so far. For all of Bayern's dominance, Dortmund are 8 points behind them, and 6 points ahead of 3rd place. I do think it's probably a bit pre-mature for him to be considered for the Chelsea job, I'm just wishing for something exciting and new.

He may well have retired, but the Pep announcement came half way through the season when they were cruising as usual. I don't recall him saying he was going to retire before Pep was announced. I may be wrong, but I don't remember it that way.

Didn't stop Bayern from going for Pep. They had just won the Treble

It may also be down to the owner making an appearance at the training ground. He already got rid of the manager, the players know they are next if this keeps up.

Holland in!

When did everyone get so sharp on the ball? It's so quick.

What, last week?

Well then...

Look at who are making decisions at those clubs, then look at us. No football people on the board. If we don't get Pep, we may as well get De Boer but his name doesn't seem to show up.

That's my interim choice too. He doesn't last long anywhere. But, for 6 months, I'd love it. Rumours have it that he's going to Swansea.

I don't blame him at all. I'm just surprised that this wasn't entirely lined up before firing Jose.

I highly doubt that he's coming here. Even if he did, I doubt he would have the effect that a lot of people are expecting. From this article: https://www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles/the-devils-party-part-2/ When Barca were trying to choose between Pep and Jose: ...the club had set out nine criteria by which prospective candidates were judged: 1. Respect for the sports-management model and the role of the technical director2. Playing style3. Promoting the right values in the first team and paying special attention to the development of young talent4. Training and performance5. Proactive management of the dressing-room6. Other responsibilities with, and commitment to, the club, including maintaining a conservative profile and avoiding overuse of the media7. Experience as a player and a coach at the highest level8. Support for the good governance of the club9. Knowledge of the Spanish league, the club and European competition. I don't think we have anything like this at our club, which is why things seem a bit haphazard some times. This also suggests that Pep merely facilitated the ethos of the club down to the pitch, and he's done the same at Bayern. He didn't create Barca, which is what people seem to want him to do here. The identity comes from the board down.

I'm a bit surprised that Hiddink is still doing his due diligence (good for him). But, I always thought that he and Roman were quite close, so I'm surprised that this wasn't all lined up before Jose was sacked.

Yeah. "We'll see" is all we have right now. Part of the reason he doesn't excite me is precisely that he seems like a continuation of Jose (in which case, why did we get rid of him?). It seems like more of the same. Which means same old board and same old decisions/recruitment.

I'm not overly excited about Simeone, though I do think that's who we'll go for. Togetherness, spirit, counter-attacking, it sounds very familiar. I don't see it as progress for the club. I don't think he's bad, it just doesn't excite me.

I agree. I think that whoever is appointed the next manager will merely be a sign as to whether the board agree too and look at themselves.

The biggest. I agree that we haven't seen Tuchel do much yet and he would be a bit of an unknown. I'm just crying out for optimism. It's been a miserable season to date and yesterday just threw out more questions.

Pochettino or Tuchel. Both of those names would fill me with optimism.

I think Jose had some issues this term, but I'm not happy he was sacked. The list of potential managers reads: shit, shit, had him - shit, shit, meh, shit I think the club will improve in the short term, but it's kept the long term trend going. Namely, we don't keep managers. Roman wanted Barca in blue, but it's more like Madrid in blue. Another manager in, another one trying to fit other manager's players in to the wrong holes. As for his management style. I think his style is to win right away. He gets the chip on the player's shoulders, but I don't think they can sustain it. I don't think many players can match his intensity. These are criticisms, but I'm still sad to see him go.

He definitely got obsessed with Barcelona and Pep. It made him even more pragmatic, I think. This is a pretty good article https://www.theblizzard.co.uk/articles/the-devils-party/

I agree. I think Madrid did something to him. Even when he came back, I had Utd. friends that said he looked like he had aged 20 years. He went from slick suited Jose to tracksuit daddy Jose. He did a great job in years 1 and 2. Sad to see it end this way.

Tuchel has taken over at Dortmund post Klopp. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2554744-breaking-down-how-thomas-tuchel-has-changed-borussia-dortmund-tactically

That's my pick too. I'd also like Tuchel. However, our lack of pace at the back pretty much determines our tactical options. Even Jose played a high pressing game at Porto, but couldn't do it here because of Terry's lack of mobility. We saw what happened when AVB tried to do it and stubbornly wouldn't change. We'll see what the new guy wants to do and what kind of "eggs" he has to work with. Please note that I'm not knocking Terry. He's one of the best defenders to ever play in England IMO. I'm just saying that his mobility doesn't give managers a lot of tactical freedom.