Strike

Clearlake in 2022 considered Potter, Amorim for the manager role. In 2023, they considered Poch, Kompany and Postecoglu. Now they're considering McKenna, Maresca and Frank. They are making up the rules as they go along.

Jose with this squad is a disaster waiting to happen. Avoid at all costs. He could probably man-manage some of these youngsters to run into walls for him. But tactically, his ideas are ancient. Team will stop pressing high and very soon, 1-2 players will be singled out in press conferences with imaginary concepts like 'lack of balls'. He sold De Bruyne and Salah when he was supposedly a good manager.

That's a big leap. I don't think people purely working out profit would go out and buy two 100 million mids that lot of other clubs wanted too. And they've said their plan is eventually to build a 100 point team and not continue to keep this like a Dortmund-style young footballer project. I'm not arguing about their competence. But I don't buy that they're here to profit alone.

None of them being considered. Surprising because I think De Zerbi for example could be a good coach to get in but Clearlake have said they’re looking for a coach and not a tough character to work with.

A squad assembled by Xavi himself no ?

And even if there was a manager who should be given more control, it certainly isn’t Poch.

I don’t think there’s an argument to be made that they don’t care. they’ve spent on the club without an idea of the money coming back. They obviously do care. Question is if they’re competent

No, I watched a few games in Barcelona this year. Two teenagers were his best players - Cubarsi and Yamal. None of the senior signings were playing too well in the games I watched. He's not got them playing good, control football either. Either they are in control but aren't able to string attacks together or there were many basketball matches. I'd stay clear of Xavi and go for a coach who's more meticulous in preparing teams for games.

I doubt this is true because Ornstein, Matt Law, Romano or any of the ones who get things right sometimes - Kinsella, Simon Johnson, Ben Jacobs etc have been quiet about this.

this was debunked. Amorim links have gone cold since those interviews. Perhaps something is off there. He's trying to repair relationship with Sporting now

Prepared to sell Ake and sold Laporte, Mahrez as well. Even sold Pedro Porro and Lavia when they were young. I think they are quite liberal in selling even their good players if the player decides to go. Lucky for us that Shields got wind of Palmer wanting to leave.

I’m glad it’s not just the Kieran McKenna links that are getting stronger. Seems like they will meet both of them at least.

There are few other areas to sort out before Olise

Pep usually allows players to leave Many have left in last few years. I can remember only Bernardo and Walker being persuaded to stay. Rest like Gundogan, Ferran, Jesus, Zinchenko all left. Even Ake and few others were close to being sold

Is Bento a GK option? 24 year old Brazilian GK who's keeping out Ederson and Allisson from the national team. Yet to come to Europe and Inter are trying to finish the deal for him.

Poch is a technically limited coach but he built good relationships with this group of players. It’s evident in the reaction to his departure. I think ownership thinks they are reinventing football with these decisions but unless they get the appointment right, all the goodwill of the last few weeks will go away in a flash

McKenna would be a wild appointment but I wouldn’t put it past these owners. Thomas Frank hasn’t shown the kind of possession based control football that the owners are supposedly looking for. I’m wondering why his name is even on the short list. Enzo Maresca has worked with Joe Shields before. Could be that they go to him.

Those 3 and Hoeness (tough pull) are the shortlist according to Athletic.

Athletic sources: Kieran Mckenna, Enzo Maresca, Thomas Frank, Sebastian Hoeness, in the shortlist. De Zerbi, Kompany are unlikely candidates. No chance of Tuchel, Conte or Mourinho.

or Man United

I liked De Zerbi’s Brighton. They tailed off badly after injuries and had to deal with a European run but he showed he can get a team to control games