The Next Manager?

[Fulham Broadway 17,770]

11 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Like we were optimistic about a deal with Alonso then all off a sudden, he’s not the obvious front runner & there are other “strong” candidates? I

Exactly, and suddenly theyre saying, 'but we had to make a difficult choice - and we believe Gary O neil/Christain Gross/Pinnochio is the candidate to take Chelsea Franchise Cowboys to the next level'

[OneMoSalah 9,109]

15 minutes ago, Duppy Conqueror said:

Between Xabi and Iraola.with club probably leaning towards Xabi, but weary of publicly commiting too much to him incase it falls through,which is a realistic possibility.They used to chasing coaches nobody else would want so this is new ground for them..

Perhaps yes but I don’t think you can have 5 or 6 strong candidates. Like what other club do you hear of having 6 strong candidates for their next manager 😂? 

The fact that names like Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner are also prominent & won’t go away is worrying. These mystery candidates whose name aren’t in public domain is very very worrying too because they’ll be absolutely ridiculous. But they’ll end up closer to the job than some of these bigger names no doubt. 

I know they are saying they will take time & want to reflect on things bla bla bla but it’s all a smokescreen. They haven’t got a clue as to what they’re doing and just trying to buy themselves time before continuing to do what they were always going to do. They had this long term plan in place for 2030. 

You don’t start ramping up and basically deciding Alonso is ideal/prime candidate then put noises out that you have 5 other very strong candidates. Its just not done.

8 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Exactly, and suddenly theyre saying, 'but we had to make a difficult choice - and we believe Gary O neil/Christain Gross/Pinnochio is the candidate to take Chelsea Franchise Cowboys to the next level'

I reckon these mystery candidates/no known names will who we see more likely than not. Cannot fucking wait to see how retarded the next move is. I’ll be sticking some money on it being Calum.

 

Edited Tuesday at 18:45 by OneMoSalah

[mkh 766]

🗯🔵There is a feeling inside Chelsea that Xabi Alonso’s style of play would make him suited to their young squad. His standing within the game would help him control the dressing room and could also help with attracting players to the club.

Chelsea have also MET with Iraola. Something that has been acknowledged by the recruitment department is the need for the team to become more physical. That heightens the appeal of Iraola. There is a sense he is capable of scaling up to a bigger job.

(@guardian_sport)

Edited Tuesday at 19:45 by mkh

[Pizy 19,290]

As I’ve seen others say on Twitter, it is a bit amusing/confusing/worrying that two managers who play very different styles are apparently our two top choices. From all the tactical breakdowns I’ve seen Iraola is very much in the Klopp mould of super high pressing, “heavy metal” football with lots of sprinting whilst Xabi Alonso is more from the Pep school of control and possessional dominance like we wanted with Maresca.

As much as I’d like us to play like a Klopp side, we would need quite a bit of change for that to be possible. I think the transition with Alonso would be smoother.

[Strike 7,811]

3 hours ago, mkh said:

🗯🔵There is a feeling inside Chelsea that Xabi Alonso’s style of play would make him suited to their young squad. His standing within the game would help him control the dressing room and could also help with attracting players to the club.

Chelsea have also MET with Iraola. Something that has been acknowledged by the recruitment department is the need for the team to become more physical. That heightens the appeal of Iraola. There is a sense he is capable of scaling up to a bigger job.

(@guardian_sport)

We'll have to move quick for our first choice you'd think. Iraola already has plenty of interest + Liverpool looking for a manager is still a possibility 

[Strike 7,811]

2 hours ago, Pizy said:

As I’ve seen others say on Twitter, it is a bit amusing/confusing/worrying that two managers who play very different styles are apparently our two top choices. From all the tactical breakdowns I’ve seen Iraola is very much in the Klopp mould of super high pressing, “heavy metal” football with lots of sprinting whilst Xabi Alonso is more from the Pep school of control and possessional dominance like we wanted with Maresca.

As much as I’d like us to play like a Klopp side, we would need quite a bit of change for that to be possible. I think the transition with Alonso would be smoother.

Alonso's football is a lot more vertical than Maresca's 

 

[Reddish-Blue 2,684]

12 hours ago, Pizy said:

As I’ve seen others say on Twitter, it is a bit amusing/confusing/worrying that two managers who play very different styles are apparently our two top choices. From all the tactical breakdowns I’ve seen Iraola is very much in the Klopp mould of super high pressing, “heavy metal” football with lots of sprinting whilst Xabi Alonso is more from the Pep school of control and possessional dominance like we wanted with Maresca.

As much as I’d like us to play like a Klopp side, we would need quite a bit of change for that to be possible. I think the transition with Alonso would be smoother.

Having alot of posession won't mean anything if Pedro is the only one capable of scoring. 

Maybe if Estevao comes back next season healthy and with young Quenda coming over, we have some options on the wings but even then....between Garnacho, Neto, Delap, Gittens...I don't see them scoring goals regularly. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,684]

10 hours ago, Strike said:

Alonso's football is a lot more vertical than Maresca's 

 

Alot more time and space for counter attacks in Bundesliga, should take those plays with a grain of salt when it comes to PL style football. 

Wirtz was unlocked and free over there but look at him at Liverpool, looked like he was chasing the game for months, trying to adapt. 

The big question is, do we have the profile of players needed for Alonso's system?   Do the club actually have the funds to spend without CL revenue next season or is it stick with what we have (Quenda, Emegha, potentially Barco if the deal with Strasbourg has been done) and focus on trying to get a good CB to help out Colwill? 

[Pizy 19,290]

38 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Having alot of posession won't mean anything if Pedro is the only one capable of scoring. 

Maybe if Estevao comes back next season healthy and with young Quenda coming over, we have some options on the wings but even then....between Garnacho, Neto, Delap, Gittens...I don't see them scoring goals regularly. 

Ideally, all 4 of those players are sold this summer lol

[mkh 766]

💥📋I think we will see some rumours of Julian Nagelsmann, Liverpool are interested in him as a potential future head coach.

(@WilsonCox)

Edited 14 hours ago by mkh

[Vesper 31,113]

Attracting Players: The crucial reason Chelsea need Xabi Alonso

Honing in on The Guardian's report

https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/attracting-players-the-crucial-reason

Yes, I’m aware that many of you dislike Jacob Steinburg and do not rate him as a source. I get it. However, a lot of the info he gets is similar to what we get and even though sometimes he will put out club PR, most of his stuff is sourced from other places like ours is. This is why I will not just dismiss what he puts out, and I will see substance in some of it, if not all of it.

I wanted to hone in on it anyway, for a few reasons. The first is around the reasons Chelsea are looking at Alonso.

There is a feeling inside Chelsea that Alonso’s style of play would make him suited to their young squad. The former Spain midfielder’s standing within the game would help him control the dressing room and could also help with attracting players to the club.

This is spot on, and that last bit is CRUCIAL.

You would have read my recent gloomy reports around players not being interested in coming to Chelsea this summer and the thought we might have to turn to B and C lists for our player targets this summer. IF Alonso comes in, I have no doubt that this would change. I have no doubt that he would be able to attract our main targets even without European football. I think his name stands in that much of a high regard that it will make all the difference.

And for the same reason, we won’t see any Liam Rosenior problems with players not respecting the head coach. They will fully respect him, and maybe it might even change some of the minds of the players wanting out.

Am I being too naïve there? Maybe. But I genuinely think he could make the difference with those two important points.

Although Steinburg is being very positive on Alonso to Chelsea, in the same breathe, he’s mentioning the talks with Andoni Iraola and why the club like him. One thing people seem to be forgetting is that they have the same agent, so of course they will speak about both managers when there is a vacant position for head coach at Chelsea - it would be daft not to. But make no mistake, Alonso is the guy they want as PRIORITY, and he is the one they are absolutely throwing everything at right now to get him in. But they do have contingency plans just in case because after all, we will need a new manager regardless!

Chelsea have held encouraging discussions over a move for Xabi Alonso but are keeping their options open and are closely monitoring Andoni Iraola’s situation.

The Stamford Bridge hierarchy is confident of attracting their favoured candidate and there is optimism over how early talks with Alonso’s camp have gone.

The unknown is whether Alonso decides to move to England now or opts to take a break. But suggestions that he is waiting to see if the Liverpool role becomes open soon have been exaggerated. The current sense is that the Merseysiders will stick with Arne Slot this summer, although that is yet to be confirmed.

Something that has been acknowledged by the recruitment department is the need for the team to become more physical. That heightens the appeal of Iraola, whose Bournemouth side are one of the most intense in the Premier League.

Chelsea have met Iraola to talk to him about the role. There is respect for the Spaniard’s work with Bournemouth and a sense that he is more than capable of taking on a big job. Iraola has responded to Bournemouth losing a number of key players in defence and attack during the past year by putting them in contention for Champions League qualification.

Edging on the side of caution is the takeaway from this article, as all of us should be too right now.

Full article here if you want to read it all and haven’t see it yet.

[mkh 766]

🗯🔵David Ornstein has raised fresh concerns about Andoni Iraola’s suitability for a “big club” job like Chelsea. 

Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Ornstein explained that while Iraola is highly rated and admired for his work at Bournemouth, stepping up to an elite club like Chelsea comes with a very different level of pressure and expectation.

He pointed out that Iraola’s aggressive, counter-attacking style can be highly effective at a club like Bournemouth — but at a top-six side, the margins are much smaller.

According to Ornstein, the main concern isn’t Iraola’s ability, but the environment he would enter at Chelsea:

• More scrutiny from media and fans

• Less patience for slow starts or losing runs

• Higher consequences for tactical risks (like being exposed on the counter-attack)

He also referenced past interest from Tottenham, where similar questions were reportedly considered during their managerial search.

Ornstein stressed that Iraola could absolutely implement his philosophy at a bigger club — but the key question is how quickly results would arrive, and whether Chelsea’s structure would give him the required time and stability.

Alongside Xabi Alonso, Iraola remains firmly in Chelsea’s thinking, but concerns about “big club transition pressure” are clearly part of internal discussions.

[nyikolajevics 2,840]

9 minutes ago, mkh said:

🗯🔵David Ornstein has raised fresh concerns about Andoni Iraola’s suitability for a “big club” job like Chelsea. 

Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Ornstein explained that while Iraola is highly rated and admired for his work at Bournemouth, stepping up to an elite club like Chelsea comes with a very different level of pressure and expectation.

He pointed out that Iraola’s aggressive, counter-attacking style can be highly effective at a club like Bournemouth — but at a top-six side, the margins are much smaller.

According to Ornstein, the main concern isn’t Iraola’s ability, but the environment he would enter at Chelsea:

• More scrutiny from media and fans

• Less patience for slow starts or losing runs

• Higher consequences for tactical risks (like being exposed on the counter-attack)

He also referenced past interest from Tottenham, where similar questions were reportedly considered during their managerial search.

Ornstein stressed that Iraola could absolutely implement his philosophy at a bigger club — but the key question is how quickly results would arrive, and whether Chelsea’s structure would give him the required time and stability.

Alongside Xabi Alonso, Iraola remains firmly in Chelsea’s thinking, but concerns about “big club transition pressure” are clearly part of internal discussions.

This kinds of things are always said about any manager who excels at a smaller club. But playing this kind of football with Bournemouth(or Glasner playing the way he does with CP) doesn't necesseraly mean they would do the same at a club where they have better oppurtunities. Maybe it just means they are adapting to their current squad and trying to get the best out of it.

[Reddish-Blue 2,684]

1 hour ago, mkh said:

🗯🔵David Ornstein has raised fresh concerns about Andoni Iraola’s suitability for a “big club” job like Chelsea. 

Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Ornstein explained that while Iraola is highly rated and admired for his work at Bournemouth, stepping up to an elite club like Chelsea comes with a very different level of pressure and expectation.

He pointed out that Iraola’s aggressive, counter-attacking style can be highly effective at a club like Bournemouth — but at a top-six side, the margins are much smaller.

According to Ornstein, the main concern isn’t Iraola’s ability, but the environment he would enter at Chelsea:

• More scrutiny from media and fans

• Less patience for slow starts or losing runs

• Higher consequences for tactical risks (like being exposed on the counter-attack)

He also referenced past interest from Tottenham, where similar questions were reportedly considered during their managerial search.

Ornstein stressed that Iraola could absolutely implement his philosophy at a bigger club — but the key question is how quickly results would arrive, and whether Chelsea’s structure would give him the required time and stability.

Alongside Xabi Alonso, Iraola remains firmly in Chelsea’s thinking, but concerns about “big club transition pressure” are clearly part of internal discussions.

Then the same questions will be asked of Fabregas, Marco Silva (fulham to Chelsea is a step-up), Glasner (CP to Chelsea).  Even Alonso did well at Leverkusen but then couldn't handle Real Madrid's egos. 

We are a project club now and that's the reality.   Will be interesting to see who is in the final shortlist for the manager position.  

[MoroccanBlue 5,404]

Alonso had over 70% win rate at Real. Not his fault the locker room is filled with petulant children who thought they were above pressing and tactics. 
 

 

[Pizy 19,290]

51 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Alonso had over 70% win rate at Real. Not his fault the locker room is filled with petulant children who thought they were above pressing and tactics. 
 

 

Yeah, I think theres a reason that pretty much nobody holds his Real Madrid spell against him. Everyone agrees that the locker room was running the show there and it has since proven to be the case even more recently. That’s why they’re breaking the emergency glass and bringing back Mourinho. They need a authority figure who takes no shit.

[Strike 7,811]

3 hours ago, mkh said:

🗯🔵David Ornstein has raised fresh concerns about Andoni Iraola’s suitability for a “big club” job like Chelsea. 

Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Ornstein explained that while Iraola is highly rated and admired for his work at Bournemouth, stepping up to an elite club like Chelsea comes with a very different level of pressure and expectation.

He pointed out that Iraola’s aggressive, counter-attacking style can be highly effective at a club like Bournemouth — but at a top-six side, the margins are much smaller.

According to Ornstein, the main concern isn’t Iraola’s ability, but the environment he would enter at Chelsea:

• More scrutiny from media and fans

• Less patience for slow starts or losing runs

• Higher consequences for tactical risks (like being exposed on the counter-attack)

He also referenced past interest from Tottenham, where similar questions were reportedly considered during their managerial search.

Ornstein stressed that Iraola could absolutely implement his philosophy at a bigger club — but the key question is how quickly results would arrive, and whether Chelsea’s structure would give him the required time and stability.

Alongside Xabi Alonso, Iraola remains firmly in Chelsea’s thinking, but concerns about “big club transition pressure” are clearly part of internal discussions.

It will take a lot more signings and a lot of adapting from the players at the club to shift to Iraola's style of play (turning over the ball high up in the pitch, quick transitions) than it will be to adapt to Xabi Alonso's style.