The Next Manager?

[Fulham Broadway 17,776]

3 minutes ago, Mário César said:

Xabi Alonso was still one of the most attractive managers available outside the elite already in top jobs, and it was only a matter of time before he picked up another major role anyway - that’s not really the point here. He won the league with Leverkusen, broke Bayern’s long-standing dominance in Germany, and has been at Real Madrid. There’s simply no comparison to be made. This is exactly the kind of manager with the stature and mentality for clubs at this level.

 

 

 

 

Yes the time has been 5 months. Out of work, obviously not that much in demand. His record isnt all that by the way - and getting sacked by Madrid

I am prepared to give it a chance, but wouldnt be at all suprised if hes gone March, or April 2027. A run of fuck ups with his Liverpool history, fans will turn on him like they did with FSW

[Mário César 1,490]

4 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Yes the time has been 5 months. Out of work, obviously not that much in demand. His record isnt all that by the way - and getting sacked by Madrid

I am prepared to give it a chance, but wouldnt be at all suprised if hes gone March, or April 2027. A run of fuck ups with his Liverpool history, fans will turn on him like they did with FSW

 

 

I think you’re bending the narrative a bit to fit a negative conclusion.

He’s been out of work for a few months, yes - but that doesn’t suddenly mean he’s “not in demand”. Top managers don’t move every week; they wait for the right project. That’s normal at elite level, not a red flag.

His record also isn’t “not all that” - winning the Bundesliga with Leverkusen and breaking Bayern’s dominance is one of the hardest managerial achievements in Europe in recent years. That alone puts him in a very small group of elite managers.

His time at Real Madrid also shouldn’t be used against him in the way you’re framing it. His win percentage there was actually very strong, and his dismissal looks questionable in hindsight given how the team performed afterwards. That context matters - it suggests the issue wasn’t simply that he wasn’t good enough, but something more complex.

As for the Liverpool comparison and the idea that fans will inevitably turn on him, that’s just speculation. You can say that about any manager at a big club if results dip. It doesn’t really prove anything.

You’re free to be sceptical, but based on actual evidence, he’s still one of the strongest managerial appointments available in world football right now - not a gamble or a “not in demand” profile in the way you’re suggesting.

[Fulham Broadway 17,776]

4 minutes ago, Mário César said:

I think you’re bending the narrative a bit to fit a negative conclusion.

Could say the same that your narrative is just to fit your excitement

6 minutes ago, Mário César said:

they wait for the right project

Find it hard to think that many ''elite managers'' would see Chelsea as the right project right now. A project, yes, but we know what kind of project. Hopefully the five SPDs wont interfere too much, but theres many that wouldnt touch the job at the moment

9 minutes ago, Mário César said:

As for the Liverpool comparison and the idea that fans will inevitably turn on him, that’s just speculation. You can say that about any manager at a big club if results dip

Think you need to be aware of the rivalry with Liverpool, its not just any club. It will be more acute and rapid with the scouse association. 

Anyway lets see. Theres only a formal agreement atm, nothing signed

[Mário César 1,490]

4 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Could say the same that your narrative is just to fit your excitement

Find it hard to think that many ''elite managers'' would see Chelsea as the right project right now. A project, yes, but we know what kind of project. Hopefully the five SPDs wont interfere too much, but theres many that wouldnt touch the job at the moment

Think you need to be aware of the rivalry with Liverpool, its not just any club. It will be more acute and rapid with the scouse association. 

Anyway lets see. Theres only a formal agreement atm, nothing signed

Could be, but we’ve also seen top managers take on difficult projects and turn them around. In the end, only time will tell if it makes sense or not.

[Mário César 1,490]

It suits both Chelsea and the player. There are plenty of indications that he wants to leave, and I don’t blame him. Good luck to him. His first half-season was a disaster, but he finished strongly under Pochettino and did fine under Maresca

[TheHulk 2,652]

If he's allowed to build we will be cooking but I don't trust the morons working at this club.

[TheHulk 2,652]

21 minutes ago, Mário César said:

It suits both Chelsea and the player. There are plenty of indications that he wants to leave, and I don’t blame him. Good luck to him. His first half-season was a disaster, but he finished strongly under Pochettino and did fine under Maresca

Think him and Enzo are gone, hope Neto, Garnacho and Fofana as well.

[Thor 2,832]

2 hours ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Yes the time has been 5 months. Out of work, obviously not that much in demand. His record isnt all that by the way - and getting sacked by Madrid

I am prepared to give it a chance, but wouldnt be at all suprised if hes gone March, or April 2027. A run of fuck ups with his Liverpool history, fans will turn on him like they did with FSW

Not that in demand? lol... Managers/players of his quality get to choose where they go. They don't hop on the first available job.

He is literally the biggest and best available out there at the moment. 

Some of you will do anything to spin it negatively. 

[DDA 10,251]

Let’s not take the piss here, Alonso was the best manager available in terms of reputation based of what he has done since becoming a manager and what he achieved as a player. He could have easily waited for a more stable proposition to surface but for some bizarre reason he has chosen to join us. This surely means he has been given certain guarantees to steady the ship from the turmoil at The Bridge. 
 

For me, this appointment is great but we need to see who we get in player wise in this coming window. It’s vital we bring in experience & QUALITY, not a bunch of lower tier or mid tier bozos like Tosin & Garnacho. 

[Vesper 31,120]

I want Winstanley, Stewart, and Shields' heads on a fucking PIKE!!!

all three HAVE to go

[Vesper 31,120]

[Vesper 31,120]

Sources indicate discussions are currently centred around how Alonso would integrate into Chelsea’s existing sporting structure.

Importantly, we understand Alonso is NOT demanding total control over recruitment or football operations.

Instead, the 44-year-old acknowledges Chelsea’s current model has already assembled a hugely talented squad that requires only targeted additions to become genuine Premier League title challengers.

Nevertheless, Chelsea are prepared to adjust elements of the existing working structure in order to address remaining concerns and ensure Alonso feels fully supported in the role.

 

https://www.teamtalk.com/Chelsea/xabi-alonso-agrees-next-Chelsea-manager

[Blue Armour 4,739]

1 hour ago, Thor said:

Not that in demand? lol... Managers/players of his quality get to choose where they go. They don't hop on the first available job.

He is literally the biggest and best available out there at the moment. 

Some of you will do anything to spin it negatively. 

And you will do anything to gaslight people into thinking everything is a positive.

Let's just admit that most of this speculation at this point.

Alonso might not be the best, but BlueCo could have done a lot worse in terms of the managerial appointment.

If the rumors are true, he will be more than just first team coach and actually have a true managerial title

That to me, if true, would be a difference maker. Anything to reduce the influence of Joe Shields and his cronies.

[Blue Armour 4,739]

Just now, Vesper said:

Sources indicate discussions are currently centred around how Alonso would integrate into Chelsea’s existing sporting structure.

Importantly, we understand Alonso is NOT demanding total control over recruitment or football operations.

Instead, the 44-year-old acknowledges Chelsea’s current model has already assembled a hugely talented squad that requires only targeted additions to become genuine Premier League title challengers.

Nevertheless, Chelsea are prepared to adjust elements of the existing working structure in order to address remaining concerns and ensure Alonso feels fully supported in the role.

 

https://www.teamtalk.com/Chelsea/xabi-alonso-agrees-next-Chelsea-manager

These are the little details that will make or break next season..

[Thor 2,832]

1 hour ago, Blue Armour said:

And you will do anything to gaslight people into thinking everything is a positive.

Let's just admit that most of this speculation at this point.

Alonso might not be the best, but BlueCo could have done a lot worse in terms of the managerial appointment.

If the rumors are true, he will be more than just first team coach and actually have a true managerial title

That to me, if true, would be a difference maker. Anything to reduce the influence of Joe Shields and his cronies.

I hardly do that. There have been plenty of growing pains. 

This place just needs balance from the constant crying from yourself and a few others. Acting like everything that has been done is piss poor is just disingenuous; furthermore acting like we are miles off competing is also even more from the truth. 

Football is fickle, and while a lot on here were creaming their pants at the "amazing" signings Liverpool made last season and how they would be a force for a while - you can literally find posts of me saying they made average moves and didn't move the needle. Not that I'm always right or close to it - but football turns on a dime. We've literally been hovering around 1st/2nd place before falling apart mentally due to tedious shit. A good manager and some stability will make us a good team. Getting some defenders and better players than the likes of Garnacho will make us a better team. 

Getting a manager like Xabi will make us a better team. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,684]

2 hours ago, DDA said:

Let’s not take the piss here, Alonso was the best manager available in terms of reputation based of what he has done since becoming a manager and what he achieved as a player. He could have easily waited for a more stable proposition to surface but for some bizarre reason he has chosen to join us. This surely means he has been given certain guarantees to steady the ship from the turmoil at The Bridge. 
 

For me, this appointment is great but we need to see who we get in player wise in this coming window. It’s vital we bring in experience & QUALITY, not a bunch of lower tier or mid tier bozos like Tosin & Garnacho. 

The problem is, we have too many of them in the squad.  Tosin, Garnacho, Delap, Gittens, Badi, Disasi on loan, Gusto with his braindead moments. 

[DDA 10,251]

44 minutes ago, Thor said:

Acting like everything that has been done is piss poor is just disingenuous; furthermore acting like we are miles off competing is also even more from the truth. 

£2billion spent and the current squad is what we have to show for it? That is beyond piss poor. Not miles of competing? We are 9th in The League, 30 points off the leaders. That is literally the very definition of being miles of it in footballing terms. 

Edited 53 minutes ago by DDA

[Blue Armour 4,739]

55 minutes ago, Thor said:

Getting some defenders and better players than the likes of Garnacho will make us a better team. 

Getting a manager like Xabi will make us a better team. 

I would love it if that happens, and I will give Xabi the benefit of the doubt because of what he has achieved so far. But I'll believe it when it see it. 

The belief of the fans has been burnt too many times in succession, to the point where people can't bring themselves to watch the games.

Like DDA and others have mentioned, this is all direct consequence from the actions up at the top. The worse thing is we don't know how far reaching some of those consequences are.

The worst thing the fanbase can do is become complacent and accept the new normal.

Chelsea needs consistent performances on the pitch to make gains. These make a big impact on the telecast driven finances, and this affects everything. Finishing outside of European spots every other season is poor for a club that has invested so much.

[Johnnyeye 7,588]

First of all Welcome to Chelsea Football Club Xabi Alonso, second, i have my reservations, based on the shit show we have been subjected to, so i will wait and see how we do in the summer transfer window and start of next season before passing any judgement. Cheers