Xabi Alonso | Chelsea manager

Oranges038 said:
Yeah, imagine a former Liverpool player taking over at Utd, the shame.

The only thing worse would be a former Liverpool and Manchester City player.
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Nice try.

It was over 80 years ago, in an era where United fans would often go watch City matches (and vice versa) and want them to win as part of Mancunian City pride.

Selling players between these clubs back then wasn’t a big deal either, and didn’t Shankly offer to loan us players after Munich?
 
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Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Nice try.

It was over 80 years ago, in an era where United fans would often go watch City matches (and vice versa) and want them to win as part of Mancunian City pride.

Selling players between these clubs back then wasn’t a big deal either, and didn’t Shankley offer to loan us players after Munich?
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He's not a Liverpool legend, he played more matches for Real than for Liverpool. Surely you want the best guy for the job, regardless of if he played less matches for them than Lindelöf for us
 
ayushreddevil9 said:
I don’t get why he is so underrated here? Former scouse maybe?

I see him doing well at Chelsea. Thank god Liverpool didn’t get him.
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One golden patch at Leverkusen then failed at Madrid. It’s not much evidence to say either way tbh.
 
@TheReligion
So you think Anderson and Wharton are better than elite level (which James apparently is?)

Yeah sorry mate but you’re being over the top. Unless we have different views on what elite is.
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Nope don't think that at all - my point is that for England there are at least 7/10 options in central midfield but none really at RB at the moment. The gap in quality from James the midfielder to England's alternatives versus James the right back to England's other right backs is huge.
 
Feels like Xmas has come early this year :lol:

Alonso to Chelsea confirmed. Slot staying at Liverpool.
 
Irrational. said:
They may not do a good job of it and the way they are run is a complete omnishambles, but in terms of getting personnel in they are there in the blink of an eye.
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We got Amorim fast and look how that turned out.
 
Irrational. said:
They may not do a good job of it and the way they are run is a complete omnishambles, but in terms of getting personnel in they are there in the blink of an eye.
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Blink of an eye? He’s been available for months whilst they’ve been fecking up their CL qualification pissing into the wind.

They’ve made an absolute shambles of their season and fecked themselves massively with no CL money, by sacking a manager with seemingly no clue on what was coming next, hiring a woefully underqualified replacement because ”feeder club”, fecking up the CL, sacking their second manager in a single season, only to then agree to bring in a manager who’s been available since January. Likely convincing him without CL by paying him a King’s ransom.

Oh, they’ve also reportedly completing scrapped the title of head coach, and given him the manager role. Basically fecking off all these dickhead years of the ”structure” buying players on 8 years contracts and keeping the power away from the manager.

But sure, you keep giving them credit.
 
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I've still got Chelsea pegged for relegation soon if they keep up with the strategy of buying up lots of young players on long contracts.

With their current situation in mind, I am now wondering about Alonso's decision making with regards managerial jobs. He chose (to wait for) the Real job when it was obvious that it would be a nightmare to keep all those personalities in check.

Maybe Chelsea will change their transfer strategy going forward now- but it will be several years before they can get the squad balanced in terms of age and contract lengths.
 
Liverpool are really fecked. He is the only man who can unlock Writz
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
@TheReligion

Nope don't think that at all - my point is that for England there are at least 7/10 options in central midfield but none really at RB at the moment. The gap in quality from James the midfielder to England's alternatives versus James the right back to England's other right backs is huge.
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I think calling James an elite level central midfielder suggests he’s one of the very best in the world in that position. He’s not.
 
TheReligion said:
I think calling James an elite level central midfielder suggests he’s one of the very best in the world in that position. He’s not.
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Guess we'll have to agree to disagree- when it comes to passing range, physicality, defensive awareness, and ball striking I don't think there are too many central midfielders better than James in the world at this point
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
Nice try.

It was over 80 years ago, in an era where United fans would often go watch City matches (and vice versa) and want them to win as part of Mancunian City pride.

Selling players between these clubs back then wasn’t a big deal either, and didn’t Shankly offer to loan us players after Munich?
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He did and so did Real.

I don't really think it should really matter who a coach played for, what matters is whether or not they are the right person for the job.
 
Give me some odds that he will not last six months at Chelsea?
 
FootballHQ said:
Surprised they haven't been linked to Baleba so perhaps they've given up on thinking anyone from Brighton will work (although Joao Pedro has been good signing).
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Joao Pedro, Cucurella, Caicedo. Top signings from Brighton. Sanchez is the only questionable one.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
Guess we'll have to agree to disagree- when it comes to passing range, physicality, defensive awareness, and ball striking I don't think there are too many central midfielders better than James in the world at this point
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He’s played less than 50 games as a central midfielder in his career.
 
Crimson King said:
And Chelsea have always been famous for their stable dressing rooms
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I’m not commenting on that but I find it funny that people are downplaying his achievements and are calling him a failed manager at Madrid(which is not even that bad)
 
TheReligion said:
Did United create issues for Wirtz, Marmoush, Frimpong etc too?
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Some players manage to fail all on their own.

And to be fair - I found the Wirtz price laughable. I was relieved when he went to Pool instead of Bayern as I foresaw a new Götze scenario. If you search for it here in the Forum you can find me debating someone who claimed Wirtz was top 3 OF ALL TIME in the Bundesliga

Marmoush I feel a bit sad for. He clearly was just having a breakout season in Germany, City panic bought him in January I think, he scored a few in the beginning and then they threw him in the bin when they realized he wasn't Julian Alvarez or Riyadh Mahrez.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
I mean yes? It's almost like our centre halves and goalkeepers are beyond horrendous
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I think it's more your attack than anything else. Palmer and Delap have been stealing pay checks. Enzo is really excellent but IMO not a #10. Less said about Nacho, Neto, Gittens and co the better. The rest are just babies.

JP is the only one in that attack that's quality, senior first team level player.

Just pay up for a couple of proper attackers and stop playing Brighton-ball is enough IMO. Not that hard a window in front of you.
 
Liverpool are having a seriously horrific time and this news just worsens it. Beautiful.
 
@WeePat does that mean a change of formation 3 at the back?
I wonder how much spending can be done this summer without champions league.

Last manager who played that formation without European football won you guys the league.
 
Regulus Arcturus Black said:
It’s incredible you’re still so wank with all these Worldie midfielders.
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Right ? :lol: I keep reading Caicedo is the best DM in the world, James the best RB, CM in the world. That they have excellent wingbacks and an excellent defense.
Joao Pedro is amazing etc etc etc and yet they've been stinking up the whole world of football since their 3 day title challenge in November. The shittier they are the more deluded they get.
Alonso will have a big job to get them going, they need 2 wingers, 2 CB and a GK with two arms and hands.
 
Probably the perfect club for him to go to if people are concerned he’s an elite manager.

The place is absolutely rudderless from the ownership to the dressing room.
 
BaguetteBoy said:
@WeePat does that mean a change of formation 3 at the back?
I wonder how much spending can be done this summer without champions league.

Last manager who played that formation without European football won you guys the league.
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I don't know tbh. Others have said he's not as married to that back 3 system as we're led to believe.
 
Sakasaka said:
Right ? :lol: I keep reading Caicedo is the best DM in the world, James the best RB, CM in the world. That they have excellent wingbacks and an excellent defense.
Joao Pedro is amazing etc etc etc and yet they've been stinking up the whole world of football since their 3 day title challenge in November. The shittier they are the more deluded they get.
Alonso will have a big job to get them going, they need 2 wingers, 2 CB and a GK with two arms and hands.
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An excellent defence, you know. You don't have to lie to make your point.
 
I’d give it 6 months before he’s out the door and headed back to Liverpool instead
 
So, which is it?

1. Radio silence from Liverpool, meaning that they didn't want Alonso or intend to stick with Slot.

2. Alonso prefers Chelsea over Liverpool.

I can't decide which is funnier.
 
Scandi Red said:
So, which is it?

1. Radio silence from Liverpool, meaning that they didn't want Alonso or intend to stick with Slot.

2. Alonso prefers Chelsea over Liverpool.

I can't decide which is funnier.
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Pretty sure its 1. He has no reason to choose Chelsea over pool. Them sticking with Slot is equivalent to us keeping EtH, competence wise, with the difference being that a portion of our fans actually wanted it after the fa Cup. I doubt even 20% of scouse fanbase wants to keep him.
 
If he fails, that's okay. If he succeeds, I'd rather that be at Chelsea than Liverpool, City, Arsenal.
 
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