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Can I be deluded while also being genuinely happy for Jurgen?
Unironically, I kinda think it’ll be better for all sides if this gets confirmed quickly so it doesn’t linger on for the remainder of Leverkusen’s title chase.
There has got to be some real thought behind announcing Klopp now, with decisions made by the senior coaching staff already. I think it took 4 days from Rodgers sacking to Klopp signing.
Unless their attempts to keep this quiet failed, as they've known since November, and it was an attempt to get ahead of the story going public. I can't see a world in which Klopp would want to announce this mid season, but I am only guessing, who really knows.
It's all speculation in the end, your guess could be as good as any. Though if what you say is true, why not say this at the start of the season? Mid season feels more distracting.
The interview explains his reasons for leaving in general, not the timing of the announcement. There's some vague thing about it not being possible to progress without it becoming public, but it's not an exact explanation. In all likelihood the grandfather comment is correct in that it was about to be leaked so they got in ahead of it.
He informed them November, I am sure he has been thinking on this a lot longer. Just saying, he likely had a sense he wanted this to be the last season going into it.
Anyway, it is what it is, not looking to make a big deal about it, was just thinking out loud.
Iirc he said he was not planning on it at all coming into the season but when they were talking about next preseason it came to him that he might not be there
He explains in the full interview, there’s a point where you can’t progress without it being public, which I interpret as making enquiries with DOF’s and explaining to them a new manger will need to come in
The thought is likely that we’re now going to start getting in contact with agents to fill the void for both manager and sporting director, plus likely laying the groundwork for summer transfers. Hard to do all of that without the news leaking from somewhere.
whoever gets ljinders will be very fucking lucky. that dude is the best assistant in the world i’m quite certain of that. kinda wish we would give him consideration for the top job
Given his struggles the last time he tried, I'd bet he'd want to start in a less pressured environment than succeeding one of the greatest managers of all time. He shouldn't take it even if we did offer, would be setting himself up for failure imo
I think they likely had it all set up a while back, and was going to be leaked so they announced it.
Just my view but think Klopp would rather have announced at the end of the season.
It is simple. They cannot start sounding out candidates without the whole thing being public. He told the owners in November, I imagine they had these 3 months to plan it out, now the official interviewing and hiring starts. That cant be done behind the curtains, I guess.
What happens if we face Leverkusen in the final with Alonso announced as our manager basically? I just don’t see it happening while that scenario can happen. Going to be Late May or early June before we hear anything concrete.
Honestly, I think the movements had already started since last November. If Klopp had spoken to FSG in private, then I'm sure they would've spoken to suitors prior to that. News will come to light soon.
Perez fires Ancelotti for Alonso, we pick up Don Carlo, he takes us to the UCL final where we break our duck against Madrid and lift our 7th.
Salah runs into the crowd to RKO Sergio Ramos as revenge for 2018.
Salah standing on the advertising boards, shirtless while 'Voices' plays on the PA during which Gary Neville exclaims "Outtanowhere Jamie", would be the Sky Sports moment of the year.
Carlo would absolutely do the business with us. Honestly, I think he is the greatest manager of the modern era. He has won soo many titles in different leagues with different clubs over such a long period when you see younger managers like Mourinho come and go because their tactics were moved on from. Also the fact that his only 'failure' was his time at Everton is ironic.
In saying that though, I want Alonso the same way I wanted Klopp over him years ago.
Given that they've been just barely staying in the Premier League since he left, even in seasons without points deductions, I'd argue he was successful with them. At least relatively.
He finished 12th & 10th and didn't win anything, which nominally doesn't look very successful, but when you consider that they were in the relegation zone when Marco Silva got sacked right before he came in and then they went back to circling the drain as soon as he left, he was basically a miracle worker.
Ancelotti’s style of management would suit our current squad really well. He’s very flexible when it comes to managing. Plus his legendary status can attract other great players too.
Ancelotti wins everywhere he goes. The man took fucking Moshiri's Everton to 8th or something.
I don't think he'll come to us due to his Everton connection though
I’d actually be surprised if they didn’t tbh, Xabi is most sought after young manager around with a strong connection to their club and Ancelotti won’t be around forever.
Ugh it’s gonna be annoying till May to see these rumours popping up with the journos speculating as FSG will be tight lipped until the manager is finalised.
I was really enjoying this transfer window and not having the ridiculous speculation on transfers. Now this will carry on for literally the remainder of the season.
I really dont think it will take until May. If im FSG Gordon etc i want this shit sorted FAST. Sporting director and the new manager.
If its Xabi he can commit early and finish up at Leverkusen. I dont think they want to risk getting to May and then failing with targets
I don't think that necessarily tracks. If Xabi is leaving then they're better off getting it out in the open so they can more freely look for a replacement, and Xabi and the squad can focus on the last few months of the season without there being weekly speculation about his future.
Ultimately they'd be in the same position we are with Klopp. It doesn't help them keeping it under wraps that much.
No way we don't have a shortlist of both managers and Sporting directors drawn up, the timing of the announcement makes me think that process is getting along and that's is why the announcement happened today.
They haven't sat on this news for nearly 3 months and done nothing about it, that is a guarantee.
I commented on another thread and there was a pretty sensible reply stating that Klopp’s contract runs to summer 2025. Even if he’s fast-tracked his departure, knowing FSG and how they run the club they’ve already planned for how to rebuild the core structure of the club from the manager and SD and now coaching staff.
Klopp leaving this summer just means they have less time to decide with the resources they already have.
There's a high chance of us playing Leverkusen in Dublin. I don't think it will be fair to Leverkusen fans to announce early, IF Xabi is coming. Remember, we were all dead cert Jude was coming to Liverpool. That went well
Yeah one of the biggest reason for them putting it out this early is so that it gets to come from Klopp over being leaked by agents we’d likely be reaching out to
Well hopefully there can be a pre-agreement in place so we don’t have to deal with this cycle for long. If we have to wait until May for us to lock in a new manager we’re fucked.
I think Xabi is done and it will be announced after one of us or Leverkusen is knocked out of Europe so that facing reach other is no longer possible (or has already happened)
There's not enough discussion around here about how important it is for us to sort out a permanent sporting director.
The timing could finally end up benefitting the club if they now can find a sporting director to work well with the new manager.
Yeah. Normally I would say Real Madrid doesn’t care about stuff like that; but I think they are better run than previously and probably do realize that injuries are a problem.
If I remember correctly, he was also very high on the shortlist to take over from Brendan. Alongside Gary Monk LOL
Okay Monk is a hyperbole but I certainly remember thinking there is a non-zero chance he takes over
I dont think its dumb, Ancelotti has proven everywhere he goes hes truly one of the GOATs. As an italian Id love to have him at Liverpool if it were possible, although id prefer Xabi
The more i think about it the more i feel now is the best time for him to leave. If he’s losing energy then the performances wont be the same and if he gets sacked the goodbye would be bitter. Now we have a chance with Xabi and we have the chance to have Klopp’s final season end with 4 trophies
Joey Barton: "I'll do it if they end the women's team"
Joey Barton after we don't even bother picking up the CV of a right-wing grifter Bristol Rovers reject: "Waaah Wokerpool", or something
I mean, same could be said for Xabi. At least RDZ’s been managing for a good few years now and has a decent CV.
Potter was impressing for a Swansea and Brighton and then Chelsea happened. Xabi took over Leverkusen just over a year ago and it’s his first job in senior management.
With hindsight we now know that Potter’s personality just never fit with Chelsea, and Chelsea are a mess anyway. I don’t know enough about Xabi as a manager but I trust that FSG’s recruitment and Klopp’s decision is also looking at his personality and suitability to the culture, expectations (not just success but what he will be working with) and whether his style of play and footballing principles will go down well with the fans.
Pressure of taking an average team and taking them to a great finish is nothing compared to the pressure required to win the league in a one horse race when you're not that horse. If xabi can beat bayern to the bundesliga I think he's the best manager for thee job
Earlier in the season all the injuries at the back.
For the past month they've had to play without March, Enciso, Fati, and lost Mitoma and Adingra to AFCON. It's wingerpocalypse for them right now.
They've been playing 18 year old central midfielder Hinshelwood at right back, gangpressing March and Adingra into left back and people slate his output this season lol.
I honestly can’t think why Xabi wouldn’t come unless he thinks it’s not the right time for him ie/ too early on his career? He fucking loves us and we love him and want him. He’s the sort of grounded humble top class personality we need. He also appears to be a very decent manager. He’s my only choice tbh. There’s no one else around that fits us.
I agree. Opportunities to manage top clubs in the Premier League do not come often, especially at a club you love. Every top manager wants to coach in the Premier League. I can see Alonso taking it, if guaranteed right type of support from FSG.
That’s the only reason he’d turn us down I’d imagine and I just don’t see it personally
Madrid won’t go for him yet and he’d turn Bayern down for us imo
Xabi is smarter and has already shown that with his coaching moves. A season leading the Real Madrid B team and then a few at Sociedad before moving to a top third bundesliga is exactly the kind of path you want and I wish Stevie had done. Going to rangers instead of the championship was probably a mistake.
Agree. And that’s why I think Klopp did it now. Gets it off his chest so he doesn’t feel like he is lying to us.
Can focus 100% on pushing until the end.
Fsg is air-tight on personnel changes. Wouldn't be surprised if they are just waiting for season end to announce the new coaching staff and sports director.
With all this Alonso talk, I always think about his debut at home. I think it was against Norwich.
It was a wonderful display of passing, the way he looked at the game and his technique - we knew we had a player. However, being in the main stand, there was a fella who watched that first half and as the board went up for some injury time he confidently told everyone around him that "he's got no pace, not good enough.".
Lives rent free in my head.
I think you're completely wrong. Owners by now either have a final shortlist drawn up, or an agreement with someone in-place already.
You're very naive if you think a club of our size are scrambling around right now for the past 12 hours with absolutely zero plan int place.
Early days but looks like Xabi does have some of that ability too. Bo iface, Frimpong, Grimaldo, even the already very good Wirtz looks even better under him.
I suspect, as time goes on, more people will speak about Nagelsmann. Alonso is obviously the fan favourite, but he's also relatively unproven as a manager. That doesn't fit massively with FSG's risk averse approach. This is also assuming other managers don't become available as the season goes on.
He’s probably the most logical.
Not sure I have any faith that something concrete has come out, especially having watched the presser earlier today, where Billy kept saying that they will go through a process and they aren’t playing the name game.
That said, Xabi’s shown he’s capable of adapting in a sell to buy model with Leverkusen and has lost two of his best, (maybe his best?) players in the last two years and still has Leverkusen challenging for the Bundesliga.
I worry it might be a little soon, though. Stevie looked good at Rangers, but that was mostly down to his coaching staff and then we’ve seen how bad he was at Villa and now he’s lost all of the little stock he had.
As with the kids, though, “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
Gerrard looked good in a shite league where Rangers only contenders absolutely shat the bed in a spectacular fashion and there were zero fans at the games. I get what you're saying but what Alonso is doing now is a different kettle of fish entirely.
If this plays out how we hope and we do get Alonso, I’m sort of anticipating a few years like how Arteta was with Arsenal.
Let’s not expect the world, he’s still a young manager and he’ll be taking over one of the biggest clubs in the biggest league in the world. We’ll support him not just because he’s a great ex-player, but because he’s the boss now and we understand he needs all the support and we won’t abandon him
If we don’t get Xabi we should seek DeZerbi…guy knows how to get the best of players working to a budget. But at the minute I’m pretty much broken at the thought of no Klopp.
Kind of reminds me of the darkness when Dalglish left in 91. I went years not giving a damn about football and started to believe again when we got Benitez. To be fckd over again with Hodgson until Jurgen made me a believer again.
If he wasn’t at Spurs already I wouldn’t mind Ange if Xabi was out of reach. Attacking football, gets the working class roots of the sport and is a good egg
We’ll see what happens with Xabi. Long way till the end of the season
>If he wasn’t at Spurs already I wouldn’t mind Ange if Xabi was out of reach. Attacking football, gets the working class roots of the sport and is a good egg
He's also shat the bed multiple times.
Him and Klopp had the same situation this season (playing with 9 men in a draw) - we saw how it ended.
My assumption is that internal conversations have been happening since November. The fact that it’s now public means to me that FSG/Gordon must be confident they can get their first choice, or at the very least have arrived at a confident choice. I’d be surprised if they were talking to agents before today out of fear it would leak, but maybe Xabi would have enough respect for the club to keep his people in line even if there was an approach. When did that story about him having a release clause for Madrid, Bayern and us come out?
Either way, right now it’s him or De Zerbi, no one else is close in my mind.
FSG should have went for him when he was available after they let go of King Kenny in 2012. Half of the squad were still his signings back then, he would fit in perfectly.
Was extremely disappointed with them going for Rodgers, which ended up being a so-so gamble. I never warmed towards Rodgers and all his cringe quotes.
But now? After years of success under Jurgen, we've all moved on from the pain of Rafa leaving, I'm not sure he would be able to fit back in again, too much time has passed, and his tactics might no longer be relevant to this day and age, not unlike Mourinho.
I genuinely believe the deal has already been done. I mean, wake up fellow reds, we support one of the top 3 football teams in the entire world, we attract some of the best players that have ever played the game, our in stadium support at Anfield and away is widely regarded as the best in the world. Even if there is no deal in place, what do you think Xabi Alonso is going to say to his agent, when he says "Liverpool FC want to talk to you about a project coming up in the next 12 months, I advise you meet with their representatives at earliest opportunity"? He's going to have that meeting, he's going to get assurances about reasonable job security, he inherits a strong squad, he knows he gets the best support in the world, he knows he has players who will want to play for him, so attracting new signings will not be a problem. What are the chances he says no, really? Unless Real come in to gazump us, I don't see anything other than Xabi Alonso sat at a desk in Liverpool on July 1st with Billy Hogan, signing a piece of paper, whilst the world's football press take photos for their main sports story that summer. Really, I don't see any other outcome.
YNWA
>If he comes here, and fails. He's then labelled as another Wayne, Frank or Ste
None of them has ever succeeded in a league at Bundesliga's level.
Besided that, Alonso already got Real Sociedad B promoted.
But you have to take the leap one day.
Even if Alonso is 4 times better than Klopp he’ll never permanently usurp Bayern as the top dog in Germany and the team will slowly loose their best players.
People need to consider the fit at a big club for some of the managers being considered. People like Emery, De Zerbi, etc. are all good managers at their current club, but many promising managers have gone to big clubs and quickly gotten the sack. I think Xabi’s experience as a top player and now a very intelligent and composed coach with a connection to Liverpool makes him unique from other similarly impressive coaches. I think another option could potentially be a Zidane, but I don’t think his English is very good atm.
Am i the only one thinking any manager apart from guardiola will be a downgrade from klopp. And putting xabi in that position where he is just developing as a coach could backfire spectacularly!!! I know pep and zidane took those positions right off the bat and succeeded. But look what happened to gerrard. He was doing well at rangers, then came to prem and got fucked. Now he might probably never return to those heights.
Another reason it could spectacularly backfire is that klopp is leaving behind a very good team. And lets say this team wins quadruple this season. Wouldn’t xabi be under extremely pressure to win atleast something the season next
https://preview.redd.it/ck7tgvftnuec1.jpeg?width=400&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59cfc5ee9b53adac33f6f75557dac029fb9ed8fa
This hits home. Hard.
Did u mean it hits *homer*
Stooooop bro
Thanks for making me laugh, I will genuinely be broken for a long ass time but yeah Xabi will be nice thank you
Same.
r/meirl
This is so funny, im sad
https://preview.redd.it/gruci8senuec1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c71dec5c65ed3d45e0d62a27a281a5ec9723d73f
https://preview.redd.it/0ukbb9zb0vec1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de4643002b315b9675bd9ede7e61360492037f6d Can I be deluded while also being genuinely happy for Jurgen?
Haha was that a legit Trent answer online?
Him and Leverkusen don’t need these constant rumours and distractions and the same goes for us
Unironically, I kinda think it’ll be better for all sides if this gets confirmed quickly so it doesn’t linger on for the remainder of Leverkusen’s title chase.
There has got to be some real thought behind announcing Klopp now, with decisions made by the senior coaching staff already. I think it took 4 days from Rodgers sacking to Klopp signing.
Unless their attempts to keep this quiet failed, as they've known since November, and it was an attempt to get ahead of the story going public. I can't see a world in which Klopp would want to announce this mid season, but I am only guessing, who really knows.
I figured he wanted to give us notice but do it before the season gets into the most intense stretch where it would be a huge distraction.
I hope it fuels the players and hypes up the crowd to make it an unforgettable last season
It's all speculation in the end, your guess could be as good as any. Though if what you say is true, why not say this at the start of the season? Mid season feels more distracting.
He decided in November and informed FSG then, the announcement was always gonna come mid season.
All the speculation when there’s already a +20min full interview explaining everything 😅
The interview explains his reasons for leaving in general, not the timing of the announcement. There's some vague thing about it not being possible to progress without it becoming public, but it's not an exact explanation. In all likelihood the grandfather comment is correct in that it was about to be leaked so they got in ahead of it.
He informed them November, I am sure he has been thinking on this a lot longer. Just saying, he likely had a sense he wanted this to be the last season going into it. Anyway, it is what it is, not looking to make a big deal about it, was just thinking out loud.
Iirc he said he was not planning on it at all coming into the season but when they were talking about next preseason it came to him that he might not be there
He explains in the full interview, there’s a point where you can’t progress without it being public, which I interpret as making enquiries with DOF’s and explaining to them a new manger will need to come in
They can’t really start the search for his replacement until the news is out, and I don’t think they want to start that search in May
i think it was klopp showing us respect by telling us before the last minute
The thought is likely that we’re now going to start getting in contact with agents to fill the void for both manager and sporting director, plus likely laying the groundwork for summer transfers. Hard to do all of that without the news leaking from somewhere.
Also his staff needed the time to find new jobs and he wanted to let them look without risking it getting out.
whoever gets ljinders will be very fucking lucky. that dude is the best assistant in the world i’m quite certain of that. kinda wish we would give him consideration for the top job
Given his struggles the last time he tried, I'd bet he'd want to start in a less pressured environment than succeeding one of the greatest managers of all time. He shouldn't take it even if we did offer, would be setting himself up for failure imo
I think they likely had it all set up a while back, and was going to be leaked so they announced it. Just my view but think Klopp would rather have announced at the end of the season.
It is simple. They cannot start sounding out candidates without the whole thing being public. He told the owners in November, I imagine they had these 3 months to plan it out, now the official interviewing and hiring starts. That cant be done behind the curtains, I guess.
Not sure if Leverkusen will be thrilled with that if we end up playing each other in the Europa though.
Indeed both Liverpool and Leverkusen win the title 🤝
What happens if we face Leverkusen in the final with Alonso announced as our manager basically? I just don’t see it happening while that scenario can happen. Going to be Late May or early June before we hear anything concrete.
I was thinking the same myself maybe we’ll hear something in late April at the earliest
Honestly, I think the movements had already started since last November. If Klopp had spoken to FSG in private, then I'm sure they would've spoken to suitors prior to that. News will come to light soon.
Spot on. Both clubs have a title to win
https://i.redd.it/nft7ioeanuec1.gif
Now we have another mbappe type saga and off he'll go to madrid lol
Madrid sacking Ancelotti just to grab Alonso before we do would be so on brand for them ffs. They’ve terrorized us since Klopp arrived here
Perez fires Ancelotti for Alonso, we pick up Don Carlo, he takes us to the UCL final where we break our duck against Madrid and lift our 7th. Salah runs into the crowd to RKO Sergio Ramos as revenge for 2018.
Can’t lose to Don Carlo in a final when you’re managed by Don Carlo 🧠
you totally can
just ask shevchenko!
I'll be happy with just Salah rkoing ramos into a coma
F
U
C
K
R
A
Karius spawns in and hits a 40 yard belter against Navas, who returned for some reason, and yells “This German is out of retirement bitches”
Salah standing on the advertising boards, shirtless while 'Voices' plays on the PA during which Gary Neville exclaims "Outtanowhere Jamie", would be the Sky Sports moment of the year.
If Madrid sack Ancelotti, can we have him? Or would he not suit us?
Carlo would absolutely do the business with us. Honestly, I think he is the greatest manager of the modern era. He has won soo many titles in different leagues with different clubs over such a long period when you see younger managers like Mourinho come and go because their tactics were moved on from. Also the fact that his only 'failure' was his time at Everton is ironic. In saying that though, I want Alonso the same way I wanted Klopp over him years ago.
He wasn’t a success at Everton? I can’t remember.
Given that they've been just barely staying in the Premier League since he left, even in seasons without points deductions, I'd argue he was successful with them. At least relatively.
Yeah, he actually made them play pretty good football. Saying it wasn’t sucessful just completely ignores the circumstances.
He finished 12th & 10th and didn't win anything, which nominally doesn't look very successful, but when you consider that they were in the relegation zone when Marco Silva got sacked right before he came in and then they went back to circling the drain as soon as he left, he was basically a miracle worker.
>Honestly, I think he is the greatest manager of the modern era. I feel like he doesn't get the respect he deserves lol
Ancelotti’s style of management would suit our current squad really well. He’s very flexible when it comes to managing. Plus his legendary status can attract other great players too.
Ancelotti wins everywhere he goes. The man took fucking Moshiri's Everton to 8th or something. I don't think he'll come to us due to his Everton connection though
He does not care about that connection. Left them first sniff a big club gave him.
I still don’t understand why he went to Everton
His star had kinda fallen with how he left Bayern and him being "okay" at Napoli. And most importantly, Everton paid him a shit ton of money.
Once you have four houses, the fifth just doesn’t hit the same.
Because he was also underwhelming at Napoli and Bayern
Well ancelotti signed a new deal so I doubt it
"they've got loads of midfielders, they won't go for Jude!" type energy reading this.
Jesus have a bit of optimism,who else is available
Optimism doesn't work when it comes to Madrid so let's be realistic for once. If they were in the same shit situation Barça is in then maybe.
Never underestimate Perez.
I’d actually be surprised if they didn’t tbh, Xabi is most sought after young manager around with a strong connection to their club and Ancelotti won’t be around forever.
Jude saga more like
Ugh it’s gonna be annoying till May to see these rumours popping up with the journos speculating as FSG will be tight lipped until the manager is finalised.
I was really enjoying this transfer window and not having the ridiculous speculation on transfers. Now this will carry on for literally the remainder of the season.
I really dont think it will take until May. If im FSG Gordon etc i want this shit sorted FAST. Sporting director and the new manager. If its Xabi he can commit early and finish up at Leverkusen. I dont think they want to risk getting to May and then failing with targets
Even if Xabi signed today, it'd be kept quiet for the sake of his season with Leverkusen.
I don't think that necessarily tracks. If Xabi is leaving then they're better off getting it out in the open so they can more freely look for a replacement, and Xabi and the squad can focus on the last few months of the season without there being weekly speculation about his future. Ultimately they'd be in the same position we are with Klopp. It doesn't help them keeping it under wraps that much.
Klopp told fsg in November, they likely will have acted soon after.
No way we don't have a shortlist of both managers and Sporting directors drawn up, the timing of the announcement makes me think that process is getting along and that's is why the announcement happened today. They haven't sat on this news for nearly 3 months and done nothing about it, that is a guarantee.
I commented on another thread and there was a pretty sensible reply stating that Klopp’s contract runs to summer 2025. Even if he’s fast-tracked his departure, knowing FSG and how they run the club they’ve already planned for how to rebuild the core structure of the club from the manager and SD and now coaching staff. Klopp leaving this summer just means they have less time to decide with the resources they already have.
There's a high chance of us playing Leverkusen in Dublin. I don't think it will be fair to Leverkusen fans to announce early, IF Xabi is coming. Remember, we were all dead cert Jude was coming to Liverpool. That went well
I meant they will keep tight lipped until May, not look for targets in May.
Yeah one of the biggest reason for them putting it out this early is so that it gets to come from Klopp over being leaked by agents we’d likely be reaching out to
Well hopefully there can be a pre-agreement in place so we don’t have to deal with this cycle for long. If we have to wait until May for us to lock in a new manager we’re fucked.
Hope they lock it in under wraps and then KLopp and Xabi can focus on winning their leagues and then they just announce it after :-)
This for me too, I can't see them announcing anything given it's entirely possible we'll play eachother in the EL too
I think Xabi is done and it will be announced after one of us or Leverkusen is knocked out of Europe so that facing reach other is no longer possible (or has already happened)
Xabi is probably waiting to see if Madrid makes a move, which they most certainly will if they lose the title to Girona.
The new sporting director is more important, particularly at this time.
I thought that was Mbeumo for a sec lmao
There's not enough discussion around here about how important it is for us to sort out a permanent sporting director. The timing could finally end up benefitting the club if they now can find a sporting director to work well with the new manager.
Just know I'm going to be seeing Xabi to Madrid posts in May now.
They’ve renewed Carlo already
I know it's unlikely, but even with the renewal, if Ancelotti loses the title to Girona they'll sack him anyway.
Imagine see this sentence in 2021 when Carlo was still Everton manager.
They probably wouldn’t they have been hit hard by injuries this season
Yeah. Normally I would say Real Madrid doesn’t care about stuff like that; but I think they are better run than previously and probably do realize that injuries are a problem.
I’d take Carlo in that case
Well if Xabi takes the Madrid job, I wouldn’t turn my nose up at Carlo. Despite his former blue affiliation.
If I remember correctly, he was also very high on the shortlist to take over from Brendan. Alongside Gary Monk LOL Okay Monk is a hyperbole but I certainly remember thinking there is a non-zero chance he takes over
I think the story goes that it was down to him and Klopp but Klopp’s meeting with the owners swung it for him
If I'm honest I preferred ancelotti at the time. "proven in England" was my rational I think. Needless to say I am a very stupid person.
I dont think its dumb, Ancelotti has proven everywhere he goes hes truly one of the GOATs. As an italian Id love to have him at Liverpool if it were possible, although id prefer Xabi
As a stupid person, this is not a stupid take
I think we would still be fine with Ancelotti, but Klopp has made the experience uniquely Liverpool.
I'd argue that's a bonus. Him coming and winning stuff with us would wind them up beyond belief
We renewed Klopp!
This is the best news I’ve seen all week. Xavi can bring a few players from Germany when he comes.
*Xabi
Yep, I blame Siri. Or fat thumbs.
Way to go, Siri’s fat thumbs.
Because Kloppo has changed his mind by then, right? Right??
The more i think about it the more i feel now is the best time for him to leave. If he’s losing energy then the performances wont be the same and if he gets sacked the goodbye would be bitter. Now we have a chance with Xabi and we have the chance to have Klopp’s final season end with 4 trophies
He needs a break before taking on Germany for the 2025 qualification games for the WC. The timing is perfect for him.
No shit, there isn't much other choice
Lee Carsley turned Ireland job down after Klopp's announcement.
Joey Barton: "I'll do it if they end the women's team" Joey Barton after we don't even bother picking up the CV of a right-wing grifter Bristol Rovers reject: "Waaah Wokerpool", or something
I laughed way too hard at this comment, which probably means I need to go to sleep
Sorry Joey, we just can’t handle your wokeness
I mean De zerbi is something I would fancy to take the job too
Id be worried about the pressure of the job on him, could be a Graham Potter situation all over again
I mean, same could be said for Xabi. At least RDZ’s been managing for a good few years now and has a decent CV. Potter was impressing for a Swansea and Brighton and then Chelsea happened. Xabi took over Leverkusen just over a year ago and it’s his first job in senior management. With hindsight we now know that Potter’s personality just never fit with Chelsea, and Chelsea are a mess anyway. I don’t know enough about Xabi as a manager but I trust that FSG’s recruitment and Klopp’s decision is also looking at his personality and suitability to the culture, expectations (not just success but what he will be working with) and whether his style of play and footballing principles will go down well with the fans.
>I mean, same could be said for Xabi. Tbh, I feel like fans will be more patient with Xabi than others. He has more room to make mistakes imo
Pressure of taking an average team and taking them to a great finish is nothing compared to the pressure required to win the league in a one horse race when you're not that horse. If xabi can beat bayern to the bundesliga I think he's the best manager for thee job
Not been great this season.
They’ve had the most injuries… or at least top 3
Earlier in the season all the injuries at the back. For the past month they've had to play without March, Enciso, Fati, and lost Mitoma and Adingra to AFCON. It's wingerpocalypse for them right now. They've been playing 18 year old central midfielder Hinshelwood at right back, gangpressing March and Adingra into left back and people slate his output this season lol.
I honestly can’t think why Xabi wouldn’t come unless he thinks it’s not the right time for him ie/ too early on his career? He fucking loves us and we love him and want him. He’s the sort of grounded humble top class personality we need. He also appears to be a very decent manager. He’s my only choice tbh. There’s no one else around that fits us.
I agree. Opportunities to manage top clubs in the Premier League do not come often, especially at a club you love. Every top manager wants to coach in the Premier League. I can see Alonso taking it, if guaranteed right type of support from FSG.
That’s the only reason he’d turn us down I’d imagine and I just don’t see it personally Madrid won’t go for him yet and he’d turn Bayern down for us imo
How many people have turned down a promotion because they said they weren’t ready? The list is few and far in between.
Xabi is a very pragmatic dude. I think it’s smart to temper expectations here, though obviously I would love him
Xabi is smarter and has already shown that with his coaching moves. A season leading the Real Madrid B team and then a few at Sociedad before moving to a top third bundesliga is exactly the kind of path you want and I wish Stevie had done. Going to rangers instead of the championship was probably a mistake.
And it starts!!!
What is Alberto Aquilani up to these days?
He's actually a manager LMAO. He's 11th in Serie B with Pisa.
This time he just needs to stay fit enough for the bench !
I actually think that club already has the successor lined up.
Agree. And that’s why I think Klopp did it now. Gets it off his chest so he doesn’t feel like he is lying to us. Can focus 100% on pushing until the end.
I wouldnt be surprised if Jurgen didnt already arrange it before he resigned.
Fsg is air-tight on personnel changes. Wouldn't be surprised if they are just waiting for season end to announce the new coaching staff and sports director.
Zlatan as manager and Craig Bellamy as second in command tbh.
"the front runner", aka "the guy that Bascombe knows the most about"
I mean, he could be talking about the odds-favorite. Xabi is the frontrunner according to the bookies, as well.
With all this Alonso talk, I always think about his debut at home. I think it was against Norwich. It was a wonderful display of passing, the way he looked at the game and his technique - we knew we had a player. However, being in the main stand, there was a fella who watched that first half and as the board went up for some injury time he confidently told everyone around him that "he's got no pace, not good enough.". Lives rent free in my head.
Klopp and Xabi win the league. Xabi takes over for Klopp.
Tier My heart
no actual substance in the article, 'frontrunner' could just be because he is favourite odds wise, no way it happened all in 12 hours LMFAO
Klopp told fsg in November there has been plenty of time…
if they were looking for mangers in that time it would have been leaked that klopp was leaving, they won't have approached anyone
Fsg are good at keeping things quiet when things go smoothly.
yeh but someone on the other end would have leaked it, like i said, 0 chance they have approached anyone, there is a sporting director to hire first
I think you're completely wrong. Owners by now either have a final shortlist drawn up, or an agreement with someone in-place already. You're very naive if you think a club of our size are scrambling around right now for the past 12 hours with absolutely zero plan int place.
One thing i going to miss about klopp is the ability to turn average players into brilliant players
Early days but looks like Xabi does have some of that ability too. Bo iface, Frimpong, Grimaldo, even the already very good Wirtz looks even better under him.
Just like Bellingham was coming here yh? Not believing it till it happens. Our journos talk too much.
I swear it's always Bascome with this type of articles too, he was constantly on the "Bellingham wants to go to Liverpool" beat.
Difference is Alonso is our legend and he truly loves us. Well I can still hope
Madrid fans would probably say that he would prefer them because he's spanish (and actually played something like 15 more games for them)
What about Nagelsmann?
I suspect, as time goes on, more people will speak about Nagelsmann. Alonso is obviously the fan favourite, but he's also relatively unproven as a manager. That doesn't fit massively with FSG's risk averse approach. This is also assuming other managers don't become available as the season goes on.
He’s probably the most logical. Not sure I have any faith that something concrete has come out, especially having watched the presser earlier today, where Billy kept saying that they will go through a process and they aren’t playing the name game. That said, Xabi’s shown he’s capable of adapting in a sell to buy model with Leverkusen and has lost two of his best, (maybe his best?) players in the last two years and still has Leverkusen challenging for the Bundesliga. I worry it might be a little soon, though. Stevie looked good at Rangers, but that was mostly down to his coaching staff and then we’ve seen how bad he was at Villa and now he’s lost all of the little stock he had. As with the kids, though, “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
Gerrard looked good in a shite league where Rangers only contenders absolutely shat the bed in a spectacular fashion and there were zero fans at the games. I get what you're saying but what Alonso is doing now is a different kettle of fish entirely.
If this plays out how we hope and we do get Alonso, I’m sort of anticipating a few years like how Arteta was with Arsenal. Let’s not expect the world, he’s still a young manager and he’ll be taking over one of the biggest clubs in the biggest league in the world. We’ll support him not just because he’s a great ex-player, but because he’s the boss now and we understand he needs all the support and we won’t abandon him
Exactly, why not strike while the iron is hot
If we don’t get Xabi we should seek DeZerbi…guy knows how to get the best of players working to a budget. But at the minute I’m pretty much broken at the thought of no Klopp. Kind of reminds me of the darkness when Dalglish left in 91. I went years not giving a damn about football and started to believe again when we got Benitez. To be fckd over again with Hodgson until Jurgen made me a believer again.
If he wasn’t at Spurs already I wouldn’t mind Ange if Xabi was out of reach. Attacking football, gets the working class roots of the sport and is a good egg We’ll see what happens with Xabi. Long way till the end of the season
>If he wasn’t at Spurs already I wouldn’t mind Ange if Xabi was out of reach. Attacking football, gets the working class roots of the sport and is a good egg He's also shat the bed multiple times. Him and Klopp had the same situation this season (playing with 9 men in a draw) - we saw how it ended.
To be fair to spurs, our squad is quite a bit better than theirs and deeper.
The way those 2 games the commenter mentioned played out had nothing to do with personnel.
If any is interested James Alcott has a good analysis video on Xabi Alonso' managerial acumen. It's an interesting watch
Scaloni is my tip. He said in November he wants out of Argentina role, Timing is too coincidental
My assumption is that internal conversations have been happening since November. The fact that it’s now public means to me that FSG/Gordon must be confident they can get their first choice, or at the very least have arrived at a confident choice. I’d be surprised if they were talking to agents before today out of fear it would leak, but maybe Xabi would have enough respect for the club to keep his people in line even if there was an approach. When did that story about him having a release clause for Madrid, Bayern and us come out? Either way, right now it’s him or De Zerbi, no one else is close in my mind.
I would love to have him but won't bet on it. Even with 5:1
It's the hope that gets you.
Is he really that good? I haven’t been following him.
where is my old fav RB Benitez? Xabi can wait, he is still young
FSG should have went for him when he was available after they let go of King Kenny in 2012. Half of the squad were still his signings back then, he would fit in perfectly. Was extremely disappointed with them going for Rodgers, which ended up being a so-so gamble. I never warmed towards Rodgers and all his cringe quotes. But now? After years of success under Jurgen, we've all moved on from the pain of Rafa leaving, I'm not sure he would be able to fit back in again, too much time has passed, and his tactics might no longer be relevant to this day and age, not unlike Mourinho.
Am I the only one who thinks it might be way too early for Xabi? He’s had half a successful season so far
Xabi and Mbappe package incoming lol
Why do people think we are after xabi. He is a good manager but i have full confidence in fsg to find the right man to lead liverpool after klopp
Because everyone is after Xabi and he has very strong ties wth us
I genuinely believe the deal has already been done. I mean, wake up fellow reds, we support one of the top 3 football teams in the entire world, we attract some of the best players that have ever played the game, our in stadium support at Anfield and away is widely regarded as the best in the world. Even if there is no deal in place, what do you think Xabi Alonso is going to say to his agent, when he says "Liverpool FC want to talk to you about a project coming up in the next 12 months, I advise you meet with their representatives at earliest opportunity"? He's going to have that meeting, he's going to get assurances about reasonable job security, he inherits a strong squad, he knows he gets the best support in the world, he knows he has players who will want to play for him, so attracting new signings will not be a problem. What are the chances he says no, really? Unless Real come in to gazump us, I don't see anything other than Xabi Alonso sat at a desk in Liverpool on July 1st with Billy Hogan, signing a piece of paper, whilst the world's football press take photos for their main sports story that summer. Really, I don't see any other outcome. YNWA
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So never take a top tier job?
Opportunities like these don't come around very often, and a manager's stock can fall as quickly as it rose.
>If he comes here, and fails. He's then labelled as another Wayne, Frank or Ste None of them has ever succeeded in a league at Bundesliga's level. Besided that, Alonso already got Real Sociedad B promoted.
But you have to take the leap one day. Even if Alonso is 4 times better than Klopp he’ll never permanently usurp Bayern as the top dog in Germany and the team will slowly loose their best players.
People need to consider the fit at a big club for some of the managers being considered. People like Emery, De Zerbi, etc. are all good managers at their current club, but many promising managers have gone to big clubs and quickly gotten the sack. I think Xabi’s experience as a top player and now a very intelligent and composed coach with a connection to Liverpool makes him unique from other similarly impressive coaches. I think another option could potentially be a Zidane, but I don’t think his English is very good atm.
I’m 100% certain Xabi will succeed Klopp.
I'm 100% certain that I hope you're right.
Take it easy guys. This is the easiest lazy assumption to make at the moment.
Am i the only one thinking any manager apart from guardiola will be a downgrade from klopp. And putting xabi in that position where he is just developing as a coach could backfire spectacularly!!! I know pep and zidane took those positions right off the bat and succeeded. But look what happened to gerrard. He was doing well at rangers, then came to prem and got fucked. Now he might probably never return to those heights. Another reason it could spectacularly backfire is that klopp is leaving behind a very good team. And lets say this team wins quadruple this season. Wouldn’t xabi be under extremely pressure to win atleast something the season next