02 Feb 2024 07:39:01
{Ed's Note - Eeko87 has posted a new article entitled, Allo Allo! Herr Flick As Next Liverpool FC Manager?

1.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 09:29:27
Good read but just a couple of points from my opinion:

In terms of obtaining Xabi, I very much doubt he will be available in a few years. I think a move to a big club beckons shortly regardless making it extremely and unlikely we would have access to him if he turns out to be a success.

I would not personally look at a manager that plays as closely to Klopp as possible. You cannot simply recreate what Klopp brings. No one can play Klopps style better than Klopp. I really love the fact that Alonso comes with his own distinct style. It's attacking. With Bradley emerging, it looks an ideal fit. Trent would play in a two which I think would suit him. While quite different is not hard to see how we would transition to it and maybe the best version of Alonso's style could come close to Klopp.

I don't think you can ignore Flicks record in international football because you don't like it. It still counts. But I do understand you are not working with the players everyday. But it's still a negative on his copybook. Put it this way. I think Klopp will get Germany going.
So for sure I don't think Flick is as good as Klopp. With Alonso, he might be. I will say this though, that Bayern team was very enjoyable to watch. So I'm not anti Flick so to say.

I have to say, I really hope the club goes with Alonso. Of course there's risk there due to length of career but I'd definitely take it. He was king as a player and now flying it as a manager. When has he ever had a low in any part of his career in football. He is a legend. Already a part of our football club. He is the choice that can be made with both heart and head. So rarely can you make a choice with both. It's time to bring Xabi home.

Xabi Pros:
- has his own distinct style which he developed himself
- highly succesful playing career where he won everything in the game
- coached by Benitez, Mourinho, Ancelotti and Guardiola. Great teachers.
- has amazing ties to the club and love for fans and city.
- has a standing in the game that I think will attract players in addition to the status of the club.
- his current Leverkusen style looks to fit our side like a glove.
- potentially the next great manager with big success already in short period
- attainable at this point in his career
- age wise, a long term solution
- never been a big money manager


Cons:
- not managing long. Unproven over longer period.

Every manager is a gamble. I bet my money on Alonso over every other contender easily. I'm absolutely praying we get him.

2.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 10:59:46
Accurate points, Davey. Oh and one more thing. Xabi may be inexperienced and the question will always be that can he do it at Liverpool esp. under these circumstances.

But youu know what? At the end of the day, this notion applies to ANY manager we hire proven or unproven because of one thing: The nature and culture of this club esp. after a transformational manager like Klopp leaves. So essentially, there are no guaranties here. There is only potential to succed or fail regardless of who we get. Just wanted to put that out there.

3.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 12:12:17
I agree Oli.

The fact is, if Alonso goes to a big club, we won't get him. We can't get players/ managers from clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona etc. Unless they are willing. He will move to a club like this. So, it really does feel, like it's now or never. I don't think there's an argument to say, let him develop for a few more years and then we'll get him. It sounds great but I don't think it's a realistic option.

So the question really is, do you want Alonso managing the club now or someone else.

I only watched 45 minutes of his team play and I knew instantly, I want him at Liverpool. I could see the idea, the patterns, the style, the balance all instantly. From 45 minutes. Such a clear idea/ identity.

I haven't watched enough of Girona, Sporting, Az etc. to speak about these up and coming managers but none of them come with the additional pros Alonso brings.

I genuinely think he has a great chance of being the next superstar manager. And I would hate to miss out on that.

You are not going to compete with Guardiola with a safe choice. It's Alonso time.

Also, I thinking Salah will leave and his tactics mean a direct replacement would not exactly be needed.

Alisson in goals.

Defence three of Konate, Van Dijk, Gomez

Wing backs: Bradley, Robertson

CMs: McAllister, Trent

AMs: Szobozlai, Jones

St: Nunez

And there's a million other options you could go with.

Jota could be a ST or AM
Someone like Diaz could be AM or even W
It's a slightly differt style that might actually suit Gakpo more as a CF or he could be AM.

I'm certainly not trying to say he is better style than Klopp.

My point is, he has exactly the right players at the club to play his style already. I easily could see the team dominate with it. I don't see any issues adapting to it as it suits so many of the players natural game style. No one has a crystal ball but sometimes with clothes, you look at a shirt and you think, that would go very well with my pants at home. That's how I feel about Alonso's football identity and style and Liverpool's players.

With all the other pros, he has become a no brainer for me.

But he needs the right structure around him. That DOF appointment is also incredibly important to get right.

Let's hope we get it all right do we can keep the good times rolling after Klopp rides into the sunset.

4.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 13:19:14
Very good points Davey.

One thing I disagree on though is his availability if we don't take him this summer. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are his only likely other destinations besides us. None of them have had managers stay there more than 3 seasons recently. The trend at both clubs (actually probably most clubs in the modern era) has been 1 to 3 seasons before changing managers. You would have go back as far as Otmar Hitzfeld's first stint with Bayern for a manager that did 4 or more seasons with them. And if we look at Madrid, Vincente Del Bosque was their last long serving manager. Actually makes one realize how blessed we have been to have Klopp as long as we have, considering how football has been going the past 20 years.


That said, if FSG appoint Xabi, I would welcome him with open arms. If it does happen, I just hope and pray that it works out well and that he manages our team with great success over the next decade.

5.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 14:26:12
I agree Eeko with your points on Xabi but my personal preference is Nagelsmann. I think people setting their hearts on Xabi and only Xabi might end up disappointed because my gut feeling is FSG will play it conservative. They know they have a golden goose with this squad and Klopp's legacy instilled into this club and they aren't going to want to stray away from that and they won't want to shake up the squad. They won't be swayed by fan opinion as they already learned that lesson with Kenny. I believe they are certainly using the data in their approach and I know with players they usually believe in them having a certain amount of experience before they financially commit to them so I wouldn't be surprised if they wanted the manager to have a certain amount of experience. That's why I wouldn't be shocked if an unremarkable name like Marco Rose ended up getting the job. I think they will go with best fit as opposed to most exciting prospect with this appointment.

6.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 14:28:34
That trend could change if a manager is a top success.

I guess I prefer the risk of taking Alonso than the risk of losing him because I think he is going to have an excellent career.

But I loved reading your article. Lots of interesting and knowledgeable opinions.

7.) 02 Feb 2024
02 Feb 2024 19:16:46
Davey, let me give you an analogy here regarding this topic. Let's say, we were interested in Darwin while at Benfica the season before we signed him. And let's say we kept our powder dry cos he had only had one great season so far and even tho, he fit EVERY metric and data point and checked all the boxes on our profile of him. Most iportantly, the money is there to get him right now. But we hold our fire till next season to see if he can maintain his output. Darwin wants the move, btw.

Now here is where your potential scenario with Xabi going to Bayern or RM come in. Imagine we don't get Darwin when we could have. He kills it the next season and then he becomes the no. 1 CF on the market going for 150m. We can't get him then cos it's going to be a bidding war. And we are left with "What might had been? ". This is my thing with Xabi.

If FSG really thing Xabi is OUR guy and he fits everything we want to do and is seen as good enuff to carry on Klopp's legacy at a fundamental level. FSG had BETTER go and do whatever it's going to take to get him this season, regardless of what Leverkusen achieve or don't achieve. Cos if we wait to see if he is going to go one better next season with Leverkusen then like the scenario above with Darwin, we will definitely lose him to the bigger clubs and we will then have to settle for another guy and for me, DeZerbi and Naggelsman AIN'T that guy, IMO.

8.) 03 Feb 2024
03 Feb 2024 09:44:29
Couldn’t we use the same analogy for Bellingham.

Everyone wanted him, everyone was certain we were going to get him. We didn’t and now he’s killing it.

9.) 03 Feb 2024
03 Feb 2024 13:55:43
JK23, I am not part of the "everyone" who was "certain" we were going to get him. In fact, I highly doubted we would get him cos of the money it would cost and I would only have believed we would get him only if it had actually happened. It didn't happen and I was fine with it cos I never believed the media-manufactured saga.

Also and once again, your analogy/ comparison is flawed. Anyone that knew anything about Bellingham knew that he would be great regardless of who got him hence why all the top clubs like Madrid, City and LFC amongst others wanted him cos they all recognised what a player he had become and was going to become hence, nobody is surprised he is "killing it". That does not apply to Xabi who even tho many of us want him at LFC, still has a lot to prove.

10.) 03 Feb 2024
03 Feb 2024 17:18:38
Bellingham was never attainable. Always said that and always was of the opinion we had no chance. Alonso is different as he is a very attainable option for manager and FSG have to make every effort to get him as there are no other even half decent alternatives out there.

11.) 03 Feb 2024
03 Feb 2024 18:25:54
Oli get a grip mate, you love telling people what they can and can’t post and then when someone does it to you, you bawl your eyes out with lots of capitals.

There’s away fans all over the world who’ve been to Anfield more than you and you follow the club like it’s a tv programme on a free view buffering stream.

Go and watch some local football and see how it feels to actually indulge in a game rather than high horse it on here.