Andoni Iraola

[MosRay]

Great watch & thanks mate for sharing. I sense he can’t wait to get started.

You can see the excitement in his eyes, but what strikes me is how privileged he feels.

This feels like one of those fits like a glove appointments, like all the great mangers of the past. By that I mean he gets the club, the base and he will get the city too.

Let's hope he can become successful during his time at the club.

[Kenneth]

Agree that the vibes are spot on. I heard that he lost something like 5 out the first 7 games at Bournemouth before the players got to grips with things, and results similar to that would really dampen the excitement, but I’m expecting inconsistency early doors and am prepared for the long haul, as long as we’re putting in a shift and produce moments that properly entertain the fans.

[memzey]

I'm not trying to be contrarian and the biggest part of me hopes I'm wrong but I just don't share the same sense of optimism that is being expressed here. As much as I like Iraola as a person and rate him as a coach I can't escape the fact that he seems lacking for the task. He's probably adequately competent but this role needs something more and I just don't see it in him. Sorry.

Like I say, I hope I'm wrong but I can't deny my instinctive reaction to his appointment. This doesn't mean he won't get my unqualified support, of course he will, I just feel that I can already see the way his tenure is going to end and it doesn't look good.

[Yozza]

I'm not trying to be contrarian and the biggest part of me hopes I'm wrong but I just don't share the same sense of optimism that is being expressed here. As much as I like Iraola as a person and rate him as a coach I can't escape the fact that he seems lacking for the task. He's probably adequately competent but this role needs something more and I just don't see it in him. Sorry.

Like I say, I hope I'm wrong but I can't deny my instinctive reaction to his appointment. This doesn't mean he won't get my unqualifies support, of course he will, I just feel that I can already see the way his tenure is going to end and it doesn't look good.

Could you say what this feeling is based on? Just curious as I can't wait to see him sort us out - I think he'll do very very well

He was always going to turn up at a big club; I'm delighted we've got him

[memzey]

Could you say what this feeling is based on? Just curious as I can't wait to see him sort us out - I think he'll do very very well

He was always going to turn up at a big club; I'm delighted we've got him

That's a good a question. I'll try to put it into words as best I can.

Essentially, based on all past indicators to date, being a competent coach and man-manager tends to be good enough to make a coach stand out at a smaller club, but does not determine whether a coach is going to be successful at a mega club like LFC. It's rather that these are the minimum standards that anyone being considered for such a role needs to have. There are plenty of examples like, Moyes at Utd, Emery at Arsenal, Resenoir at Chelsea, Brendog at LFC, etc. etc., when a good coach and motivator can't cut it at the next level up. The real differentiators at that level seem to be more ephemeral than straight forward tactical nous/motivational skill and include things like how well they can cope with the pressure, can they galvanise and mobilise a global fan base, do they have something special/unique/desirable/advantageous about them that delivers a material advantage, and so on. I have lazily summarised this as "Gravitas" in other posts. As much as I like Iraola and want him to be a success, I can't escape the sense of a gaping hole in that aspect of his overall package, and it's one of the reasons why I thought Nagelsmann would have been a better appointment.

I will still back him 100% and sincerely hope he proves me wrong but, if he does so, it will be by showing these qualities which he hasn't in his career to date, at least, not at a level that is relevant to LFC.

[BG1973]

Fair dos.. think everyone feels a bit of the same but are happy to be able to look forward again.

He"s got a lot to prove (and do... far bigger challenges than Slot) but his demeanour I like a lot.

He seemed to get the best out of his players is the main thing. So if he does the same with a great squad then we will do well.

Over to Hughes...

[Yozza]

That's a good a question. I'll try to put it into words as best I can.

Essentially, based on all past indicators to date, being a competent coach and man-manager tends to be good enough to make a coach stand out at a smaller club, but does not determine whether a coach is going to be successful at a mega club like LFC. It's rather that these are the minimum standards that anyone being considered for such a role needs to have. There are plenty of examples like, Moyes at Utd, Emery at Arsenal, Resenoir at Chelsea, Brendog at LFC, etc. etc., when a good coach and motivator can't cut it at the next level up. The real differentiators at that level seem to be more ephemeral than straight forward tactical nous/motivational skill and include things like how well they can cope with the pressure, can they galvanise and mobilise a global fan base, do they have something special/unique/desirable/advantageous about them that delivers a material advantage, and so on. I have lazily summarised this as "Gravitas" in other posts. As much as I like Iraola and want him to be a success, I can't escape the sense of a gaping hole in that aspect of his overall package, and it's one of the reasons why I thought Nagelsmann would have been a better appointment.

I will still back him 100% and sincerely hope he proves me wrong but, if he does so, it will be by showing these qualities which he hasn't in his career to date, at least, not at a level that is relevant to LFC.

Thanks for replying - only time will tell but for me he doesn't come across as someone who doesn't belong

Rodgers, despite coming close, always looked like he was just pleased to be here - I remember his first interview & he was going on about the Porsche he'd been given

Slot, in spite of being a good bloke, never really enamoured himself with the fans

The new boss talked about earning the right & being grateful for the opportunity he's been given. He also used the word privilege many times

There's a warmth to his personality which I'm sure the players will respond to

The biggest challenge will be the pressure at LFC but also the demands.... 57 games compared to 40 that Bournemouth had last season

As you say, we all want him to be a success

[Buzzo]

Wasn’t it true that literally this season is the first that Slot ever had with a bad run? I don’t think he ever got his head around it. He didn’t seem to know how to act. He tried calm, and he once or twice forced passion. I think not understanding how he was being perceived was a massive flaw.

i don’t know much about Iraola at all. But I’m expecting some of that passion (don’t say Klopp like, don’t say Klopp like).

no matter who you coach fans need to see absolute anguish after a defeat. Or at least they need to see that the hurt is real. Slot was always way too chill. I suspect that’s just because that’s who he is. But when millions of fans are ****ed off they done want to see some chilled out nonchalant bloke. They want genuine passion

That said, Slit climbed Everest first attempt so knowing how to act after that was probably new for him also…

[Catrin]

Although every elite coach or manager has an ethos or a set of guiding principles about how they want their teams to play, they will adapt their tactics to get the best out of the players they have available. I don’t think we will play the same way as Bournemouth because we have better players. That said, getting the best out of a set of players usually includes setting them up in such a way as to stop the opposition from scoring and Bournemouth were quite leaky. That is my nagging doubt. Can he ensure we keep more clean sheets?

[SB]

Thanks for replying - only time will tell but for me he doesn't come across as someone who doesn't belong

Rodgers, despite coming close, always looked like he was just pleased to be here - I remember his first interview & he was going on about the Porsche he'd been given

Slot, in spite of being a good bloke, never really enamoured himself with the fans

The new boss talked about earning the right & being grateful for the opportunity he's been given. He also used the word privilege many times

There's a warmth to his personality which I'm sure the players will respond to

The biggest challenge will be the pressure at LFC but also the demands.... 57 games compared to 40 that Bournemouth had last season

As you say, we all want him to be a success

That’s where I think Millie’s knowledge would be invaluable if we were to consider bringing him in to the setup.

[rudedog]

That's a good a question. I'll try to put it into words as best I can.

Essentially, based on all past indicators to date, being a competent coach and man-manager tends to be good enough to make a coach stand out at a smaller club, but does not determine whether a coach is going to be successful at a mega club like LFC. It's rather that these are the minimum standards that anyone being considered for such a role needs to have. There are plenty of examples like, Moyes at Utd, Emery at Arsenal, Resenoir at Chelsea, Brendog at LFC, etc. etc., when a good coach and motivator can't cut it at the next level up. The real differentiators at that level seem to be more ephemeral than straight forward tactical nous/motivational skill and include things like how well they can cope with the pressure, can they galvanise and mobilise a global fan base, do they have something special/unique/desirable/advantageous about them that delivers a material advantage, and so on. I have lazily summarised this as "Gravitas" in other posts. As much as I like Iraola and want him to be a success, I can't escape the sense of a gaping hole in that aspect of his overall package, and it's one of the reasons why I thought Nagelsmann would have been a better appointment.

I will still back him 100% and sincerely hope he proves me wrong but, if he does so, it will be by showing these qualities which he hasn't in his career to date, at least, not at a level that is relevant to LFC.

Plenty of managers only developed that perceived “gravitas” after succeeding at a major club rather than before.

For me, the more important question is whether they have a clear footballing identity, can improve players, and can adapt when opponents work them out. Iraola has shown those qualities everywhere he’s been. The pressure at Liverpool is obviously another level, but I don’t think that’s something you can properly predict until someone is actually in the job.

[Exiled_red]

I think perhaps the biggest factor in how Iraola does this season is going to be based on the business we do in the transfer market, squad was short on a couple of positions last season, and low on numbers. If we don't correct both of those it's going to be difficult for him especially given the way we believe he is going to play

[peterbread]

While I agree the squad needs some work Slot didn’t help himself with his use of everyone available or the younger players. That alone will make a difference alongside the reported two attackers, RB, DM and CB the club will look to add.

[Exiled_red]

While I agree the squad needs some work Slot didn’t help himself with his use of everyone available or the younger players. That alone will make a difference alongside the reported two attackers, RB, DM and CB the club will look to add.

Slot didn't help himself true, but of the senior players we had around only really Chisea and Endo were untrusted, if you add those back in our squad was still too small.

The youngsters were underused too, the problem for them is they haven't had the experience they should have for the past couple of years which sets them back in their development.

We have lost 3 player this summer if we only bring 5 in still not sure that's enough

[Charly]

He didnt want Endo or Cheisa the previous season, so we had plenty of time to sell them, instead of younger untried players that may have had something to offer.