You can tell Josh Abe is an outrageous footballer from the first moments you watch him.
A true omnidirectional threat, comfortable facing up against the touchline or taking the ball into the congested zones. Nice spring in his step and clean touch.
🚨 Liverpool reach verbal agreement with Andoni Iraola to become head coach. Set to sign 2yr contract (same as #AFCB deals) & wants Pablo de la Torre, Tommy Elphick, Shaun Cooper, Tom Webber on staff. #LFC plan to present 43yo by end of week @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/uYB8DBzOWR
🔴Liverpool closing in on Andoni Iraola.
→ 9th of 284 Big 5 managers for possessions won in the attacking third
→ The Klopp-style press Anfield missed under Slot
→ 18th of 284 for points earned above wage expectation
One of Europe's most exciting young managers.
Anyone else ever seen a celebrity somewhere completely random? I seen Robbie Williams at London Zoo when I was younger and then just this morning, I was stuck in traffic behind @laura_woodsy.
Top 4 minimum. More than anything I want an actual identity and intensity on the pitch. And the players to not look like they’re hating every second of being out there. If (and it’s a big if) it clicks quickly, we could challenge. I’m not convinced anyone else is super strong.
What’s everyone’s genuine and fair expectations for Iraola next season? Like what would you consider a good first year and what would be considered an absolute failure for you?
This is where I’m at with Iraola. I would LOVE Enrique or a “proven” top manager (of which there aren’t really any available), but Iraola clearly ticks a lot of boxes outside of the experience and “proven” aspect.
Liverpool want to be an aggressive, front-foot team led by someone who is all in, whose identity is intensity, who will immerse himself in the club through to the academy, and whose hard-working character will endear him to the city. That’s Andoni Iraola.
Yes, there are risks. There usually always are bar very rare circumstances. Jürgen Klopp thought he was a risk because he had never worked outside of Germany.
Looking at win percentages as a mark of appointing a new head coach/manager is nonsense. Klopp would have never been approached by Bayern Munich or joined Borussia Dortmund in that case.
Luis Enrique would have never gone from Celta to Barcelona.
It’s about what they’ve achieved relative to means, scaling that, plus their stylistic fit to the club and its ambitions.
I know Curtis has his flaws, but the amount of times we had to watch Mac Allister struggle last season but continue to start is reason enough to sack Slot.