Xabi Alonso was everyone's dream manager barely a year ago. The move to Real Madrid has dented his CV.
But anyone with actual football knowledge would have predicted that, because Real Madrid didn't have a midfield that control and dictate games, they are also poor out of possession.
What Xabi Alonso needed was support to make necessary changes. But he never had it. It was Real Madrid being Real Madrid at worshipping big players.
However, for me, it doesn't change how I feel about Xabi Alonso. Any club that will take and support him will be lucky. For me, he's a better manager than Vincent Kompany. The difference is the club they both chose to go to. Xabi Alonso will win Bundesliga for Bayern without a defeat in 38 games. He's that good.
Chelsea team is tailored for Xabi Alonso. We have midfielders capable of controlling the game and also playing his football to a higher level than what Bayer Leverkusen used to play.
Enzo Fernandez will be his perfect Toni Kroos. OOP won't be a problem + also when you add a few other experienced duo. It will be a match made in heaven.
We just have to make one more correct decision this time round.
Another example is Monchi and Unai Emery.
Monchi hired Unai Emery at Sevilla, and they were very successful together. They enjoyed a lot of success. Unai left, and Monchi later left to join Roma, where he did poorly. He returned to Sevilla under Lopetegui and didn't impress.
Unai brought him to Aston Villa because he understands him perfectly. The possibility of them failing together is slim. They know each other's game. It's an underrated solution in football.
If Manchester United had made efforts to take Hugo Viana and Ruben Amorim together, I don't think Amorim would have failed. A technical director who understands how to build a team for a coach is priceless.
It's not easy to pull two together from a club. They will never allow it. If you plan to take them differently, it will likely work.
If I were Chelsea, I would do anything to get these two [Simon Rolfes as technical director and Xabi Alonso as head coach] together at Chelsea and hand them this project.
It's like when City brought Aitor "Txiki" Begiristain and Pep Guardiola together. It's priceless to bring a sporting director or technical director and a coach that knows each other's game inside out.
That combo will never disappoint you.
Xabi Alonso took over Leverkusen when they were 17th.
The next season they won the league double.
+ Now has experience at the most high-pressure club in the world (one of few, more harsh/unforgiving than Chelsea).
Please for the love of God, Chels.
It’s a lay up.
Xabi Alonso suits the squad. Built for control more than anything, even under Maresca we controlled 70% of games even those that were against the big teams, Xabi built Leverkusen off that. Iraola coming in will mean the squad needs a major surgery to change the midfield composition completely to his intense style, but with the right midfield signing to add legs and CB signing with the correct wingers and attackers, Xabi can work with this squad. Cesc does suit the squad too well but it will take time too and I don't want this ownership to mess up a promising coaching career. Nagglesman can also work with this squad, same things he needs with the wingers and CBs and midfield signings.
Anyone that comes would require the right signings and power for their vision and not half hearted buy in. Especially the top ones.
If I were Chelsea owners, I would let the Sporting Directors and the coach go in the summer. The Sporting Directors have cost us a lot of money with some of the decisions they have made and lack the mentality required to run a big club. As for Liam, this job is simply too big for his level.
I understand the urge for an experienced manager, but realistically, I don't see anyone who can take this job.
A young manager isn't bad if the squad is there and he's well supported. Maresca and Kompany aren't experienced, and they delivered.
This is happening because Maresca left. He wasn't well supported in the market or with decision-making. It's as simple as that.
If we can't get Fabregas, get Alonso. That's based on our squad profile.
But we can't make the mistake of going into next season with Rosenior, unless we are ready to sell 15 players, buy another 15 players, and start from zero again.
We didn't do that for the more established Pochettino; we shouldn't do that now.
Horrible take. The screen size was never the problem.
The main problem with the iPhone mini was always the battery, and that’s something that can easily be fixed with a silicon-carbon battery.
A 5.8” iPhone 17 mini (same overall size thanks to thinner bezels) would make so much more sense today.
(image credit: @privatetalky)
Indian stock exchanges are closed today for Mumbai's municipal elections.
The fact that our exchanges, which have international linkages, are shut down for a local municipal election shows poor planning and a serious lack of appreciation for second-order effects.
As Munger said: "Show me the incentive, and I will show you the outcome."
The holiday exists because no one who matters has any incentive to oppose the market holiday.
It also tells you how far we have to go before global investors take us seriously.
Chelsea need to go all in for Rodrygo.
• Can be one of the star men and poster boys in our squad alongside Palmer, something he doesn’t get to do at Real Madrid.
• Can play his favoured LW position but can also cover RW.
• Big game experience, loads of goals in the UCL and in huge games but still only 24 so fits in with the model
• High wages but tons of money made at the CWC + statement summer signing
• Very reasonable fee for the quality of player and market opportunity at around £70-80m