28 Jan 2024 18:34:44
Alonso has taken an average team to the top of the Bundesliga, a notoriously easy league to win if you're Bayern Munich. The season isn't over yet, Bayern are catching up, he's won nothing yet.

I'm not saying I wouldn't want him, but he's only been managing for 18 months so the jury is out with regard to his long-term ability as it stands.

1.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 19:27:35
A short, but so far brilliant coaching career. And anyone is going to be a gamble compared to klopp.

2.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 19:51:44
Life moves fast especially as a manager.

This time last year Arteta was getting lots of praise as his Arsenal side were top of the league and heading towards the title. He was even getting praised on here. A few months later he was a bottler and had won nothing.

I’ll be honest I know nothing of Alonso as a manager but l what a player he was for us. Most fans on here appear to have thrown all of their eggs into one basket like they did with Bellingham.

Whoever FSG bring in will get my backing and whoever FSG bring in will have huge shoes to fill.

3.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 19:59:10
My take is this. I believe that Xabi Alonso is going to be a top coach. I believe he will be an even better coach with a few more years of experience. Provided nothing happens, he will manage Liverpool, Real Madrid and maybe even Bayern.

If he joins us now, we will have Real sniffing around for years until he eventually joins after 4 or 5 years and they will get Alonso's peak years of management. They will keep him for a maximum of 4 years before discarding him over potentially nothing or unrealistic expectations because that is how that club is run.

If we let him go to Real first, I believe we will get a better, more experienced manager, we won't have to wait too long for him as they get through managers like underwear and we won't have them lurking in the background trying to entice him. That means we could have him for the long haul, similar to Guardiola at City.

That's just how I see it potentially playing out anyway.

4.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 20:02:27
He’s done very well but sometimes you just get a perfect storm and just get lucky in management. The trick is to do it for a long period of time and make changes to keep you at the top.

That being said there really isn’t any other manager I would want right now so I say give him a go if he’s willing to take the job.

Anyone is going to be a step down after Klopp.

5.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 20:43:37
But what does Alonso want, I Assume that there has been quite a few phone calls made in the last couple of weeks . so some progress has been made, only we don't know just yet .

6.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 21:05:09
Spot on, Beckers pecker. All you have said and the possibilities about things being a perfect storm are all valid points to consider. That being said, Xabi still has to coach the team and get the best out of the players he found there or signed to make it work.

Is he overachieving? Of course BUT that is the only way Leverkusen or any other German club can actually achieve anything tangible with the Mastadon called Bayern aout here in these streets of the Bundesliga. that's it so for me, Xabi is the only guy I see out there that is a good fit for us as a club cos he plays good footie which fits with the way he play and he played here and won here and is a club legend. Seriously and this is not towards you BUT what's not to like?

7.) 28 Jan 2024
28 Jan 2024 22:54:39
Souness actually makes a great point. Says that the majority of manager jobs that come up are because managers are sacked so clubs are in disarray or underperforming.

We are the total opposite of that and if anything we should be extremely attractive to 99% of managers out there. They should be knocking our door down for an interview over us going to them.

On a seperate note rumours are going round that Arteta has now told Arsenal his plans to leave at the end of the season also.

8.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 00:55:23
Sky are reporting Arteta has no plans to leave JK but I do wonder if Barcelona really push for him would he go? I think he probably will.

9.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 05:52:13
Like Bakedbeanboy said, Alonso is still new to the whole managerial thing.

He needs a few more years, most of which should be his team challenging for the title in whatever league it may be, before he joins us.

Liverpool is not a normal run of the mill club. It comes with higher than normal expectations, higher then normal pressure, higher tan normal egos

Klopp went through relegation, to a title winning Dortmund, a title challenging Dortmund, rebuilt the Dortmund squad continuously, dealt with big egos, and so much more before he became our manager.

Alonso has not had to deal with all of that as yet.

We need a manager who has been through all the ups and downs, and who knows how to manage egos as well

How many of these coaches are out there is another story.

10.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 06:14:56
I'd like to think Klopp has done a good job of not having massive, disruptive egos in the squad. I'd hope this example is one that any future manager would be clearly aware of.
Therefore, I don't worry about Alonso's lack of experience. He understands the pressure of the club and it's expectations.
If there was an experienced, quality manager available, then sure, give Alonso more time. But, I'd prefer to support him with a quality DOF and hope he'd being continued success.
He has his team playing entertaining football and has voiced his wish to manage us. I think that's pretty important.

11.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 06:45:51
Also, Xabi has worked under Rafa, Jose, Pep and Ancelotti. There's experience in itself.

12.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 09:01:18
Spot on, Burkeyboy.

13.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 09:04:32
Alonso is using against the grain tactics, formations and is a clearly good to get it working so quickly. Yes he's untested long term, and that test when come when he starts getting found out and needs to adapt, but there are not many top managers around at the minute so we need to take a punt on the some of the best up and comers. Yeah he might be a Rodgers-esc false dawn but he might be the next Klopp. Only one way to find out!

14.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 10:53:39
The difference between Alonso and Rodgers is that he’s been there and got the medals so can back himself up. World Cup winner, European Championship winner, European Cup winner, league champion in more than one country, his CV demands respect, players will look up to him. The bloke is a leader. He speaks multiple languages, his ideas on the game are sound. I genuinely don’t see a better choice out there.

15.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 16:44:20
ViktorVaughan, the big diff. for me btw Xabi and BR on a human level, IMO. The thing is that you can see how humble and respectful Xabi is and how he seems really all about the team and how humble he is to be this successful at the very start of his coaching career.

BR was and is the complete opposite on a human level. His arrogance, hubris and misplaced pride and desire to be recognised knows no bounds.

16.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 16:45:29
The manager of Liverpool FC needs to be a tactical genius with the diplomatic skills of an UN Ambassador representing Liverpool.

I honestly believe we need a manager who has experienced the highs and lows of management and are excellent communicators.

On the footie side, I would say Emery or De Zerbie. On the communication front, I have no idea.

No rant, just some somber thoughts.

17.) 29 Jan 2024
29 Jan 2024 23:30:24
I'm solidly in the Xabi camp, but regards experience being a negative, king Kenny did ok with far less, as others have said he's played under some of the best managers in the the top leagues in Europe.