Bielsa would have selected all those players, and made them run and run and run. And run.
And run.
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[Albion] De Zerbi: 'We deserved to lose...I understood the problem in January!"
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
And run.
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 10,704
Our squad is incredible, because of De Zerbi.That’s the bit that riles the ostriches (“our squad is still incredible, EL games add absolutely no workload”).
We get carried away with our recruitment team's success and think Tony is handing RDZ, premier league ready talent, that ensure top half finishes.
Enciso, Buanonotte, Adingra, Hinshelwood, Van Hecke have all been improved by him having faith in them.
But they are all still, to varying degrees, inexperienced players.
That table reiterates what I’ve been saying, for the period post 3-1 win over Plucky. A footballing epoch back in time.
I’d add that our defensive unit is far worse than peak last season, giving us mini mountains to climb when we concede. Last season we often had this or similar, when not in possession. Pace, power, nous, covering each other, Albion nectar
.Veltman - Dunk - Colwill - Estupinan
———Mac Allister - Caicedo
I recall actual passages of play where Caicedo covered Estupinan for example, when pacy opponents counter attacked.
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Javeaseagull
Well-known member
- Feb 22, 2014
- 2,505
That the thing isn’t it. The club won’t stand in the way of anyone bettering themselves, including managers. Just pay the right price and that is where Barca fall down. They don’t have a pot etc and try to get managers to agitate to join them.That won’t work with Tony so they will sign a “free.”
Sold the midfield and did not replace it. Endless injuries to key players, playing in 4 competitions for the first time and 37 games 16 wins 10 draws 11 defeats. De Zerbi has done a superb job, again
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 10,704
I wonder what would happen if De Zerbi resigned?
I'm sure there would be legal consequences, but presumably we couldn't stop him.
My “still” meant it isn’t so much now due to the list of key injuries.
Definitely. Potter then RDZ hugely improved players. Fact. Dunk has mentioned this about RDZ more than once. He creates stars.
- Oct 20, 2022
- 4,884
I think his training sessions are very intense and yes, it is a very energy consuming and physically demanding style of play for the team as a whole, not just for a few players key areas. The intricate passing techniques are tough on ankles and feet too. We are not the only team in the Premier League playing fast, attacking style football though and not the only team with a high injury list this season so there must be more to it.
The shelf life of managers is another issue and in top flight football can be short (and getting shorter as we know) - The average top-flight manager tenure across top divisions in Europe last season was less than 16 months (as per Uefa).
Just to name a few of ours over the years …
Potter 3.3 years; Poyet 3.6 years; Hughton 4.3 years; McGhee 2.8 years; Chris Caittlin 2.5 years. We’ve only really had two or three longer serving managers in our history - Billy Lane 1951-61, Alan Mullery 1976-81 + 6 months and Barry Lloyd 1987-93.
RDZ left Sassulo after 3 years but not before getting them to within a whisker of Europe
De Zerbi: 'I am leaving Sassuolo' - Football Italia
Sassuolo coach Roberto De Zerbi confirms he has already told ‘the club and players that I have decided to leave,’ with reports of a Shakhtar
football-italia.net
(Obviously we can’t blame his style of management for an early exit from Shahktar - but the fact he stayed until all his players were safe is a testament to his level of commitment to a club as a coach.)
Javeaseagull
Well-known member
- Feb 22, 2014
- 2,505
Wouldn't he have to buy himself out of his contract? Something like that rings a bell. A dullard would know
Wouldn't he have to buy himself out of his contract? Something like that rings a bell. A dullard would know
How much is the alleged figure, £12.5m?
... can I suggest we all put our phones away for an hour and go for a walk... enjoy this brief Interlude of blue sky 
Javeaseagull
Well-known member
- Feb 22, 2014
- 2,505
Possibly. Can't see Barca even paying that, they really are a basket case. Swap for Fati
RDZ is not a whiner .... What are you smoking ?
And
Lopez: 'De Zerbi similar to Bielsa' - Football Italia
Sassuolo midfielder Maxime Lopez said coach Roberto De Zerbi ‘gave me my confidence back’ and compared him to Leeds tactician Marcelo Bielsa. The
football-italia.net
(This is from a player who has played for both!)
Tactically astute ?? Not sure about that given he’s suffered heavy defeats to managers like Moyes & Dyche when he didn’t change anything and the same goals kept going on
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 10,704
Agreed
But RDZ is being forced to play with a first team consisting of 30-40% of U21s.
That isn't optimal.
We are relying too much on De Zerbi's ability to play high risk football, with inexperienced players.
Like most things in life, it’s not a convenient black & white argument. Can see why RDZ wanted to be backed because he’s very ambitious and clearly a terrific coach. On the flip side, can see why Albion wouldn’t want to spend a fortune to pursue the dream when they feel they can supply a conveyor belt of outstanding young talent.
Maybe they should have splashed the transfer money on a few expensive signings and all the new deals our existing top players would then demand. Maybe we would have broken the domination of 6 or 7 ludicrously wealthy club for years to come before Bloom unveiled the RDZ statue in a decade’s time outside our European trophy room.
More likely, if we were that successful, he’d be off to Barca/Real Madrid/Liverpool within a year (like anyone else) and we’d be left to pick up the pieces.
Maybe they should have splashed the transfer money on a few expensive signings and all the new deals our existing top players would then demand. Maybe we would have broken the domination of 6 or 7 ludicrously wealthy club for years to come before Bloom unveiled the RDZ statue in a decade’s time outside our European trophy room.
More likely, if we were that successful, he’d be off to Barca/Real Madrid/Liverpool within a year (like anyone else) and we’d be left to pick up the pieces.
Uh_huh_him
Well-known member
- Sep 28, 2011
- 10,704
FWIW, and I stress I didn’t follow the game in detail as was out and only really saw the updates on Twitter, I think the biggest issue is Evan’s loss of form. We have no JP, Welbz needs careful game management so Ferguson’s barren run couldn’t be happening at a worse time. He seemed to have at least two very presentable chances yesterday and missed both, a confident Evan from the last month of last season and we could be looking at a different outcome.
Billy the Fish
Technocrat
This is the biggest point for me.
I said it on one of the pre-season threads and got told off for being negative.
I wouldn’t say he’s astute. He has a very specific way of playing that works a lot of the time with the right personnel. But I'm not sure you’d describe him as ‘astute’