30 May 2026 14:23:00
So on 21 May I said “One place Iraola may go is Liverpool. That would be interesting.”
Now it looks like it may indeed be Liverpool. It would answer AJH’s question a week ago on who was in the queue for him.
I would rather they had kept Slot.
30 May 2026 14:38:00
Gutting to think they'll get an exciting, up and coming manager who plays great football with an average Bournemouth team. While we're stuck with an average manager, who in all likelihood won't be here in the next couple years, and we have to start the process all over again.
30 May 2026 15:12:18
We're all doomed!
Let's see if he can step up. Time will tell.
30 May 2026 15:33:24
I rate Iraola. However, the pressure at Liverpool will be a lot more intense than at Bournemouth.
30 May 2026 15:46:49
I think he has a big job on his hands.
They need centre backs (plural), wingers (plural), and a fullback for each side.
Plus, he has to come up with a way to fit Wirtz and Szoboszlai into the starting lineup. Szoboszlai was one of their best players this year, and you can't spend over £100m on a player only to bench him.
I feel like they wasted a lot of money last summer bringing in square pegs, rather than building on what was already working. I suspect that we won't see the best Iraola can do at Liverpool for a few years.
30 May 2026 15:57:44
I think Iraola is a very good manager, and the worst case scenario is that he has a similar effect as Klopp with his style of play. However, it could as easily fall apart, and the difference between the smaller and larger teams is huge, and getting the players to buy in is not easy, so it could easily fail.
On Carrick, the negativity is crazy, and it almost feels like we just wanted the new shiny thing (I may look back with egg on my face).
I think we will see a different style and adaptability with the new players, and a pre-season to embed his style, which for large parts at Middlesborough was successful.
We need to get behind the manager and team until things change. We will know by Christmas whether it was a good or bad choice for us, Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City. Until then it is all guess work.
30 May 2026 17:01:30
Isak was excellent at Newcastle. He got injured early and never got going, that was on top of losing Jota, Diaz, and Nunes, and a downturn in Salah's form. I can see things improving radically under Iraola if he has a healthy Isak and Ekitike, maybe with Diomande or Rayan as Salah's replacement.
It would not surprise me if Ratcliffe really wanted Iraola but it had simply become impossible not to give Carrick the opportunity.
30 May 2026 17:07:33
Ajh,
If Iraola does go to Liverpool, who do you think will finish higher in the league, Iraola's Liverpool or Carrick's United?
Who do you think will be sacked first?
Not trying to be clever, but wondering what you think.
30 May 2026 18:00:23
None of us know, Red Man. Most of us thought Liverpool would walk the league at the start of the season.
It's a big step up for him. He may rise to it, or it may overwhelm him. I have no idea which.
Same goes for Carrick. Sorry to sit on the fence, but. ?
30 May 2026 18:41:32
AJH
Yes, a bit of an unknown. I guess we don't know how Iraola deals with big-name players yet. Tactically excellent, mind you.
30 May 2026 18:49:28
Iraola could be great, could also be like Frank at Spurs. Time will tell.
As for Carrick, I have become more hopeful over time. My one qualm has been our style of play, but he has dealt well with what he had at his disposal, and if there was a manager who would understand controlling the midfield, it would be him.
So let's see what he can do with a good summer. Am quietly optimistic.
30 May 2026 22:09:14
Realistically, Liverpool player-wise are at the moment in a better position than us. Their defence is stronger, with a real leader in VVD.
Midfield, as things stand, they are stronger, and in attack we are probably level, although if Isak fires, he is definitely better than Sesko.
They probably need a central defender alongside VVD, possibly another defender who can cover left and right-back positions, and a replacement for Salah. Iraola has proven he can build a team at Bournemouth who play on the front foot, and so the Liverpool players will relish getting back to that Kloppesque style of playing.
Integrating Wirtz and Isak, with no distractions like they had last season, will help the manager to get them back on track quickly enough.
It's much, much harder for Carrick. He needs players right through the spine of the team, plus full-backs, and has to have a bigger squad to contend with more matches.
30 May 2026 22:14:10
I wouldn't say VVD was a leader, to be honest. He doesn't organise very well. Szobozslai seems their best leader going into the new season.
31 May 2026 00:04:31
When I saw highlights of Liverpool recently, VVD was the player shouting at players to be in their right positions, and, like Casemiro for us, it was VVD who scored some good goals when needed most.
31 May 2026 07:50:47
Salford, I'm not sure that Liverpool's defence is better than ours, as you claim.
Frimpong or Dalot? Dalot.
Konate or de Ligt? de Ligt.
van Dijk or Martinez? van Dijk.
Kerkez or Shaw? Shaw every time.
Bradley or Mazraoui? Maz.
Gomes or Maguire? Harry.
Robertson or Yoro? Robertson.
31 May 2026 11:40:07
Salford, Liverpool are defensively in at least as bad a shape as we are. They have some good players but little balance, and they lost identity last summer. Previously, they had a clear identity of hard-working players who facilitated their genuine superstar, Salah. But they've populated the squad with players who themselves are used to being the focal points. They may regain balance with Salah going, but I think our balance in attack is much better than theirs.
The problem there is that they'll need to offload some very expensive players in order to get back to the style they want. Fwiw, I said exactly this last summer. It's not hindsight. This should have been obvious to Hughes and Edwards, and I feel a bit for Slot. I don't think any manager could've made it work.
31 May 2026 11:50:12
I would take their two full backs Kerkez and Bradleyb, because both are equal or better than ours offensively, and are younger with more potential. de Ligt misses too many games.
Gomes is younger and faster than Harry.
Both Frimpong and Mazraoui are not proper full backs, but Frimpong offers more going forward.
Robertson is better defending and attacking than Yoro, but he has lost a yard of pace which will never come back. Yoro is still raw, young, and I hope will improve.
31 May 2026 15:25:28
Yoro and Robertson play completely different positions. It's an unfair comparison.