http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/pep-to-replace-avb-at-the-bridge- came across this, albeit via facebook and a very poor source but ah well I'm in the mood for a discussion! Thoughts on this? I would obviously love AVB to stay, he has massive potential and if he implements his style of play throughout the youth in order to produce some more stars whilst buying players to fit the system then I'm confident we'll be back to winning some trophies. I can't help thinking though, Pep is the master of this modern football style. The high line, intricate passing, high pressing and working the ball well BUT would even he be able to do a better job than AVB? I mean they're styles are similar. In hindsight we probably should've went for Gus this season or stuck with Carlo and MAYBE gone with Pep next summer. Whatever happens I back AVB in this whole thing and fully expect him to stay but these rumours are rather intriguing. So - thoughts on Pep and how well he'd do at Chelsea?
AVB isn't going anywhere. He has full backing and for once I completely believe it. He has money to spend in January and he can further progress with the rebuild. Pep would be very good though, but would he being doing that much better? Maybe a bit.
Barcelona sucess is not just down to pep of course. the biggest advantage Barcelona have is the best youth system in the world.......they have great players who have played together since a very young age. Money cant buy that. And for that reason they will always be more effective than a team that has brought together great players. Im a Liverpool fan and Ive been impressed with our youth......But it will be a long long time before a british team can match barcelona youth and therefore match the potential for an awesome senior side......
The idea of him at SB is cloud cuckoo land. He doesn't need or want it and why should he! My dream is that AVB cuts it in a big way! At the moment thats beginning to sound like a fairy story!
Well blue he said when Carlo was sacked that he didn't want to come this season because he wanted to finish his contract which expires in 2012, he then said he would be leaving Barca after that providing another world class season because he wanted to persue a new challenge.
If you consider how many managers could do a decent job if they were managing Barcelona, it opens up the reality of the situation. Many managers have earned the right to manage Barcelona including English managers like Sir Bobby Robson & Terry Venables, but look at how poor Frank Rijkaard did once he left Barcelona. I'm not convinced PG is any better than AVB - how would I do in a race against Lewis Hamilton if i'm driving an F1 car and he's in a go-kart? <badanalogy>
Well, let me help you. PG has had to work with far less money than any Chelsea manager, but he has put his faith in a pipeline of talent that has backed up the star signings like Villa, Cesc, etcetera and, as he said, "Les digo cuatro cosas". After 3 years he has provided the main body of the Spanish national team that has swept the board. Put him in Wigan, Rennes, Huelva, Ulan Bator or Leningrad, Pep will shine through. I hope AVB des the same, but he needs TIME, just like Pep did.
In hindsight? It was quite obvious that you should have stuck with Carlo Ancelotti at the time! Now he is free for Spurs to snap up when Harry gets the England job...
As has been said before, lets judge Pep once he eventually manages another team. Jose for example has won titles and other trophies in 3 different leagues and the C.L with 2 different sides. He has also put together one of the best real teams in a decade that has only not won trophies due to Barca. Pep has done well but look at the team he inherited. Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi plus a host of other quality youngsters coming through plus the money and draw to be able to buy the likes of Fabregas and Villa. It's not the hardest job in football especially when you only have one other team to beat to win the league. I genuinely don't think a pep for AVB swap would change things that much. Pep can be the master of the high pressing line when he has probably the 3 best ball retaining midfielders in the world none of which he purchased or brought into the first team. This Barca team is a once in a generation thing and he's fortunate to have got the job at the right time. Barca's success really goes back to what Cruyff instilled in the 90's and he has a bigger right to take credit for Barca's current team and success than probably anyone.
Look at the Cl final last year....1-1 at half time, after a Barca performance but Utd breaking through with a cracker...Pep goes in and says keep playing the way we are, triangles, quick short incisive passing, wear them down & tire them out and take your chances when they happen. You still have to get them to respect you, what you stand for, how you manage them and your football philosophy...and it would seem that there are a couple who don't/ can't/ won't with us... Barca have the resources in terms of personnel, and so do we....AVB just has to make a couple of decisions with regards to who he uses.
