AVB to Real Madrid ?

"managers like AVB who rely on their tactical nous require a squad who match their own ambitions but fall behind their own experiences to assure they develop that rapport with the dressing room."

We have been informed that were "communication" problems between team AVB and the squad during the first couple of weeks of the season. But any misunderstandings seem to have been resolved, and things have proceeded upwards from there.

The thing I like is the tone in the PL post match interviews.
Very much "on message" , and nothing contentious being said whatever the result.

You are only in the Europa by default!! By the way I was pleased you got a replay on Sunday, another game to fit in towards a hectic period!

One area of his management which must be improved is dealing with pressure. He's very eloquent and on point when things are going as planned (i could listen to him all day when he's content, the various dimensions of his dynamic arguments ), but he tends to exude fear as opposed to confidence during crisis.

It wouldn't surprise me if he related to failure strongly given he invested so much into his philosphies, but when he eventually returns to another intense pressure cooker club he MUST learn to be less transparent.

Anyway, full circling back to my original point. Don't harbor expectations of him to repay your gamble with loyalty down the road, but enjoy him why'll you have the pleasure. Good manager with boundless potential

"One area of his management which must be improved is dealing with pressure."

Well, as far as the PL goes, he has 2 months of that to go this season. He was ok during the Sep-Nov period when results were not great (and the media were waiting for their moment - 3 games to save his job etc) and his seemingly dogmatic subs policy.

His comments about you controlling the Emirates game is the kind of thing i'm talking about, along with generally being hostile with the press during that Sep-Nov period (i do keep you with his career, really like him). He lacks the charm of a Mourinho or the bluntness of a Benitez - he just gets wound up. He sort of reminds me of Ricky Gravis's character from The Office when he's feeling the heat, tries to smile his way through it but always ends up on the hook.

Of course as fans you'll naturally rejoice, i couldn't get enough of the figurative "slap in the face" he delivered after the Valencia win last season, but that one press conference in hindsight started a chain reaction which got the press on his back till he started picking up results with you. And in the case of our job didn't get him over much in our dressing room (which was the intention).

"His comments about you controlling the Emirates game is the kind of thing i'm talking about"

If that was qualified with 'up to the sending off' , fair comment on his part. I am more pleased with the general tone (CL slot - not points or final table position, capitalising on our rivals' earlier results - increasing the points gaps etc) .

These two months will be interesting, with a tough run-in, the press not as hostile as they have been, and the spectre of the last 2 seasons always looming in their rhetoric.

Fair point, he generally direct about the impact certain results have on rivals, your objectives, etc... Jose does the same, gives the satisfying impression that he's always thinking

*he's generally.......

Compared to stuff like :

- We could challenge for the title
- Punching above our weight
- Should be grateful for 4th

in the matter of a few weeks in a season ...

you can see why some of us are finding the AVB rhetoric more comforting.

Well Redknapp has never been one to be tactful with words

A big distinction between Redknapp and AVB is one gives the impression he's always thinking/calcuating while the other gives the impression he's always hoping/dreaming. It can be up to personal taste but i know which i've always found more comforting in a manager also