Paulo Pezzolano - Head Coach

I admire your attempt to put a positive spin on this, but his club records are horrendous - there's no way around that.

Inter Miami - MLS - 24 games - 7 wins, 3 draws, 14 losses
Sevilla - La Liga - 8 games - 0 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses
Panathinaikos - Super League 1 - 9 games - 3 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses

The Panathinaikos stats don't look too bad at first, until you realise that they are supposed to win almost every game in Greece with their resources. For context, Alonso got an average 1,44 points per game and after he left they've got 2,18 points per game.

If you look back on the reactions from Panathinaikos and Sevilla supporters - and even Uruguay fans where he seemingly did ok - he's labelled as a complete fraud who somehow gets jobs he's not qualified for through his agent and gets found out very, very quickly. Hence why he rarely lasts more than 15-20 games.

Now of course, what happens in the past doesn't need to happen again. He could suddenly click with our players and our club and have storming success, like Xisco for instance. There's always a chance that things will work out great. But based on the evidence at hand, it's likely to be just another Pozzo train wreck.

 

I don’t disagree with any of this and I’m not going to put a positive spin on a completely uninspiring choice of manager playing a bland, overdone boring form of football. Just mentioning that teams like Sevilla are a basket case at the moment and aren’t the best example.

 

Hard to see how Diego Alonso gets a work permit fortunately. There’s a bit of buzz from some folks that things with the new manager (whoever it is) are close to being finalized.

 

Wont he get “exceptional talent” for managing Uruguay at World Cup and having Seville on the CV? In a vacuum that sound pretty impressive the last 3 years!

 

I wouldn’t have thought so but could be wrong. I think they have got strict. Raphael Wicky who WBA tried to appoint and had a great record (admittedly with lower profile sides) got rejected. Also, if it’s been sorted this quickly as some are saying, then they wouldn’t have got him through the exceptions panel yet. That would take a few days at the very least.

 

Well we have a new pope before a new Watford football manager. Those elderly cardinals putting Pozzo to shame!

 

A new manager has been selected (supposedly). The faithful await the announcement eagerly to discover who shall lead us into a new era.

 

Glorious list of names you’ve got there. So many memories.

 

I read that Arteta might be looking for a new challenge ...

 

Danny Rohl

 

lol not a chance! he has job offers coming out of his ears!

 

That Pimienta is 3/1 second favourite now.

 

No sandwich-filling puns? I'm disappointed

 

Did very well at Las Palmas by all accounts, not so good at Sevilla.

 

Tom Cleverley, freshly minted from the heart of Watford’s Vicarage Road, is as much a tactical thinker as he was a tidy midfield technician. With roots in Manchester United’s famed Carrington academy and a career defined by positional discipline, Cleverley brings a modern, no-frills approach that echoes his playing style—measured, intelligent, and relentlessly team-first - with a preference for a compact 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, underpinned by tight midfield spacing and ball security. He emphasizes structured pressing without the recklessness, favouring coordinated pressure traps rather than chaotic lunges. There’s a touch of Ten Hag’s verticality in his attacking patterns, though Cleverley also shows an English pragmatism—less obsession with possession, more focus on progression. He’s still untested over the long haul, but as a manager, he radiates composure and clarity. Tactical hipsters might find his setups slightly conservative, but there's a methodical energy there: sharp transitions, clean lines, and a hunger to impose rather than react. Expect a grounded but evolving style, with just enough flair to keep things interesting—especially if given the tools to build.

 

Leave means leave. Simple as.

 

Ok, yesterday was Thursday.
Today is Friday. Time to announce the new manager please.

 

Announce my man Diego!

 

This Pimienta guy (spelling) Who The Wobby is saying has emerged as 2nd favourite, sounds like a much better option than The Uraguian bloke. Which probably means we'll end up with the Uraguian!!!

Apparently Pimienta, who is a Spanniard, got Las Palmas promoted to La Liga, so sounds like he has the experience Pozzo says he wants. So he has my vote so far!!!

Does anyone know any more about this guy?

 

Yes, time to throw a real Spanniard in the works.

 

His name’s nothing to be sneezed at

 

Has anybody done well at Sevilla recently. As @GoingDown mentioned, they appear to be a basket case currently

 

From the names mentioned Pimienta seems like the best shout if we are going for a European again.

From ChatGPT (aka Ginos scouting team)


García Pimienta’s teams are known for playing a possession-based, attacking style that closely mirrors the philosophy of FC Barcelona, where he developed as a coach. Here’s a breakdown of his typical tactical approach:

1.Formation

• 4-3-3 is his preferred setup.
• Occasionally shifts to a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1, depending on the opponent, but always within a possession-oriented framework.

2. Possession & Build-Up Play

• Emphasis on playing out from the back, with center-backs and the goalkeeper involved in the first phase of build-up.
• His teams dominate possession, often exceeding 60%, aiming to control the rhythm of the game.

3.Midfield Structure

• Uses a single pivot (like a deep-lying playmaker) to anchor the midfield.
• Interiors (central midfielders) are expected to rotate, progress the ball, and support the attack, much like the classic Bar*a midfield roles.

4.Wide Play & Overloads

• Wingers hold width and stretch defenses to create central spaces.
• Fullbacks are involved in overlapping or underlapping runs, supporting wide overloads and quick combinations.

5.Defensive Shape

• His teams defend with high pressing and try to win the ball back quickly after losing it (Gegenpressing principles).
• Defensive transitions are carefully managed, but the high line can be risky against fast counterattacks.

6.Youth Integration

• He often trusts young, technically gifted players, encouraging them to take responsibility in possession and positioning.

Overall, Pimienta’s style is methodical, technical, and tactically detailed, with a clear emphasis on ball control, positional play, and team cohesion.

 

no that’s very true. does he really want to jump out of a frying pan and into a fire?

 

Why not. Jumping from basket case club to basket case club is very lucrative.

 

Liking the sound of this guy even more, from your analyses, Opti.

Our existing squad could fill his & Gino's requirements, with a few additions and a bit of tweaking IMO!!!

So over to you GP!!! Will you give him the backing he needs???

 

Whoever it is I hope we have a miserable season, only staying up on goal difference.

 

No, Ur aguian!!!

 

Very true! Get those payoffs in.

 

Get those playoffs in more like! Amiright?

 

Clearly hasn't been a good couple of years for oranges in Spain either.