No Retreat, No Surrender - El Espartano Alvaro Arbeloa Manager Thread

Kinda but it isn't far from it

 

Weren't we 3rd in UCL, still in Copa Del Rey and 4 points behind Barca with plenty of games left and an easy schedule ahead when Arbeloa "stepped up in a tough time"?

 

What is there to be proud of Arbeloa for so far? For "stepping up"? It's really not some act of bravery to accept a well paying job, without the pressure of being considered a permanent manager, while obviously parroting statements the board approves.

 

And a dressing room on the verge of implosion.

 

We're not worse, which we would have been with the constant dressing room drama with Xabi.

 

It was couple of spoiled brats. Funny Bernabeu fans took over the responsibility of disciplining them with boos because club enabled their BS.

 

Villarreal are the third best team in La Liga and winning there controlling the match was good. Albacete performance and result was a disaster.

Monaco game very open but fun since we finished our chances and they missed a bunch in the first half. Against Benfica spineless performance the entire game.

Can't afford to hit lows like Albacete and Benfica anymore if we want to compete for a title post March.

 

The substance of it yes, but the style is his own. And the style matters a lot because it actually resonates with people more than the content. Hes an intelligent guy and hes got some swagger. Shame we threw him in the fire as we did Alonso. Florentino's list of sins has surpassed that of virtues.

 

Which is exactly why nobody expects much of him and why there's no pressure. He's in for a few months, then he'll ride off into the sunset. He's come to do what the board wants him to do, not to fight for what he believes in. His first games have also been layup games. Nobody called him out for the loss against Albacete, nobody called him out for the loss against Benfica... So far, there has been exactly zero real pressure put on him. Right now I'm as proud of him as much I'm proud of the lady working in the Valdebebas caffeteria.

 

Xabi leaving hurt lots of people i see, good luck Alvaro, if you win, the team wins and i am happy

 

I don’t think most long term (and grounded) Madrid fans really care about Xabi per se, more so what throwing him out to appease arrogant players, who aren’t performing, means for the culture, and short term success of the club.

Arbeloa coming in with his inflammatory comments in pressers has just added fuel to that fire.

The club has created a lot of negativity, and it’s being mirrored by a noticeable portion of fans now. People who’ve been following almost every game for years / decades.

To me, this season feels like a write off, which is a weird feeling to have considering we’re one point off the lead in the league. But we might also be in for a spectacular end to the season, let’s see.

 

I wasn’t a fan of Arbeloa taking over as manager (still think Raul got shafted here, after waiting his chance for years he gets passed over for Xabi and Alvaro - yuck).


Anyways I have been pleasantly surprised and I especially like his gives no f’s mentality in the press conferences.

We’ve got players like Vini taking on racism, the team still titles to play for with many players not at their best - of course Arbs is right to treat some of this as silly. He knows the only thing that will save him and it’s certainly not going to be for winning the best “press conferences” or “longest film study session” trophy.

 

Great post.

 

I think what's nonsense is trying to portray him taking the interim job and the massive salary increase as some act of brave sacrifice... because "pressure". But that's just me. Agree to disagree.

 

I dont need to know him from before to be able to understand his discursive style and way of carrying himself and even thinking from a few press conferences. Indeed you could take any guy off the street and you would still be able to make some conclusions about it.