FanPost

So if not Valverde...Then who?

With the exception of a single outbreak of brilliance, the team has looked listless, clueless, and without a tactical plan. Adjustments to what the other team is doing are nonexistent. Lineup decisions, both in and out of game make little sense, and few changes are made to tactics when new players come on. For whatever reason, Valverde lacks the tactical and strategic talent to take FCB to where it should, judging by the talent on the team, be able to go.

Valverde isn't up to the challenge. There's no shame in that. Being the manager of FC Barcelona has got to be one of the most difficult jobs in professional sports. He should go, sooner rather than later, before losing becomes a habit, and the many young talents we currently have are marred.

That said, who takes his place? Pep isn't coming back. Klopp isn't interested. Wagner - you're kidding, right? So who should take up the reins?

Let's look at some candidates. Note, I'm not considering the board's historical prejudices, or who is or is not likely to get the nod. My purpose here is to make some viable suggestions that you may or may not have considered:

Antonio Conte:
Despite his reputation as a defensive minded longballer, Conte's teams are noted for aggressive pressing. At Juventus and Chelsea, he showed an ability to adapt his strategic plan to the talent he has at hand, and his tactical reactions and substitutions in game, while not inspired, are at least sensible.

Zinedine Zidane:
No. Just no. Everything Conte is accused of being, Zidane is. His style of football - bullying, hacking, direct to the point of artless suits neither our style of play, nor our personnel. His method can win, but there are better ways of winning, and there is no guarantee that the sheer luck (and favor of the Spanish Football authorities) that added so much to his win total would follow him to Barca.

Paulo Bento:
We know this guy, don't we Spanish Football fans? Painful memory. But, if anything, Bento would turn out to be "Valverde Lite." He lacks the experience, and the flexibility to lead Barcelona. Nevertheless, he has shown some real ability, and luring him away from South Korea shouldn't be too expensive or difficult.

Martin Jol:
He's played a lot, in a lot of places, and has shown that he can adapt to many different styles. His teams are well-balanced, and he manages a roster well. The down side is that he has shown himself far more adept at taking a bad side and making them good, rather than taking a good side up the notch necessary to be world beaters. Still, an interesting possibility, considering he pretty well defines "experienced."

Vitor Periera:
If you want a coach with proven ability to manage an attacking side, he's it. He's been under the radar for a long time, managing in Saudi will do that to you, but when he has been up against good competition, he has done well. His teams at Olympiacos were much improved in the short passing game, and defensively solid. Can he be "Shanghai-ed" back to the Continent?

Vincezo Montella:
At Milan and Florentina, Montella showed flexibility and attacking flair. What he didn't show was consistency. He's young, and someone with the patience to allow his obvious ability to mature is going to have an excellent manager. He could manage a team with Barcelona's style, but whether he can handle the heat is another question. The debacle at Sevilla can only partially be blamed on him, and his inexperience played into that heavily. Older and wiser, one hopes.

Laurent Blanc:
He'll be a winning manager somewhere soon. If results, and experience against top competition are what you value, he should be on your search list. His PSG teams were very good, but what he accomplished at Bordeaux is what gets my attention. He took a team that was at dead stop, and made a consistent contender of them. He's a manager who commands the respect of his players.


<em>This does not represent the views of Barca Blaugranes or SBNation</em>