RootsRadical wrote: ↑09 Jan 2025, 22:05
Am I the only one sensing that he's got the demeanor of a washed up ex Alcoholic or Heroin addict, or someone who suffers / has suffered with mental illness.
His confidence seems a bit shot to me and I found the press conference quite awkward with him repeating the same sound bites, and coming across like someone in an interview and libbing because they either hadn't prepared or just didn't know the answers.
Don't wish to insult or slag him off. I could be way off the mark and hope I am, but it's my gut feeling and I'm a pretty good judge of people.
I'm somewhere between what you've suggested and the euphoria of others. I think he's definitely been scarred by his experience at Chelsea, and there will no doubt be lingering doubts in his mind after that experience until this one starts to go well. Like a boxer in the fight after his first knock down.
I think he needs this to go well to rebuild himself a bit. He's talked a good talk about growth after Chelsea, but also described the range of emotions at having been sacked (was a first time for him afterall after only tasting success before then). He's clearly a thinker, and has two years to mull it over.
Let's hope he overcomes any personal lingering self confidence issues quickly, sticks to the things that made him successful previously, and gets in the swing of things quickly.
If it goes badly at the start, he could crumble...this is a very big gig for him as he's clearly not battle hardened from the usual managerial beat downs.