Kompany to Bayern Munich?

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Glad it's come so soon after the season finishing, it's given me some excitement back for the new season.
Get a good appointment in, get rid of all the baggage and bring a bit of experience in to balance it out.

Agreed it was a right mess last season but we need to get the next appointment bang on. I hope Lampard Rooney et al don’t get a look in.

[ceborame]

Should be interesting watching Harry Kane being played on the wing

[ArmchairDetective]

I've been Kompany in throughout this season, and was fully expecting and happy with him leading us into next season. It's a real shame that the early signs in that first season and the hope and expectation that led to hasn't come to fruition. But with comments such as CT's about unrest and fall outs behind the scenes, getting anything close to to the compensation that has been quoted for him is probably the best outcome we could have hoped for.

I was listening to the Bee Hole End pod yesterday. One of the guys (I forget which - apologies to him) talked with optimism about a real opportunity for someone to come in and lead us forward with a talented squad at Championship level and owner that's happy to back his manager. I'm not naive in thinking it's not a big job for whoever does come in. But it's an opportunity.

Echoing comments on the podcast, the 'project' is not Vincent Kompany's. It's the owners and more importantly it's ours. No one is bigger than the club.

Onwards and hopefully upwards.

[Roosterbooster]

It is a pity the seniors with the Dyche culture, have been cleared.

Wasn't there severe dressing room unrest with Dyche too?

[Newcastleclaret93]

Should be interesting watching Harry Kane being played on the wing

Tbh I’m half expecting him to be put in goal for his passing range

[Denno97]

It is a pity the seniors with the Dyche culture, have been cleared.

By all accounts it was just as bad under Dyche especially in the last season than it was under Kompany

[bumba]

Agreed it was a right mess last season but we need to get the next appointment bang on. I hope Lampard Rooney et al don’t get a look in.

Assuming Moyes wouldn't drop to the championship then for me the shortlist should be
1. Cooper
2. Rohl
3. Martin(if sacked by saints tomorrow)

[Clovius Boofus]

I know someone who works at the club and Kompany's stubbornness was well known. So much so that a meeting was called and the staff were told in no uncertain terms it was his way or the highway. Not sure there will be many tears she'd.

To be fair, isn't that's the case at any club? Mind you, there are right and wrong ways of going about it. The best managers are the ones who have empathy and are able to communicate their plans and tactics without causing massive division amongst the rank and file.

[Clive 1960]

Read on the Kompany to Munich thread about potential unrest behind the scenes which was the first I’d heard about it.

Thought it might be worth having a separate thread where people could share what they have heard about issues in the dressing room

Whatever went on down at the Turf I think Pace as a lot to answer for why he let things get so bad ...

[Pearcey]

I think the dressing room under Dyche declined after we signed players that Dyche didn’t want.

[IanMcL]

https://x.com/SkySportsNews/status/1794 ... QI4eg&s=19

SkyUk repeating their German counterparts confirmation.

[ClaretPete001]

1 win against a PL11 in 38 games?

I think with the best will in the world Sheffield United and Luton were hardly PL quality teams during the season. And certainly aren't now. And Brentford had 10 men for 75 - 80 minutes.

We managed one draw against a top 6 side (as far as I recall) and I think the highest placed team we beat was Fulham who came 13th.

Guilding the lily maybe but essentially the truth...

[Clovius Boofus]

It’s quite astonishing that one journo links kompany to Bayern and then another links kompany to Brighton and bentford

It's not. It's just people making a living from spouting any old ********.

[IanMcL]

Well done Mr Pace. Sold your girlfriend and made some money! Good work.

[Rileybobs]

I think with the best will in the world Sheffield United and Luton were hardly PL quality teams during the season. And certainly aren't now. And Brentford had 10 men for 75 - 80 minutes.

We managed one draw against a top 6 side (as far as I recall) and I think the highest placed team we beat was Fulham who came 13th.

Guilding the lily maybe but essentially the truth...

I agree that we didn’t beat many teams of any quality, but you can’t just discount them. And if you do you can’t count them within the 38 games.

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Assuming Moyes wouldn't drop to the championship then for me the shortlist should be
1. Cooper
2. Rohl
3. Martin(if sacked by saints tomorrow)

I think he should go all out for Moyes the more I think about it. We need someone experienced and sensible if we can get him. Some right cock ups have been made in the transfers last season.

[Goliath]

Thinking about how this leaves the squad, we can probably bring back all the excluded players back into the Thinking.
So if the season started tomorrow we could start a fresh with the below (not including Berge or Odobert who I think will both go and presuming Taylor/JBL stay). It's not a bad starting point, I think that could challenge for the top 2 but if we get a striker and central midfielder then we have a very strong side.
It doesn't have to be as big a mess as CT described if its managed properly from now.

Muric

Roberts/Sambo Ekdal/O'Shea Esteve/Beyer Taylor/Delcroix

Benson/JBL Cullen Brownhill/Massengo Koleosho/Zaroury
....................Tresor/Amdouni/JBL
.......................Foster

[Superjohnnyfrancis]

Well done Mr Pace. Sold your girlfriend and made some money! Good work.

Demi Moore

[Accrington claret]

At the Spurs away cup game, some family members of a well known first team player were talking about Kompany and quite a few other players were very unhappy with our manager,

Mainly the lack of communication with individual players The player and others wanted out when the season ended, perhaps they'll change their minds with a new man in charge

[NewClaret]

Your point was 'I think Pace has been two steps ahead in this game'.

He's just spent £100 million, seen his team manage one win against a PL 11 in 38 games and now lost almost his entire management team and a number of his backroom staff.

On what planet is that being two steps ahead of the game?

I would say where he’s done well is to sign a young, well-connected, ambitious manager and in doing so secured a fee for him.

Not many clubs secure a fee so big for a manager so he needs to take some credit for that.

We’ll disagree about the talent in the squad but I still 100% that our summer signings will end up being sold for way more than we bought them (albeit didn’t fulfill their primary goal of retaining Premier League status). So the success or otherwise of that will be measured in years to come.

[ClaretPete001]

I've been Kompany in throughout this season, and was fully expecting and happy with him leading us into next season. It's a real shame that the early signs in that first season and the hope and expectation that led to hasn't come to fruition. But with comments such as CT's about unrest and fall outs behind the scenes, getting anything close to to the compensation that has been quoted for him is probably the best outcome we could have hoped for.

I was listening to the Bee Hole End pod yesterday. One of the guys (I forget which - apologies to him) talked with optimism about a real opportunity for someone to come in and lead us forward with a talented squad at Championship level and owner that's happy to back his manager. I'm not naive in thinking it's not a big job for whoever does come in. But it's an opportunity.

Echoing comments on the podcast, the 'project' is not Vincent Kompany's. It's the owners and more importantly it's ours. No one is bigger than the club.

Onwards and hopefully upwards.

I think it was Woody. And I'm not sure any of us can know what the job for the new manager entails until we see what is left of the squad at the end of the season.

The Pod Squad predicted chaos in the summer and then seem to be able to gainsay that chaos before it has happened in the way that only the Pod Squad can. To be fair, I think Woody at one point did say 'we talk sh*te don't we' proving himself to be both wrong and right at the same time.

Having spent £25 million already, and lost a couple of senior pros I tend to agree with CT that it looks more of a challenge to an incoming manager than an opportunity. A big big challenge over 46 games with a team that barely won a game last season.

[kentonclaret]

Agreed it was a right mess last season but we need to get the next appointment bang on. I hope Lampard Rooney et al don’t get a look in.

Well, we seem to have missed the boat regarding Rooney if reports of him soon to be confirmed as Plymouth manager are correct.
Still time for Lampard though

[ervi34]

Assuming Moyes wouldn't drop to the championship then for me the shortlist should be
1. Cooper
2. Rohl
3. Martin(if sacked by saints tomorrow)

Rohl signed a new contract.

[bfcjg]

To be fair, isn't that's the case at any club? Mind you, there are right and wrong ways of going about it. The best managers are the ones who have empathy and are able to communicate their plans and tactics without causing massive division amongst the rank and file.

Managers should have vision but flexibility, team input and empathy should be key components, however when the vision is so obviously wrong and not working it will always cause disruption when nothing changes.

[whiffa]

£10.2million?

[morninbob]

Being described now as "an initial 12m"...

[ClaretPete001]

I would say where he’s done well is to sign a young, well-connected, ambitious manager and in doing so secured a fee for him.

Not many clubs secure a fee so big for a manager so he needs to take some credit for that.

We’ll disagree about the talent in the squad but I still 100% that our summer signings will end up being sold for way more than we bought them (albeit didn’t fulfill their primary goal of retaining Premier League status). So the success or otherwise of that will be measured in years to come.

In terms of securing a fee for Kompany it was pure serendipity. No one would have predicted Bayern coming in for Kompany least of all Alan Pace.

I haven't criticised the players at any point in the season. I think in the circumstances they have done very well. I don't recall any disagreements over the players.

[ClaretTony]

Well, we seem to have missed the boat regarding Rooney if reports of him soon to be confirmed as Plymouth manager are correct.
Still time for Lampard though

Behave yourself

[LeadBelly]

Being described now as "an initial 12m"...

12 million will be Euros I guess (= £10.2 million).

[Shipclaret]

Kompany officially there on BBC

[forzagranata]

I'm not sure any of us can know what the job for the new manager entails until we see what is left of the squad at the end of the season.

Surely, it is going to be the job of the manager to trim that squad down from 40-odd to a more suitable size?

That itself will be a tricky task given the manager won't have worked with any of the players he will be selling or even watched them in depth or close-up.

But the positive side of it is - the 20 or so that will be left should be a decent squad for Championship level.

[Robbie_painter]

I for one would like to wish VK all the best,gave us a brilliant season in the championship then found himself out of his depth in the prem as he probably will do in Germany.Good luck vinny!!

[RickyBobby]

We wanted 20 million, Bayern wanted to only spend 15 million so we have agreed on 10.2 million.
They have had Pace‘s pants down! Embarrassing that is.

[ClaretAndJew]

There's no way he fails at a club like Bayern. He didn't really "fail" here, 101 points in the Championship with a brand new squad. An amazing season.

Naive and stubborn in his play, but with the caliber of players that Bayern will attract, it will work.

I don't feel cheated or hurt that he's left us. He's going to Bayern Munich, one of the best teams in Europe if not the world. Any of us would do the same.

Onwards from here and we will build again. Exciting season ahead.

[Bowclaret]

We wanted 20 million, Bayern wanted to only spend 15 million so we have agreed on 10.2 million.
They have had Pace‘s pants down! Embarrassing that is.

B ollocks - we were going to sack the clown !

Well done Mr Pace, played an absolute blinder

[DCWat]

If he performs as he did for us last season, an initial 12 million will be the total package!

Thanks for the promotion Vincent but as for the rest of it, ripping up the bits you said you’d keep from Dyche, using us as a means to further your own aims, which in itself is fine, but not at the expense of leaving us in a massive hole, lumbered with unhappy and overpriced flops!

Ta ra!

[Quicknick]

Indeed a completely overhauled and younger squad but most importantly a completely new playing style and football philosophy.
Even though we were too inexperienced and lightweight this season, you don’t stay in the PL anymore in the way Dyche did some years ago

Of course you could. Kompany's approach was naive in the extreme.

[Neil]

Where do ya want your statue Vincent Kompany?

[CoolClaret]

There's no way he fails at a club like Bayern. He didn't really "fail" here, 101 points in the Championship with a brand new squad. An amazing season.

Naive and stubborn in his play, but with the caliber of players that Bayern will attract, it will work.

I don't feel cheated or hurt that he's left us. He's going to Bayern Munich, one of the best teams in Europe if not the world. Any of us would do the same.

Onwards from here and we will build again. Exciting season ahead.

Not so sure it's that straight forward tbh. He came into a good setup here and didn't have any pressure; Bayern is a bit of a basket case and they're fuming that Leverkusen won the title. The pressure is on from day dot.. no 'projects'

[Clive 1960]

Should be interesting watching Harry Kane being played on the wing

In the net's...

[COBBLE]

Where do ya want your statue Vincent Kompany?

Formby beach.

[ClaretAndJew]

Not so sure it's that straight forward tbh. He came into a good setup here and didn't have any pressure; Bayern is a bit of a basket case and they're fuming that Leverkusen won the title. The pressure is on from day dot.. no 'projects'

I would say that they are already set up with the players they have and the quality they can attract. Some places are projects made by managers, some places make the manager. We've had two successful managers in 12 years almost. Hopefully third time is also a charm.

[bfcjg]

https://www.burnleyexpress.net/sport/fo ... ss-3746587
The bit on his contract etc shows that in essence he lies.

[FeedTheArf]

We wanted 20 million, Bayern wanted to only spend 15 million so we have agreed on 10.2 million.
They have had Pace‘s pants down! Embarrassing that is.

Bayern wanted to spend €15m and have spent €13m on a manager that it looks increasingly likely had managed to p*ss off half the players and coaching staff. Add to the fact that all of these fees are complete conjecture by different journalists, the only guy who will know for sure is Pace.

I STILL can’t believe that Bayern want him but I’m more and more glad he’s no longer our problem.

[Silkyskills1]

Where do ya want your statue Vincent Kompany?

I'll settle for one for Jimmy Anderson. A 'true great' of his chosen sport.

[ClaretPete001]

Surely, it is going to be the job of the manager to trim that squad down from 40-odd to a more suitable size?

That itself will be a tricky task given the manager won't have worked with any of the players he will be selling or even watched them in depth or close-up.

But the positive side of it is - the 20 or so that will be left should be a decent squad for Championship level.

Superficially, it will be the manager's job but in reality no one is in control of the situation. The better players will likely have relegation clauses. The lesser players may be on decent contracts and not want to leave.

The auditors have a cash flow warning on the accounts and we have just spent £25 million largely on a player that couldn't get a kick this season. It isn't just a case of a club who has 40 players that someone can come in and pick out the best 20. The whole club will be under enormous pressure and we don't have £70 million worth of talent with their contracts paid up to sell.

Given the club is planning to sell, do we have 20 players in the squad that could win promotion in a 46 game season if those we think are likely to go: do? I don't know! Do you?

I think this is a much greater challenge than the one that faced Kompany because he had 5 or 6 very experienced PL players and 4 high quality loanees. I just can't see how this one pans out. To be fair, I don't preclude the fact that I maybe talking sh*te - I just don't admit to it.

[Rileybobs]

There's no way he fails at a club like Bayern. He didn't really "fail" here, 101 points in the Championship with a brand new squad. An amazing season.

Suppose it depends on what his brief is. There’s a good chance he will win the German league with the best squad and biggest budget in Germany, as he did with Burnley in the Championship. Would he be likely to outsmart Ancelotti or Pep in a Champions League quarter final? I seriously doubt it.

[ClaretPete001]

Suppose it depends on what his brief is. There’s a good chance he will win the German league with the best squad and biggest budget in Germany, as he did with Burnley in the Championship. Would he be likely to outsmart Ancelotti or Pep in a Champions League quarter final? I seriously doubt it.

I think he has been brought in because he will have some credibility in the Bayern dressing room in the way that many managers wouldn't....!

Again I think it is hard to say. My head says he has all the attributes to do well at Bayern but my gut is that he won't because I think he is walking into a dressing room with issues and I'm not sure the Bayern hierarchy have the cajones to deal with it.

He often seems a self contained and process driven person not dissimilar to Tuchel as opposed to someone like Klopp who I think would do well.

[helmclaret]

Barry Kilby used to call this period the ‘beauty parade.’

I hope it started last week and we have a new manager named in the coming week.

I’d like someone who has a point to prove eg Steve Cooper than a seasoned old head like Moyes.

His support team will be crucial in helping
the new man get the squad down to 20 or so players.

Exciting times ahead.

[NewClaret]

Superficially, it will be the manager's job but in reality no one is in control of the situation. The better players will likely have relegation clauses. The lesser players may be on decent contracts and not want to leave.

The auditors have a cash flow warning on the accounts and we have just spent £25 million largely on a player that couldn't get a kick this season. It isn't just a case of a club who has 40 players that someone can come in and pick out the best 20. The whole club will be under enormous pressure and we don't have £70 million worth of talent with their contracts paid up to sell.

Given the club is planning to sell, do we have 20 players in the squad that could win promotion in a 46 game season if those we think are likely to go: do? I don't know! Do you?

I think this is a much greater challenge than the one that faced Kompany because he had 5 or 6 very experienced PL players and 4 high quality loanees. I just can't see how this one pans out. To be fair, I don't preclude the fact that I maybe talking sh*te - I just don't admit to it.

I think you’re talking sh*te again Pete To contribute some more:

Kompany talked recently about transfer strategy and specifically that we signed younger players who would accept contracts without release clauses and with salary reductions.


On cash flow we’ve just secured a presumably unexpected £10m. A week ago folk were saying we’d have to pay this guy off in a few months. Fans expectations often differ very much from reality and I’d personally say we’d hit your £70m pretty easily, but let’s wait and see.

We’ve also just got at least two of our highest earners off the wage bill and any new offers to JRod and Taylor, who will also most likely leave, will see them take a significant reduction.

On the 40 strong squad, I keep saying this but I honestly think that’s by design and an actual strategy vs anything the club would consider a concern or “a mess”. Listen to Stuart Hunt’s interview and it’s quite clear they want to buy clubs precisely so they can get young players and develop them elsewhere.

A more cynical view of this is player farming and if you want to look at it this way, I think they’re looking to use data to find young talent that will go on and increase in value over time. So I think for ALK it’s a case of the more playing assets the better.

In that basis, I don’t expect to see anywhere near as much squad trimming as most, although I’d expect some.

Tresor and Esteve payments will be been a fraction of £25m this summer and possibly much less than initially reported on the basis of relegation.