Popular Post Bullitt Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Respect: an easy word to throw around, harder to put into practice. There are those who insist that Angelo Alessio is disrespecting Steve Clarke, disrespecting Scottish football, by trying to adapt the way Kilmarnock work and think. Who is he to tell a side that defied expectation to finish fifth, then third, there might be another way? Let’s reverse the question and ask about the respect that we, the Scottish football collective, have shown Angelo Alessio, this man whose English is easy to lampoon and who left an open goal by losing to the Welsh part-timers of Connah’s Quay in his first assignment. To hear Kirk Broadfoot, who had a good kick at the Italian on his way to St Mirren in midweek, you’d think there is nothing a squad of game but largely modest players can learn from a figure who won a Uefa Cup at Juventus while working under coaches like Giovanni Trapattoni and Dino Zoff. Who, in eight years as Antonio Conte’s lieutenant, helped deliver Siena back to the top flight, won three scudetti with the reborn Old Lady of Turin then brought league and FA Cup success to Stamford Bridge. Doubts, of course, are permitted. Alessio hadn’t been a manager in his own right for more than a decade, had only ever set foot in Scotland for Juventus’ 2013 Champions League game against Celtic, and had never met either of his deputies, Massimo Donati and Alex Dyer. There are questions about the appointment and the man himself, but is it asking too much for people to actually listen to his answers? “When there’s a change when things are going well, it’s difficult to accept the need,” says the 54-year-old from near Salerno in Italy’s deep south. “At the same time, it’s important every one of us stays faithful to our credo, our convictions. If you arrive in a team where things have gone badly, it’s much easier to change. When you arrive in a place where things have gone well and for the most part the players are under contract, it’s not like you can say, ‘Right, let’s change more than half the team’. “I didn’t do that. It wouldn’t have been right to. But at the same time, you need to bring your own solutions. We put more emphasis on the tactical side than on other aspects of training, but every coach in the world will make those kind of decisions based on their methods. Ultimately, my job is to get the most out of every player and find solutions on the pitch.” Alessio says he wishes Broadfoot “all the best” and is “disappointed he left”, pointing out that the centre-back was his captain for the League Cup game against Hamilton on August 17. Kilmarnock went through after extra-time and have since drawn with Aberdeen and beaten St Johnstone without conceding, a steadying of the ship from Connah’s Quay and the first two league games that saw them lose narrowly to Rangers and horribly to Accies. “We needed that first league win. The team wanted it, we all wanted it,” says Alessio of last week at McDiarmid Park. “We’ve had some problems because results make you work in a certain way. Bad results make you work worse. We’re on the right road now, but we need to get better. A lot better. “I want to see a compact team capable of managing every situation. We’ve had to do a lot of work with results being as they were. Now we have the opportunity to keep working, but also to believe more in what we’re doing.” Alessio is enthused by the prospect of easing the burden on Eamonn Brophy via Osman Sow and Harvey St Clair, the strikers who arrived at the end of the transfer window. Alessio knew the Scotland under-21 man from their shared time at Chelsea, while Laurentiu Branescu and Dario del Fabro were sourced through Juventus. Former Hamilton and Motherwell left-back Stephen Hendrie has arrived after Greg Taylor moved to Celtic, and centre-back Connor Johnson has joined on loan from Wolves. “This window was very difficult,” Alessio admits. “Lots of conversations happened, and then at the very end, deals got done, but we now have our face as a team.” As far back as January, Alessio told Italian media that he himself was on the move, uncoupling himself from Conte long before the one-time Italy manager took charge at Inter. “I didn’t want to have any regrets in the future about not trying,” says the man who led Imolese, Massese and SPAL in the Italian third tier before hooking up with his fellow ex-midfielder. There were rumours of an offer to coach the Juventus under-23 team, but the nature of this task appealed. “In the last two years, Kilmarnock have achieved extraordinary things, and now we all must understand the need to work even harder. I’ve accepted the exact opposite of a job where things are not going well, but that’s something I find stimulating. “Working eight years with Antonio, I know what it means to have to stay at the top. Every year we had to do it all over again. It’s a very difficult thing to do, but what we knew was that every year we had to work harder and the same goes for Kilmarnock. “I know the situation and it’s a big challenge after Steve Clarke. But for me, it’s normal to be under pressure. Of course it’s not easy: I’m Italian, it’s another culture, another tradition, different football. But I think now, step by step, our team is building, we are building. I don’t think the players’ desire to learn is a problem. The problem comes when you can’t find solutions.” Whatever training ground emphasis he puts on running, Alessio knows what it is to graft. He was one of 11 siblings — six boys, five girls, “a whole football team” — in an age when silver spoons hadn’t quite reached the Amalfi coast. For years he plugged away with the local amateurs, yearning for the break that arrived at Avellino. “I’d been on so many trials, but I just loved playing; it didn’t matter whether it was in the biggest stadium in Serie A, or some country dustbowl. For me it was the same thing, because I had this big passion. “At 18, I did a summer with Avellino and that was me. I caught the last train. It’s difficult to go straight from the amateurs to Serie A, believe me, but sometimes what you want arrives when you least expect it.” Alessio has three grown-up children, a management engineer, a fashion designer and one who studies in London. His wife is due to join him, but for now he lives “a quiet life” across the road from Rugby Park, working long hours with the odd escape for fresh sea air at Troon. “I always knew this would be a difficult year, for many reasons,” he says. “We’re still building our season and our path. It will be made up of sacrifices, dedication, sweat and difficulty. We need to be patient and really understand the job.” 59 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NorfolkG Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Speaks more sense than the Succulent Lamb Brigade combined. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Beaker71 Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 But Gordon Parks says he is s**te cos he doesn't make the players run till they vomit. 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post KTID1869fc Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 I like him more and more every day 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jmac37 Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 (edited) 26 minutes ago, Bullitt said: Respect: an easy word to throw around, harder to put into practice. There are those who insist that Angelo Alessio is disrespecting Steve Clarke, disrespecting Scottish football, by trying to adapt the way Kilmarnock work and think. Who is he to tell a side that defied expectation to finish fifth, then third, there might be another way? Let’s reverse the question and ask about the respect that we, the Scottish football collective, have shown Angelo Alessio, this man whose English is easy to lampoon and who left an open goal by losing to the Welsh part-timers of Connah’s Quay in his first assignment. To hear Kirk Broadfoot, who had a good kick at the Italian on his way to St Mirren in midweek, you’d think there is nothing a squad of game but largely modest players can learn from a figure who won a Uefa Cup at Juventus while working under coaches like Giovanni Trapattoni and Dino Zoff. Who, in eight years as Antonio Conte’s lieutenant, helped deliver Siena back to the top flight, won three scudetti with the reborn Old Lady of Turin then brought league and FA Cup success to Stamford Bridge. Doubts, of course, are permitted. Alessio hadn’t been a manager in his own right for more than a decade, had only ever set foot in Scotland for Juventus’ 2013 Champions League game against Celtic, and had never met either of his deputies, Massimo Donati and Alex Dyer. There are questions about the appointment and the man himself, but is it asking too much for people to actually listen to his answers? “When there’s a change when things are going well, it’s difficult to accept the need,” says the 54-year-old from near Salerno in Italy’s deep south. “At the same time, it’s important every one of us stays faithful to our credo, our convictions. If you arrive in a team where things have gone badly, it’s much easier to change. When you arrive in a place where things have gone well and for the most part the players are under contract, it’s not like you can say, ‘Right, let’s change more than half the team’. “I didn’t do that. It wouldn’t have been right to. But at the same time, you need to bring your own solutions. We put more emphasis on the tactical side than on other aspects of training, but every coach in the world will make those kind of decisions based on their methods. Ultimately, my job is to get the most out of every player and find solutions on the pitch.” Alessio says he wishes Broadfoot “all the best” and is “disappointed he left”, pointing out that the centre-back was his captain for the League Cup game against Hamilton on August 17. Kilmarnock went through after extra-time and have since drawn with Aberdeen and beaten St Johnstone without conceding, a steadying of the ship from Connah’s Quay and the first two league games that saw them lose narrowly to Rangers and horribly to Accies. “We needed that first league win. The team wanted it, we all wanted it,” says Alessio of last week at McDiarmid Park. “We’ve had some problems because results make you work in a certain way. Bad results make you work worse. We’re on the right road now, but we need to get better. A lot better. “I want to see a compact team capable of managing every situation. We’ve had to do a lot of work with results being as they were. Now we have the opportunity to keep working, but also to believe more in what we’re doing.” Alessio is enthused by the prospect of easing the burden on Eamonn Brophy via Osman Sow and Harvey St Clair, the strikers who arrived at the end of the transfer window. Alessio knew the Scotland under-21 man from their shared time at Chelsea, while Laurentiu Branescu and Dario del Fabro were sourced through Juventus. Former Hamilton and Motherwell left-back Stephen Hendrie has arrived after Greg Taylor moved to Celtic, and centre-back Connor Johnson has joined on loan from Wolves. “This window was very difficult,” Alessio admits. “Lots of conversations happened, and then at the very end, deals got done, but we now have our face as a team.” As far back as January, Alessio told Italian media that he himself was on the move, uncoupling himself from Conte long before the one-time Italy manager took charge at Inter. “I didn’t want to have any regrets in the future about not trying,” says the man who led Imolese, Massese and SPAL in the Italian third tier before hooking up with his fellow ex-midfielder. There were rumours of an offer to coach the Juventus under-23 team, but the nature of this task appealed. “In the last two years, Kilmarnock have achieved extraordinary things, and now we all must understand the need to work even harder. I’ve accepted the exact opposite of a job where things are not going well, but that’s something I find stimulating. “Working eight years with Antonio, I know what it means to have to stay at the top. Every year we had to do it all over again. It’s a very difficult thing to do, but what we knew was that every year we had to work harder and the same goes for Kilmarnock. “I know the situation and it’s a big challenge after Steve Clarke. But for me, it’s normal to be under pressure. Of course it’s not easy: I’m Italian, it’s another culture, another tradition, different football. But I think now, step by step, our team is building, we are building. I don’t think the players’ desire to learn is a problem. The problem comes when you can’t find solutions.” Whatever training ground emphasis he puts on running, Alessio knows what it is to graft. He was one of 11 siblings — six boys, five girls, “a whole football team” — in an age when silver spoons hadn’t quite reached the Amalfi coast. For years he plugged away with the local amateurs, yearning for the break that arrived at Avellino. “I’d been on so many trials, but I just loved playing; it didn’t matter whether it was in the biggest stadium in Serie A, or some country dustbowl. For me it was the same thing, because I had this big passion. “At 18, I did a summer with Avellino and that was me. I caught the last train. It’s difficult to go straight from the amateurs to Serie A, believe me, but sometimes what you want arrives when you least expect it.” Alessio has three grown-up children, a management engineer, a fashion designer and one who studies in London. His wife is due to join him, but for now he lives “a quiet life” across the road from Rugby Park, working long hours with the odd escape for fresh sea air at Troon. “I always knew this would be a difficult year, for many reasons,” he says. “We’re still building our season and our path. It will be made up of sacrifices, dedication, sweat and difficulty. We need to be patient and really understand the job.” Whilst more positive, it strikes me as a tabloid article, slightly polished for a broadsheet. I struggle to accept the general held view in the media that it is disrespectful to change what worked under Clarke. Everything changes , every day, and in order to succeed in any aspect of life we need to accept and embrace change. It strikes me that there is a huge reluctance to accept change in Scottish football - whether that is driven by fear, self-interest or laziness, I don't know but what I do know, is that of we fail to embrace new ideas and people, we will continue to live in the fottballing backwater, harking back to 'tanner ba' players and religious conflicts from hundreds of years ago. I've been impressed by Alessio so far, he's pushed himself far outside his comfort zone in an effort to better himself and in my view that should be applauded. He also appears to be a very decent man. I wish him every success. Edited September 8, 2019 by Jmac37 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebigguy68 Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 As a club we are beginning to turn the corner after nomads. We should not underestimate the value of more positive press like this. The old team is going and a new approach lies ahead. It’s a results game though and a couple of bad results will get the more negative supporters started again. A good win against hibs on Saturday and a hampden semi final with another hibs victory and things will be bright. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdaw Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 He has his Football philosophy and its not just about formations and tactic's. I hope he gets time to implement it. I can see us as a Club benefiting from this experience. Hopefully an exciting ride for the fans. Might be a slow process however, Depends on results as always, He mentions how it is easier to get players to accept change if the Team is winning games and that's the same for the fans , Win matches even when playing poorly and we will accept it , But try new idea's and while we are losing and we see it as failure. I think he has proven in his life in Football that he is a strong character and he is a brave guy, Shown by taking on the job here, Foreign country , A country were we can be struggle to adapt to change. Less educated players (football wise) and take on a job were we have just had our highest finish in 18 years, Not to mention a lack of money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skygod Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 (edited) This is exactly what I suggested during the week and it's good to see The Times making the effort to understand AA a little better. It's still a little on the short side but it's a start. He needs the time and space to work with what is now a much changed squad - eight new faces excluding Millar and Bruce - without a clamour for Killie to "cut their losses". Edited September 8, 2019 by skygod 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piffer Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 It’s good to see the manager getting a chance to put his side across. A good read IMO. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post superfan Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 This man deserves to be a success. Lets all get behind him because, TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER, WE ARE KILLIE ! 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorro Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 8 minutes ago, Jmac37 said: Whilst more positive, it strikes me as a tabloid article, slightly polished for a broadsheet. I struggle to accept the general held view in the media that it is disrespectful to change what worked under Clarke. Everything changes , every day and in order to succeed in any aspect of life we need to accept and embrace change. It strikes me that there is a huge reluctance to accept change in Scottish football - whether that is driven by fear, self interest or laziness, I don't know but what I do no is that of we fail to embrace no ideas ams people we will continue to live in the fottballing backwater, harking back to 'tanner ba' players and religious conflicts from hundreds of years ago. I've been impressed by Alessio so far, he's pushed himself far outside his comfort zone in an effort to better himself and in my view that should be applauded. He also appears to be a very decent man. I wish him every success. I’m with you on this. I don’t blame him for the CQN debacle, our players should be good enough to have won that standing on one leg. We as fans need to adjust to AA and his style. These articles do nothing but go over the same ground. We know he’s a good man, but I want to hear more about his credo and convictions. I’d like to hear about his ambitions with Kilmarnock. What his plans are to build on this “difficult” first season. His thoughts on the Scottish style, what he’d keep, what he’d change. Something more in depth. And if the media won’t do it, then the club or this site should. I think people would show more patience if they could see there was a plan to develop things. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdevoy Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 41 minutes ago, NorfolkG said: Speaks more sense than the Succulent Lamb Brigade combined. This! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Souleycouley93 Posted September 8, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 The guy is working really hard. In a country where the media wants to see him fail to suggest one of the boys can get the job like Neil McCann. Alessio is an accomplished player and coach. I have unfairly judged him after the Europa league disaster mainly due to the disappointment. It seems the board are trying to bring in people behind scenes to improve the club and Alessio has started to implement his Italian style. Hopefully guys like St Clair and Sow can help upfront and surprise us all. Feeling a lot more confident going forward, a free agent signing masterstroke if possible would be great. Fully behind Angelo. His passion in Perth was what is needed at this club. Hopefully he silences all his idiot journalist sceptics. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mitch14 Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Good read. I agree with skygod - good to hear him in longer form get his message across. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boydiesback Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 He comes across as the Italian version of kenny shiels, let’s hope he can repeat that cup win this year -4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scouser2 Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Good interview and credit to the journalist for taking the time and then not following the usual lazy journalistic "trend" with way it was done....and no mention of the Glasgow 2 either! Our Manager came across well and was informative ..good too AA at no time belittled or criticised others who been quick to slag him off Some other Managers would in such an interview have had a go back at likes of Broadfoot 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclean07 Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 52 minutes ago, Zorro said: I’m with you on this. I don’t blame him for the CQN debacle, our players should be good enough to have won that standing on one leg. We as fans need to adjust to AA and his style. These articles do nothing but go over the same ground. We know he’s a good man, but I want to hear more about his credo and convictions. I’d like to hear about his ambitions with Kilmarnock. What his plans are to build on this “difficult” first season. His thoughts on the Scottish style, what he’d keep, what he’d change. Something more in depth. And if the media won’t do it, then the club or this site should. I think people would show more patience if they could see there was a plan to develop things. Agree. Fans buy into a vision. Maybe a meet the Manager night? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyjohnston Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 19 minutes ago, boydiesback said: He comes across as the Italian version of kenny shiels, let’s hope he can repeat that cup win this year Had the same thought myself but only from a football perspective, I don't envisage Alessio being as outspoken against the establishment. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supermac Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Nice article but too short,Angelos coaching credentials are better than anyone in the league but he’s going to need a real run of good results before any of the MSM start to listen to him and give him any sort of credit until then according to them he’s just tinkering with SSC team 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cedricdragon Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 11 minutes ago, Supermac said: Nice article but too short,Angelos coaching credentials are better than anyone in the league but he’s going to need a real run of good results before any of the MSM start to listen to him and give him any sort of credit until then according to them he’s just tinkering with SSC team Will need more than tinkering as most are out of contract next summer, like the guy really hope he does well. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candygram for mongo Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Good article, decent read. It's better to find out AA's thoughts/views via newspaper interviews such as this rather than on-the-spot t.v. questions which are difficult for him. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartonpie Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 Beautiful 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangodog Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 More about the man rather than the manager. Sounds like he has worked hard to get where he is. We may need to wait until we have a proper scouting operation in place to get the personnel he needs to fit his plans for our team. No guarantee that he will make the transition from top-notch coach to a manager of similar standing but he deserves more of a chance than the thickos of the Scottish sports media are giving him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallus Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 I'm starting to think the big man is gonna be alright. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebigguy68 Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 We will see the best next season I think. The league cup and top 6 this year will buy him time for a proper league challenge next ! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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