The 'Vitor Matos' Managerial Thread

[Colin-swansea]

In March 2024 we had a Portuguese analyst working for the Swans - Oscar Botelho - who we were led to believe was involved with us signing Gonzalez Franco. Before Gorridge's time at the club but I believe Adam Worth was on the club's books at the time and one wonders if contact was made with Vitor at Maritimo via Botelho.

Here is the write-up by the Swans at the time - 17/3/2024
Meet 43 year old Óscar Botelho, a Portuguese football analyst who is now working with the Swans.

He is a former scout who holds a UEFA 'A' Licence coaching badge and a BSc in Sports and Physical Education. He spent 5 years working with Proeleven, a football player and coaches career management agency, before becoming a sports commentator/analyst with the Lisbon based TSF radio station, before leaving at the end of last month.

 

[AusinIsOurHero]

Got regulation written all over it.

I'll take a year of regulation over relegation anytime.

 

[Blackpooljack]

Maybe that's the key, he has a way to get players who are unproven to be ready. Might be something we was missing. Who knows. As I said I'm trying to find positives in this. We have no choice and it would be wrong for me to overly judge. I have to have faith in the club. They have the research and know how.

Unproven but with loads of talent unlike our lot.

 

[Woody Woodpecker Song]

I'll take a year of regulation over relegation anytime.whoever we appoint is a gamble prefer the pressing game to tippy tap 800 passes for 2 shots.
I am not expecting much but it wont stop me from dreaming.

 

[theallseeingdai]

I want to acknowledge that like with every managerial appointment, especially for an unknown, there is a chance it can go well and be a success. But this is a crazy choice and I fear we are not doing it for the right reasons. He has been very active in the media building his reputation and it feels like we are basing it more on that and hearsay than any track record as a coach, just like Klopps other assistant who failed when he became a manager in Austria or the coach who just got sacked by Ajax. Maritimo have had an okay start to the season but do not look like they have been an exceptional team and they are playing against kids teams as a newly relegated side with a big budget.

How Vitor Matos, the manager, was shaped by ‘special’ Klopp and Liverpool life

The Portuguese is blazing his own trail in his home country's second tier after learning crucial lessons at Anfield

www.nytimes.com

It can not be a coincidence that he managed to have this interview article written about him full of praise and suddenly he is in line for our job a couple of days later when we know he was not in line when it was first published. I worry our inexperienced team have been duped by a media creation and have rushed into a decision because it is a simple one to complete and they were let down by Hellberg. I hope I am wrong and people can point and laugh about this in a years time.

All that being said at least it is not Martin.

"There are a couple of key principles around his playing style, highlighted by statistics that show Maritimo are the team with the lowest passes allowed per defensive action (6.49) in the division. He wants his team to be as dominant as possible and disorganise the opposition, to counter-press aggressively when out of possession and to play each game like it is a final."

"Matos likes the underdog tag, though, and believes it helps retain focus. His team are on the same points as second-placed, Torreense, and just two points off Sporting’s B-team, who lead the way. Maritimo have conceded the fewest shots (93) and have the second highest ball possession figures (55.6 per cent) which shows Matos’ methods are working."

That's a summary from the article regarding the meat and veg. The rest is nostalgia fluff related to LFC.