Andoni Iraola should ‘worry’ that one trait his teams exhibit will hamper him from getting a top job, Jamie Carragher has claimed.
The Bournemouth boss is all the rage for giving the Cherries an outside shout for Champions League football next season.
The dynamic, free-flowing style he has implemented on the south coast has many admirers and he has been linked with replacing Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.
However, Carragher has studied the Achilles’ Heel of the teams he has managed down the years and worries it could put off chiefs at top clubs.
Iraola’s sides down the years have tended to run out of steam in the second half of the season. Going into Monday night’s clash with Fulham, Bournemouth had claimed just two points in six games – having picked up 28 in their previous 13.
‘The thing that stands out consistently is, there’s a drop off. We know how they play, how physical they are,’ Carragher told Monday Night Football.
Andoni Iraola should ‘worry’ that his teams drop off late in the season, says Jamie Carragher
Bournemouth’s form in March and Apri has damaged their hopes of European football
Carragher warned that owners will be put off by Iraola’s injury record due to his style
‘In the first half of his seasons (throughout his career), his points per game, right from the start, there’s a drop off (in the second half of the season).
‘I think this is a worry for Iraola himself in terms of where he goes in management. He’s one of the favourites if one of the so-called giants of the game in this country is looking for a manager.
‘Bournemouth fans might not be happy with me saying it, the ambition for every player or manager is to be at the top.
‘Owners will be looking at the injury record. You think of (Marcelo) Bielsa, a lot of injuries, Jurgen Klopp, a lot of injuries, and Iraola, because of the way they play.
‘When they drop off that much in the second half of the season, if you’re a big club, the second half of the season is when the trophies get given out.
‘Don’t forget, he’s a manager who has never managed in Europe. He has only managed over 50 games once in one season for one team. If you’re a big club, you’re playing eight to 12, maybe 15 games more.
‘I think that’s something that future owners will be looking at when they’re assessing managers. That could put them off.’
Iraola has overseen an impressive transformation at Bournemouth since he joined the club at the start of last season. After leading them to 12th in the table last term, they are currently in the top half.
Iraola has been mentioned as a possible successor to under-fire Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou
The Spaniard has one year left on his deal with the Cherries, meaning a club would have to pay his £10million release clause if they want to secure his services.
He also recently insisted he is ‘really happy’ at the Vitality Stadium, saying: ‘I want to do my job the best I can. I don’t know how far we can go, where we will finish.
”If I don’t do the job very well, they (Bournemouth’s owners) will find someone else who does the job – it is like this in every job.
‘I am really happy here.’
