Thread by @The_Penny_Blue

🧵 Thread 🧵

Review of @Everton managerial candidate: Vitor Pereira

#EFC #NSNO #27years

With the managerial saga surrounding @Everton coming to a boil in recent days and discontent with certain links manifesting into vandalism and discourse I thought it would be a good time to provide more light into one of the potential candidates, Vitor Pereira.

I will be going over the following topics in attempt to calm fears and frustration with the prospective hiring of the Portuguese manager:

Background:
1️⃣General info/Managerial history [1-10]
Tactics:
2️⃣Favored approach[11-17]
3️⃣Positional roles
Conclusion:
4️⃣Personal take

1️⃣𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨/𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲:

Pereira's playing career consisted of playing among the Portuguese lower leagues as a defensive midfielder

He's fluent in Portuguese and English but at times not able to translate complex thoughts adequately
[1]

1️⃣
Pereira's has managed clubs in 6 different countries over 10 years winning 4 league titles and 4 domestic cups in Portugal/Greece/China

He was previously linked with Everton to succeed Moyes and Silva opting to join Al Ahli and remain at Shanghai SPIG respectively
[2]

1️⃣
Notable circumstances surrounding joining/departing previous clubs:

Porto- Promoted from assistant manager following AVB's departure to Chelsea. Chose not to extend in search for a new challenge.

Olympiacos- Mutual termination after found looking for new employment
[3]

1️⃣
Fenerbahce- Joined after plans with other suitors fell through. Club unilaterally terminated his contract due to unforseen financial issues. [5 years on] Rehired by new ownership with the recent record of 8 managers in 160 games. [...]
[4]

1️⃣
Fenerbahce- [...] After disagreements with the owner over transfers, use of personnel, and tactical set ups, sacked Jan 3rd with a 11-7-7 record and the team in 5th.
[5]

1️⃣
Munich 1860- Hired via Kia to stave off relegation. Financial state of club was worse than lead on to be restricting transfers. Relegated after playoff games. Munich was further relegated to the regional league after the owner’s inability to pay 3. Liga fees.
[6]

1️⃣
Generally accepted as great at talent acquisition signing talents such as Danilo/Alex Sandro/Jackson Martinez/Eliaquim Mangala. All later sold on for a near £100m profit for Porto.
[7]

1️⃣
Also integral in developing young talent a list of U24 players playing >2000 mins in a single season include but are not limited to:
Joao Moutinho
Hulk
Otamendi
James Rodriguez
Mangala
Danilo
Alex Sandro
Masuaku
Milivojevic
Ozan Tufan
Ferdi Kadioglu*
Attila Szalai
[8]

1️⃣
While Pereira is flexible with situations one of his main downfalls appears to be man management and criticism. There have been reports of past players such as James/RVP/Nani/Hulk/Ozil that he has clashed with mostly due players not adapting his philosophy fully. [...]
[9]

1️⃣
[...]That being said his usage of these players suggests that he's not fond of freezing players out but instead molds the team to accommodate those players. Previously Pereira was criticized by James for not starting him to which the player later agreed he wasn't fit
[10]

2️⃣𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬/𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡:

As a proprietor of the tactical periodization training methodology he requires intensive tactical training. This allows each player to know their role during all phases of play

More info here:
[11]

2️⃣
Formation wise Pereira's preferred formation earlier in his career was the 4231. Opting to use the formation used by his predecessor AVB. As he's progress through his career he's transitioned to use an attacking 3421 more and more frequently.
[12]

2️⃣
The generalized style of play that Pereira prefers is a high counter-pressing, counter attacking, possession based team. His style has been described as simply as "pure aggression" while he prefers to refer to it as "total control".
[13]

2️⃣
In addition to an aggressive team approach, especially in the defensive phases, there's a very fluid and free flowing approach throughout the attacking phases with plenty of rotation. Players would be required to be particularly disciplined in positional awareness.
[14]

2️⃣
Common Pereira tactics:
🔸 Med/High block
🔸 Counter-press
🔸 Offside trap
🔸 Force long balls
🔸 Counter off the press
🔸 Create overloads/passing triangles in wide/half spaces
🔸 Advanced wingbacks
🔸 Overlapping wide CBs
🔸 Freedom in the att 3rd
🔸 Man marking
[...]
[15]

2️⃣
[...]
🔸 Control game in opp half
🔸 Play short passes
🔸 Conservative CMs
🔸 Free flowing/narrow front 3
🔸 Encourages 1v1s
[16]

2️⃣
Potential issues:
❌ Poor balance of att/def
❌ Commits too many players forward
❌ Relies of ball playing CBs
❌ Technical teams breaking the press
❌ Poor positional awareness of CMs/CBs
❌ Isolating defenders in 1v1 situations
[17]

3️⃣ 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬:
Wingbacks: These players are used more as outside mids by Pereira providing the main width for the team. Main creators of overloads and opportunities from carries/crosses. Expected to be strong in 1v1 situations in attack and defense.
[18]

3️⃣
CBs: Must be mobile and comfortable with the ball at their feet. Expected to apply immediate pressure to balls breaking the first line to stall progression and allow time for recovery runs. Ball-side outside backs expected to provide overlapping runs forward.[...]
[19]

3️⃣
[...]Advancing CBs expected to maintain high positioning and become part of the counter-pressing effort.

CMs: Need to play conservatively in attack maintaining defensive balance while others progress. Focal point of recycling possession and build up play. [...]
[20]

3️⃣
[...]Are responsible for cutting off the central outlets while the press is on. Required to drop between the CBs and pick up possession.

Forwards: Expected to rotate freely while staying compact and providing support. Initiate the aggressive press/counter-press. [...]
[21]

3️⃣
[...]Set up with the intention to control the half spaces in between the defensive lines. One of the trio may also drop deeper to aid in progressing up the field.
[22]

3️⃣
Build up example with CM and CB movement:
[23]

4️⃣𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞:
Pereira is an fascinating manager and I believe would be entertain to watch at Everton. I am near certain he will bring the sort of "Dogs of War"/"No quarter given" swagger back to Everton. His attacking possession based style of play [...]
[24]

4️⃣
along the intense breathing down their necks type of pressing is something that's been missing at Goodison for some time with the ability to captivate both those who prefer the art of the game and those who prefer the passion and fight. He also seems to be a manager[...]
[25]

4️⃣
[...]who takes player development seriously looking for solutions from within the club while working with the players to get the best possible from them. This bodes well for our youthful squad and promising young talents like Gordon who if given the chance may impress.
[26]

4️⃣
Looking for solutions outside the club, Pereira is an excellent recognizer of talent with the ability to spot players that fit the clubs budget, his style of play, and are alligned with the future ambitions of the club. With the absence a DoF at Everton [...]
[27]

4️⃣
[...]looking more unlikely to be solved by the end of the season this sensible approach to the transfer window will be much needed. The past leagues he's managed in aren't awe inspiring by any means and I can understand Evertonians reservations [...]
[28]

4️⃣
[...]because of this but he's been successful with nearly every appointment when taking into consideration the circumstances. His coaching style is both methodical and theoretical providing clear direction while encouraging progression in their knowledge of the game.
[29]

4️⃣
Both things that I believe our current group of players have been missing for some time and/or never had. With Pereira's matching ideals, commitment to development, keen eye for talent acquisition, past success, and clear/recognizable approach[...]
[30]

4️⃣
[...]I agree with the club's interest in him as a potential managerial appointment.

Some concerns I have with him on a management level is with his inability to handle situations that involve disagreement and on a tactical level his balance between attack and defense.
[31]

4️⃣
While egotistically he isn't as bad as Mourinho or Benitez but I think it could cause issues with a few less than openminded players in the squad and fans. He feeds off of the environment that he's in so if its toxic/hostile it will only get worse but [...]
[32]

4️⃣
[...]if its positive/supporting he and the team with thrive. His tactical side is very sound but the biggest issue is the possibility of our current squad not being able to handle the roles he tasks them with making for a very leaky defense.
[33]

4️⃣
With our current league position its something we can't afford much of if any at all but on the bright side anything is better than our conceding of over 2 goals a game during Benitez's last 12 in charge. There's also a decent chance that his preferred tactics are[...]
[34]

4️⃣
[...]too advanced for the current group at FF. Pereira will need to temper his emotions and tactical approach over his first months at Everton to ensure our safety. Mark me down as being excited and cautiously optimistic towards the potential of signing Vitor Pereira.
[35]

4️⃣
Players I believe could thrive under Pereira:
Pickford Mykolenko Patterson Mina Keane Holgate Godfrey JPG Allan Delph Richy Gray Gordon Townsend Branthwaite Onyango Dobbin
[36]

4️⃣
Players I believe could struggle under Pereira:
Keane Holgate Godfrey Mykolenko Coleman Kenny Allan Doucoure Davies Gomes Gray
[37]

If you made it this far, thank you very much for your commitment to attempting to take in all that information and any likes/retweets/follows are greatly appreciated!

Info was compiled from multiple internet sources along with watching limited available clips. If any information is wrong or needs further clarification please feel free to provide corrections and/or ask. Thanks! 💙