Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterAcross his spells at Larnaca, Mirandes, Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth, streakiness has always been a hallmark of Andoni Iraolas sides but most of them will tell Liverpool fans that if he gets off to a bad start, he can still prove to be well worth the wait.In Cyprus, Iraola had Larnaca in fine form in the Europa League qualifying rounds and started the league campaign well, only to hit a run of just one win in nine games in all competitions that cost him his job.At Mirandes in the Spanish second tier, it was the other way around: Iraolas side won just one of their first ten games, but then lost just five of their next 33 games.Ira-olling with the punchesThat included going on an impressive run to the semi-finals of Copa del Rey, claiming three top-flight scalps from Celta Vigo, Sevilla and Villarreal along the way but the return to action after the Covid-enforced stoppage to the season saw Mirandes finish the season with a run of two wins in nine games and fall out of play-off contention.Iraola stayed in the Spanish equivalent of the Championship the following season, this time with Rayo Vallecano, and the streakiness continued: three wins from the first four was followed by just two wins in the next eight before they rallied and achieved promotion via the play-offs. You may like Why is Andoni Iraolas Liverpool contract so short? Andoni Iraola's first three Liverpool tasks are daunting and monumental - but achievable Who are Andoni Iraolas Liverpool assistants? His most extreme start of all came at Bournemouth in 2023. With Iraola installed as Gary ONeils successor, the Cherries didnt win any of their first nine Premier League games, with a 3-0 defeat to a troubled Everton side who had scarcely started the season a particular lowlight.Much of the criticism was aimed not at Iraola, but at Bournemouth, who were heavily criticised for having made the change in the first place. The Telegraph tipped them for the drop, accusing the clubs decision to replace ONeil as an act of self-mutilation after he had led them away from relegation the previous season.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.And who inflicted the defeat in that ninth league game of Iraolas tenure? ONeils Wolves, of course. The pressure was now on.But tellingly, the Bournemouth board kept the faith and despite their awful results, Iraolas style was already starting to draw a well, actually reaction from analysts.They pointed out that Bournemouth had been handed the toughest opening fixtures of any side in the division they also faced Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Brighton and Arsenal in the run and yet ranked in the top half on their pressing stats and were consistently getting touches in the opposition box. The implication was that this was a side still adapting to a difficult but potentially rewarding style of play. What to read next Liverpool pathway has opened up for Harvey Elliott, following Andoni Iraola comment Andoni Iraola has MAJOR PROBLEMS as Liverpool squad weaknesses become worryingly apparent Arne Slot's perception problem proved too much for Liverpool fans Bournemouth fans were generally still on board, too, citing the trickiness of that run, a spate of injuries, late arrivals in the transfer market, and some genuinely excellent passage of play at Anfield and against Tottenham as reasons to stay behind Iraola.That faith proved to be well-placed. Bournemouth won eight of their next ten Premier League games, with Manchester City the only side to beat them. Not only that, but Bournemouth claimed those wins in style, scoring three against Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and away to Manchester United.Then came a seven-game winless run, followed by a run of four wins in five games that essentially confirmed a mid-table finish was on the cards.That first season set a pattern for Iraolas Bournemouth, who continued to veer back and forth between long unbeaten runs and much more underwhelming periods.Just consider last season: second in the table after losing just one of their first nine and they deserved to get something out of that opening-day defeat to Liverpool, in truth.Bournemouth didnt win at all in November or December, and lost star man Antoine Semenyo to City in the January transfer window only to finish the season with an 18-game unbeaten streak that included just slightly too many draws for them to pip Liverpool to Champions League qualification.Those who watched Bournemouth closely will tell you that Bournemouth often played scintillating stuff.They were, for this writer, the most entertaining side in the division for much of the past two seasons, and those poor spells very much felt like the inevitable result of Iraola playing an ultra-intense modern gegenpressing style without having the squad depth required to sustain it at its best over an entire season.Liverpool should be able to provide that, but whether they actually will or not is another question.It is clear that the squad needs work, particularly in defence; and for as much as the players who served under Jurgen Klopp are likely to embrace Iraolas similar style, Liverpool still look from the outside like a club going through a belated transitional period.The expectation on Iraola will be much higher than it was on the Dorset coast, and yet more winless runs like the ones they suffered through under Arne Slot last season would not go down at all well.There is real potential for Iraola to end up being made into the fall guy for several years of weird transfer business at Liverpool but if his prior track record is anything to go by, a bit of patience could go a long way.TOPICSAndoni IraolaAFC BournemouthLiverpoolSteven ChickenSocial Links NavigationSteven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication,WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
