Shane Long sat down with BOYLE Sports for a wide-ranging exclusive interview covering the Premier League , the World Cup , and everything in between. The former Republic of Ireland striker opened up on the managerial merry-go-round that is set to define next season, starting with his surprise that a club of Liverpool's stature failed to move for Andoni Iraola after the Bournemouth boss walked away from one of the most consistently impressive jobs in the division.
From there, Long gave his verdict on Harry Wilson's summer options after a brilliant season at Fulham , and weighed in on one of football's great centre-back debates: Virgil van Dijk versus John Terry . Having played alongside Van Dijk and against Terry , his answer came with genuine insight from both sides of the divide. He also spoke about the next chapter for Van Dijk at Liverpool and why he expects the Dutchman to silence his critics next season.
The managerial picture across the Premier League was a theme Long kept returning to. With so many jobs in flux heading into next season, he laid out why the only stable foundation in the top flight looks like it belongs to Mikel Arteta at Arsenal , and why Iraola's record of proving himself made his departure from Bournemouth such a significant moment.
Andoni Iraola
Liverpool And United Missed Out
There must have been significant interest from big clubs in Andoni Iraola for him to leave Bournemouth . They were performing consistently well throughout the season; it was not just a late surge over the last few months. They always seemed destined for a great season, so he likely had something lined up for a long time. These opportunities are rare, and he has done a great job. He will leave with the fans' support and on good terms with everyone.
The main concern for Bournemouth is whether he will take any players with him. Hopefully, they can retain the squad, as they performed remarkably well despite losing key players like Huijsen and Semenyo last year. That is the biggest worry for Bournemouth now because it is a growing club. With investments in new training grounds, the stadium, and new ownership, the club is building every year.
A Weird Season Ahead
I am surprised that a team like Liverpool did not snap up Andoni Iraola . I think, unless there is a club abroad that has really turned his head and he is waiting for that to come to fruition, he must have something lined up. It is going to be a weird season next year because there are new managers everywhere. I do not know what is going to happen with Arne Slot . Carrick at United , that is going to be fresh. Chelsea as well, Alonso , City .
I do not know if Maresca is going to get that job. It is going to be a hard season to call. I suppose the only stable one there is Arteta at Arsenal . So there are a lot of jobs up for grabs there, and it is hard in the Premier League . They seem to go with managers that have not proven themselves, and they have never really worked out, and Iraola has proven himself in the league. So it must be tempting for those big clubs.
Harry Wilson
Wilson's Summer Options
Harry Wilson has had a great season. I think he is around twenty-nine or thirty, and he scored ten goals this year for Fulham . Obviously, his contract is running out, so I could see an Aston Villa or even an Everton coming in for him. He is a great player; he is a gifted talisman who is good at getting on the ball and making things happen.
Chipping in with ten goals this season is unbelievable from any midfielder. I do not think the top Big Six would be going for him, but anyone else in the league would be snapping him up. He has done well to have a season like he has had while coming into a free move. I am sure everybody would be rubbing their hands together, trying to get him.
Van Dijk vs Terry
The Centre-Back Debate
I know them both and played against them both as well, which shows how old I am. I also played with Virgil . Every striker is different, but if I had to pick one I would rather play against, it would be Terry . I hated playing against Virgil ; he was big, strong, quick, and read the game well. John Terry was an unbelievable centre-back, and I am not trying to dismiss him, but I feel like I could have had a bit more success against him than Virgil, just because of my pace.
I think I was able to get away from him, but everything else is very similar. Virgil is probably a bit bigger, and having played with him, I have seen firsthand day on day how good he is. He has not had a great season at Liverpool this year, but he has been up for a Ballon d'Or . John Terry can back it up, too; he has had an undeniable career and won a lot of trophies. When players get older, you begin to lose their pace, but you never see Virgil out of position where he needs to sprint that much.
He is always in control. A lot of the goals you see are coming from him trying to cover for other defenders slipping up, but he still gets the spotlight because of how good he is. He set a standard so high. He went to Liverpool and changed how many clean sheets they have, changed their defensive strategies, and just dominated. Everyone is expecting that year in, year out. So I am sure he will take that criticism to heart. He is a professional guy. He will want to prove all the doubters wrong, and he will come back stronger next season.
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