AS previously reported Louis van Gaal is a leading candidate to take up the role of Sporting Director at Anfield with a younger manager working below him as a replacement for Kenny Dalglish.
Roberto Martinez is now the front-runner for the management role with the Latics boss set for a second round of talks with Liverpool officials in the United States later this week when he ends his holidays, according to the Daily Star and the Guardian.
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre last week said: “It will be more than one person in and around the role, dividing up the responsibilities. We are trying to create as much resource and expertise in all the areas that serve the manager and the football team, rather than having one or two people trying to achieve everything.”
A plan to bring in an experienced sporting director to supervise a new manager would be a great idea for the Anfield club and the appointment of Louis van Gaal would at least allay any grumblings over a move to bring in a relatively young boss such as Roberto Martinez.
Van Gaal has achieved a great deal in the course of his 25 year plus managerial career. The brash Dutchman has won six domestic titles in three nations, a Champions League triumph and a host of other successes during his spells at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Martinez has done well to keep Wigan in the top tier but is clearly without top level success but at 38 years of age he has shown he has the potential to succeed and perhaps more importantly plays football in a style that is pleasing on the eye and perhaps in tune with how Liverpool fans would like their side to play.
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It would be extremely dangarous if our Principal Owner John W. Henry and Chairman Thomas Werner decide to appoint either Roberto Martinez or either Brendan Rodgers or even re-appoint Rafael Benitez for a lot of important/critical reasons. If they have reservations of appointing Andre Villas-Boas or Fabio Capello then for me the most reliable alternative wise choice would be with no hesitation Louis Van Gaal. As I previously said I fully trust and have faith in the owners and I am confident that at the end will make the right call. Louis van Gaal is one of the most successful coaches of his generation. The Dutchman won two European club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, at the head of the strongest Ajax squad since the glory days of the 1970s. During his tenure in Amsterdam, Van Gaal presided over the development of Patrick Kluivert, the De Boer brothers, Clarence Seedorf, Edgar Davids, Nwankwo Kanu, Edwin van der Sar, Marc Overmars and Jari Litmanen. He then headed abroad and won La Liga in 1998 and 1999 with Barcelona, adding to a CV which has made him one of the most respected coaches currently working in Europe.
VAN GAAL FORMATIONS’ PHILOSOPHY
It’s a footballing philosophy more than a system. A system depends on the players you have. I played 4-3-3 with Ajax, 2-3-2-3 with Barcelona and I can play 4-4-2 with AZ. I’m flexible. The philosophy stays the same though.
VAN GALL FOOTBALL PHILOSOPHY
I don’t think that you can adapt it to every possible situation. You need the right mindset, and it depends on how the players see the coach and vice versa. The coach is the focal point of the team but you need to have an open mind, and so do all the players. Everyone needs to work together to achieve a common goal. Preparing your tactical formation is essential. Each player needs to know where he has to be, and that is why there needs to be mutual understanding because you need absolute discipline. This is a sport played by 22 men, and there are 11 opponents out there playing as a team. Each individual needs to know who he has to beat and be there to support his team-mates.
Former Dutch superstar Patrick Kluivert once called Van Gaal “a master at building a team”, and even Van Gaal likes to use the terms “team building” and “performance” to describe his coaching philosophy.
Appointing R Martinez is casting Liverpool’s future in concrete. There is no appeal to Liverpool any more for players AND fans (worldwide).