New Manager Needs To Believe

MUCH is being said currently about the uncertainty over Liverpool FC at the moment, given the lack of a manager and the mulling over, back and forth regarding the ‘to move or not to move to Stanley Park’ matter.

It needs to be said though, the two shouldn’t be interlinked. The stadium issue is FSG’s headache but AFTER they make the most significant decision – hire a good new manager.

In my books, as much of my co-writers have been saying, Rafael Benitez may well be the ideal candidate to make a return to Anfield.

A bit of a déjà vu after Kenny Dalglish’s unsuccessful return, true, but under Benitez, Liverpool re-scaled the heights of the old glory days.

Whether you look at big teams scared of playing Liverpool, to teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea always looking over their shoulder while Rafa was at Anfield. Either way, his gritty attention to defensive detail also once saw Liverpool go on a major run of clean sheets – most of which resulted in wins as well.

During that run, teams like Chelsea and Arsenal were brushed aside in more than just a lucky way. Having said that, there were also issues under Rafa, which frustrated fans and players alike.

The rotation policy comes to mind which players never like, especially if they put in a good performance on a Saturday only to sit out Tuesday night’s game. However, if the relationship between the players and manager in general were to be more of a trusting nature, then sparks could be avoided.

The players need to know they’re wanted but part of a team, which needs to function as a solid machine – not depend on a few parts here and there. Right now, Steven Gerrard seems to be on the wane, although he’s got the calibre of a super human which means he could bounce back in a second.

Luis Suarez has been phenomenal this season and Andy Carroll, towards the end of the season showed glimpses of what made Liverpool fork out £35 million quid for him in the first place. Stewart Downing’s been good down the flanks, Jose Enrique’s been an inspired signing – possibly the best or at least second best to another last minute arrival.

It’s the Welshman Craig Bellamy who’s made a more than solid mark on his return to Anfield. His previous run under Benitez seemed to be alright but he was off loaded after a year.
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Whoever comes in to take the management this time hopefully won’t make the same mistake. But whoever does become the new gaffer at Anfield needs to understand something: planning for the future’s fine but something needs to be done simultaneously to make the players fire on all cylinders week in, week out.

There needs to be a belief among the players that they’re so much better than what the performances reflected this season. All the criticism Charlie Adam’s had – he’s still shown glimpses of why he can be a top player in a Liverpool shirt.

In the 2-1 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the season; it was his diagonal cross field ball to Glen Johnson which allowed the right-back to embarrass Ashley Cole and score the winner.

Then again, Adam’s also shown recklessness in challenging for the ball as well as a lackadaisical attitude when chasing down opposition players. The new manager will have to work on these areas along with retaining the things that are good – not just for Charlie Adam but with regards to every player.

Whoever it is, needs to first believe himself that this club can kill the opposition and score buckets of goals, before the fans will. Get Liverpool to that place again when playing them gave opposition managers the cold sweats.

If they’re scared to play Liverpool FC again, the job’s half-done.

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