I can’t say the thought didn’t cross my mind when we lost that final game to Swansea, but for the King to be actually dethroned, what a pill to swallow. In my opinion, it was a rash decision and FSG clearly didn’t take into consideration the team’s overall performance and leaned more towards results. Can you really blame them though? As a top-ranked business venture and even as a top-ranked football club, the results have clearly been underachieving. However, given the choice between patience and change, I would have opted for patience with such a figure as Kenny Dalglish at the helm, but I guess impatience is just one of those things that come with such a heavy investment as FSG’s in Liverpool.
In the past week speculation over the potential candidates to fill the massive vacancy at Anfield has been rife. Many names have popped up with Rafael Benitez, Roberto Martinez and Andre Villas-Boas being the most mentioned.
Brendan Rodgers was another highly tipped candidate but I guess he realized the shoes that need filling are too big for his relatively small feet. Fabio Capello and the highly unlikely Pep Guardiola’s names have also recently found their way into the shortlist. All of these managers, except Martinez maybe, are used to the pressures that accompany every big club and have guided some previous employers to their much sought after gold but the big question that still remains is “What are they really bringing to the table?”
Rafael Benitez, my personal favourite and no stranger to the Kop, is already an Anfield legend in his own right by virtue of his historic victory in Istanbul in 2005. Benitez also delivered the FA cup in 2006 and another Champions League final in 2007. Highly experienced with a great eye for potential and known to favour the native Spanish attacking style football, Benitez has already proved once that a man of his calibre is all we really need to materialize our ambitions and stay true to our glorious history.
Roberto Martinez, another Spaniard, is not as decorated as Rafael Benitez (not as decorated as any of these five actually) and certainly nowhere near as experienced but may potentially still prove to be a good choice if FSG are willing to back him through more than a single season. Favouring a relatively packed midfield and a more passing and possessive style of play not very different from our current setup, Martinez could be the man to fully utilize our fine stock of midfielders. I don’t think an instant turn-around or any substantial silverware will be expected in his first season if he takes over, but if this is the case then why are we even in the market?
Andre Villas-Boas: hero in Portugal, villain in West London. Will Merseyside provide redemption for his disastrous career in England? Though not a favourite for me, his stellar season with Porto that clenched European glory (albeit the Europa League) and domestic success, bagging both the Portuguese league title and Super Cup, cannot be so easily forgotten. He favours fast paced football and youth over experience. His scouting skills cannot be adequately measured even though Juan Mata – probably his only major signing while at Chelsea – proved instrumental in their season. Our fate in the hands of this man will be uncertain but it could prove highly profitable if he gets it right.
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Capello and Guardiola are both managers with track records a mile long. Guardiola, 41, fits the more youthful profile which FSG supposedly crave without compromising on experience, but how ambitious can a man who’s won it all certainly be? Being largely under-rated due to the fact that he managed arguably the best team in club football, Liverpool could be Guardiola’s chance to prove his critics wrong. Capello on the other hand has proved severally that he is capable of transformation and has won trophies with all of his previous employers except for his most recent. A master tactician, Capello would undoubtedly bring with him the much needed promise of Champions League football.
Deciding on a Manager for a high profile football club is never easy. It’s probably the biggest determinant of how successful your next season’s campaign will be. Considering these available options and barring another major shock announcement, I doubt FSG can go wrong in choosing a new Manager if only they are willing to fully back whoever they choose.
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I wonder will it be before or after the Euros before it will be announced?
Martinez with either Txiki Begiristain or van Gaal would be ideal. LFC have never appointed a massive name manager in their history. RM may be being slated for just keeping Wigan up, but his style and commitment to passing attacking football is what LFC are. Add the player pulling power of a name like either two I’ve mentioned and then the squad we have already. FSG will support purchase of players this summer for the new manager.
Just back whoever is appointed otherwise we’ll have another Roy Hodgeson episode. We all want stability, a young gifted attack minded manager with a passing style. We all want some decent players attracted to the club in the summer.
Should get all this with RM and either TB or LvG
Benitez was a massive name.
Yeah I agree that we need to support whoever gets the job! If not then we’re likely to start getting a bad reputation as fans which could put off future managers, players and sponsors! I’m a bit fed up with fan groups demanding that things be done the ‘Liverpool way’ and then moaning when they don’t get spoon fed everything bit of information and demand answers!!! Can’t have it both ways!!!!
My only worry with Martinez is that he’s the only candadite who hasn’t demanded a substantial transfer kitty and thats why he’ll get the job. As if he can petform miracles with pennies! The trouble with that is when fighting relagation your immediate competitors are operating under the same conditions, whereas those at the top of the tree (where we’re aiming for) do not! If the stories of £30 million are true then thats nowhere near enough to compete at the top. They’ll be spending that on one player, not several as we’ll have to!!
LFC are interviwing a large number of applicants if their name is Martiez.
They have trawled through every Manager named Martinez.
they are interviewing all Managers named Martinez.
this Martinez was out of the blue put forward as the next LFC Manager a couple of weeks before Daglish got the sack.
I want rafa he’s an lfc hero.rafa rafa all d way,u ll neva walk alone rafa
Rafa
If rafa becomes an Aston villa manager, Liverpool will have one more contender for top 4. Quite sure of that.