Academy role call for Neal

[dww]

May be we're being a bit too snobby then.

But there's certain people, as great as they were as players, do not seem cultured, educated, subtle or intelligent enough to me to make good coaches or managers. One would be Phil Neal, another would be Tommy Smith. Not to mention that in football terms they're from the stone age.

I might be talking out of my arse, but it's just an impression I have of them.

I guess it depends on the role though. The article makes it seem like they might offer him the job of figure head/liason between academy and first team. If he has no real input in the coaching then he might be fine.

In the end all of Rafas coaching appointments seem to have been sound enough - so I fully expect the person bought in to look after the academy to be of the same mould. I would be shocked if the head coach wasn't bought in from an active coaching role, unless it is someone who has been in one recently like Gary Mac. If he would take it I would get Glenn Roeder he has a very good record at youth level.

[rushscored4]

I've been lucky enough to play around with Phil Neal...

[Dhav]

I guess it depends on the role though. The article makes it seem like they might offer him the job of figure head/liason between academy and first team. If he has no real input in the coaching then he might be fine.

In the end all of Rafas coaching appointments seem to have been sound enough - so I fully expect the person bought in to look after the academy to be of the same mould. I would be shocked if the head coach wasn't bought in from an active coaching role, unless it is someone who has been in one recently like Gary Mac. If he would take it I would get Glenn Roeder he has a very good record at youth level.

Agree with you about Roeder. Incompetent manager but has a strong background of success in youth development.

As for a liaison, would it not be better for him to have someone in there who he knows and trusts eg a fellow Spaniard? Agree though, if it is a role that doesn't involve coaching then like you say it might be ok for Neal. Just his forays into coaching (Bolton, Coventry, England etc) do not fill me with any confidence.

Either way, Rafa's knows best and I am certain he would not hire someone if he thought them incapable of performing the role.

[rushscored4]

Surely not? Surely this hapless, blundering idiot of a yes man can't possibly be involved? Surely if he's had any kind of conversation with Rafa then Rafa will know he's completely hapless?

Maybe Rafa actually wants a 'yes man'...

[Lecter]

Noooooooooooooooo!

Surely not? Surely this hapless, blundering idiot of a yes man can't possibly be involved? Surely if he's had any kind of conversation with Rafa then Rafa will know he's completely hapless?*

* I realise this is no way to talk about our most decorated player, but I have to say I think he's an idiot. This is based on the notorious Graham Taylor documentary, in which he came across as so inept he made Taylor look proficient, and a conversation I had with him around four years ago when he tried to use a big word in an attempt to sound clever, and got it badly, badly wrong.

The word was 'superfluous', and he used it as a word of praise - "It was a great performance, the Reds were superfluous on the night" :whatever:

He wasnt nicknamed "Dickhead" for nothing

[Joe Le Toff]

. He was a great player but sometimes i thought his comments were pretty dumb and after watching replays of the game it was like we were watching a different game.

No he wasnt a great player at all. He was steady, reliable and always done a job, but he wasnt great by any means.

[Shaggy]

He wasnt nicknamed "Dickhead" for nothing

Haha, was he really? Who by?

He always struck me as a COMPLETE dickhead, but I'm basing it on what is admittedly pretty flimsy evidence.

[SouthAfricaRed]

Maybe Rafa actually wants a 'yes man'...

I think you hit the nail on the Head.

Neal will be in the spotlight, which is what he wants. He'll be seen as one of the Greats remaining at the club. Rafa will have his own coaches coaching the players and they will do as he tells them.

Win-Win situation

[SouthAfricaRed]

No he wasnt a great player at all. He was steady, reliable and always done a job, but he wasnt great by any means.

Any player that could be an ever present in the Liverpool squad he played in is not Far from Great.

You might not think much of him as a person, but You cant fault his contribution on the Field

[Shaggy]

'kin ell, if Rafa really wants a yes man, I'll ****ing do it, and I'll do it for a lot less money than Phil "Pay me for my opinions" Neal would.

[SouthAfricaRed]

'kin ell, if Rafa really wants a yes man, I'll ****ing do it, and I'll do it for a lot less money than Phil "Pay me for my opinions" Neal would.

I'd do it for Free, but Somehow I dont think the Kids and the Parents will Respect us enough

[Shaggy]

I'd do it for Free, but Somehow I dont think the Kids and the Parents will Respect us enough

I'd PAY TO DO IT!!!

Although I realise the fact that I've never won anything as a player with the Reds might go against me. However, surely the fact that I don't refer to myself in the third person and don't demand to be paid for my opinions would elevate me above Neal in the race to become Rafa's yes man?

[Joe Le Toff]

Any player that could be an ever present in the Liverpool squad he played in is not Far from Great.

You might not think much of him as a person, but You cant fault his contribution on the Field

Personal opinion has nothing to do with it, not everybody in that squad was a world class or "great" talent. Neither have i de-valued his contribution to the success, the fact remains he wasnt a great player compared with the true greats of the squad, Dalglish, Souness et al.
He was a strong and steady player who popped up with a fairly decent amount of goals for a full-back, and it goes without saying he was an important part of the squad.

[SouthAfricaRed]

I'd PAY TO DO IT!!!

Although I realise the fact that I've never won anything as a player with the Reds might go against me. However, surely the fact that I don't refer to myself in the third person and don't demand to be paid for my opinions would elevate me above Neal in the race to become Rafa's yes man?

Let's face it, the average Football player and their parents are no Einsteins h:

Winning something is all that matters. The Bigger your list of medals, the better person you are perceived to be. Reality has very little to do with it

[SouthAfricaRed]

Personal opinion has nothing to do with it, not everybody in that squad was a world class or "great" talent. Neither have i de-valued his contribution to the success, the fact remains he wasnt a great player compared with the true greats of the squad, Dalglish, Souness et al.
He was a strong and steady player who popped up with a fairly decent amount of goals for a full-back, and it goes without saying he was an important part of the squad.

Which defender is ever considered a Great? It's a thankless job that only gets highlighted when they make mistakes.

My point is with the overall Quality of the sides he played in, It's remarkable that he always was good enough to hold his place. The Best Trait of a defender is consistency. He definately was that, so what more did he have to do to be considered Great?