I don't know why this has got you so upset. Elias looked like he was good at his job but we have had a review of the whole youth setup and things are changing. It could have been he was close to some of the other staff who left or that his role overlapped with other members of the coaching staff and with Rafa rationalising the whole operation he was just the odd one out. It's not as if we haven't been bringing in people to replace those who have left. With all decisions at youth level we will have to wait and see what happens as it isn't a short term project.
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"The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind."
-- William Blake -
I've read on TLW that he is off to Fulham by the way."The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind."
-- William BlakeComment
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Echoes of Bill Shankly in Rafa Benitez's Liverpool FC overhaul
Jun 20 2009 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo
FANS may still be waiting for the Reds’ first new signing to be paraded – but it has already been a summer of change at Anfield.
Rafa Benitez celebrated his fifth anniversary as Liverpool boss this week and the Spaniard can look ahead to his sixth season at the helm in the knowledge that his position at Anfield has never been stronger.
Benitez has finally secured the kind of influence he has always craved in his mission to take the club to the next level.
His frustration at the Reds’ failure to complete transfer deals has been eased by the departure of chief executive Rick Parry. Now Benitez has a much more hands-on role in securing targets.
Just like Bill Shankly when he walked into Anfield nearly 50 years ago, Benitez has a vision and isn’t afraid to make difficult decisions which he believes will benefit Liverpool in the long term.
Another source of great friction, Liverpool’s inability to develop youngsters good enough to make the grade, has been addressed.
When Benitez signed his new deal earlier this year he was guaranteed a much bigger role in how the Academy works.
In recent months he has instigated a number of changes he believes will deliver the necessary improvements and he started with a major cull at Melwood and Kirkby.
The highest profile casualty has been reserves boss Gary Ablett, while the tenure of academy director Piet Hamberg was also ended.
Youth coaches Hughie McAuley and Dave Shannon are among a group who have been told their services are no longer required.
The decisions were taken following an internal review of the Kirkby set-up conducted by new academy director Frank McParland.
The former Reds chief scout will work alongside new academy technical director Jose Segura, who helped develop world class stars like Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas during his stay at Barcelona.
John McMahon has been made reserves boss and will be assisted by coach Antonio Gomez Perez.
The appointments should heal divisions between Melwood and Kirkby with McParland reporting directly to the manager.
With the right infrastructure finally in place, Benitez has turned his attentions to strengthening his squad and ensuring he keeps hold of prized assets like Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.
Having secured a club record Premier League points haul, scored more goals than anyone else and lost the fewest games, it is only a matter of fine-tuning ahead of the new campaign.
It’s hard to believe that only 18 months ago Benitez’s future was in serious doubt after owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks hatched a misguided plan to replace him with Jurgen Klinsmann.
Now he holds a position of real strength and Reds legend Ian Callaghan believes he is the man to land that elusive Premier League title.
Callaghan said: “A lot of progress has been made over the past five years and Rafa is emerging as a fantastic manager in the club’s history.
“I really admire him and what he has achieved so far is exceptional.
“He has won the Champions League and the FA Cup, got to another Champions League final and just missed out on the title.
“This is the best league in the world and it’s very difficult when you’ve got other big clubs spending a great deal of money.
“But we came so close last season and if he can keep the squad together we only need a couple of additions.
“The Premier League has to be the number one priority because that’s what all the fans want. I’m looking forward to watching Liverpool make the next step.”
Callaghan knows all about gifted tacticians wrestling control of the club having been at Anfield during Shankly’s reign.
He signed as an apprentice in 1960 – just a few months after the Scotsman had taken over – and stayed for 18 years.
The Reds’ record appearance holder played 857 appearances under Shankly and then Bob Paisley as the club were transformed from Second Division strugglers into champions of Europe.
Shankly resigned in 1974 after his 15 years in charge had yielded the Second Division title, three First Division championships, two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup.
“Like Bill Shankly, Rafa is a strong personality but you can’t really compare them,” Callaghan said.
“No disrespect to Rafa, but there will only ever be one Bill Shankly. He was in charge for 15 years and what he achieved was unbelievable. I was privileged to play under him
“Liverpool were a Second Division club going nowhere when he took over in 1959.
“We really needed someone who was very strong and outgoing to turn the club around because we weren't going anywhere until Shanks arrived.
“The foundations were laid by Shanks and Bob carried it on. Shanks turned the club around and got us back into the top division.
“It took a few seasons to get what he wanted but he changed everything. Liverpool are where they are today thanks to him.
“I would love to see Rafa go on to emulate what Shanks achieved. It’s been far too long since the club won the title and hopefully Steven Gerrard will finally get his hands on the trophy next season.”Comment
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Its not something thats winding me up its just such a big cull of what are supposed to be top coaches,phisys,and scouts,this club is massive and has been for years when you here of a cut back of this size it makes you wonder whats going onOriginally posted by dww View Post
i mean these coaches are the people who moulded Carra and Steve and Owen and others not to mention,so they cant be that bad,i just hope we dont end up like arsenal with a club full of foreigners,and no english players thats what worries me. i want to see more english players getting a chance not foreign who because they have been here for 4 years are classed as english and can play in the national team
whats that all about.Dont get me wrong i think Rafa is a fantastic manager and you have to give him full credit what he does,so lets wait and see
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in nearly 15 years is hardly a good return. Rafa's reserve manager is a guy who has been schooled in the lover leagues for twenty years and in Frank Mcparland they also have a guy who is english.Originally posted by lfc for life View Post
Its not something thats winding me up its just such a big cull of what are supposed to be top coaches,phisys,and scouts,this club is massive and has been for years when you here of a cut back of this size it makes you wonder whats going on i mean these coaches are the people who moulded Carra and Steve and Owen and others not to mention,so they cant be that bad,i just hope we dont end up like arsenal with a club full of foreigners,and no english players thats what worries me. i want to see more english players getting a chance not foreign who because they have been here for 4 years are classed as english and can play in the national team whats that all about.Dont get me wrong i think Rafa is a fantastic manager and you have to give him full credit what he does,so lets wait and see
yes some of the coaches who have gone were suppposed to be good, but they havent delivered, as you say....sit back and chill and lets wait and see_____________________________________
Weak willed, Wank or do they have a masterplan?
Think we have the answer..Slot!!
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Changes cannot happen instantly, in a few years time then and only then, will we be able to judge the changes rafa has made.Comment
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Thanks very much for being ‘This Mornings’ Farmer’Comment
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