New manager thread

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I can't get my head around this "midtable manager" idea - a good manager can get the best out of the players he has at his disposal. Getting more out of better players is no different from getting more out of lesser players, they're just better players. We need a manager who can find good value in the transfer market and get the best out of those players. Benitez was excellent at this, Martinez also excels at this.

Moyes is great at picking up players on the cheap and getting them to perform above expectations.

Spending bigger money and he starts to struggle. The Russia fella Bily for example. Just because you can operate on shoestring doesn't mean it WILL transfer into the top end of the market. Bigger pressure and bigger expectations.

[Liverpool]

Leicester.

he played for them didnt he? then his gap before taking the city job he was at a london club or was it leicester?

[Shaggy]

Liverpool target managers from Pep Guardiola to Roberto Martinez and Brendan Rodgers to fill Anfield hotseat

Liverpool have compiled a list of as many as eight potential managers, including Pep Guardiola and Fabio Capello, as the search for Kenny Dalglish’s successor gathered pace at an extraordinary rate on Thursday night.

By Chris Bascombe11:27PM BST 17 May 201211 Comments

Another bewildering day at Anfield began with managing director Ian Ayre outlining the broad criteria for a new manager and ended with a who’s who of candidates from the top of the European game to the lower positions of the Premier League.

A conference call including club owner John W Henry, chairman Tom Werner and Ayre, formulated a staggering array of names including Guardiola, Capello, Jürgen Klopp, Frank de Boer, Andre Villas-Boas and Didier Deschamps.

The pursuit of Guardiola is staggeringly ambitious, but Liverpool are engaging in a reshuffle at Anfield which is expected to restore a Spanish influence.

Reserve manager Pep Segura has been earmarked for a technical position with the first team, and the club are also keen on finding a role for former Barcelona sports chief Txiki Begiristain. Liverpool are also preparing to meet managers who have only recently started their coaching career.

Wigan’s Roberto Martínez and Swansea’s Brendan Rodgers are among those Henry wants to meet and official approaches were made to their clubs on Thursday night.

Martínez’s chairman, Dave Whelan, confirmed an approach within minutes of the request being made by Liverpool.

Liverpool on Thursday night emphasised there is no preferred candidate at this stage, and it is unclear how many of those pursued will be interested in a move to Anfield.

Earlier, Ayre suggested Liverpool’s status as one of the world’s elite clubs will be jeopardised if they fail to appoint the right successor to Dalglish. He refused to rule out the possibility of Martínez and Rodgers joining more illustrious names as part of the recruitment process. Within a matter of hours the first moves had been made.

Liverpool fans expecting a young, up-and-coming manager from a top European league were astounded when Whelan confirmed an approach to Martínez. They will be reassured by some of the other names under discussion, but there is a danger of the process appearing to be haphazard. Henry appears to be set on a course of allowing an orderly queue to form for the manager’s post. “It is about a whole cross section,” Ayre said.

“If you box yourselves into a corner you can only speak to three or four because they only fit a particular profile. You have got to have a more open mind about what you will consider and what you will look at. Then you assess everybody. Then you find the right person to fit in with the plan.”

Liverpool know they can ill afford another recruitment mistake as they look for a revival of Premier League fortunes, but fears are being expressed about the level of advice the American owners are receiving.

The new man faces an arduous task to restore former glories at Anfield. Jamie Carragher has suggested it could be another generation before Liverpool win the league title and stressed that the priority for the next manager should simply be to get the club back into the top four.

With Liverpool having finished seventh, sixth and eighth in successive seasons, Carragher underlined that there must be realistic expectations of the next manager. “When growing up, Liverpool were so dominant,” said Carragher. “Now we’ve almost got a whole generation of Liverpool fans who have not experienced being at the top. It’s still so ingrained in the club that the championship is what you need to be fighting for.

“At times it does get more difficult when a Chelsea come along with
Abramovich and then Mansour comes along with Man City. I’ve been in the team 15 years and we’ve only challenged for the title a couple of times, which is not what we’d like.

“But, at the moment, I don’t think the title is in everyone’s mind, I think top four first. Let’s try and get back in that top four as quickly as we can and then once you cement your place, you establish yourself and go again.”

Asked if he feared that Liverpool might have to wait another generation to win the title, Carragher said: “You never know in football. I don’t think we’re the type of team that could just go out and spend £200 million like City can, and you’ve virtually guaranteed yourself a good chance of winning the title. I think we have to build a little bit slower than that.”

Meanwhile, Dalglish on Thursday night thanked Liverpool fans for their backing. He tweeted: “Overwhelmed by support of the fans. Always been special but even more so now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. YNWA and I never have.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/9273752/Liverpool-target-managers-from-Pep-Guardiola-to-Roberto-Martinez-and-Brendan-Rodgers-to-fill-Anfield-hotseat.html

[Gibbo]

Not a mention of Benitez. I can't be the only one that can see all these changes make perfect sense for him to come back.

Fwiw though, id be more than happy with Pep, Klopp, Boas, Deschamps and even Capello.

[Lecter]

That may be true, but I still think Rafa's control-freakery, and history of politicking and prickly relationships with his superiors/colleagues will be something that FSG is extremely wary of.

Aye all concerns for me as well and I'm sure those faults will all be grossly exagerrated by the people in the club that dont want him here

[Mark79]

I wonder sometimes though why eveyone else can't see beyond him? Why is Rafa the only manager in world football who should stand out? Like with any potential candidate there are drawbacks with him too, his relationship with the media and his record of falling out (rightly or wrongly) with his employers are two things that might very legitimately concern FSG, even if we are not to go into other aspects of his management which people are more likely to argue about.

To be honest I'm starting to fear for whoever we do get in and their likelihood of getting a fair crack from sections of our fanbase. The spectre of Rafa could end up hanging over Anfield for many years, pretty much the way Mourinho has over Chelsea with their fans, and it makes me a little uncomfortable really. Not that I wouldn't welcome him back, though I would have some reservations, but I really don't think he is the only person who could ever be a success with us.

I think it just comes down to who is realistically attainable. If the likes of Pep, Klopp or even Mourinho were genuine possibilities, then I'm sure even the most ardent Rafa fan would think long and hard about choosing him over one of those 3. But if you're picking from Martinez, Rodgers or Rafa, then its perfectly understandable why most would consider Rafa to be the standout choice.

[Liverpool]

I think if Rafa had trusted and people decent at their job, he'd be fine with others involvement.

Other people linked to the job are either out of our league or rubbish, and then AVB its Rafa then him for me

[TheElephantMan]

Moyes is great at picking up players on the cheap and getting them to perform above expectations.

Spending bigger money and he starts to struggle. The Russia fella Bily for example. Just because you can operate on shoestring doesn't mean it WILL transfer into the top end of the market. Bigger pressure and bigger expectations.

Moyes is a good example. He hasn't always got it right, but considering his limited transfer budget he has maintained Everton at a level that can't be faulted. That's what we need. We can't compete with Manchester City in the transfer market, but if we're buying the best of the rest and can find a manager capable of squeezing every last bit of potential out of those players then there is no reason why we can't compete with the best teams in Europe.

[Kronenburg1892]

Don't think we'll see Guardiola at the club.

I was thinking more on how Martinez would fit into a structure like that.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Moyes is a good example. He hasn't always got it right, but considering his limited transfer budget he has maintained Everton at a level that can't be faulted. That's what we need. We can't compete with Manchester City in the transfer market, but if we're buying the best of the rest and can find a manager capable of squeezing every last bit of potential out of those players then there is no reason why we can't compete with the best teams in Europe.

I see what you mean but that is so much harder to achieve at the top end of the table.. A very good tactical manager could also get the same kind of results in a different way.

Its can they step up though? Would Martinez spot the talent that would improve us that others don't spot.. Moses at Wigan's level for example. But if he still thinks the like of Moses are good enough, we'd be in trouble. We need a man that knows the European market well IMO because the talent here is such a limited pool.

[little dave hedgehog]

no way on earth would i take jose over rafa.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Here is a quick point, what players would you like to see follow a manager that comes in?

Rodgers - Swansea
Martinez - Wigan
AVB - Porto links probably
Can't really include Rafa I suppose.

[Kronenburg1892]

We're not far off the players needed for a 3-4-3.

Skrtle Coates Agger

Glojo Lucas Gerrard Enrique

RW Carroll Suarez

I don't know. Interesting.

[Gibbo]

no way on earth would i take jose over rafa.

Difficult one that, because honestly I think Jose would bring us number 19.

[kingfunk]

@dalejohnsonESPN: Liverpool fans might be interested in this interview Jen Chang did with Rafa Benitez on Merseyside two months ago. http://t.co/qyotSCE7 #lfc