New manager thread

[Muddled]

Roberto Martinez doing a Wigan press conference on Tuesday.

Sigh.

I really hope it's to announce he's staying there, but I doubt it.

Deeper sigh.

Doubt he's holding a press conference to announce that he's staying.

Deepest sigh.

[Bender]

Our recruitment process whether for a player or manager is always such a car crash...

this has rick parry written all over it

[Tee]

Our recruitment process whether for a player or manager is always such a car crash...

Agreed. The only transfer to break that tradition was when we signed Torres. That was how we should always do our business.

[Lecter]

Martinez clarifying future on Tuesday ......is how sky are going with it ......whatever that means ...............

It really depends which rumour you believe

There has been a suggestion Martinez would have a 2nd interview Tuesday

Whilst Dave Whelan has suggested Martinez has been offerred the job and is to reply by Tuesday

[Buzzo]

We just seem incapable of controlling and manipulating the media, no matter who runs the club. Parry, H&G or FSG...

[Lecter]

this has rick parry written all over it

Rick Parry the man who recruited Rafa in the March before sacking Houllier in the May

Parry makes this lot look like bumbling amateurs

[Buzzo]

Rick Parry the man who recruited Rafa in the March before sacking Houllier in the May

Parry makes this lot look like bumbling amateurs

Funny I was just thinking that. Rafa was a top bit of recruiting, seemless.

Parry had some good moments. ....And some bad... (Gerrard's contract in 2005).

[Lecter]

Funny I was just thinking that. Rafa was a top bit of recruiting, seemless.

Parry had some good moments. ....And some bad... (Gerrard's contract in 2005).

Agreed

That was Parrys problem

When he was good it was often a stroke of genius

When he was bad he looked like Charlie Chaplin

The unfortunate thing for Parry was there was never any middle ground. He was either good or bad and the number of poor decision increased towards the end of his tenure

[Muddled]

It's Martinez, isn't it?

Could that mean the announcement of the Director of Footballing Technical Sporting Director will be announced Monday? Busy week for Liverpool then at a guess.

[Neil Young]

Agreed

That was Parrys problem

When he was good it was often a stroke of genius

When he was bad he looked like Charlie Chaplin

The unfortunate thing for Parry was there was never any middle ground. He was either good or bad and the number of poor decision increased towards the end of his tenure

It seems to me possible that we notice only the really good decisions and the really bad ones.

[Muddled]

Liverpool Football Club seem to be ramping up their search for a new manager after it was widely reported that Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez had been invited to Miami for an interview with the club.

Latics owner Dave Whelan aired his views that Martinez would have an answer in the next couple of days as to whether or not he would be taking the job—this, despite no official confirmation from Liverpool that Martinez was a front-runner for the manager's post or that he would be eventually offered it.

The Reds have been said to be looking at up to 12 candidates for the vacant manager's post but, amongst others, former Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas seemed to fall out of contention, leaving Martinez as the bookies' favourite.

A supposed photograph of Martinez walking through Miami with principal club owner John W. Henry fuelled the fire of speculation on social networks.

With this in mind, and the possible imminent announcement that Martinez would be the Reds' new manager, let's take a look at how he might set about bringing Liverpool back into contention for a Champions League position, which will be the ultimate aim for whoever is picked as Liverpool boss.

Though usually he operated with a standard (1-)4-2-3-1 system at Wigan for his first couple of seasons, Martinez found far more success this term after the new year, when he switched to a more solid back-three system.

By operating with two wide players capable of both defending and attacking, Wigan were able to quickly flood the midfield in possession or have four or five defenders back when their opponents had the ball, making them difficult to break down and fast to counterattack after a transition.

Wigan's 3-4-3 system under Roberto Martinez



In the final third, Martinez eschewed the more familiar "two forwards" setup in a typical (1-)5-3-2 and operated with two fluid, interchanging players behind one central striker, essentially giving Wigan a (1-)3-4-3 formation.

Does this system suit Liverpool?

Well, yes. The Reds have employed it before, successfully, and the players both at the club and who they have been linked with would certainly fit in.

Liverpool would arguably be better equipped to play this system as they benefit from a more technical central defence and a goalkeeper who prefers to play behind a high line, both key in playing efficiently with a back-three.

Starting in defence (we'll presume Pepe Reina remains at Liverpool and in goal), the back three system offers two ways to play; the compact, tight-knit trio who stay close and move laterally, and the more fluid, width-of-the-pitch back three.

The second one is the option favoured by Martinez and which Liverpool have employed in the past.

In the centre (No. 5 on the graphic) a strong, domineering and organisational character is needed. Gary Caldwell performed this role for Wigan—not a world-beater, but fearless, aerially impressive and certainly capable of barking orders at the defence.

Wearing the Red of Liverpool, see Martin Skrtel for this role, should he remain at the club. Not as much of a vocal player perhaps, but Skrtel nonetheless is positionally more aware now than at any other time in his career and, with two other defenders alongside him will be less likely to feel the need to surge out of position in an attempt to nick the ball away from an attacker.

Jamie Carragher, as he winds down his career as a squad player, would provide ample cover for this role.

The two defenders either side of the central player (Nos. 4 and 6) require far better technical skills as they are more often required to bring the ball out of defence, start new attacks and combine with the players ahead of them in midfield.

Indeed, it is beneficial if they have experience in playing at full-back, as this more properly gives them an appreciation of the spaces behind them when the back three are spread across the width of the pitch.

In addition, when the opposition are attacking (especially on the counter) and look to switch play, the back three can function as a standard four-man defence, tilting so that the centre-back on the side their opponent attacks immediately becomes an out-and-out full-back, safe with the knowledge that he has a full compliment of defenders inside him on the cover.

On the left side (No. 6), Daniel Agger clearly ticks all the right boxes.

There are few defenders in the Premier League as adept at moving from defence to midfield and even attack with the ball at their feet as the Dane, while he can pick a pass or even cross from deep with his trusty left foot.

Opposite to Agger, the right central-defensive slot (No. 4) is an area which might have to be upgraded in the transfer market, but Sebastian Coates has shown enough promising displays to suggest he will be a real option for Liverpool in the future.

Martin Kelly will also doubtless feature centrally as he continues to gain experience. With his stint at right-back showing his prowess on the ball, this adventurous central defensive role might be perfectly made for him.

Danny Wilson, should he not be loaned out again or sold, would also offer cover for Agger on the left.

Along with the two specialist central defenders, the wing-back positions (Nos. 2 and 3) are arguably the "make-or-break" players of this system.

Acting for much of the game as the only attacking players looking to offer real width, the wing-backs need to be capable of getting up and down the pitch for the full 90 minutes—week in, week out.

Needless to say a huge requirement of the position is having incredible stamina reserves, while the most successful players in this role also need good pace to fully exploit turnovers of possession in an instant.

An ability to cross and pass infield, confidence to run beyond the attacker further up the pitch (with or without the ball) and a fierce, reliable desire to get back into position defensively once the ball has been lost...truly, this position places a lot of demands on a player.

With Glen Johnson on the right (No. 2) and Jose Enrique on the left (No. 3), the Reds are already stocked with players who can play this role—though the Spaniard in particular certainly needs competition for places after his form notably dropped off in the second half of last season.

Youngsters Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson will aspire to play this role in the future, but neither will play more than half a dozen Premier League matches next term unless Liverpool suffer heavy injury losses.

Martin Kelly is also a first-team-capable player to fulfil this role down the right.

While both Jose Enrique and Johnson have been questioned defensively (rightly or wrongly), another plus for the wing-back system is that it allows extra cover behind the wide defender—even if he is beaten, the central defender on that side is able to tilt across and offer another obstacle to the attacker.

Moving into midfield, Liverpool have an excess of underperforming personnel which would need to be honed carefully to fit into this system.

The basic premise of playing two central midfielders (Nos. 8 and 10) is that one holds and the other offers an extra body in attack.

With three defenders and only two midfielders it is important to utilise the extra defender in a more advanced position to help with ball retention, though of course both midfielders need to be excellent at this as well.

Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva are without question two of the first names on Liverpool's team-sheet—though injuries to both meant that they were hardly ever available for the same games last season.

Lucas is set to recover this summer and be ready for preseason, but the lack of real cover for him in defensive midfield cost the Reds dearly last term.

Both Gerrard and Lucas get through a high workload in a game and both are comfortable with the ball at their feet.

Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing offer the competition—if Liverpool are serious about getting back into the top four next season, this needs improving, whatever system they end up playing.

Ahead of the two centre midfielders come the two creative players (Nos. 7 and 11), whose job it is to make everything tick in the final third.

At Wigan, Roberto Martinez alternated these roles, depending on who the opposition was.

Victor Moses and Shaun Maloney arguably enjoyed the best success in these roles, as both players were happy working from the flanks and cutting inside onto their stronger foot, as well as running with the ball at defenders and looking to fashion shooting opportunities.

Liverpool have one very obvious candidate for that type of role—Luis Suarez, their most creative and dynamic attacker is far and away the most dangerous final third player Liverpool possess at present. This type of role, with its freedom and unpredictability, coupled with his own prodigious work rate would mean he would be a constant supply of chances.

It would also take the pressure off the Uruguayan with regards to finishing off those chances, for which he came under fire somewhat this season for not scoring enough, despite tallying 17 goals.

The second player would, no doubt about it, have to come from outside of Anfield this summer.

Stewart Downing, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez could all fill that role as needed, but none have shown the real brilliance required for that position to move the Reds back into the top four—and at least two of those players are regarded as expendable in this coming transfer window.

The one other squad player who would be an asset to Liverpool in this role is Craig Bellamy. The Welsh forward would be a fine option to have coming infield from the left and would benefit from playing further up the pitch more often—but age and injury concerns again mean he is not a realistic, regular option.

In better news, plenty of the younger lads coming through the reserve setup (such as Raheem Sterling) would be natural born players for this role. Suso and Toni Silva might also benefit from cutting in from the right onto their left foot.

And so on to the forward, the No. 9, the Andy Carroll role.

Franco di Santo did it for Wigan last season, with Conor Sammon doing his bit from the bench.

Hold the ball up...link with the oncoming attackers...put the ball in the net.

A simple job, no?

Andy Carroll finished the campaign strongly for the Reds, but he needs to show he can do it for a full season. Liverpool might well go out and buy another forward this term anyway.

Transfers, formations, managers...all have yet to be determined for Liverpool this summer.

But if it is Roberto Martinez, don't bet against him turning to his successful back-three formula again next term—and doing extremely well with it for Liverpool.

Linkage: Bleach Report.

[Muddled]

Tactical: How a Martinez Liverpool 3-4-3 Could Look

With Roberto Martinez currently in the front running to take over the vacant manager’s job at Liverpool I thought it might be interesting to take a look at how his tactics, formations and general footballing philosophy might be applied to the current crop of Liverpool players.

Footballing Philosophy

It is pretty evident Martinez’s teams likes to pass out from the back, and he is a believer in the passing game rather than a lump it forward kind of style. His Wigan side managed an 80% passing success last season, just 1% lower than Liverpool’s 81%. Sometimes there can be a slow build up in the play, and he uses his wing backs/full backs a lot to bring out the ball. Especially the left back Beausejour. 42% of Wigan attacks came down their left side last season, more than any other side, and no team shot from the left side more than Wigan last season, 25% of their shots all came from that side. From his time at Swansea to his time at Wigan he’s always tried to play football the ‘right’ way.

“I always believe the only way you can get out of relegation is by playing well,”

“If you do not get the results, you need to find a way to win, but it is not about short-term ambition, to sneak a win here or there, because that is not going to be enough”.

Martinez – Formations

It’s no secret that Martinez switched from a 4-3-3 to a 3-4-3 formation back in February. And as it transpired, it proved to be a tactical masterstroke from him. It increased Wigan’s average points per game from 0.66 points per game to 1.93 points per game. An increase of almost 300%, which, ultimately kept them in the Premier League.

As a young coach he can be quite flexible with his formations. In fact, when first managing Swansea he chopped and changed a lot between a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 formation. He eventually settled on a 4-5-1 and Swansea went on from there. Of course he then moved to Wigan where he eventually implemented a 4-3-3 system, then changed again with great success to a more dynamic 3-4-3, which turned out suited the players at his disposal much better. You could say the Wigan 3-4-3 more resembles the Napoli one and not the more fluid 3-4-3 that Barcelona sometimes use.

It is worth noting, that a formation by itself will not win games, it will increase your chances, but it’s ultimately the players and how they apply themselves to any given formation that will be the overriding reason in whether a game will turn out to be a win, a loss, or a draw.

In April:

“The system suits our players, you have to be a bit different to get an advantage if you are brave enough to get on the ball.

“We are flexible enough to change it, and we have had to adapt in certain games.

“However, systems do not win you games, it is the attitude of the players.”

How Wigan Shape Up With A 3-4-3



Of course this 3-4-3 system is very flexible, well the way Martinez implements it is. He has played this system in both an attacking and defensive way. In it’s attacking implementation the wing backs will remain high up the pitch and try to put pressure on the opposition wingers and full backs, and keep them pinned back in their own half. The wing backs have the security of knowing both the right and left-sided centre backs can come across and cover for them. (see areas marked red above) In turn the middle centre back knows if play get stretched down either of his defensive wing zones and one of his partners has to leave his station he is always left with one other centre back for protection.

In it’s defensive implementation the 3-4-3 will revert to a 5-4-1 or even a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 depending on what positions the opposition attackers are taking up. The wing backs will sit deep, forming a five across the back. It may seem ultra defensive, but this can be effective if used correctly. It relies on quick counter-attacks, mainly using one of your left or right-sided front 3 players to break quickly forward and get in behind the spaces the opposition full backs have left. We’ve seen it used to good effect by Chelsea against Barcelona in the Champion’s League. In this case, the breakaway forward being Ramires, who eventually scored from such a move at the Nou Camp.

Quick animation of firstly changing from 3-4-3 to 5-4-1 and then from 3-4-3 to a 4-4-1-1:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQepjoKeypg&feature=player_embedded"]Liverpool343.MOV - YouTube[/ame]

Back Three – does it suit the current Liverpool FC squad?

Taking a look at Wigan’s 3-4-3 in the graphic above, we can start with the back three. Caldwell is the player who is the constant in the centre. He usually picks up the opposition’s main forward, especially at corners and set pieces. Both the other (left & right) centre backs are players who need to be mobile, quick and have an intelligent footballing brain. These two will come forward and engage the opposition players more than Caldwell. They will also come across (see red marked spaces above) and cover for the wing backs if they are caught too far up the pitch during a quick transition.

So do Liverpool have a centre back like Caldwell? Of course they do: see Martin Skrtel. With an able standby waiting in the wings like Jaime Carragher they wouldn’t be over-stretched in that department.

Have we got two quick mobile centre backs who are good at reading the game to play either side of Skrtel? See Daniel Agger and Sebastián Coates. With Martin Kelly also an able standby.

Quick animation of changing from back three to four:

First players marked blue, are the defenders picking up two forwards, the left-sided centre back marked yellow is the spare man.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7SeLWgNuCQ&feature=player_embedded"]LFCchangingshape - YouTube[/ame]

The excellent zonal marking website here makes a great point regarding how the shape would change from three at the back to four at the back if the opposition played with a traditional number 10 just behind a central striker. (See animation above) One centre back would push forward to mark the number 10, which would also create another body in midfield if you were being out-numbered there. If you watch the animation above you can see how this might work. Agger (circled in yellow) pushes out to engage the forward that drops deep, the other centre backs shuffle across, and the two wing backs pull back into a more traditional full back role.

How A Martinez 3-4-3 May Look



Midfield Two

With both Diame and McCarthy for Wigan I believe we have both Lucas and Gerrard who could fill those roles in a Martinez LFC midfield. Certainly Lucas is well capable of playing the defensive midfielders role.

A more interesting thought would be Steven Gerrard. Criticised in the past for not being disciplined enough playing in a two-man central midfield, his tendency to break forward in dynamic bursts often left his defenders and midfield counterparts exposed. However, with the safety of a three man central defense he would be free to have that dynamic role he craves thus getting closer to Luis Suarez whom he almost has a telepathic understanding with.

Wing Backs

From the line-up above it’s obvious I’ve left Enrique out. His form fell badly in the second half of last season, however, even in the first half of the season, all though he had great defensive ability, he was not the most creative going forward. Hence I believe Liverpool would have a problem filling that role. I’ve heard people mention Downing for the left back slot before, but for me I don’t think he has the defensive qualities to play there. Having said that, as a wing back and free from those ‘normal’ defensive duties he might offer a solution. This would be a risk though.

As a right-wing back I have no hesitation that Glen Johnson would be able to perform that role. In fact, it has been muted in the past that he should be used in a right midfield position. A wing back role could actually suit him better.

Front Three

Wigan play a front three, all with completely different attributes. Firstly a main striker who acts as a central target man, i.e. Di Santo or Sammon. With Andy Carroll it seems Liverpool FC have a player who can more than fill that criteria.

Problems

The next two positions however are not as clear-cut. On one side of the striker (see above Wigan graphic) Martinez has used a player like Gomez who likes to get close to Sammon or Di Santo, he tends to drift inside and find spaces between the lines. It’s here that Liverpool don’t have a natural player to fill that role. Suarez wouldn’t be a number 10, and it’s hard to think of a player like that in the Liverpool FC squad. Somebody like Silva, Nasri or Modric is the kind of player that Liverpool would need. At a stretch maybe Maxi could play it, but he may not be around, and will also be a year older. Both Shelvey and Henderson don’t really play that game. So that area might be a problem if Martinez got the job and wanted to implement a 3-4-3.

Moses plays on the other side, a player who relies on pace and dribbling skills. In fact Moses had more successful dribbles (210) last season than any other player. Closely followed by Luis Suarez with 189. He plays wide to stretch the play, but can also come inside to allow his attacking wing back to run beyond him and create 2 v 1 situations. Again it’s difficult to find a player in the Liverpool FC squad who could fill that role. Sterling would seem a natural fit, but it wouldn’t be practical for him to go straight into the first team without some sort of bedding in period. Certainly he should get more playing time next season. Downing, let’s face it had an awful season, and doesn’t have blistering pace, nor a trick to beat a player. So again, this area may be a problem for Martinez. As you can see I’ve included Holiett in that role in the graphic above, as he is the type of player I believe Liverpool need in the summer, regardless of playing 3-4-3 or not. The fact that he had the third most successful dribbles (187) last season, just behind Suarez and Moses would show he’s not shy in taking on his man. (Editors Note: Suarez is also suited to the Number 11 role in your graphic. As shown yesterday by him cutting in from the right and scoring against Uruguay. Suarez can shoot with either foot making him a danger from either flank. I’d put him on the right side and find a new left-sided striker although Suarez could play that role too. I believe he played a wide-attacking role for Ajax so it will certainly suit him.)

Conclusions

If Martinez does get the job, he will need to go into the transfer market, especially if he wants to continue with his Wiganesque system of 3-4-3. Certainly Lavezzi at Napoli, with their 3-4-3, would be ideal to play the left-sided front forward position. But he maybe a little out of our price range. The Liverpool squad seems to suggest they don’t currently have the type of front players Martinez would need to replicate that formation at Liverpool FC. Though with Martinez we know he is not afraid to change the system to suit the players at his disposal, and if it came down to it, and he doesn’t find the right players in the transfer market I believe we may see him switching back to a 4-3-3 if he ends up as Liverpool manager.

Linkage: EPL Index.

[Lecter]

It seems to me possible that we notice only the really good decisions and the really bad ones.

Maybe

[kris90210]

It seems to me possible that we notice only the really good decisions and the really bad ones.

I'm always hesitant to form cast-iron opinions on people who do 99% of their work out of the spotlight. FSG have shown a ruthless streak in getting rid of Comolli, Dalglish, Bruckner, Hodgson et al - and yet they have rewarded Ayre. He must be doing something right, as something tells me they set very high standards.

[Vermilion]

I'm always hesitant to form cast-iron opinions on people who do 99% of their work out of the spotlight. FSG have shown a ruthless streak in getting rid of Comolli, Dalglish, Bruckner, Hodgson et al - and yet they have rewarded Ayre. He must be doing something right, as something tells me they set very high standards.

Tbh, if they cut Ayre loose now, they would be pretty much rudderless in Liverpool.